Setting The Bar High

Introduction:

Have you seen the high jump competition in the Olympics? How the champions are decided? Most of the times there are 2 or 3 finalist and the bar is set for each one to clear. Next attempt is done with bar set higher and the person who clears the bar set at highest position wins. In order to win the gold, one must clear higher bar than his competitor.

Verse 12- Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Timothy was a young Pastor. So it would have been easy for older Christians to look down on him because of his youth. The older Christians believe that youth is characterized by immaturity, impatience, quick judgment, hasty decisions and it is believed that their moral behavior and thinking is easily influenced by the world. On the positive side, youth is full of energy and potential, eager to learn new things and enthusiastic about serving the Lord.

Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to earn the respect of the elders by setting up a good example. Remember, the believer is not expected to set the standard for the unbeliever, but we are expected to set a bar for the believers. There are five specific areas in which the young Timothy was expected to be an example for the other believers, young and old:

1. Example in speech: Some versions have used “word” in place of “speech”.

How should be our speech?

a. put off falsehood and speak truthfully- Ephesians 4:25

b. No unwholesome talk- Eph. 4:29

c. Full of grace, seasoned with salt- Col. 4:6

d. Simple “Yes” or “No.” Not changing between yes and no -James 5:12

e. No obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking- Eph. 5:4

2. Example in conduct or walk:

a. With integrity and godly sincerity- 2 Cor. 1:12

b. Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ- Phi. 1:27

c. Walk worthy of our calling (to holiness)- Eph. 4:1

d. Walk as children of light- Eph. 5:8

e. Walk as wise- Eph. 5:15

f. Walk in holiness- I Peter 1:15-16

3. Example in love:

a. Follow Christ’s example of love (sacrificial, unconditional, perfect)- Eph. 5:2

b. Sincere love- Romans 12:9

c. Right attitude in love- I Cor. 13: 4-7

d. Love in action and not just in words- I John 3:18

e. Love everyone (friends, neighbors and even the enemies)

4. Example in faith:

We cannot please God without faith (Heb. 11:6). Here we are not talking about saving faith.

a. Faith like Abraham (obeying without knowing God’s full plan)- Heb. 11:8

b. Faith like Moses (chose to suffer)- Heb. 11:24-26

c. Follow the example of the faith of leaders- Heb. 11:7

d. Faith that moves mountain- Mathew 17:20

5. Example in purity:

a. Walk in holiness- I Peter 1:15-16, Hebrews 12:14

b. Flee from youthful lusts- II Timothy 2:21-22

c. Purity and holiness- II Cor. 7:1

d. Must avoid adultery (physical and with eyes) - I Cor. 6:18-19, Mathew 5:28

e. Purity in thought life- Phil. 4:8

Questions:

1. What are the hindrances in keeping speech clean and what are the practical ways of overcoming these hindrances?

2. How can we keep our conduct godly in ungodly world?

3. How can we show God’s love to others in practical ways?

4. How can we overcome unbelief and cultivate faith in God and His word?

5. Discuss the sources that can lead us to impurity and what can we do to avoid them?