Set An Example For The Believers

I. EXORDIUM:

Are you an example for the believers?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To enumerate the areas of our lives that we should be an example to the believers.

IV. TEXT:

1 Timothy 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

V. THESIS:

We set the life of CHRIST before the believers.

VI. TITLE:

Set an example for the believers

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: About 64 A.D., but uncertain

C. To whom written: Timothy, Paul's true son in the faith

1 Timothy 1:2 (New International Version)

To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

D. Main themes: Advice and exhortation to a young pastor respecting his personal conduct and ministerial work

E. Keyword: conduct

F. Key verse:

1 Timothy 3:15 (New International Version)

if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Don't let anyone look down on you

"Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth,"

Galatians 5:7 (Amplified Bible)

You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in (hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following the Truth?

Philippians 3:14 (Amplified Bible)

I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

Romans 8:33 (Amplified Bible)

Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?]

Our attitudes are like CHRIST, instead we "esteem" others better or superior than ourselves.

Philippians 2:3 (Amplified Bible)

Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves].

B. In the Areas of:

"but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity"

1. speech

Proverbs 17:27 (Amplified Bible)

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit.

Matthew 5:37 (Amplified Bible)

Let your Yes be simply Yes, and your No be simply No; anything more than that comes from the evil one.

Colossians 4:6 (Amplified Bible)

Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

2. life

Philippians 1:27 (Amplified Bible)

Only be sure as citizens so to conduct yourselves [that] your manner of life [will be] worthy of the good news (the Gospel) of Christ, so that whether I [do] come and see you or am absent, I may hear this of you: that you are standing firm in united spirit and purpose, striving side by side and contending with a single mind for the faith of the glad tidings (the Gospel).

1 Thessalonians 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.

1 Timothy 3:7 (Amplified Bible)

Furthermore, he must have a good reputation and be well thought of by those outside [the church], lest he become involved in slander and incur reproach and fall into the devil’s trap.

3. love

1 John 4:10 (Amplified Bible)

In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice) for our sins.

Deuteronomy 7:8 (Amplified Bible)

But because the Lord loves you and because He would keep the oath which He had sworn to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Jeremiah 31:3 (Amplified Bible)

The Lord appeared from of old to me [Israel], saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

Romans 5:8 (Amplified Bible)

But God shows and clearly proves His [own] love for us by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) died for us.