An Example to the Believers in Word, Conduct, and Love I. Introduction. A. Reference to series from 1 Timothy 4:12-14. 1. Last week, Let No One Desapise Your Youth. 2. Read the text. - Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you. 3. Reference to future lessons. B. Context of passage. 1. Paul is advising Timothy on how to conduct himself specifically toward the church. 2. Timothy is a young man who is responsible for preaching what is needed for a group of people. 3. Youth might be an obstacle which would have to be overcome. 4. Paul gives Timothy instruction here on how to avoid the common problems that are associated with a young person instructing those who are older than he. - the answer is to be a good example in all facets of life. 5. Older people are going to be a little reluctant to listen to a younger person. - that s just natural. 6. But if the younger person conducts themselves in a certain way, then the older people will be more likely to listen to him. C. This lesson and next week s lesson are about being an example. 1. God put each one of us on this earth to influence other people. 2. God expects each one of us to influence others in a positive manner. - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Mt. 5:16 3. We influence a lot of people. - family members. - classmates. - co-workers. - neighbors. - people in the community. 4. But I want you to notice the specific example that Paul is talking about in these verses. - an example to the believers. 5. Paul is focusing on the example that Timothy needs to set in the church. - to other Christians. 6. And that is what we are going to focus on this morning.
- the example that I am setting for my brethren. D. Goals of the Lesson. 1. To motivate young people to be a good example. 2. To cause all of us to recognize the importance of setting a good example. II. An Example to the Believers in Word. A. I believe that there are two things that are involved in what Paul refers to here. 1. That Timothy needed to be a good example in regards to preaching THE WORD, that is the truth of the gospel. 2. But also that Timothy needed to be a good example in his day-to-day speech. 3. We will consider both of these points. B. An example in preaching the Word of God. 1. If you will remember from our study of Paul s letters to Timothy, one of the major themes is for Timothy to be loyal to the truth. - to not compromise it as others had done. 2. If Timothy wanted others to hold firm to the truth, then Timothy had to set the tone. 3. The point to us is that we need to make sure we are speaking the truth. - 1 Peter 4:11, If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 4. If we want our friends to accept the truth and hold on to it, then we have to set the tone. - we must learn to speak where the Bible speaks and be silent where the Bible is silent. - we have to show them that there is such a thing is TRUTH, and not just somebody s opinion. 5. As a young person, it is vital that you learn to speak the Word, and only the Word. - if you will do that, you can be a great example to your friends. 6. But notice also from our text: - you can be a great example to your fellow Christians. - nothing is more encouraging to a Christian than to see a young person standing up for the Bible and for truth. C. An example in speech. 1. All of us, at one time or another, have been around people who have had problems with controlling their tongue. - profanity. - lying. - gossip. - anger. 2. What did we think of those people? - we probably didn t value them very much. - because their speech turned us off. - we didn t want to have much to do with them. 3. Our speech affects our influence. 4. Good, wholesome speech has great practical value.
- Proverbs 15:1, A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. - Proverbs 15:23, A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is! - Proverbs 25:11, A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. - Proverbs 13:3, He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. 5. We have a choice to make regarding our speech. - We can either build people up or tear people down. - Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 6. Does the words that come out of my mouth build up the people around us? - my children? - my spouse? - my friends? - my neighbors? - my brethren? 7. We need to realize the effect that our words can have. - James describes the tongue as: - a fire, a world of iniquity (James 3:6). - an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:8). 8. Are we an example in our speech? - what if everyone spoke the same way that I do? - are we influencing our brethren? III. An Example to the Believers in Conduct. A. Timothy needed to be an example in how a Christian should conduct themselves. 1. There is a certain code of conduct for a Christian. 2. In any job that you have, there is a certain way that employees are to behave. 3. In a management class that I am taking.. - we have been studying about an organization s culture. - or the core values that an organization espouses. - employees are expected to live up to these core values. 4. The same is true regarding Christianity. - It is our job. - And we must live up to the values of our organization. 5. Philippians 1:27, Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 6. 1 Peter 1:15, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. 7. 1 Peter 1:17, and if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. B. The conduct of a Christian casts a reflection upon God. 1. We referenced Mt. 5:16 earlier.
- did you notice the purpose of letting our light shine? - so that others might glorify our Father. 2. It works in the opposite way, too. - if we behave in an immoral and wicked way. - we will cast a bad reflection upon our Father. - Romans 2:24, For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you. - an indictment on the Jews. 3. An employee s actions influence people s perception of a business. - if we deal with a banker or financial advisor who is dishonest to us. - what do we think of the bank or company he works for? C. Back in 1 Timothy 4, notice the connection of the first two areas in which Paul instructs Timothy to be an example. 1. An example in word. - in speaking the truth and speaking properly. 2. An example in conduct. - in behaving like a Christian should. 3. Paul emphasizes to Timothy that he must be an example in both areas. - in word and deed. 4. Both are equally important. - Colossians 3:17, and whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. 5. You can just say all of the right things, you ve got to do them, too. - James 1:22, but be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 6. This is a temptation to all of us. - it s pretty easy for us to say the right things. - but it s another story to put them into practice. 7. As we sit here this morning, it s pretty easy for all of us to agree on what we ought to do. - but what happens when we go home? - we find out that it is a whole lot harder to put the principles into our day-to-day lives. 8. The temptation to fail to do as we say is great for preachers. - Our job is to stand up in front of you and tell you how to conduct yourselves. - But we have our own struggles and weaknesses just like everyone else. 9. All this means is that we must work hard to practice what we preach. D. Young people, work at being a good example in your conduct. 1. Your friends will notice that there are certain things that you won t do. 2. They will notice when you won t neglect doing certain things like attending services even if there is something else going on. 3. But remember our subject: An example to the believers. - You can help all of us by being a good example. IV. An Example to the Believers in Love.
A. Finally, Timothy was to be an example to the believers in love. 1. Probably two areas in which Timothy was to be an example. - in showing his love for God. - in showing his love for his brethren. 2. Love is the central characteristic of a Christian. 3. Just as it is the central characteristic of God. - If I asked you to use one word to describe who God is, what word would most of you choose? - If I asked you to use one word to describe a Christian, love would be a good response. 4. Our whole spiritual life revolves around the concept of love. - John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. - 1 John 3:16, we know love, because He laid down His life for us. - 1 John 3:19, we love Him because He first loved us. - 1 John 3:11, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 5. Two questions that I want to consider in examining our example of love. - How do we show our brethren that we love God? - How do we show our brethren that we love them? B. How do we show our brethren that we love God? - Survey results: 1) by obeying all the commandments of God. - live our lives as near to the Bible as we can. - by our willingness and desire to do right. - Phil. 4:8-9, meditating on the right kinds of things. - live the kind of life, and do things that are Christ-like. - by doing what God s word says, and not doing things our way. - being the Christian God wanted. - by living a Christian life even away from services. 2) by our commitment to studying God s word. 3) by participating in the assemblies. - being prepared for class. - participating in class. - taking part in the singing, etc. - men preparing themselves for the public praying. 4) by attending all services of the church. - consistency in attendance. - attending meetings at other congregations. - attending home Bible studies. 5) by our prayers. - be constant in prayer. - being prayerful to God when with our brethren at mealtime in public places (when most may be ashamed to pray in public). 6) by setting a good example. - by our example in loving the truth, obeying the truth, and respecting the truth.
7) by loving our brethren. - think of others more than yourself. 8) by putting God first in our lives. 9) by teaching others and standing for the truth. 10) by making sure our actions are the same as our words. 11) by being a servant. 12) by our love for the church and its purity. 13) by honoring our father and mother. 14) by showing love and compassion for all. 15) by how we talk about Him and His word. C. How do we show our brethren that we love them? - Survey Results 1) by helping each other when needed. - caring for their physical needs. - using our blessings from God to help our brethren. - contacting, visiting, and helping the sick. 2) by showing hospitality. - visit them and invite them into your home. - prefer each other s company even socially. 3) by attending to their spiritual needs. - be willing to teach/rebuke when needed. - being concerned for their soul. - talking to them about God s word. - reprove them if necessary in love. - by going to them if they aren t living as they should. 4) by showing care and concern for them. - being aware of their problems. - being concerned for their welfare in everyday life. - always putting the welfare of others before self in word and deed. 5) by following the golden rule. - Mt. 7:12, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them. 6) by putting our love for them above ourselves, second only to God. 7) by not gossiping about them - not talking about or being critical of each other. 8) by simply being friendly. 9) by obeying God s commandments. 10) by being a good servant. 11) by forgiving each other. ** - having a readiness to forgive one another. 12) by praying for them. - by letting them know you are praying fo them and their well-being. 13) by loving all of our brothers and sisters. 14) by always making right any offense we might have committed toward anyone. 15) by not taking offense when none was intended. 16) by letting them know that we appreciate them and their efforts. - acknowledging their presence at worship and showing your pleasure in it.
D. Young people, you need to start now being an example in love. - in the things that your brethren have told you. - where do you need to start? V. Conclusion: You can make a difference!! - In the world. - In the church.