Why Does Tupos Matter?

Recap Intro

Welcome to the last session of our very first Tupos WKND! Engage with students, ask them what their favorite part was, what God has shown them, favorite dish, etc.

Before we dive into our last session for our time together this weekend, I want us to recap what we’ve talked about so far to help set the big picture idea for not just our last session, but also give you a big picture idea for what is ahead.

So to recap, can anyone tell me what we talked about in our first session?

Allow students time to answer

That’s right! A Tupos is someone who’s worthy of imitation. It is:

an example to be imitated

of men worthy of imitation

Now, does anyone remember what the pattern of imitation was that we saw in our first session? Can anyone recall the passages we looked at?

allow students time to answer

Correct! We looked at our theme verse of Philippians 3:17 and then we looked at some specific patterns in of a Tupos in Philippians 4:4-8 which says this,

Philippians 4:4–8 NASB95

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Now from that, can anyone remember the 4 patterns of a Tupos we pointed out?

allow students time to answer

they…

Rejoices in the Lord.

Let’s their gentle spirit be known.

Is anxious for nothing

They dwell on the heavenly things.

Then at the end of that session, we took some time to reflect on whether or not our lives reflected these patterns of a Tupos.

we asked ourselves a tough question if we, individually had the characteristics and qualities of a Tupos.

we looked at ourselves before we looked at others

So this was the foundation we laid

2. Then earlier this morning we looked at our second Big Idea for the weekend and what was that?

allow students time to answer

Correct! We talked about Who Is your Tupos this morning.

What were the 3 examples we looked at?

Jesus washing the disciples feet

2 Thess 3 list of a Tupos

Worldly Tuops vs Biblical Tupos

So we’ve talked about all these things, we dug deep into scripture and God’s word, but now y’all are probably asking,

why did we just spend a whole weekend talking about this?

Why does this matter?

Well, that question of why brings us to our last big picture idea for the weekend which is…

Why Does Tupos Matter Now?

To do this, we are going to look at our theme verse again

Ask students if they can recall the theme verse

And we are also going to look at one additional passage that will help us to see why this is important for us now, even at the young age we all are - and yes, i include myself in that statement because i am only in my early 20’s, so this message is as much for me as it is for you today - so i myself am also speaking to myself as we walk through these passages and i’ll explain more of why here in a minute.

So I want you to go ahead and in your scripture portion of your booklete, write down our theme verse but also write down our additional passage, 1 Timothy 4:10-16 and while you guys are turning there, I am going to share a story about me while I was growing up

So probably from the time i could speak and form sentences together, my favorite question to ask was, “why”. “why does it have to be like this? Why do i have to do this? Why can’t i do this instead of that? Why does my brother get to do that and i don’t? Why can’t i have ice cream for dinner? Why do i have to do my school work?” These are only a fraction of all the “why” questions i asked as a kid growing up - and if you really want to know some stories of all the Why questions i asked as a kid, my mom is here in the back this weekend and i’m sure she would love to share some stories with you!

But here’s why i asked all those why questions as a kid and quite frankly, still ask a lot of why questions today. And that’s because i want to know they “why” behind the thing that i am doing.

I want to know why this is important, i want to know Why it’s important to the person asking me to do this, I want to know why this thing has value. And at the core of it, I want to know the heart behind the Why so that I can capture a clear vision for why we are doing what we are doing. Because for me, if I can see and KNOW the heart and why behind the thing that I am doing, that drives and fuels me. Especially when that thing is with my church family or anything that God has called me to.

But here’s another thing about me - sometimes - especially when God calls me to do something - i’m not fully behind the “why”. Especially when that “why” is scary, unknown, not the normal rhythm or routine. and most definitely when that “why” brings me out of my comfort zone and requieres me to be vulnerable. And speaking of vulnerability, i want to have a fairly vulnerable moment with you all - by asking - how old do you guys think i am?

allow students time to answer and engage with them

So I am only 22 years old. And i’m not like an almost 23, 22 year old. No i still have like 6 months before i turn 23. But now here’s WHY i’m bringing up my age to you guys and how this is going to tie into what we are talking about.

When God called me here to be your girls’ minster - i was only 21 years old. Just barley finished up my post-high school education and was looking to jump from a part-time internship in student ministry at my hometown church to a full time job in ministry.

And if i’m being quite honest with you guys - i did not in a million years think that God would call me to a church like cross city when i started the process of looking for a job. But he did! and heres the thing, i’m so glad he did! because for one clear reason - i get to hang out with some of the best girls in DFW this weekend diving into scripture and it is absolutely one of my most favorite things! I truly love getting to disciple and pour into you guys as you learn to walk with Christ through the realities of life.

But to give a little back story to when God began to call me to this church and really into full-time ministry - I for quite a while questioned God’s “why” for me as to why he was not just calling me here to Cross City, but also into full-time ministry at the age I was.

To give a little more context - My first job in ministry was the assistant recreation director at my hometown church in Amarillo where i helped our recreation minister oversee our recreational ministries AND i had college students who i helped our recreation minister manage and lead in running our recreation faclilites. Now let me ask you guys a question - how do you guys think i was when i started this job?

allow students time to answer

I was only 19 years old as a senior in high school - and i was offered the job over college students. Now i don’t say that to make myself look good or that i’m really good at things at a young age - but i share that to say - i was utterly terrified of that job the responsibilities that came with that job when i first started. And infact, i didn’t even know i was apply for that specific role, i thought i was apply for the one where i just helped run the front desk of our facilities, not the assitant recreation directer - if you wanna know the back story to that, come find me after and i will tell you that story.

but here’s what i want to hit home with you guys - God called me into ministry at a very young age and quiet frankly with my first job in ministry - i did not think in ANY way, shape, or form i was even close to qualified for this job for many reasons, but one of the main ones being that i was ONLY 19 years old. so after walking through the interview process and spending saurated time in prayer about this job, God led me to 1 Timothy 4:12 which says this,

1 Timothy 4:12 NASB95

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

When God led me to this verse - it was like he had written those words for me for that exact time because when i saw the truth about what he said what made me qualified for something - that instilled a confidence in me that was not of my own - but that was only and clearly from God.

God doesn’t look at your age to determine your worth or qualifications when he calls you to something. He looks at your faithfulness and willingness to follow and trust him to what he is calling you to and trusting he will equip you with what you need, when you need it.

so not only did God use this verse when i first went into ministry at 19 years old - but he also used this same verse when he called me here to cross city just over a year ago.

to put it in “catchy” terms - this is one of my life verses and its one of my favorite verses. and here’s why

when you walk through this passage that Paul is writing to Timothy - we see Paul bring together all the things that we have talked about this weekend.

we see in verse 10 the end goal that Paul is calling us to have where he says, 1 Tim 4:10

1 Timothy 4:10 NASB95

10 For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

it is because we have fixed our hope on the living God.

that is our end goal, being reunited and fully restored with our living God.

this is the people in which we want to imitate and observe (as paul lays out in Phill 3:17)

People who have their end goal set on the Glory of our living God

this is what Paul is encouraging us not just Timothy in, but us as followers of Christ as well

2. next in verse 11, we see a quick, one scentence command for Timothy as he is stepping out into ministry which is this, 1 Tim 4:11

1 Timothy 4:11 NASB95

11 Prescribe and teach these things.

So Paul is saying here, “hey, these things i’m about to tell, do them and teach them to other.” Paul is about to say, here are all the things i need you to be a Tupos in and those things are this in 1 Timothy 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12 NASB95

12 Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

3. What Paul is calling Timothy to do in his ministry is to

Let no one look down on his young age

likewise, when we are following and walking in the middle of God’s will for us - you should not let your age be what defines your qualifications for what God has called you to do

God does not determine your value and worth based upon your age

but instead, Paul says to Timothy that with his,

speech

conduct

love

faith

purity

to be an example to His brother and sisters in christ to follow

And to tie all of this together into the heart behind this weekend, when we use our greek word study tools, and we use our fancy app to translate back and forth to the greek - we see that the greek translation of this word example in the last half of this verse, can anyone take a guess as to what this greek word is?

allow students time to answer

d. correct! it is TUPOS! and what does tupos mean?

allow students time to answer

an example to be imitated

of men worthy of imitation

so what we see Paul calling timothy to do here is simply this

Paul is reminding Timothy to not let his age be a disqualifier for the ministry that God had called him to because God clearly did not see that himself when we looked at Timothy.

Then, Paul reminded Timothy that he needed to replace the lies of his age being a disqualifier for ministry with the truth of why God was calling Timothy to ministry and that was this,

God had called Timothy to Ministry because He saw that timothy was a Tupos that the church needed to see and be able to imitate and model after.

God saw that Timothy had an example of his speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity that was worthy of being imitated.

Pause

That is why being a tupos matters. Having a..

speech

conduct

love

faith

purity

that is WORTHY of being imitated

Think of this for a second - think of the honor that Timothy that Timothy probably felt knowing that God didn’t look at his age when calling him to ministry - but instead looked at the characteristics and qualities of his life and looked at him and said, “yeah, you’re a tupos” i need you to go and be an example for other followers to imitate.

What an encouragement that is also!

4. Let me ask you a few questions

Is your speech, conduct, love, faith, purity worthy of imitation? If so, What is something that you sense that God is calling you to that you are to young for?

If not, what part of that list do you sense is not worthy of imitation? What in your speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity do you need to examine and repent from to aim towards being a tupos?

5. Because girl’s here’s the thing, not only does this matter to you now with the friends you have, the influence you have in your schools, sports teams, home school groups, families, social media. This will matter 30 years from now when you guys are in your 40’s with families, raising mini you’s discipling your children and other young ladies that the lord brings into your life which leads us to our last point for this weekend…

Why Will Tupos Matter in the Future?

Well - instead of me telling you why from my own words of why I believe this will matter for you in the future - we’re going to look at the last few verses of 1 Timothy 4 and see what God’s word says about Tupos mattering in the future. 1 Timothy 4:13-16 say this:

1 Timothy 4:13–16 NASB95

13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. 16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

So to quickly exegesis this (which means to walk through it verse by verse) what Paul is continuing to say here to Timothy is this:

This wasn’t a one time calling, this was a Life-long calling

Paul wanted Timothy to continue on in His calling to be a Tupos to this church

to exhort them

to teach them the word of God

Next in verse 14 we see Paul reminding Timothy to not neglect the spiritual gift within him - WHICH has been affirmed in by the elders of the church! (Presbyter is a fancy word for elder. There’s a lot of words like that in the bible.)

Paul was exhorting and reminding Timothy that where he was, was EXACTLY where he needed to be.

Girls, when you graduate HS and Especially graduate college and jump into the real world - you are going to want to be surrounded by a community of Tupos’s

so much that you’ll crave it because when you have your seasons of doubt, uncertainty if you’re doing what God has called you to do - you’ll want to be surrounded with a community of Tupos ladies that will either affirm in you that you’re following after God’s call within His will - or they will lovingly rebuke you and help guide you back to the right path when you step off to the side from God’s call on your life.

I have Tupos’s in my life that are like this for me

They’ve affirmed me when i’ve made big decisions like the one to come here to Cross City.

they helped afirrm my call to ministry

they helped encourage me through difficult times

we’ve cried together

laughed together

shared memories together

and sought the end goal of the glory of God together

and i know without a doubt that for the next however many years, these people will always be people i can count on to be a tupos for me and vice versa

Girls, this is why Tupos will matter 30 years from now

Because as Paul concludes in the last 2 verses of this chapter, he is reminding Timothy that for one, it won’t be all sunshine and rainbows, but that there will be pain and hardship as he walks in the calling of God on his life

y’all - if there is one thing that scripture promises us outside of salvation through Jesus christ, it’s that there will be pain and suffering in this world becasue we live in a sinful and broken world

so what Paul is saying to timothy here is to not run or hide from those pains - but to be ABSORBED in them - when you look at the greek - it means to be present with them - not ignore them.

it means to be present with the pains that you will face SO THAT, all can see the Tupos you’re called to be and the growth you’ve had

And then Paul reminds him with this charge in verse 16 and its a similar charge that i want to give to you today:

Living a life worthy of imitation is no small thing. I hope that throughout this weekend, you have seen the good, the joy, the freedom, the life that comes from setting our end goal on the glory of God through Salvation in Christ and being someone who has the charcetristics of a tupos that we saw in Philippians 4, 2 Thess 3, 1 Tim 4:10-16. John 13.

Because here’s the thing - hear me out on this okay - we don’t become people worthy of imitation for the self glory or for others to see how awesome you are. We do it for what Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:16 and Philippians 3:17 which say this.

1 Timothy 4:16 NASB95

16 Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Philippians 3:17 NASB95

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

Paul says - the reason we are Tupos’s, (He didn’t literally say this but to make this applicable for us today) the reason we are talking about this greek word Tupos all weekend isn’t to make ourselves feel better or get on this emotional, spiritual high, it is so that we can help ensure the salvation for both ourselves, and everyone who looks up to you as Tupos, as an example worthy of imitation. The reason is the great commission in Matthew 28:18-19

Matthew 28:18–19 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Because when we are a Tupos to those around us who don’t know Christ - and they see a life in us that they want to imitate - they will quickly realize that they don’t have what you do and will start to ask questions about why you’re a tupos. Thats why Paul reminds timothy to watch himself closley so that people can be not just led to - but also ASSURED of their salvation.

Then in Philipp 3:17 - to join in following our examples - to Join in the body and life of the local church that God has placed you in so that we can Tupos one another.

share office story of you and tara and tuposing

Girls - this is why this matters today and will matter 30-100 years from now. We serve and everlasting God who calls us to set our end goal on Him and His glory - all for his gain and our good.

Closing Challenge

So let me close with these CTA questions

Is your speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity worthy of being imitated?

if so, where do you need to step out in faith to be a tupos to someone in your life?

That is either through 2 ways: 1 through evangelism and sharing the Gospel with a lost friends. or 2, through discipleship and helping a younger follower of christ to grow and strengthen in their faith as they learn from you to walk through the realities of this life with Christ

If not, what area do you need to examine your heart in? And what sin do you need to confess and repent of?

Guys i’m going to be honest - this is uncomfortable stuff to wrestle with. You don’t want anyone to know the real you - not even your best friend - you don’t want them to truly know the wickedness and sin of your heart.

but let me leave you with this - as scary as it is, as hard as it is. it is worth it - as Paul tells Timothy - to be absorbed in the pain of being honest and vulnerable with the community that God has given us. Not just for the good times - but also for the times when we need to confess sin, walk in repentance - seek forgiveness - reconcile re

lationships - and walk in the healing power of the gospel with one another

Because friends - everytime - even when i’m utterly terrified to open up - and a lot of people in this room can attest to my dislike of vulnerablility - it has been worth it everytime becasue i get to see the love that God has for me through my community of tupos’s and beyond.

don’t let the comfortability of surface level friendships keep you from being absored with one another to walk through the realities of life with Christ togther.

Don’t miss the opportunity

Pause and pray to end.