Be Thou an Example
And They Remembered His Words • Sermon • Submitted
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· 153 viewsA sermon on what it means to be an example
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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.
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Two cowboys are lost in the desert. One cowboy sees a tree that’s draped in bacon. “A bacon tree! We’re saved!” He says. He runs to the tree and is shot up with bullets. It wasn’t a bacon tree, it was a ham bush.
Introduction
Introduction
In life there are stages of development. You don’t usually get hired as the CEO. Usually you have to start at the bottom and work your way up.
In the military we first went through basic training and even at basic there were stages. First we were rainbows, then pickles, then canned pickles and then one day we became airmen.
This is true in humanity there are stages babies, toddlers, children, adolescents, adults, and senior citizens.
In the Body of Christ there are also stages. Scriptures speaks of babes in Christ, Children of God, our passage today talks about youth and there are those that are of full age. They have reached maturity.
When I was in seminary and learning to teach I learned the characteristics of the different stages of growth and maturity and also learned that these stages paralleled what is found spiritually.
Babes physically and spiritually are characterized by needing to be fed. Children are characterized by obedience. Those who are of full age have discernment. What is the characteristic that identifies with youth? It is being an example. If you were the oldest in your family, you may remember that your younger brothers and sisters looked up to you and your parents challenged you to be an example.
We have been engaged in the 2021 Scripture Memory Challenge and today we are studying 1 Timothy 4:12. Here Paul is writing to young Timothy. Timothy was not a baby, a toddler, a pre-teen, an adolescent or a young adult. Timothy was in his 30’s. But Paul writes to him, “Let no man despise thy youth;” And he challenges Timothy to be an example.
We too are challenged by this passage. We should be an example, the Greek literally means “become a pattern.” but an example of what? We are to be an example of believers in Six very specific areas. Let’s examine them together. Be Thou an example of believers....
Body
Body
…In Word
…In Word
In all that you say in public and private.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
…In Conversation
…In Conversation
Isn’t this repeating what was just said. No conversation is different than word. Conversation means conduct or behavior in the Old English sense of the word.
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
…In Love
…In Love
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
…In Spirit
…In Spirit
pneuma - The Holy Spirit
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
…In Faith
…In Faith
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
…In Purity
…In Purity
Greek = Hag-ni-ah
means - cleanliness, chastity, pure.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Be Thou an example
an image, a pattern, of what it means to be a believer
In Word, In Conversation, in Charity, In Spirit, In Faith, In Purity.
Maybe today you would say…Pastor I am not an example, then today is the day to get it right. What is the problem?
Are you saved?
Are you surrendered?
Are you in the Word?
Are you filled with the Spirit?
Come now.