I. INT.
A. EXAMPLES ARE POWERFUL
1. This is true whether they are good are bad
2. Lets notice what Peter wrote-I Pet. 2:21
3. Paul wrote to the Corinthians -I Cor. 10:5-11. 12
4. Some appear good but are evil-Mt. 7:21-23
a. Why were these examples evil?
b. Why were they lost?
c. Mt 7:23 “work iniquity” (Greek “Anomia”) - Acting without law-Acting without Authority - 2 Tim. 2:5
B. GOOD EXAMPLES SHOULD BE FOLLOWED-MT. 5:13-16
1. Timothy, a young Gospel preacher, is the one who is here told to be an example-I Tim. 4:12
a. All preachers should be good examples but many are not
2. Elders are to be examples-I Pet. 5:3
3. Every Christian should be a good example-Ph. 2: 14-16
C. LET US CONSIDER SOME OF THE WAYS IN WHICH TIMOTHY WAS INSTRUCTED TO BE AN EXAMPLE
1. Timothy alone was not to be an example in these, but every Christian
2. Every Christian is to be an example to others
II. BE THOU AN EXAMPLE:
A. 1st, WORD-NASB SAYS “SPEECH”
1. God commanded ancient Israel in Deut. 5:11
a. What about today?
2. In the book of James chapter 3 verse 10
a. The mouth was created for holy purposes NOT for base and sinful ones
3. Eph. 4:29 says “let no corrupt”-“bad, foul, base, worldly, destructive language”
4. Eph. 5:3-“shameful, immoral, wicked, obscenity”
5. THERE IS A TIME WHEN IT IS WISE TO BE SLOW TO SPEAK-Jas. 1:19
6. The Book of Proverbs teaches the following concerning ones speech: Prov. 10:19; 15:4; 18:21; 21:23; 28:23
B. 2nd, CONVERSATION-CONDUCT-MANNER OF LIFE
1. People not only observe what we say but also how we live
2. ROMANS 2:21
3. HOW ARE WE TO LIVE?-Ph. 1:27
a. This is both negative and positive
b. There are things we cannot do and walk according to the Gospel-Eph. 4:25-28; 5:3-5,7,11
c. There are some things I must do to walk according to the Gospel-Eph. 5:1, 2
C. 3rd, IN CHARITY-THE NASV SAYS “LOVE”
1. Love can be known only from the actions it prompts
a. God’s love is seen in the gift of His Son-I Jn. 4:9,
10-Obviously this is not the love of being complacent or affection-Rm. 5:8
b. Love has God for its primary object & expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments—Jn. 14:15, 21, 23; 15:10; I Jn. 2:5; 5:3; 2 Jn. 6
2. Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren or toward men generally:
a. Is not an impulse from feeling
b. It does not always run with the natural inclination
3. Love seeks the welfare of all-Rm. 15:2
4. Works no ill to any-Rm. 13:8-10
5. Does not take advantage of others
6. Love seeks opportunity to do good to “all men”
D. 4th, IN FAITH
1. Faith is necessary for the salvation of all-Rm. 10:9-11
2. It is necessary to a walk that is right- 2 Cor. 5:7
3. The kind of faith that saves is not one that just believe But that obeys-Jas. 2:24-26
4. The way faith can be seen is in the examples of believers-Jas. 2:14-26
E. 5th, IN PURITY
1. Purity is necessary to see God-Mt. 5:8
2. Purity begins in the heart-Prov. 23:7; Mt. 15:19
3. I Tim. 5:22 commands “keep thyself pure”
4. DO OTHERS SEE PURITY IN YOUR LIFE?
a. By the way you dress?
b. By the places you?
c. Things that you do?
d. What do your children see in your life?
e. I Th. 5:22
III. CONCLUSION:
A. What kind of an example are you?
1. Are you a good example to others?
2. Are you a good example to our family?
3. Are you a good example to other Christians?
B. To be a good example to others you must first obey the Gospel and become a Christian
1. Timothy was a Christian and as a Christian, he was told to be “an example” to others