Be An Example

INTRODUCTION: Scripture Reading- 1 Timothy 4:12

A. About Timothy: F.B. Meyer “Timothy was a lad of fifteen when converted at Lystra, and was probably about thirty-five years of age when this Epistle was addressed to him. He was enthusiastic and devoted but at times showed signs of timidity, and the Apostle watched over him with tender interest.”

1. 2 Tim. 3:14-15 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

B. Youth often face challenges and skepticism, but God calls them to live in such a way that their lives become an example to others.

1. Someone is watching you.

2. Ancient orators taught that, to be heard, the speaker had to apply PATHOS (pain/suffering), LOGOS (word-principle) and ETHOS (character). People watch to see if what you do matches what you say.

3. Timothy was being watched. So, Paul could teach others how to live through Timothy.

4. He instructs and commands: Be an example!

Discussion:

I. Let No Man Despise Thy Youth

A. Understanding the Challenges of Youth

1. Too young to understand

a. 1 Tim. 4:12 “despise”- think against, disesteem

i. Titus 2:15 “Let no man despise thee” (Titus 1:4 “mine own son after the common faith”) Apparently, this was a problem in the first century as it is a problem still today.

b. 1 Sam. 2:18-21 Samuel [Read]

c. David was chosen from a boy to be king and a prophet.

2. Too young to be ready

a. No one on earth thought David was ready to be king or fight a giant

b. No one thought Jesus (especially his earthly parents) thought he was ready to talk to the teachers at the temple [Lk 2: 41-52]

3. Family- Good or bad

a. Ezek. 18:20 “The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.”

b. “I see a lot of that boy’s father in him, he’ll never change.”

c. “That kid was raised better than that, he or she ought to know better.”

B. Overcoming Stereotypes and Prejudices

1. Temperance and Patience- Self-control to not say certain things and patience to give young people the opportunity to prove themselves.

2. There are a great deal of stereotypes out there about older people as well; however, we are told to respect our elders as in those that are older in I Tim. 5:1-2. (How to respect the younger also and even how to treat the widows.)

C. Finding Confidence in the work that God commands us to do

1. In the 1^st Century the life expectancy was 35-40 years old. Did people live longer, yes, but this was the average. So, people were forced to grow up early so to speak. I don’t know exactly how old Timothy was, physically he might have been as old as Luke or Joseph, but mentally he might have been as old as any one of the rest of us.

2. God believes in our abilities, and when we have God on our side then why should we be against us (i.e. we should believe in ourselves just as much as God does.)

3. I Cor. 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also of Christ.” (followers- mimetes [mimic]- an imitator)

a. Phil. 3:12-21

II. Be Thou an Example of the Believers

Leading by Example
In this life, we can either be a good example of a good example or we can be a good example of a bad example.
1. Good example of a bad example: Jude 1:7 “Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”
2. Good example of a good example: John 13:15 “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”
Demonstrating Christ-like Character

1. I Pet. 2:21-25 [Read]

C. Reflecting God's Love, Mercy, and Forgiveness

1. Matt. 5, John 8, John 9 (reflect the light of the world)

2. How? Walk in the light of the gospel. 2 Cor. 4:3-6; I John 1:7

III. In Word

The Power of Speech
Think about it: God spoke everything into existence. His WORD was spoken into existence and written down by man. Not every human on this earth can read though, so how do some people get and understand God’s words.
1. Rom. 10:5-17

2. Rom. 1:16-17

B. Speaking Truth in Love

1. Eph. 4:15

C. Using Words to Encourage and Build Up

1. Eph. 4:29-32 [Read]

IV. In Conversation

Conduct and Behavior
KJV- conversation; ASV 1901- manner of life; NKJV & ESV- conduct; ISV- behavior
Whether young or old, when we obey the gospel, people are watching the way we behave and waiting for us to make a mistake.
We must always be on guard and be very careful. Are we going to make mistakes,yes, but this is a good life lesson for us and everyone around us.
1. Rom. 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
2. I John 1:8-10 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”
3. John 8:7 The men were about to stone the women they were accusing of adultery. Jesus stooped down and drew in the dirt with his finger as they talked as if he didn’t hear them and then said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”
4. John 7:1-5 vs. 1 “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” vs. 5 “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”
Living Consistently with Faith and Obedience
If we follow after Paul and Christ; and other good examples of good examples with consistency, then we will be fine.
Again, we are going to make mistakes and sin from time to time, but the key is to repent and to not fall away and live in sin or let sin be our master again.
1. Rom. 6:15-23 [Read]

V. In Charity

A. Practicing Love Towards Others

1. KJV- charity (agape)- unconditional love, no strings attached

2. God’s love is unconditional, it only comes with an offer and if we accept that offer, then the offer has conditions.

3. God loved us before we became Christians.

a. Rom. 5:8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

4. He wants us to show the same love towards others.

a. I Pet. 1:22-23 [Read]

b. I Thess. 3:12 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

B. Serving Selflessly

1. Christ was willing to go to his death for each and everyone of us

a. Luke 22:43 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”

C. Showing Compassion and Kindness

1. Paul was often bold in his writings, but he was also compassionate and kind.

a. Acts 20:17-38 [Read]

VI. In Spirit

A. Cultivating a Spirit of Humility

1. I Pet. 5:5-11[Read]

a. We all of something to learn from each other

b. We all of something to learn from God

B. Have Qualities of the Fruit of the Spirit

1. Gal. 5:22-26 [Read]; Eph. 5:6-10 [Read]

C. Demonstrating Spiritual Maturity

1. I Cor. 3:2 “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

2. Heb. 5:11-14

3. I Pet. 2:1-12 We must grow in maturity, starting with milk up to meat, so we can be a good example of a good example to the Gentiles or those that are without or outside of the church.

VII. In Faith

A. Trusting in God's Promises

1. “Trust in the LORD”- 19 times

2. The Psalmist put is trust in the Lord (10 of 19)

3. Jesus trusted the Father in the garden.

B. Walking in Faithfulness

1. Walking in faithfulness implies obedience

2. Those we read about in Heb. 11 set that example for us.

a. By faith…Abraham, Noah, Enoch, Abel, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph

C. Setting an Example of Trusting God in All Circumstances

1. Whether happy, terrifying, stressful, the Bible gives us plenty of examples of men of God trusting in Him and remaining faithful, we can remain faithful too and be examples to others in our lives.

2. 2 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

VIII. In Purity

A. Maintaining Moral Integrity

1. Timothy was a young preacher and there is probably no more important job in maintaining moral integrity. If he were a politician, everyone would expect him to slip up or at least not be surprised.

2. Back to the stereotypes: young people are typically impetuous and are inclined to get themselves into all sorts of trouble.

3. However; even as we get older, we haven’t all grown out of certain habits and we might need to control our anger or our words or some other actions.

B. Pursuing Holiness in Every Aspect of Life

1. We should be having Christian qualities in this building and outside this building.

2. The first qualification of an elder is to desire to be one, but whether or not we desire to be one we should be striving to have some of the qualifications of an elder, such as:

a. sober- not just mind controlling substances like drugs, but have a clear head, be focused

b. good behavior

c. no striker/brawler- don’t always be looking for a fight or an argument (cool or levelheaded)

d. don’t be greedy

e. be patient or strive for patience

f. don’t be covetous- or want other peoples direct possessions

g. I Tim. 3:7 “Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without;”

C. Guarding Against Temptation and Sin

1. 2 Cor. 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

2. We can overcome if we trust in God and put Him in first in our lives. Let’s be that example to everyone in our lives.

Conclusion:

A. I Tim. 4:12 "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

B. To our youth, but also to everyone else, let’s be good examples to everyone in our lives…family, friends, co-workers, the strange we meet at the store. We may be the only example of a true Bible Christian they ever meet in their life.

C. Let’s honor God, obey Him, and reflect His light in this world in which we pilgrimage as long as we are here.

D. Invitation