“THE APOSTLE PAUL’S GUIDELINES FOR A CROSS-GENERATIONAL MINISTRY”
1 Timothy 4:12; 5:1-2
Dorn Ridge, July 14, 2013
INTRODUCTION:
1.) One of the challenges that is often faced within ministry is to bridge the age gap within the church and minister to all ages of the church.
2.) Certainly, this is not a new issue for the church, but one which has been there right from the start of the church to the present time.
A.) In fact the same age gaps often will be found in other areas of life as well as in the church.
B.) Paul wanted to do what he could to help Timothy be a success in ministering to all age groups of the church.
3.) The passages of Scripture we are looking at today show the Apostle Paul imparting some of this wisdom to the young man Timothy.
I. PAUL SAID TO GIVE SPECIAL ADVICE TO THE YOUTH.
1.) The Apostle Paul was an older man giving wisdom and advice to Timothy.
A.) At the time Paul was writing to Timothy he was an older man, and rapidly nearing the end of his life.
aa.) Paul had attained great wisdom from his years of life and his walk with Jesus Christ.
ab.) As an older man of faith and experience, he had a great deal to offer to Timothy.
B.) As we know, the end of Paul’s life would happen much sooner than the natural course and choice of God.
ba.) Paul’s life would be shortened because of persecution from the Roman Emperor Nero.
bb.) It would be about two years after this letter that he would be writing his second letter to Timothy, and soon afterward would himself become a martyr for Christ sometime around A.D.66 or A.D. 67.
bc.) Paul was writing to Timothy as a young Christian man, yet still limited by his years of life and faith in Christ.
bd.) Just as Paul was an older man of the faith, with more years on this earth than Timothy, so also Timothy’s faith was more mature, and his years of life and wisdom more than some of the youth in the church.
be.) Some of them would look up to Timothy’s influence, just as Timothy looked up to the Apostle Paul.
2.) Part of the role of our Christian faith is to pass that torch of faith to the next generation.
A.) We can all visualize the imagery of the Olympics, and that long line of runners who will carry the torch with the Olympic flame, and in turn pass it on to another.
B.) One of the purposes of Paul’s letter to Timothy was to pass the torch of the Christian faith, and his leadership wisdom on to Timothy.
ba.) Ultimately, Paul’s goal was not just Timothy, but through him extending the message of Christ and the church to future generations.
bb.) Timothy was still young in carrying this torch himself.
bc.) Even at that stage of his ministry, his goal needed to be to continue to prepare others, and pass on those values of Jesus Christ.
C.) Paul may have been more mature in faith and life than Timothy, but Timothy had to continue to pass on what had been given to him.
ca.) I want us to look at Paul’s advice to Timothy, for he would have to in turn pass the same advice to the youth of the Church.
3.) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.
A.) Young people need to be given the message that they are important, and to live lives worthy and respectable even at their age.
aa.) A charge often levied against youth is their carefree and irresponsible attitude and life.
B.) Reality though is sometimes young people can be very responsible, and powerful in their faith and their walk with Christ.
ba.) The church needs to be a place where the youth are encouraged to grow not only in their faith, but, also in their maturity and witness in Jesus Christ.
4.) Paul said to set an example for the believers:
A.) In your speech.
aa.) Many times young people will feel they are being more grown up by adopting worldly and even vulgar language such as that which is given by the society around them.
ab.) The message of Paul to Timothy, and which Timothy would also pass on to others is set an example in their speech.
ac.) Paul challenges all Christians just as he is here challenging Timothy to set an example in his speech.
aca.) Eph. 4:29
B.) In your life.
ba.) Young people (and really all people) need to set an example to others by our lives.
bb.) Paul especially expressed this for Timothy as a young man because many times young people are not taken seriously.
bc.) As children of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, there is need to set an example to others in life.
C.) In your love.
ca.) There is no greater place to set an example than in our Love for God.
cb.) The other side of experiencing the love of God is that it will also show over into our dealings with our fellow mankind.
cc.) Certainly in our dealings with others we need to be showing the love of God, and the presence and power of God’s love working in us.
D.) In your faith.
da.) Often times young people can have a very strong and dedicated faith in God.
db.) One of the greatest way Timothy or any other young person can set an example his by his faith in Christ.
E.) In your purity.
ea.) Certainly this is an area of great challenge to young people today, and yet at the same time it is an area where a great testimony can be given of one’s values and character.
eb.) When there is surrender to the Will of God and the working of the Spirit of God in one’s life in the realm of sexual purity, the testimony of that person can be great.
II. SHOW DUE CARE WITH YOUR CONTEMPORARIES.
1.) Treat those your own age as brothers and sisters in Christ.
A.) The Apostle John told us that we are the Children of God.
aa.) 1 John 3:1-2
B.) If we as Christians are children of God, that means we are also brothers and sisters of each other in Christ
.
C.) When we look to our natural families there is something special about those we consider our family.
D.) In the body of Christ there is a bond that is every bit as great and sometimes even greater than the relationship we have in our natural families.
E.) Several years ago William and Gloria Gaither penned the Hymn “The Family of God.” I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here, It's because we're a family and these folks are so near; When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family, The Family of God.
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King, No longer an outcast, a new song I sing; From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God, I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood! Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
E.) That is how Paul directed Timothy to think of the church, and those of his own age.
F.) Col. 3:12-17
2.) Treat the opposite sex with absolute purity.
A.) Certainly this is always something that we must strive to do as we live the Christian life.
B.) We have to remember also that Paul was writing to the young man Timothy.
ba.) At this time, Timothy was a young man, and in all likelihood was probably still single.
bb.) Paul advised him that to minister effectively with those of his own age, to be careful especially with the opposite sex.
bc.) It was entirely possible that some of his motivation in ministry with his own age group and particularly the opposite sex could have been a search for a partner as much as motivation to ministry.
bd.) Paul cautioned him that he needed to keep his motivation and desires pure, and to honour God in every area of his life.
III. TREAT YOUR ELDERS WITH LOVE AND RESPECT.
1.) Show the older generation the same love and respect you would show to your mother and father.
A.) Part of the ministry that Timothy was to have would be with the older generation of the church.
B.) Sometimes a challenge in ministry can be the generation gap.
ba.) Paul wanted Timothy to be able to minister with the older generation as well.
bb.) Many of these people he would be ministering to would be older and more mature in years, and some of them would also be more mature in their faith in Christ.
bc.) The question is asked how do you meet with this challenge?
C.) The wisdom and answer that Paul gives to this area of ministry is to look at the older generation with great respect, and also with love and consideration.
ca.) In fact, Paul goes even farther. He tells Timothy to treat them with a love and respect like he would show to his own mother and father.
cb.) 1 Timothy 5:1-2
2.) If there is need to rebuke an older person do it as you would your own parent without harshness.
A.) It is specifically the older men that are brought up here if there is need for rebuke, but at the same time the same principal would apply with either the men or the women.
B.) Even though many in the church would be older than Timothy both physically, and perhaps even in the faith, it was still possible that this generation could have some ideas that were inconsistent with the Word of God.
ba.) It was entirely conceivable to the Apostle Paul that occasions could arise when some of the older Christians would need correction and rebuke from the Word of God.
bb.) If this was to be the case, Paul said to approach it with gentleness, and without being harsh to them.
bc.) Exhort such a one with the same respect, gentleness, and consideration that you would give to your father or mother.
bd.) Certainly this is wise counsel within the church today as well.
CONCLUSION:
1.) As we bring this message to a close, what we have seen is that Paul gave guidance to the young man Timothy on how to deal with each of these age groups in the church.
2.) The principles Paul had given to Timothy are principles that we too can apply in our dealings with each of the different age groups in the church.
