Imitators Part 1
Imitators • Sermon • Submitted
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· 21 viewsPaul asked us to imitate him. What was he like? An amazing evangelism and missionary!
Notes
Transcript
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
Ellie
Ellie
Ellie likes to do everything that daddy does.
My first pastorate was two hours north of here in Valentine. I covered 8 counties in Nebraska, including the largest one. People used to ask me what I do as a pastor. I would say, “drive.” I used to be on the road from 8 am until 1 am.
Now, it is a little different. I’m not on the road quite as much, especially with Ellie. Because we refuse to have a baby sitter I’m at home with Ellie in the mornings. Even though I’m at home, work still seems to find me. Recently, and as usual, I have been on the phone a lot.
I first began to realize how much I was on the phone one day when Ellie started to do something peculiar. She began to pick up anything that was somewhat flat and hold it to her ear. At first, I didn’t know what she was doing until a couple of days later she grabbed a fridge magnet, held it to her ear and said, “hello, blah, blah, blah, blah.”
Ellie is like a parrot
She will imitate
everything I do.
Whether I like it
or not.
Imitation
Imitation Bacon
Imitation Bacon
Imitation Bacon
Dictionary:
take or follow as a model.
copy or simulate.
Illustration
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. That is why a wife ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman; for as woman was made from man, so man is now born of woman. And all things are from God. Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a wife to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering. If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God.
But in the following instructions I do not commend you, because when you come together it is not for the better but for the worse. For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you. And I believe it in part, for there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized. When you come together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. For in eating, each one goes ahead with his own meal. One goes hungry, another gets drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I commend you in this? No, I will not.
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
So then, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another— if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home—so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. About the other things I will give directions when I come.
The title of the sermon
“Imitators.”
What does it mean to imitate?
Dictionary:
take or follow as a model.
take or follow as a model.
Imitate: take or follow as a model; copy or simulate.
Imitate: take or follow as a model; copy or simulate.
copy or simulate.
copy or simulate.
In order to,
To copy or imitate,
You must study…
Paul said to imitate him...
Lets Study Paul
Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
This is Paul...
This is the man
that he is...
He asked us to imitate
where do we start?
commitment
zeal
selflessness
willingness
evangelist
Don and Cathy’s Parrot
Don and Cathy’s Parrot
If you go to Don and Cathy’s house you will find multiple animals. Lots of dogs, a cat and a African Grey Parrot. They pecking order is very unique. The dogs are on the bottom of the totem pole because the cat is pretty mean. The king of the house is the parrot. He has learned to repeat many things in the house. He can ring exactly like the phone. He “answers the phone” just like Don: “Don here”. One thing he did to establish himself at the top of the totem pole was to taunt the cat. He learned to say, “here kitty kitty.” Then he would try to bite the cat if it got close!
Parrots imitate
Paul asked us to
do the same.
Paul Was: Passionate
Paul Was: Passionate
in all that he does.
Let start at the beginning
not of Paul
but another man
named Saul.
The first time we see him
during stoning of Stephen.
But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.
adds:
“And Saul approved of his execution.”
English Standard Version Chapter 8
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and dthey were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But eSaul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he fdragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Continuing the story:
And Saul approved of his execution.
And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.
Christians Scattered
Saul was not content
He wanted to
chase them down.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Jerusalem to Damascus
1 Hour flight
5 Hour Drive
150 miles
Foot / Donkey
= 1 week.
No Short trip
Saul was intense!
He wouldn’t stop!
Don and Cathy’s Parrot
Don and Cathy’s Parrot
If you go to Don and Cathy’s house you will find multiple animals. Lots of dogs, a cat and a African Grey Parrot. They pecking order is very unique. The dogs are on the bottom of the totem pole because the cat is pretty mean. The king of the house is the parrot. He has learned to repeat many things in the house. He can ring exactly like the phone. He “answers the phone” just like Don: “Don here”. One thing he did to establish himself at the top of the totem pole was to taunt the cat. He learned to say, “here kitty kitty.” Then he would try to bite the cat if it got close!
Parrots imitate
Paul asked us to
do the same.
Paul Was: Sacrificial
Paul Was: Sacrificial
Passionate
Passionate
Sacrificial
Sacrificial
In the back of your bible
trips of Paul.
We count 4 missionary trips
that is wrong
This is the first one!
Mission of Death!
But
You know the story.
Light and Voice.
Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.
After quick healing
by Ananias,
He gets to work
mission work
mission of life.
and taking food, he was strengthened.
For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.
People don’t believe
People don’t believe
Paul went from a
People don’t believe
mission of death
to
mission of life.
Sacrificing his life for
missions
life or death.
Barnabas first missionary to Antioch
needed help
went looking for Paul.
After 1 year
God tells them
ordain Paul and Barnabas
as missionaries.
Paul Was: Mission-Oriented
Paul Was: Mission-Oriented
Paul spent the
rest of his life
church planting.
You might be thinking,
I can’t imitate that...
God has not called me
to be a missionary.
au contraire!
Loma Linda Messages 1. Our Work—To Preach the Everlasting Gospel. Matthew 28:19, 20. Revelation 14:6–11
The commission given to the disciples is given also to us. Today, as then, a crucified and risen Saviour is to be uplifted before those who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord calls for pastors, teachers, and evangelists,—
The words, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature,” are spoken to each one of Christ’s followers. All who are ordained into the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. The same longing of soul that He felt for the saving of the lost is to be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place, but for all there is a place and a work. All upon whom God’s blessing have been bestowed are to respond by actual service; every gift is to be employed for the advancement of His kingdom.—Testimonies for the Church 8:15, 16.
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8 Chapter 2—The Commission
The commission given to the disciples is given also to us. Today, as then, a crucified and risen Saviour is to be uplifted before those who are without God and without hope in the world. The Lord calls for pastors, teachers, and evangelists
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8 Chapter 2—The Commission
The words “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) are spoken to each one of Christ’s followers. All who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. The same longing of soul that He felt for the saving of the lost is to be manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place, but for all there is a place and a work. All upon whom God’s blessings have been bestowed are to respond by actual service; every gift is to be employed for the advancement of His kingdom.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
President Calvin Coolidge invited some people from his hometown to dinner at the White House. Since they did not know how to behave at such an occasion, they thought the best policy would be just to do what the President did. The time came for serving coffee. The President poured his coffee into a saucer. As soon as the home folk saw it, they did the same. The next step for the President was to pour some milk and add a little sugar to the coffee in the saucer. The home folks did the same. They thought for sure that the next step would be for the President to take the saucer with the coffee and begin sipping it. But the President didn’t do so. He leaned over, placed the saucer on the floor and called the cat.
Actually, think about it:
What was his method
Who paid him?
Was he a “full-time” missionary?
yes and no...
Yes,
everything was for mission work
No,
He had to financially support himself.
What was his job?
After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them, and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.
We say,
I don’t have time...
I have a job...
I’m busy...
Paul did too!!!
His job supported
his real purpose
mission work.
We are all called
to be missionaries.
Our main purpose
mission work..
Our job
is to support us
while we do mission work.
Our problem,
We have gotten side-tracked.
People ask us,
What do you do?
We say,
doctor
cook
teacher
secretary
stay-at-home mom.
Wrong!
We do mission work.
We simply earn a living
through those jobs...
Paul asked us to imitate him.
What was he like?
Paul Was:
Paul Was:
Passionate
Passionate
Sacrificial
Sacrificial
Mission-Oriented
Mission-Oriented
If we are going to
imitate Paul.
We need to be
all of these things.
Appeal
A child recently told me the story about how their father stopped smoking. Their family had become Christian and then kind of fell back into the world a little bit. Again, the father started smoking. He tried to be a closet smoker but one day his daughter found his pack of cigarettes in the basement. The daughter wanted to send a clear signal to the father. She took out each cigarette and wrote on it with her marker: WWJD.
I’m sure that dad did not have an easy time smoking those cigarettes. He quit shortly afterwards.
Today,
we need the same reminder,
WWJD.
We need to be
like Christ
like Paul
spending our life
for others.
How many are willing
to make a commitment?
How many,
choose to be
Passionate
Sacrificial
Mission-Oriented?
290 - Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus