Be His Image! Series

Series: Imitators

Summary of last week: The key verses from last week were1 Thessalonians 1: 6-8a: 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.

The Thessalonians became role-models for the Mediterranean region of the world and their faith, hope and love imitated Jesus so much they became examples to many other s of what it means to be a Christian. They impacted 1,000 of people with their godly lives and their church became known as a church that everyone admired and respected.

The question could be asked Why?

This poem tells why?

Poem “Sermons We See” – written by Edgar A. Guest was born in Birmingham, England, became a United States citizen in 1902. His poem drives home the urgency of being a good, Christ-like role model for others to follow like the Thessalonians were:

I’d rather see a sermon

than hear one any day;

I’d rather one should walk with me

than merely tell the way.

The eye’s a better pupil

and more willing than the ear,

Fine counsel is confusing,

but example’s always clear;

And the best of all the preachers

are the men who live their creeds,

For to see good put in action

is what everybody needs.

I soon can learn to do it

if you’ll let me see it done;

I can watch your hands in action,

but your tongue too fast may run.

And the lecture you deliver

may be very wise and true,

But I’d rather get my lessons

by observing what you do;

For I might misunderstand you

and the high advice you give,

But there’s no misunderstanding

how you act and how you live.

When I see a deed of kindness,

I am eager to be kind.

When a weaker brother stumbles

and a strong man stays behind

Just to see if he can help him,

then the wish grows strong in me

To become as big and thoughtful

as I know that friend to be.

And all travelers can witness

that the best of guides today

Is not the one who tells them,

but the one who shows the way.

One good man teaches many,

men believe what they behold;

One deed of kindness noticed

is worth forty that are told.

Who stands with men of honor

learns to hold his honor dear,

For right living speaks a language

which to everyone is clear.

Though an able speaker charms me

with his eloquence, I say,

I’d rather see a sermon

than to hear one, any day.

(The quote is from sermoncentral.com by David Reynolds)

Sermon: Be His Image!

Introduction: What does it mean to be an imitator of some else? What is meant is that we admire someone so much we want to be like them. Kids are great at doing this! My twins Ayden and Keagan love to imitate two specific super heroes “Spiderman, and Iron Man.”

Prop table: The table is filled with super hero stuff on it. The illustration is for a reference point on how people admire or imitate others. Share about who the boys imitate and hold up their costumes and gadgets. This is the boy’s super hero stuff, they love to imitate two heroes and pretend they are them. Why do they admire them and love them so much and always want to imitate them? They see these two super heroes saving and protecting innocent people from bad guys. Therefore they admire and want to be like them! But also have the cross in corner, with a robe draped over it and a crown on the rocks with the nails and remind the church that in essence Paul is complimenting the Thessalonians for imitating Jesus so well. We too should be doing the same with our lives – the symbols of the cross, the crown of thorns, the nails and the rocks should remind us that we need to remember the spiritual mile marker of the cross and imitate our Lord and Savior. He too has literally rescued many people from the bad guy.

Quote by Jeff Strite from sermoncentral.com: “Lily Tomlin is a famous woman comedian. Once she said, "I always wanted to be somebody, but I should have been more specific."

The Bible is being specific about who we should be imitating and patterning our lives after. But it is also imperative that we are genuine imitators of Jesus and not cheap replicas.

The following thoughts are from sermoncentral.com a message by Jonathan Busch -- “Imitation or Imitators?”

Now when you think of the word imitation I am sure all kinds of cheap replicas come to mind as well…