Examples to Follow

TURN— PHIL CH. 3… VS. 17

**PITCH N.T. READING PLAN**

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BEGIN —READING SCRIPTURE:

Philippians 3:17–4:1 (ESV)

17 Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.

18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.

19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.

20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,

21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

1 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

OPEN in PRAYER

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INTRO: “PUZZLE PEOPLE”

(Q) HOW MANY OF YOU HERE THIS MORNING ARE PUZZLE PEOPLE? YOU ENJOY DOING PUZZLES?

EVER TRIED WITHOUT PICTURE??

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CONFESSION: NOT MUCH of PUZZLE PERSON...

50 PIECE FLOOR PUZZLE = LIMIT

ONLY SAVING GRACE: PICTURE on BOX— GIVES YOU an EXAMPLE to FOLLOW

WITHOUT: WHAT is a BLACK PIECE?

CAR TIRE?

NIGHT SKY?

SPOT on COW?

A PICTURE/PATTERN/ EXAMPLE — HELPS YOU FIT PIECES TOGETHER

VISUALS = SUPER HELPFUL

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NEED:

TEXT WILL REMIND US of IMPORTANCE of LOOKING @ EXAMPLES...

—>> GOD’S WORD GIVES COUNTLESS INSTRUCTIONS on HOW WE OUGHT to LIVE...

**BIBLE ISN’T a PICTURE BOOK**

BUT GOD HAS PUT PEOPLE in OUR LIVES— SHOW US WHAT THESE THINGS LOOK LIKE...

(T) I WANT YOU TO KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND AS WE DIVE INTO OUR TEXT THIS MORNING,

BUT BEFORE WE JUMP IN I WANT TO OFFER A QUICK RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK:

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RECAP: “THE ‘PERFECT’ CHRISTIAN”

Larger Context: CASTING ASIDE PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS in FAVOR of CHRIST’S PERFECT RIGHTEOUSNESS.....

Last Week: PAUL ILLUSTRATED WHAT the “PERFECT” CHRISTIAN LOOKS LIKE...

PAUL HASN’T ARRIVED/BECOME PERFECT ((HUMILITY))

HE PRESSES ON TOWARDS the HEAVENLY GOAL… ((AGILITY))

THOSE “MATURE/PERFECT” THINK THIS WAY...

HUMILITY

PURSUIT of CHRIST & FINAL RESURRECTION

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(T) IN LIGHT of PAUL’S EXAMPLE...

HE’S GOING to CALL CHURCH to FOLLOW

PURSUIT of CHRIST

HUMILITY

LOOK W/ ME @ CH. 3 VS. 17.....

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PREACHING PASSAGE: PHIL. CH. 3:17-4:1

Thought 1 (V17)

17 BROTHERS, JOIN IN IMITATING ME, AND KEEP YOUR EYES ON THOSE WHO WALK ACCORDING TO THE EXAMPLE YOU HAVE IN US.

I. PASSAGE BEGINS: CALL for IMITATION

1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV)

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

PAUL = A PICTURE/EXAMPLE of WHAT CHRISTIAN LIFE SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

WHY?

PAUL LIVED WHAT HE PREACHED.

PURSUIT of CHRIST—GOAL of LIFE?? — ENTIRE LIFE DEVOTED to SERVICE

JOY?? — CELEBRATING GOD’S WORK WHILE HE’S in JAIL

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II. A CALL to “KEEP EYES on THOSE WHO WALK in THIS EXAMPLE”

WHO DO YOU FOLLOW? WHO DO YOU TRUST??

THOSE WHO WALK the RIGHT WAY

**COUNTLESS PEOPLE KNOW RIGHT THINGS to SAY**

QUESTION IS: LOOK @ THEIR WALK…THEIR LIFESTYLE.

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**YOU WON’T FIND a “PERFECT” EXAMPLE…**

EVEN PAUL LAST WEEK: NOT PERFECT/HASN’T ARRIVED...

*****REF: P.P. PICTURE.

“PERFECT” CHRISTIAN =

IMPERFECT/HUMBLE

IN PURSUIT of CHRIST...

DESPITE IMPERFECTIONS—PEOPLE CAN BE UPRIGHT, GODLY, BLAMELESS...

THOSE ARE the ONES YOU LOOK to FOR an EXAMPLE

ILLUSTRATION of WHAT SCRIPTURE TEACHES

YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND SOMEONE FURTHER ALONG in the JOURNEY to FOLLOW

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(T)

I. JOIN in IMITATING....

II. FOLLOW GODLY EXAMPLES...

WHY??

WE’LL SEE.... LET’S LOOK @ VS. 18-19

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Thought 2 (V18-19)

18 FOR MANY, OF WHOM I HAVE OFTEN TOLD YOU AND NOW TELL YOU EVEN WITH TEARS, WALK AS ENEMIES OF THE CROSS OF CHRIST. 19 THEIR END IS DESTRUCTION, THEIR GOD IS THEIR BELLY, AND THEY GLORY IN THEIR SHAME, WITH MINDS SET ON EARTHLY THINGS.

WHY FOLLOW GOOD EXAMPLES....WHY ARE GOOD EXAMPLES IMPORTANT??

2 REASONS TODAY.

I. THERE ARE MANY THAT ARE BAD EXAMPLES.

THOSE WHO WALK as ENEMIES of the CROSS of CHRIST!

SCHOLAR WALTER HANSEN: LIKENS THIS TO A FORK IN THE ROAD:

GOOD EXAMPLES? — “WALKING” ACCORDING to APOSTLE’S EXAMPLE of PURSUING CHRIST

BAD EXAMPLES? “WALKING” AS ENEMIES of CROSS

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WHO ARE THESE FOLKS??

ON BASIS of:

PAUL’S WARNING W/ TEARS...

+ FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION....

= MANY SCHOLARS CONCLUDE:

GROUP PROBABLY = PROFESSING “CHRISTIANS” WHO WALK in UNREPENTANT SIN--- ABUSING GRACE of GOD...

SAY ONE THING W/ LIPS

LIVE DIFFERENTLY W/ LIVES (EMPHASIS on “WALK” TODAY)

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Last Week: PERHAPS MY COMMENTS MADE SOME NERVOUS

SPEAKING on GRACE

FORGIVENESS of PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE SIN

SPEAKING on IMPERFECTION

SOME CONCLUDE: SIN-FILLED LIFESTYLE = PERFECTLY OKAY

SAYING, “IF GOD WILL FORGIVE ME INDEFINITELY…THEN WHY DOES IT MATTER HOW I LIVE??”

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THE SAME GRACE THAT FORGIVES & SAVES.... ALSO a GRACE THAT CHANGES.

DON’T FORGET ABOUT BEGINNING of CHRISTIAN LIFE in GOD’S TERMS:

CONVERSION—HUMAN PERSPECTIVE

REGENERATION— DIVINE PERSPECTIVE

**YOU DON’T JUST CONVERT to a RELIGION**

YOU’RE BORN-AGAIN

TAKEN OUT of DOMAIN of DARKNESS—TRANSFERRED to KINGDOM of BELOVED SON

THINGS GOD DOES!!

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NEW COVENANT: WRITING LAW on HEART—GIVING NEW HEART

Philippians 2:13 (ESV)

13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

SINNING THAT GRACE MAY ABOUND?? == NOT the WAY “BORN-AGAIN” PEOPLE THINK!

—> DON’T TAKE SUPERNATURAL OUT of CHRISTIANITY

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SCHOLAR, JOSEPH HELLERMAN: THE “ENEMIES” of the CROSS = NOT THEOLOGICAL ENEMIES....NOT IDEOLOGICAL ENEMIES…BUT ETHICAL ENEMIES

NOT FALSE-DOCTRINE

BUT FALSE-LIVING

PAUL SAYS: FOLLOW THOSE W/ GOOD EXAMPLE in THEIR “WALK”…FOR MANY “WALK” as ENEMIES of CHRIST’S CROSS...

(SEE the CONTRAST?)

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(V19) PAUL DOESN’T SAY WHO THEY ARE..... BUT HE DOES GIVE DESCRIPTION.... W/ 4 CHARACTERISTICS

I. END = DESTRUCTION

*MOST SIGNIFICANT DISTINGUISHING FACTOR— END of STORY = ETERNAL SEPARATION from GOD.

Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

**MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: CHOOSING EXAMPLES to FOLLOW: WHAT is THEIR END???**

SO MANY PEOPLE WANT to BE LIKE VARIOUS CELEBRITIES/FAMOUS PEOPLE...

IF THEIR END is DESTRUCTION…SHOULD YOU BE WALKING on SAME ROAD??

MANY on BROAD ROAD

EASY WAY

WHAT “EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING.”

THAT EXAMPLE LEADS TO HELL.

THEY’RE on SEPARATE TEAM… ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT...

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II. SECOND, THEIR GOD IS THEIR BELLY.

SLAVES to NATURAL, PHYSICAL DESIRES....

SLAVES to THEIR APPETITES:

OVERINDULGENCE in FOOD/DRINK

SEX/SEXUAL IMMORALITY

ANY LUST for MATERIAL POSSESSIONS

EVERY DESIRE ISN’T AUTOMATICALLY GOOD.... & NOT GOOD INDEFINITELY

Galatians 5:17 (ESV)

17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

ROB the POLYGAMY GUY— EVERY BIOLOGICAL DESIRE = GOD-GIVEN. NOT TRUE.

CHRISTIANS AREN’T to BE ENSLAVED to NATURAL DESIRES

JESUS CALLS US to “DENY OURSELVES”

FRUIT of the SPIRIT = SELF-CONTROL

ENEMIES of the CROSS—SERVE FLESHLY DESIRES as THEIR GOD!

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III. THEY GLORY in SHAME

THEY CELEBRATE THEIR SINS...

MAJOR DIFFERENTIATOR BETWEEN CHRISTIAN & NON-CHRISTIAN

CHRISTIAN— REPENTS of SIN

NON-CHRISTIAN—CELEBRATES THEIR SIN.

WE LIVE in a WORLD —SETS ASIDE JUNE” as “PRIDE MONTH”

GOD HATES PRIDE

GOD HATES WHAT that MONTH CELEBRATES— SCRIPTURE CALLS it an ABOMINATION

GLORYING in SHAME

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IV. MINDS SET on EARTHLY THINGS

THINGS of GOD NEVER TRULY OCCUPY THEIR MINDS...

Last Week: CHRISTIAN MINDSET = HUMBLE PURSUIT of SAVIOR—ANTICIPATION of FINAL RESURRECTION

NOT CONSUMED W/ GOD’S KINGDOM

CONSUMED W/ APPETITES

NOT HUMBLE

GLORYING in SHAME

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(T)

PAUL SHOWS WHAT to AVOID—

NOW HE’LL SHOW the CONTRAST:

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 20-21

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Thought 3 (V20-21)

20 BUT OUR CITIZENSHIP IS IN HEAVEN, AND FROM IT WE AWAIT A SAVIOR, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, 21 WHO WILL TRANSFORM OUR LOWLY BODY TO BE LIKE HIS GLORIOUS BODY, BY THE POWER THAT ENABLES HIM EVEN TO SUBJECT ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF.

(V20) PAUL DOES 2 THINGS...

CONTRASTING THOSE in V18-19

SECOND REASON for FOLLOWING GOOD EXAMPLES (GK: GAR)

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SOME WALK as ENEMIES of the CROSS....

BUT WE …OUR CITIZENSHIP…IT’S in HEAVEN...

WE’RE ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT.

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I. OUR END ISN’T DESTRUCTION—IT’S GLORY & RESURRECTION… BEING W/ CHRIST!

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II. OUR GOD ISN’T OUR BELLY — OUR GOD is in HEAVEN

WE’RE NOT SLAVES to PHYSICAL DESIRES

WE’RE SLAVES of RIGHTEOUSNESS...

Romans 8:13 (ESV)

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

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III. WE DON’T GLORY in SHAME…BUT WE GLORY (V3) IN CHRIST!!

THE ONLY REASON WE HAVE to BOAST

THE ONLY REASON WE’RE CITIZENS of HEAVEN—IS CHRIST!

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IV. MINDS AREN’T SET on EARTHLY THINGS...

MINDS ARE SET on PURSUING CHRIST & FINAL RESURRECTION

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CHURCH OUR HOME ISN’T HERE....WE’RE CITIZENS of HEAVEN.

SCHOLAR GORDON FEE CONCLUDES, “JUST AS PHILIPPI WAS A COLONY OF ROME,

WHOSE CITIZENS THEREBY EXEMPLIFIED THE LIFE OF ROME IN THE PROVINCE OF MACEDONIA,

SO THE CITIZENS OF THE ‘HEAVENLY COMMONWEALTH’ WERE TO FUNCTION AS A COLONY OF HEAVEN IN THAT OUTPOST OF ROME” (FEE 379).”[1]

THOSE in PHILIPPI— WOULD BE REAL PROUD to BE ROMAN CITIZENS....

PAUL SAYS: YOU’RE CITIZENS of HEAVEN…TEMPORARILY LIVING on EARTH

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I’M PROUD to BE an AMERICAN

I’D BE FLYING a FLAG BEHIND TRUCK

VALUE our FREEDOMS

I THINK THERE’S a REASON PEOPLE TRY to COME HERE.

BUT I’M a CHRISTIAN, BEFORE I’M an AMERICAN.

MY HOPE DOESN’T HINGE on WHAT HAPPENS DOWN HERE.

MY GOALS DON’T REVOLVE AROUND WHAT HAPPENS DOWN HERE...

I’M a CITIZEN of HEAVEN—STATIONED in AMERICA

OUR LIFESTYLE

OUR CONDUCT

OUR VALUES

SHOULD REFLECT HEAVEN BEFORE THEY REFLECT ANY CITIZENSHIP WE HAVE DOWN HERE

WE’LL NEVER FIT in 100% DOWN HERE.

WE SHOULD FIT in @ CHURCH MORE THAN ANYWHERE— FELLOW CITIZENS of HEAVEN

WE’RE a SEPARATE PEOPLE

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(V20b) NOT ONLY CITIZENSHIP in HEAVEN— BUT OUR SAVIOR is in HEAVEN....

NOT EARTHLY-MINDED

INSTEAD WE AWAIT.... WE EAGERLY AWAIT,, OUR SAVIOR...

**PAUL MIGHT HAVE COINED THIS WORD!

WHEN HE COMES—HE’LL BRING RESURRECTION & TRANSFORMATION

DEAD in CHRIST—WILL RISE

THOSE WHO REMAIN— WILL BE CHANGED...

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OUR LOWLY/HUMBLE BODIES WILL BE TRANSFORMED to GLORIOUS BODIES

I’M SICK THIS MORNING… I CAN SAY AMEN to THIS.

TREASURE in JARS of CLAY BECOMES MORE RELATABLE EVERY DAY...

YOUR BODY ACHES & PAINS SHOULD CAUSE YOU to LONG FOR CHRIST’S COMING BEFORE COMPLAINING!

THIS = END of STORY for the CHRISTIAN!

ENEMIES of CROSS— END = DESTRUCTION

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(21b) FINAL TRANSFORMATION — COMES THROUGH CHRIST’S ALL-SUBJECTING POWER....

EVERY KNEE BOW & TONGUE CONFESS

ALL AUTHORITY in HEAVEN & EARTH = HIS...

W/ THAT POWER…HE’LL TRANSFORM US!!

(T)

PAUL’S NOW GOING to CLOSE in 4:1....

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Thought 4 (4:1)

4 THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS, WHOM I LOVE AND LONG FOR, MY JOY AND CROWN, STAND FIRM THUS IN THE LORD, MY BELOVED.

· IN LIGHT OF ALL THESE TRUTHS.....THEREFORE.... WE OUGHT TO STAND FIRM.

PAUL— W/ PASTORAL CONCERN....

BROTHERS (& SISTERS)

BELOVED

LONGED FOR

JOY & CROWN

BELOVED

CARES ABOUT THEIR SOULS....

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MESSAGE: STAND FIRM

FOLLOW AFTER GODLY EXAMPLES

DON’T LET the ENEMIES of the CROSS PULL YOU FROM CHRIST

(T) AND SO, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT:

HOMILETICAL IDEA

CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO STAND FIRM IN THE FAITH

AS THEY EAGERLY AWAIT CHRIST’S RETURN

BY LOOKING TO GODLY EXAMPLES TO EMULATE.

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GOSPEL: CITIZENS of HEAVEN/NARROW GATE VS. BROAD RD

WE EAGERLY ANTICIPATE/AWAIT CHRIST’S COMING…BECAUSE for CHRISTIAN HIS COMING = GOOD THING!!!

Hebrews 9:28 (ESV)

28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

HE CAME HUMBLY in INCARNATION

CAME DOWN to DEAL W/ SIN

LIVING PERFECT & SINLESS LIFE & DYING for sin...

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HE’S COMING BACK AGAIN as LORD & SAVIOR...

Philippians 2:10–11 (ESV)

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

HEAVEN

ON EARTH

UNDER EARTH

= EVERY!

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2 ENDS:

DESTRUCTION

GLORY

PAGE AFTER PAGE—SCRIPTURE PRESENTS— 2 CAMPS

THOSE FORGIVEN....THOSE UNFORGIVEN

SHEEP..... GOATS

WHEAT.... WEEDS....

SONS of KINGDOM..... SONS of DESTRUCTION

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DIFFERENCE = CHRIST.

NOT BETWEEN GOOD & BAD PEOPLE

ONLY BETWEEN THOSE WHO’VE RECEIVED CHRIST…AND THOSE WHO HAVEN’T....

NOT BASED UPON BIRTH

BACKGROUND

GOOD WORKS

PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

(Q) HAVE YOU RECEIVED CHRIST the LORD—THIS SIDE of ETERNITY?

HERE WITH QUESTIONS

DON’T KNOW WHERE YOU STAND

WITHOUT ASSURANCE

I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE TODAY...

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(T) AND NOW, FOR THOSE US WHO HAVE BELIEVED AND HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST,

I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU IN CLOSING WITH THE EXAMPLES YOU LOOK TO:

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APP: LIVING as CITIZENS of HEAVEN

PAUL ADMONISHES CHURCH @ PHILIPPI… LOOK to GODLY EXAMPLES...

IMITATE HIMSELF

FOLLOW AFTER RIGHT EXAMPLES— TIMOTHY & EPAPRHODITUS...

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WE DON’T KNOW PAUL…TIMOTHY…EPAPHRODITUS....

COULDN’T TELL YOU:

THEIR HAIR COLOR

HEIGHT

PERSONALITY

MUCH ABOUT THEM…THEY AREN’T HERE...

WE CAN READ of THEIR EXAMPLES...

PAUL’S ZEALOUS SERVICE

TIMOTHY’S SELFLESS CARE for OTHERS

EPAPHRODITUS’ RISKING HIS LIFE for GOSPEL

BUT WE CAN’T SEE THESE THINGS...

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BUT WE HAVE OTHERS to LOOK TOO...

AS WE AWAIT the COMING of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST…

WE OUGHT to BE FOLLOWING EXAMPLES GOD HAS PLACED in OUR LIVES.....

ONE COMMENTATOR HAS SAID, ““RATHER THAN DENY OUR INSTINCT TO COPY OTHERS, WE SHOULD LEVERAGE IT”[1]

NOT to PUT PEOPLE on PEDESTAL & WORSHIP THEM...

AGAIN—EVEN PAUL WAS IMPERFECT

BUT MERELY as a PICTURE of WHAT it LOOKS LIKE to FOLLOW CHRIST...

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HOW DO YOU KNOW WHO to FOLLOW?

LOOK @ THEIR WALK.

Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

WALK = MORE IMPORTANT THAN TALK

LOOK to GODLY EXAMPLES of OTHERS,, WHAT CHRISTIAN FAITH LOOKS LIKE.

ANYONE FURTHER ALONG JOURNEY—IN ANY AREA— YOU CAN LEARN SOMETHING FROM

BILL— EXAMPLE of GODLY CONTENTMENT & FAITHFULNESS

STEVE— EXAMPLE of DEVOTION—SERVING ANYWHERE HE CAN

TEACHING

GRUNT WORK

ETC.

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Closing:

AS CITIZENS of HEAVEN....

WE LOOK to EXAMPLES of the GODLY

WE CAST ASIDE EXAMPLES of the UNGODLY

WE REMAIN STEADFAST

IN EAGER EXPECTATION of the COMING of OUR GREAT GOD & SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST…AMEN?

Close in Prayer