An Example to Follow

Introduction:

Who are some of your spiritual role models? Maybe it was a preacher or Sunday school teacher. Maybe it was a parent or grandparent.

One thing that I like to do is read old books by old preachers. The reason I do this is because they are often times more theologically rich in what they have to say and they also can’t fall. The story of their lives has already been written.

That’s not to say that I don’t have any contemporary role models. I think we should have someone living that we look up to in the faith, but we also hold that respect with a sense of incompletion. They have not yet finished their race and kept the faith.

So many times we hear of a prominent faith figure that falls from grace or has some scandal in their lives and often it can cause people to stumble who looked up to them.

Billy Graham was a great example of a man who took it seriously that people were following his example and went so far as to make a rule that is often referred to as the “Billy Graham Rule,” which said that he would never allow himself to be alone in a room with a woman.

There is a great responsibility to be a godly role model for others and for us to find godly role models to follow. Paul was that for Timothy as we are going to see tonight.

2 Timothy 3:11–13 ESV

11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Pray

1. Follow Godly Examples (v.10-11)

2 Timothy 3:10–11 ESV

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Paul lists out several things that Timothy was to observe about his walk in the Lord.

A. Their Teaching (v.10)

The most important thing that Paul wanted Timothy to follow was his teaching. We have to be careful with this one, because no matter how much you may respect someone as a person, their teaching has to agree with God’s Word. In fact, their teaching should be what the Word says and no more.

To be dogmatic beyond the Scriptures is to go to far and fall into the trap of arguing about foolish speculations, which Paul has already said they were not to do.

B. Their Lifestyle (v.10)

Next, Paul talks about his lifestyle. How does the person live their life? Does their lifestyle match up to what they teach?

There are so many of these false teachers that we see that claim one thing in their teaching, and then when you pull back the curtain on their lives, you see a completely different person.

If your spiritual role model does not live out what they preach, you need to find another role model.

C. Their Spiritual Goals (v.10)

Paul then turns to his spiritual goals. He tells Timothy to follow his aim in life. What was that aim?

Philippians 3:12–14 ESV

12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Every believer ought to have the goal of maturity in Christ. Too often we are content to swim in the shallow water and eat spiritual baby food rather than the solid food of the mature believer.

D. Their Endurance in the Faith (v.10)

The next thing that Paul tells Timothy to follow is his patience. I know that none of us want to pray for patience, but we do need it. Paul is referring to his patience with other people, especially his opponents.

How patient are you with other people? Remember that people are not all at the same place on their journey of spiritual sanctification. Some people need us to be more patient with them than others.

E. Their Love for Others (v.10)

Paul then turns to his love for others. How much did Paul love and care for others? We get a glimpse into his heart in Romans 9.

Romans 9:1–3 ESV

1 I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

Paul loved his fellow kinsmen so much that he was willing to give up his place in glory if it were possible for their salvation. That love!

I’m not there yet. I don’t know if I ever will be there. I just know that the reason we don’t share the gospel with people is because we don’t really have a love for them. We don’t really care what happens to them.

F. Their Reaction to Suffering and Persecution (v.11-14)

These accounts are recorded for us in Acts 13-14. Paul and Barnabas were run out of cities for their success in preaching the gospel and Paul was stoned and left for dead in Lystra.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I think after being stoned and left for dead, I might need a little time off. Not with Paul! He got up and the next day, He and Barnabas were off to the next town!

Paul concludes his example to Timothy with two promises.

Look again in verses 12-13.

2 Timothy 3:12–13 ESV

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Those who desire to live a godly life are going to be persecuted.

People are going to get worse

Conclusion

I think we can easily see the fulfillment of the second of these two things in our life. There are many who are deceiving and who are imposters. There are many bad people out there.

But, I think we also need to realize that if we are going to follow Jesus, it is not going to be the mainstream Big Evangelical lifestyle that people have characterized that we will live, but a life of sacrifice and obscurity. The prosperity gospel that is preached on TV is not the gospel the Bible teaches. We must die to ourselves if we are to live for Jesus.

Are you ready to decrease that He might increase?