Title: Being a good Example
Text: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Date: 8/5/2007
Location: Sulphur Spring Baptist Church
Introduction: Tomorrow is the first day of School in Simpson, County, and I know everyone is excited about that. But those of you who are parents know some children need a little extra encouragement or motivation to do their best in school. Which reminds me of the story of a little boy named Billy.
Like many children, Billy didn’t like to study, and would much rather go outside and play baseball after school rather than doing his homework. Unfortunately that meant his grades suffered, and he even failed math.
His parents tried everything they could to get him to do better in math, but he continued to fail. They got him a fun computer game that was supposed to make learning math fun. They hired someone to Tudor him but nothing seemed to work. They didn’t know what to do. Finally one of their friends suggested that they try putting him into a private parochial school. They thought about it for a few days, and decided to give it a try.
So they took him across town and enrolled him in the small Catholic School. They were shocked that afternoon when Billy came home and went straight to his room, closed the door, and immediately started working on his math homework. His mother had to almost force him to come down for dinner, and then after supper, he went right back up to his room and studied some more.
Several weeks later he brought his report card home and laid it on the kitchen table for his parents to see. When his mother read it, she was amazed to see that he had gotten an "A" in math.
She asked him about it. She wanted to know what had made such a dramatic difference in his grade. She asked him if it was the teachers, or the kind of books that they were using, but he just shook his head and said "no."
Then she looked him in the eye and said, well would you please tell me why your math grade has improved so dramatically. He said, well the first day I walked into math class I looked up on the wall, and saw a man nailed to a huge plus sign, and I realized that they were serious about math and that I was going to have to quit fooling around."
Sometimes we all need a little extra motivation whether it’s with our homework or our Spiritual lives. The Apostle Paul wrote the following passage of Scripture to his young friend Timothy to encourage him and motivate him to set a good example for the people he was ministering to in the city of Ephesus. Follow along with me as I read verses 12-16.
The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to a young man by the name of Timothy. Paul referred to Timothy as his “true son in the faith.” Many Bible scholars believe Paul was instrumental in Timothy becoming a Christian. But His relationship with Timothy didn’t end there. Instead, Paul carefully nurtured and discipled Timothy in the Faith. He even took Timothy with him on a couple of his missionary journeys. So I think we can safely say that Timothy was a devoted friend and co-worker of the Apostle Paul.
Paul’s purpose for writing to Timothy was to give him some much-needed advice on how to deal with certain problems that had developed in the church at Ephesus. He also wanted to encourage Timothy not to give up, but to instead remain strong in the Faith and keep fighting the good fight.
Paul also encouraged Timothy to teach the people in Ephesus the truths of the Gospel and to set a good Christian Example for them to follow. In verse 12 of our text Paul suggested to Timothy that there were five areas where he could set a good example for others to follow.
This morning, I want to encourage all of you, especially our children and young people to follow Paul’s advice as they begin a new school year.
I. FIRST OF ALL, PAUL ENCOURAGED TIMOTHY TO BE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN HIS SPEECH.
In other words Paul was advising Him to be careful in what he said and how he said it. Paul had lived long enough to know that people sometimes twist your words and make it mean something totally different.
Which of course is good advice. It’s also wise to be careful what you say and who you say it to, because once you say it, it can’t be taken back. Whoever said “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” was wrong.
I don’t know how many times I heard my Mother and Grandmother say; “If you can’t say something nice about someone, then don’t say anything at all.”
The Apostle James certainly understood how painful and destructive words can be. In the third chapter of James, he compares the tongue to a wild animal that no-one can tame, and even goes as far as saying that our tongues are “full of deadly poison.” Now obviously he never meant that to be taken literally. He was simply saying that we need to choose our words carefully, because what we say could result in a lot of pain and suffering for someone else.
So boys and girls, and young people, when you’re at school this week, and you’re tempted to make fun of someone, or say something ugly about them, or spread a nasty rumor about them, don’t do it. I hope you’ll remember Paul’s advice to Timothy to set a good example in what you say, and how you say it.
I personally believe people should be able to tell that you are Christian by simply listening to what you have to say, and how you say it.
II. NEXT, PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE IN LIFE.
Paul knew, that as a Pastor, Timothy would be held to a higher standard. That he would have to be careful to conduct himself in a Christ-like manner as much as possible. Not only is this good advice for pastors and other ministers, but it is good advice for all of us. People are watching to see if we are willing to ‘practice what we preach.’
Unbelievers are quick to criticize the church and even Christianity as a whole when our conduct and actions are not Christ-like. Our lives are living Testimonies for Jesus Christ, the only question is, whether they help or hurt the cause of Christ.
Which reminds me of the story a man named Earl Palmer, tells in his book entitled the Enormous Exception. It is the story of a PRE-MED student at the University of California, at Berkeley, who became a Christian after a long spiritual journey, which included many doubts and questions.
When Palmer asked the young man why he had become a believer, he answered by saying the thing that had influenced him the most was not the Bible, or a great Christian book, or even a sermon that he heard at church. Instead this young man pointed to the actions of a classmate who happened to be a Christian.
It seems that this young Pre-Med student had gotten a bad case of the flu and had missed 10 days of classes the previous Semester. His Christian friend took it upon himself to pick up all of his assignments and devoted several days to helping him get caught up.
The pre-med student told Palmer, ‘You know that kind of thing just isn’t done. I wanted to know what made this guy act the way he did. I even found myself asking if I could go to church with him.’
I hope you remember that story, and do your best to set a good Christian example by the way you live, the things you do, and the way you treat other people.
The Apostle Paul said it best in Philippians 1:27 when He said, “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
As Christians we must be careful of the way we act and the way we live our lives, because, whether we want to admit it or not, there are people who are watching us to see if we are really practicing what we preach.
III. NEXT, PAUL ENCOURAGED TIMOTHY TO BE AN EXAMPLE IN LOVE.
Paul knew how important it was for a Pastor to love the people he ministers to. He also understood how important it is for Christians to love one another.
Jesus said, “A new command I give you. Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, If you love one another.”
In 1 John 3:16-18 it says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or the tongue but with actions and in truth.”
Of course that’s easier to say than it is to do. Which reminds me of a story about a 4th grade teacher named Miss Thompson, and a boy named Teddy Stallard. Teddy wasn’t one of her best students; in fact he was one of the worst. Not only was he slow but he gave her no reason to believe that he cared whether he passed or failed. Which was why it didn’t seem to bother her at all to mark his papers with a Big Fat Red “F.”
The other students made it clear that they didn’t like Teddy, and Miss Thompson had to admit that she didn’t like Teddy much either. But then she found out that Teddy’s mother had died the year before and that his father didn’t seem to be very supportive or even interested in him. Her attitude toward Teddy began to change. Now she understood why he acted the way he did. She felt sorry for him but didn’t know what she could do.
Just before Christmas break many of the children; including Teddy brought her Christmas gifts. Most of the gifts were very neatly wrapped in beautiful wrapping paper, but Teddy had simply wrapped his gift in a brown paper sack that was loosely held together with tape.
She opened it to find a bracelet with several of the stones missing and half of a bottle of very cheap perfume.
Some of the children laughed and made cruel remarks but trying to be nice she slipped the bracelet on and after putting some of the perfume on she made a comment about how good it smelled.
When school was over instead of rushing out like he usually did Teddy lingered behind and came over to her desk and said, “Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother, and her bracelet looks real pretty on you too. I’m glad you liked my presents’.
That night she went home and asked God to forgive her for how she had treated little Teddy.
When Christmas Break was over her class had a new teacher, with a new attitude and a new mission in life. Miss Thompson no longer just considered herself to be a teacher whose main responsibility was to pass or fail her students based on their performance.
She now considered herself to be a teacher and a servant of God, whose main responsibility was to love her students and make a difference in their lives.
She made a commitment to herself and more importantly to God to do a better job of loving her students, especially Teddy Stallard.
Before long Teddy began to show dramatic improvement and by the end of the year he had caught up with most of the other students.
Teddy transferred to another school the following year and Miss Thompson didn’t hear from him for several years. Then one day she received a note that said;
‘Dear Miss Thompson. I wanted you to know that I will be graduating second in my high school class’ Love Teddy Stallard.
Four years later she received another note which said: ‘Dear Miss Thompson: They just told me I would be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy but I liked it. Love, Teddy Stallard.
Finally a few years later she received this note: Dear Miss Thompson: As of today I am Theodore Stallard, MD. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. He went on to tell her that he was getting married the next month and that his father had died the previous year. Then he asked her to come to the wedding and sit where his mother would have been seated if she had been alive.
She went to the wedding and in Teddy’s eyes she had earned the right to sit in such a special place because as an agent of God’s love she had done something for Teddy that he would never forget. She had loved him in a way that no-one except maybe his own mother ever had.
Jesus himself set the example for us. His love for us was, and still is unconditional. As Christians we should follow His example and do our best to love those around us. Remember Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
So I encourage those of you who are teachers to keep an eye out for students like Teddy, students who need someone to show God’s love to them and let them know they are just as important as anybody else.
IV. Paul also told young Timothy to be an Example in His Faith.
Paul often stressed the importance of being mature in the faith, and that we should constantly be growing in our Faith. Paul believed that others should be inspired by the way we model our faith.
April 20, 1999, began like any other day. Cassie Bernall had only been a Christian for a year or so, but the difference that Christ had made in her life was evident to everyone. When she and the rest of the students entered Columbine High School, in Littleton, Colorado, that day they had no idea what was getting ready to happen. Two of their fellow students had come to school that day intending to kill as many people as possible. When the shooting started Cassie and several others students were in the Library. She tried to hide under a table, but when one of the gunman entered the Library he saw her. But instead of just shooting her, as he had been doing. According to other students, he walked over to her, put a gun to her head and asked her if she really believed in God. Then after she had responded by saying that she did in fact believe in God, he shot her in cold blood.
This morning I wanted to remind you of Cassie’s story because I believe it is vitally important for those of us who are Christians to be men and women of faith. Our faith should make a difference in our lives, just as it did in Cassie’s.
Now most, if not all of us here today will never be put in a situation like Cassie was in. However, I personally believe it is just as hard if not harder to live a life of faith as it is to die for your faith.
The Apostle Peter understood this, in 1 Peter 3:15 he said, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”
V. FINALLY, PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY TO BE AN EXAMPLE IN PURITY.
Obviously, with all of the negative press the Catholic church and other denominations have received during the last few years related to sex scandals in the church this is something that every minister needs to take very seriously.
However, being an example in purity should be the goal of every Christian, especially those of you who are teenagers.
Purity is a very important virtue to contemporary Christian singer Rebecca St. James. During a concert in Colorado Springs, a few years ago she told her audience why she wears a promise ring on her right ring finger. She said, “I’d like to tell you about this ring I’m wearing. It is a promise ring, and when my parents gave it to me, they said it was to symbolize my commitment to wait until marriage to have sex. I can tell you right now, I will be waiting for that special person God has planned for me.” Rebecca St. James
True Love Waits, which is a Christian Abstinence program developed by the Southern Baptist Convention has had a tremendous impact on Christian Teenagers all over our nation. I want to share the vow that thousands of young people have taken during the past 15 years. It says, “Believing that true love waits, we reaffirm our commitment to God, ourselves, our families, those we date, our future mates, and our future children to be sexually pure until the day we enter a covenant marriage relationship. Because we trust God’s wisdom and depend on His power, we will keep our vow of sexual abstinence from this day until our wedding day. Because we believe God’s plan is the only plan to insure our happiness.”
Young people I encourage you to consider making this vow and Commitment to God and your future spouse.
Paul told Timothy to be an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. As Christians we need to be setting a good positive example in each of these 5 important areas.
