1 Corinthians 4:16
Introduction
: I few reasons for this message…piggy-backing on Father’s Day and today’s graduates and children singing.
Paul was able to say with confidence, ‘Follow me as I follow Christ.’
Application: You have heard it said that, ‘imitation is the sincerest form of flattery’.
1 Corinthians 11:1
, ‘You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ’.
Philippians 3:17
,
‘Join one another in following my example, brothers, and carefully observe those who live according to the pattern we set for you’.
Philippians 4:9
, ‘Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, put these things into practice. And the God of peace will be with you’.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
,
‘And you became imitators of us and of the Lord when you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite of your great suffering’.
2 Thessalonians 3:9
, ‘Not that we lack this right, but we wanted to offer ourselves as an example for you to imitate’.
Transition
: To his young protégé Timothy, the Apostle Paul states this,
1 Timothy 4:12
‘Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit
1
, in faith, in purity’
. (NKJ)
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit1, in faith, in purity. (1Ti 4:12 NKJ)
[
Let no man despise thy youth
]
It is clear from this that Timothy was then a young man, but his exact age there is no means of determining. It is implied here:
(1) that there was danger that, by the levity and indiscretion to which youth are so much exposed, the ministry might be regarded with contempt; and
(2) that it was possible that his deportment should be so grave, serious, and every way appropriate, that the ministry would not be blamed, but honored. The “way” in which Timothy was to live so that the ministry would not be despised on account of his youth, the apostle proceeds immediately to specify.
[
But be thou an example of the believers
]
[
In word
]
En logo
= In “speech,” that is, your manner of conversation. This does not refer to his “public teaching” – in which he could not probably be an “example” to them-but to his usual and familiar conversation.
[
In conduct
]
En anastrophee
. In general deportment. See this word explained in the notes on Phil 1:27.
[
In charity
]
En agapee
. In love and goodwill to God and man; show that this is the principle and motive of all thy conduct.
[
In spirit
]
En pneumati
. 1 In the government of your passions, and in a mild, meek, forgiving disposition.
[
In faith
] En pistei.
[
In purity
.]
En hagneia
. In chasteness of life; see 1 Tim 5:2. There should be nothing in your contact with the other sex that would give rise to scandal. The papists, with great impropriety, understand this as enjoining celibacy-as if there could be no “purity” in that holy relation which God appointed in Eden, and which he has declared to “be honorable in all” (Heb 13:4), and which he has made so essential to the wellbeing of mankind. If the apostle had wished to produce the highest possible degree of corruption in the church, he would have enjoined the celibacy of the clergy and the celibacy of an indefinite number of nuns and monks. There are no other institutions on the earth which have done so much to corrupt the chastity of the race, as those which have grown out of the doctrine that celibacy is more honorable than marriage.
Transition
: 10 practical ways to lead by Example (Carl Golden)
Word to the Wise
Introduction: Let me finish my thoughts on Matthew 8-10. Jesus is moved for the people and to send disciples/others into the whitened harvest field. Jesus does give additional instructions and awareness of lays before them. Question: Why did Jesus not send the disciples to Gentiles and Samaritans? In Romans 1:16 Paul writes, “I am not…
Author and Authorization
Matthew 10:1-15 Introduction: This is where I left off last week. Because there is a ripen harvest prepared by God himself… Jesus says, 9:38, ‘So pray, to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into the fields.’ Pray =Ask =Send = thrust forth – ‘The harvest is…
The Lost – A Whitened Harvest
Introduction: Last week I spoke about what the oil running down Aaron’s beard was all about. It was about the separation of objects and especially people for God’s use. Transition: In the Book of Matthew, after Jesus taught about matters like praying, not judging others, the ‘golden rule’, the problem with worrying, and some other…
Oil on Aaron’s Beard
Psalm 133:1-2; Lev. 8:10-12 Introduction: Some of you may have heard or studied this image in scripture of oil soaking Aaron’s beard and dripping down all the way to his toes. This comes from Psalm 133:1-2 & Leviticus 8:10-12. I sensed the Lord was putting this in my heart and mind and what the significance…
Nothing Formed
Isaiah 54:1-17 Introduction: The last verse of Isaiah chapter 54 is one of the verses we lean on frequently. NLT – Isaiah 54:17 ‘But in that coming day no weapon (turned, formed, forged) against you will (succeed, prosper)’. ‘You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants…
Harvest Seed
2 Corinthians 9 Introduction: Last weekend I spoke to you about Sabbath rest and how (Labor Day) was one of those days as a day of extra ‘rest’. Labor Day is also known as the last (unofficial) weekend of the summer. That’s the natural time (God’s time) we are moving into. The first official day…
Why Rest
Labor Day today is a welcomed day not only because it recognizes workers/labors, but because it gives us an extra day of ‘rest’. Judaism[edit] Main article: Shabbat See also: Hebrew calendar Jewish Shabbat (Shabbath, Shabbes, Shobos, etc.) is a weekly day of rest, observed from sundown on Friday until the appearance of three stars in…
The Big Stick
Exodus 15:22-16:27 Introduction: Trustin God during Bitter Times ‘The people complained and turned against Moses.’Meaning: 1) to lodge, stop over, pass the night, abide 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to lodge, pass the night 1a2) to abide, remain (fig.) 1b) (Hiphil) to cause to rest or lodge 1c) (Hithpalpel) to dwell, abide 2) to grumble, complain, murmur…
The Big Wave
Exodus 14:15-31 Question: The ‘Big Wave’! God told them to tell Pharoah,‘to hold a feast’ better interpreted ‘make a pilgrimage, keep a pilgrim feast’ Exodus 5:1, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.’ Exodus 6:6-7 Ancient…