OPEN: We played a youtube video that gave a lighthearted view of fashion since 1911: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JxfgId3XTs
That video displayed the changes of style and fashion that have taken place over the years.
ILLUS: I remember looking back at some of my high school pictures… and I admit to being embarrassed at how I looked back then. Corduroy jacket, pants an inch or so above my pants or bellbottom pants.
I wouldn’t dress like that ever again.
But back then it seems to have been the norm.
Poodle skirts and bell-bottom pants are no longer trendy anymore. Most people wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing them to school or to work because they’re out of style now.
Clothing styles change. And one of the driving forces behind those changes in style are Fashion Houses.
If clothing styles didn’t change the fahion companies wouldn’t be able to sell as many clothes. They need for new fashions to be introduced on a regular basis, so they try very hard to sell a new types of clothing to the next generation (who are actually looking for a way to not look like their parents and grandparents anyway).
Now the primary tool Fashion houses use to introduce these new styles and trends… is the model. Every clothing company realizes it’s easier to sell clothing if you can see it on a live model.
Whether it’s Prada, or J.C. Penney or WalMart - you’ll almost always see clothes being worn by live models.
The reason they do this - is so that we can see how their clothes look on real people.
Now, of course, their real people don’t look anything like me or you. They’re generally very handsome and athletic men and women who would look good in just about anything they’d wear. But once we’ve seen those clothes on that handsome man, or beautiful woman the Fashion House hopes we’ll think… “Gee, maybe I’d look like that if I owned that shirt/blouse/skirt/suit”
You see, those live models are literally “fashion ROLE models” because their purpose is to get us
Ø to copy them
Ø to follow their lead
Ø to imitate their style
In the Bible, God tells us that WE have ‘role models’ too.
Here in II Thessalonians Paul says that he and his friends made an effort to be “models for you to follow (3:9)
And Paul repeated that many times for those early Christians:
In 1 Corinthians 4:16 he wrote: “I urge you to imitate me.”
To the Philippians he urged “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” Philippians 3:17
Paul was holding himself up to be a “Role Model” for early Christians.
He was saying – this is how Christianity looks on a REAL person.
He’s saying - Use me as a role model.
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
So, the Bible teaches us to use Role Models in our Christian life.
(PAUSE)
But now, we need to realize that there are plenty of Role Models out in the world around us that God doe NOT want us to imitate/follow/copy.
Before we get into “Christian Role Models, we need to acknowledge that every person you meet is a role model for somebody.
ILLUS: One person said it this way:
“Everybody’s an example. Some are good examples… and some are bad”
For example: we’re surrounded by all kinds of famous people who are literally role models for millions of people across our nation. They model an attractive, ‘successful’ lifestyle.
* They have big houses, fast cars, and lots of money.
* They have the admiration of millions.
* They’re being asked to guest on Letterman and Leno.
And there are a lot of people who would love to be just like them.
There are millions of people who literally make these folks their “role models”.
Now that has creeped out more than one of these famous people.
Years ago, there was a big debate about Charles Barkley’s comment in a Nike commercial, when he said: "I’m not a role model."
He was telling people he didn’t sign up to be a role model.
He wanted to play basketball.
He liked the money. He liked the adoration of his fans.
He just didn’t like the pressure of being held to a higher standard.
And he’s not the only one’s whose felt that way:
· In Glamour Magazine a famous singer named Rihanna said: I don’t want to be a role model.
· Miley Cyrus wants parents to quit putting so much pressure on her to be a role model.
· Snooki (a 20 something “Jersey Shores actress”) who acknowledges she does stupid stuff… and says she doesn’t want her young fans acting like her: “I don’t want to be a role model.”
· A (now dead) rapper Tupac commented on a song he wrote: “I say I don’t want to be a role model in the song, because if I let somebody put the role model label on me, that limits me”.
I don’t want to be a role model.
I don’t want to be a role model.
Over and over again, they all repeat it like a mantra: “I don’t want to be a role model!
They say that BECAUSE they know they do things that are wrong, and sometimes they even glory in the depravity they take part in.
But when people call them on it (hey, you’re supposed to be a role model) they rebel.
Because they don’t want the pressure. The responsibility.
ILLUS: A sports columnist Ron Barr wrote sports figures who complain of being held to these higher standards,: “They can’t want the adulation, big salaries, media attention and big buck endorsements and not expect a price to be paid.”
His point was this: whether these folks want to be role models or not… they are.
And WE need to know that.
Because whether we like these people - what they do, what they think, what they say, or who they are… they are role models for somebody.
And God knows that too.
That’s why He’s called you out of the world to be different… to be role models to a world that is often drawn to follow undesirable people on a path to destruction.
Jesus said:
“You are the salt of the earth…”Matthew 5:13
“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” Mt 5:14
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 KJV
God calls you to be role models for this world!
So, how do we become these Role Models?
What do we need to do to justify God’s faith in us to become examples for others?
Well, we do that by following Paul’s advice
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1
We need to find someone who can be a role model for us… and copy them.
We need to deliberately find someone who imitates Christ and then IMITATE THEM.
One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 3:18 that says:
“… we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (NKJV)
APPLY: The image that places in my mind – is that as Christians we are always becoming more like Christ we are “being transformed” into glory of the Lord glory unto glory.
The image I have in my mind is that of a staircase.
(I went down on the main floor and pointed to the steps leading up to the stage)
As newborn Christians, we start out on the main floor and progressively we make our way up the staircase. We become more like our savior with each step we take up the stairs. We become transformed – glory unto glory/ step by step.
Now – that means that some folks in this congregation are still on the ground floor.
They haven’t been around long enough to learn much about Jesus. They just know that Jesus loved them enough to die for their sins, but that’s about as far as they’ve gotten so far.
Others in the church family are 3 or 4 steps up the way.
And still others are 10 or 20 steps up stairs.
Some Christians are involved in serving Christ regularly.
Some Christians are real prayer warriors.
Some Christians not only tithe – but find extra money to give to the poor/ missions.
Some folks are wayyy up the staircase.
(PAUSE)
But the purpose of church is to get everybody together, so that we can feed off of each other’s love for God. So that we can feed off of each other’s maturity in Christ.
Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another— and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Christianity was never meant to be a “Lone Ranger” religion.
It was always meant to bring folks together that could help each other up the staircase so that we can all be transformed MORE AND MORE into the image of our Savior.
Who I spend my time with, will determine what kind of person I become.
Proverbs 13:20 tells us “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”
If I spend my time with fools, I’ll become foolish… but if I’m smart enough to hang with better people, I’ll become a better person.
That’s why God established the church.
We need each other.
And we need to find a ROLE MODEL
So where am I going to find that role model?
Well God has already set a few role models in front of you in this church.
They’re called Elders
Paul wrote Titus and said he should complete the work in the church there by appointing Elders.
He wrote “An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.… not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Titus 1:7-9
The main qualification of an Elder/overseer – is that they must be good role models.
They love their wives.
They are good dads to their kids.
They are blameless. Nobody in town can find anything bad to say about them.
They’re easygoing.
Not easily angered
Not going to bars.
Not greedy.
They help folks.
And they know their doctrine so they can defend the Church.
They are to be our role models.
They should be our examples.
We should want to imitate them as they imitate Christ.
But you might say, Jeff – why shouldn’t we imitate you instead?
Well, you can… but the difference between me and the Elders is that I’m the paid staff.
I’m paid to do this job.
I’m paid to be good.
The Elders are… good for nothing.
All joking aside – the Elders are God’s ROLE MODELS for the Church.
Whereas people look at me and say “Well, that’s his job. That’s what they pay him to do.”
These men are part of the congregation.
They’re not paid to do anything.
They just love Jesus.
These are men you can look at and say “So, that’s what Jesus looks like on a real person.”
But you don’t need to use JUST the Elders as your examples.
Every time you go to Sunday School. Every time you take part in a Bible Study, woman’s group, men’s group, go to Church camp, or go on a Christian retreat.
Every time you expose yourself to another Christian(s) you allow yourself to feed off their love and devotion to Christ.
You NEED each other.
We need each other.
I NEED you.
Because we’re all here to help each other climb the steps… and become more like our Savior
Now, one last thought: YOU ARE A ROLE MODEL
I don’t care how long you’ve been a Christian, how long you’ve been at this church.
God saved you so that you could be an example for the rest of the world.
Just as Jesus said: “"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16
Whether you want to be or not you are a role model to somebody about how you live your life for Christ.
But a lot of Christians don’t like that thought.
They tend to agree with a fashion model named Heidi Klum who said:
“I don’t want to be a role model because I’m just a person too, so I can have mistakes and some people don’t like what I do. People always push this role model thing on you. I just want to be a good role model for my children.”
Here’s the truth “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
We’re all “just people”.
We’ve all made mistakes
God isn’t calling you to be a paragon of virtue. To be totally unflawed and seamless in your faith. He’s calling you to begin being transformed into His likeness… glory unto glory. Step by step.
So, the question is… where do you begin?
1. Well, the first step is to belong to Jesus?
a. Have you believed that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the living God?
b. Have you repented of your sins?
c. Have you confessed as your Lord and Master?
d. And have you been buried in the waters of Christian baptism and risen up a new creature?
2. Or maybe you are already a Christian. Your next step may be to belong to a church where you can be involved in some ministry with them.
3. Or maybe you’ve already joined this church… but you’ve been spending most of your times just sitting there for worship. You aren’t doing anything for Christ. Well, your next step would then be to find something to do for Jesus.
People may be watching to see how you let your little light shine.
They’re watching to see if your faith in Christ is something worth imitating in their lives.
CLOSING ILLUS: A young man who had heard the Gospel accepted Christ. A little while after this, a Christian teacher asked him: "What have you done for Christ since you believed?"
He replied: "Oh, I’m a learner."
"Well," said the questioner, "when you light a candle do you light it to make the candle more comfortable, or to have it give light?"
He replied, "To give light."
"Do you expect it to give light after it is half burned, or when you first light it?"
He replied, "As soon as I light it."
"Very well," was the reply, "go thou and do likewise… begin at once."
