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God created us for specific purposes. We are here love God and love others. Teaching your mentee to serve leads them to see how they affect the relationships and environments God puts them in.
Show Notes
God created us for specific purposes. We are here love God and love others. Teaching your mentee to serve leads them to see how they affect the relationships and environments God puts them in.
Purchase the You Can Mentor book:
You Can Mentor: How to Impact Your Community, Fulfill the Great Commission, and Break Generational Curses
youcanmentor.com
Purchase the You Can Mentor book:
You Can Mentor: How to Impact Your Community, Fulfill the Great Commission, and Break Generational Curses
youcanmentor.com
Creators and Guests
What is You Can Mentor: A Christian Youth Mentoring Podcast?
You Can Mentor is a network that equips and encourages mentors and mentoring leaders through resources and relationships to love God, love others, and make disciples in their own community. We want to see Christian mentors thrive.
We want to hear from you! Send any mentoring questions to hello@youcanmentor.com, and we'll answer them on our podcast. We want to help you become the best possible mentor you can be. Also, if you are a mentoring organization, church, or non-profit, connect with us to join our mentoring network or to be spotlighted on our show.
Please find out more at www.youcanmentor.com or find us on social media. You will find more resources on our website to help equip and encourage mentors. We have downloadable resources, cohort opportunities, and an opportunity to build relationships with other Christian mentoring leaders.
You can mentor is a podcast about the power of building relationships with kids from hard places in the name of Jesus. Every episode will help you overcome common mentoring obstacles and give you the confidence you need to invest in the lives of others. You can mentor.
Speaker 2:Hello, mentors and mentoring leaders. Zachary Garza senior coming to you live on the podcast and with my main man, the murder dog, Stephen Murray.
Speaker 3:Hello, everyone.
Speaker 2:Guys, I I just wish you could see Stephen's beard right now. It's looking straight out of Israel or some little eastern country. It is thick.
Speaker 3:Thank you. Thank you. I have been trimming it, but it is definitely thick.
Speaker 2:I just love it. I just love it. Alright. Murdoch, tell tell the people at home what we're talking about today.
Speaker 3:We are finishing our lifelong followers of Jesus series. This isn't the last time we talk about Jesus or our desire to follow him our entire lives, but we are putting forward one one more practical way that you can help your mentee become a lifelong follower of Jesus, and that's through serving others. We just we believe that the vision for this series is, what are the practices that we do? Church, worship, prayer, scripture? Who are the people we introduce them to who are following Jesus in our community?
Speaker 3:What perspective are we providing them to live counter culturally? And then how are we helping them live outside of themselves and make an impact in the world they live in by serving others? That is a pretty powerful summary of this series, I would I would have to say, Zach.
Speaker 2:Most definitely, Murdoch. I also would agree with you. So, great job coming up with the series. As as
Speaker 3:This is all Zach's.
Speaker 2:As Steven and I as Steven and I have kind of talked about this series, it it has just become more apparent to me just how important all of these things are. And talking about what we were going to say on this podcast, and we started talking about where serving others pops up in God's word. And, I just wanted to read a couple of these verses just to put forth the magnitude of serving others, and what the Bible says about that. So, the greatest among you shall be your servant. And, he sat down and called the 12.
Speaker 2:And, he said to them, if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. Even the son of man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. So, I just think that those are just a couple of verses about serving that shows just how important it is to, as a follower of Jesus, truly be a servant. And to put others' needs above your own, to consider others more important than yourself, and just to have an others focused mindset and how that not only honors the Lord but in a strange way that doesn't make a ton of sense, that's how you find life and life to the fullest. So let's talk about that, Steven.
Speaker 3:Come on. Lose your life and you'll find it.
Speaker 2:Man, that's just it's an upside down kingdom.
Speaker 3:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Love it. So alright, Steven. So why why should we serve others? Why should we teach our mentees about this? Why is serving others kind of a foundational principle of being a lifelong follower of Jesus?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I I mean, I think the main thing I come back to is that the temptation you find in this world is that everything is about you. And that is a a constant feeling that leads to frustration and unmet expectations of thinking that the world revolves around me. And so if you can get into a rhythm of de centering yourself intentionally, get your eyes off of yourself and see the needs of others, see that God placed you here for a reason, and it was for his glory and his purposes, which are usually related to people. I mean, God God cares about the climate, sure, but he cares about people more than anything.
Speaker 3:That was a joke. You were supposed to laugh.
Speaker 2:Oh, sorry. I anytime Steven, anytime you talk about anything the least bit controversial, politics, climate, I don't know what to do. Like, you can't talk about that stuff, man. God, we
Speaker 3:God cares about climate change because he cares about people.
Speaker 2:Oh, man.
Speaker 3:Not the
Speaker 2:other way
Speaker 3:around. Let's
Speaker 2:let's just talk about Jesus. Weird. This is getting weird.
Speaker 3:So one one of the things me and Zee did once, I had an elderly couple at my church. Everybody probably has an elderly couple at their church. This couple actually was going through hell. They the the husband had had a stroke, and they were halfway through a project building a shed. And I could just I could just tell that it was stressing them out, thinking about the stress of medical bills, hospital visits, and all of this stuff, and then this half built shed sitting in their backyard.
Speaker 3:And so I just told Zia. I was like, Zia, I know nothing about building sheds. I wouldn't trust me, like, with this at all. But this couple, I can see a need. I'm gonna ask them if we can help them.
Speaker 3:And we showed up. They purchased all of the materials that they needed. I didn't even know what to purchase, so I was glad that they took care of that. And me and Z showed up. And for months, every weekend, we would go out there and, literally, lumber by lumber I don't even know if that's a thing.
Speaker 3:Piece of wood by piece of wood, we we tried to build this thing. And we honestly, it took so long. I could tell that they were getting stressed out. But they also were really encouraged by our presence, just showing up, spending time with them. They make us these amazing snacks and give us root beer.
Speaker 3:And it was just a great opportunity for me and Zee to build relationship but also meet a need. Because the this elderly couple, they couldn't get up on a ladder. They couldn't, I mean, hold up this roof and reestablish kind of the the foundation and put in windows. And, like, when we finished this project, me and me and Z got this picture from them of this shed that was completely built. And we just at the end of it, we were, like, you know, this thing wouldn't exist if we didn't show up, if we didn't, you know, take time out of our week, out of our weekend, where we could be doing a 1,000 other different things.
Speaker 3:But we chose to serve. We chose to decenter ourselves and consider someone else. And I and I think my hope is that that that sets Zemari up for a life of servitude, a life of looking for opportunities to jump in.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And, I mean, I just think whenever you serve others there's a number of things that happens. 1, you truly do get your eyes off of yourself and that is what we want for all of our mentees. We we want them to be selfless. We want them to focus on the needs of others before themselves.
Speaker 2:We want them to be generous. Right? But, we also want to teach them how yes, we do need to love others, we do need to love our neighbors, but there's a lot of times where love can look practical. Like, you are loving your neighbor by helping them with this shed. Right?
Speaker 2:And it's it's like faith. If you have faith, if you call yourself a follower of Jesus, well, more times than not that gets played out in deeds. Right? That's in James 2, I think. But, it is like, Hey, look, Jesus calls us to love.
Speaker 2:In this circumstance, this is what love looks like. It looks like opening up a door for someone. It looks like picking up trash even though it's not yours. It looks like building a shed. It looks like being observant to other people and what they are going through and proactively being the hands and feet of Jesus Christ even if they haven't asked for help, right?
Speaker 2:And man, if if we can teach our mentees to do that, to look first to the needs of others and then trust that God's gonna take care of their own needs, that's a game changer. So that's a great thing.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, and the example of Jesus who I mean, he considered himself not to be equal with God. He lowered himself. He humbled himself even to the point of death on a cross. He the God of the universe decentered himself to make much of others, to make much of us, to love us.
Speaker 3:And that is the example we're following, is that if if the God of the universe can humble himself to not take a seat of importance that he rightfully deserves but choose to be a servant, then that that affects us. That calls us into a humility of putting others before ourselves and following in his footsteps, which is everything. That's what it means to be a lifelong follower of Jesus, to follow in his footsteps.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And and and so, teaching your mentee how how to get their eyes off of themselves, and then to teach them how to focus first on the needs of others. Right? That's that Philippians 2, do do nothing out of conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourself. Look not only to your own own interests but also to the interests of others.
Speaker 2:And it's like that serving others is rooted in humility. Serving others is rooted in just having the mind of Christ. And that is such an important thing. And I think for us as mentors, we have to make this happen because I have yet to meet a lot of junior high or high school kids who have come up to me and said, hey, Zach, why don't we go serve others on this fine Saturday afternoon? Right?
Speaker 2:It's it's just not gonna happen. But, I think one thing that is so cool They
Speaker 3:say I'm hungry. I'm hungry. Give
Speaker 2:me. But I think a great opportunity for us as mentors as as we do focus first on the needs of others, it it is, hey, let's go find out what it feels like to go feed the homeless. Let's go find out what it feels like to volunteer at the local elementary school and to help kids read. Let's go volunteer at this non profit, right? And, you expose them to different opportunities and you never know which one they will catch, right?
Speaker 2:I have a friend back in Dallas who works at a homeless shelter because one day whenever he was a kid his church youth group went and volunteered there. And, he just said, I can't explain it but my life hasn't ever been the same since. And, so, you you never know what the Lord has for these kids for your mentee and how exposing them to an opportunity to serve might unlock their unlock their giftings, unlock their their purpose in life.
Speaker 3:Yeah. That's so good. I I mean, I I think this one's challenging because, in a way, as a mentor, your mentee should be able to see this in your life, how you are focusing on the needs of others. And as a as a mentor, this is a reflection question for us. It's like, how are we humbling ourselves and putting the interest of others before our own?
Speaker 3:And we are not gonna be perfect. We all have bills to pay, things that we need to get accomplished, and we will not always put others before ourselves. And I I think talking about that and confessing that, but then also finding ways to model. Okay. How can I humble myself right now and not just think about me?
Speaker 3:I I think mentees can pick that up.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And I think a great way to do this, Steven, is invite your mentee over to your house for dinner. And if you're married, they they will watch how you serve your spouse. They will watch how you speak to your kids. They will watch you clear off the table.
Speaker 2:They'll watch you do the dishes. Morris, to your kids. They will watch you clear off the table. They'll watch you do the dishes more as caught than taught. Right?
Speaker 2:If you are in the car with them and you pass by someone who is asking for food, we'll pull a U-turn, pull into a McDonald's, grab a couple cheeseburgers, and go meet someone's tangible needs. Right? Like, I believe if you are a follower of Jesus, you're going to be doing these things anyways. So, yes, we are challenging you, hey, go volunteer at a shelter. Go volunteer at a nonprofit.
Speaker 2:But we'll also say, hey, if you don't have time to do that, you just following Jesus each and every day, you being yourself that follower of of Christ more is caught than taught. And, I I promise you your mentee is is picking up ways that you're serving in in it might even be something that like doesn't even come to our mind. Right? So
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, and I mean, there are a 1,000 opportunities every day to put somebody else before you. So,
Speaker 2:I'm sorry for inter interrupting, Steven. So, here's a great example. Alright? I had this professor back in college, and every time he was walking on the sidewalk and saw a piece of trash, he picked it up and put it in a trash can. Well, I saw that.
Speaker 2:We did never have a conversation about that, but I am about to be 40, and I still do that. Every time I see a piece of trash on the sidewalk, I pick it up and put it in my pocket. And it's all because of him. So, so much more has got than taught. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Alright. Steven, let's talk about how to teach a mentee to take what they've been given and to pass it on to others.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, I mean, it is the whole, the whole idea behind mentorship is that we wanna give away what we've received. So anything that we've learned, we want to impart. And so, I mean, I I think that even our last conversation about second Timothy 22, what you've received from me and trust a faithful man who will teach others, that the the idea of this kingdom principle of freely you have received, freely give, that we we need to impart that as a skill and a discipline of whatever you receive, don't let it end with you, let it begin with you. And so if I learn something, if I read something in a book, I'm gonna share it with somebody that I know.
Speaker 3:And and I think kids can do this more than you think they can. It's it's assumed that kids are just supposed to learn to learn to learn, but actually teaching and giving actually reinforces more than than just the the book smart, the learning. That that that is a part of the process. Learning and doing. Doing reinforces learning.
Speaker 3:And so that that's what I think of when I think of providing help, is really how how are we setting up our mentees to impart what they've received from us? That could be seeing z teach, another boy something that I've taught him, and me creating an opportunity for him to share what he's learned. I mean, you can't underestimate the the power of the little moments where you allow kids to serve. Here here's an example. Last night at the PTA, I I shared and one of our boys was there.
Speaker 3:His mom is on the board of the PTA. And I was, like, well, I need to invite him into sharing what what 4 Runner is about. And so he recited our 4 Runner rap that talks about what it means to be a man of God, that we act with responsibility, humility, integrity, leadership, and respect. He got to share all of that stuff. And so he had this opportunity to give away what he's received in program.
Speaker 3:And if if I'm in a mode where I'm like, well, this is my speaking engagement. This is for me to share. I'll miss that opportunity of what what this kid can experience in in giving away what he's received.
Speaker 2:Man, Steven. I think that's spot on. The best mentors open up doors of opportunity to give their mentees experiences that they would never have on their own. So, like, I think the PTA would never go up to that kid and be like, Hey, would you speak in front of a 100 parents on Thursday night? Right?
Speaker 2:But they asked you to do that and you used that opportunity to give him experience and to teach him and to get him comfortable on stage and to do all of these things, right? There's a verse that comes to mind, it's in, I think it's 1st Peter 4, but it talks about, As you have received a gift, use it to serve other people. And, yeah, like, we we want to call out the giftings in our mentees. Hey, you're smart, you're good with people, you're good at math, da da da. But we also, hey, like, let's talk about the gifts that God has given us and how how can we use those gifts?
Speaker 2:Whether it's our job or our speaking engagements or just opportunities, just things that we get to do? How can we use those gifts that God has so graciously given to us to serve other people? And I think a conversation needs to be had often about, hey, look, I am mentoring you because I love you, but I'm also mentoring you because I expect you to pass it on. So, I was being discipled by a guy a couple years back. And after every time we met, he said, who are you gonna impart what you just learned from me too?
Speaker 2:And that's a really good question because we want to make disciples that make disciples that make disciples. And so, I think it's okay to create an environment where you are challenging your mentee. Hey, look. I'm investing a lot into you and I'm pouring a ton into you because I believe in you. Now, who are you investing into?
Speaker 2:Who are you mentoring yourself? And I think that that can be really, really powerful. So That's awesome, buddy. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Well and that's just the be the beauty of mentorship is it it's it's modeling what we want them to do when they when they become adults. And it it isn't always explicit, but I I think I think those opportunities where you make it explicit, where you say, hey. Do you know the reason I'm investing my life in you? Because I know you're going to impart these things to someone else. And I I think there is a responsibility for us to make that an explicit part of what we're going after because we have to cast that vision.
Speaker 3:It's going to happen whether we say that or not. But if we do say it, it's gonna give them vision in doing it. So
Speaker 2:Well and it's going to give them words to say to their next mentee. Right? So so, I I've got this guy who I work with. He's a total stud. And, he's 30, married, he's got a couple kids.
Speaker 3:He told me that.
Speaker 2:No, Steven. You you were in my previous life, but he came up to me a couple weeks ago and was like, hey, Zach. Do you think that you would be interested in mentoring me? And I was like, Oh, heck yeah, man. I would love that.
Speaker 2:So, we sat down for our first conversation this past week and just kind of, Hey, look, man. Let's talk about areas that you think that, you know, you you could you could row in and things like that. But after we talked about all that I said, Hey, look. I just want you to know that whenever we're done here I'm going to expect you to take everything that I've learned and to go find someone else on staff and invest into them because that's what it's all about. It's about disciples who make disciples.
Speaker 2:It's about generations being changed and giving, your mentee the mindset and the framework that you're here to make disciples. Right? That you are here to take what you have learned and it doesn't stop with you and that your main job in life is to invest into other people and teach those people how to invest in other people. I guess that's it for our series. Steven?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I mean, it's it's kind of the what is it? The great the great commandment. Love the lord your god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Mhmm.
Speaker 3:And and if we can impart that, that is a law lifelong vision for following Jesus is is doing that.
Speaker 2:And what is the great commandment? Go and make a sentence. So the great commandment? Great commission. My bad.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:Great commission.
Speaker 2:I got my c words mixed up that, man, well, I I am personally kind of convicted by this podcast because I'm about to go home and to be with my wife and kids and I'm just like, oh, man, Lord. Give give me a servant's heart. Please, Jesus. So
Speaker 3:Yeah. Well, I mean, I think all of this stuff is is beneficial for us to consider because we aspire to be lifelong followers of Jesus. And these these are practices and conversations that are we need to have constantly. How are we serving? How how are we living counter culturally?
Speaker 3:How are we connecting with community? And how how are our spiritual disciplines? Like, those things you you don't get away from those conversations if if you wanna follow Jesus long term. So
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. And just like I love discipling other people. I love being a mentor because it helps me be a good follower of Jesus. Right?
Speaker 2:It helps keep me in the flow of what Jesus has for me. So Yeah. Alright. Well, ladies and gentlemen, if you liked what you heard, please go on Apple Podcasts and give us a 5 star rating. Leave us a written review.
Speaker 2:Share it with your friends, please. We we have 73 5 stars on Apple Podcasts and it's been that way for, like, 6 months. So someone make it 74, please. Just that's my only ask today.
Speaker 3:So say that Zach told you to do it and then lose 5 stars.
Speaker 2:Go and, pick up our book if you haven't read that. It's called You Can Mentor. Find it on Amazon and follow Steven Murray.
Speaker 3:It's really good. Zach wrote it.
Speaker 2:And follow Steven Murray on Instagram so you can see his beard.
Speaker 3:And baby.
Speaker 2:And beard and babies. But, alright. Well, if you wanna hear words of encouragement, you came to the right place because you can mentor.
Speaker 3:You can mentor.