A Leadership Manual (10)

Leading by example...

In Grade 8, Home Economics was a prerequisite for the Grade 8 boys, just as Industrial Arts was a mandatory subject for the Grade 8 girls.

It wasn’t so bad because we were able to learn more about baking or making meals, and how to properly clean up after ourselves. Some of these things we had already learned, but Mrs Ladouceur was more strict than the rules at home. No licking the beaters. No eating raw cookie dough. We weren’t allowed to clean the bowl out and lick the spatula. Definitely no horsing around in class, etc, etc.

One day Mrs. Ladouceur had something on her finger and she licked it. As any good kid, we called her on it, and she said,

“Do as I say, not as I do...”

For us, that was a license to start licking beaters or using our finger to get a little of the leftovers from the chocolate leftovers in a mixing bowl.

In our Scripture passage today, the Apostle Paul doesn’t teach Timothy to teach one thing but do something else.

Let’s read our Scripture passage,

1 Timothy 4:11–16 NIV

11 Command and teach these things. 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. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

As we look at our Scripture, Paul instructs Timothy to

Command and teach these things...

This could refer to what Paul instructed with the false teachers, but definitely it would refer to teaching sound teaching/doctrine to the people.

The NLT puts it this way,

1 Timothy 4:11 NLT

11 Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them.

If we were to compare Paul’s demeanor to Timothy’s, it would appear that Paul commanded respect where Timothy would have been more reserved and possibly even a little bit intimidated.

Here’s how Paul addressed the church in Corinth with respect to Timothy,

1 Corinthians 16:10–11 NIV

10 When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. 11 No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he may return to me. I am expecting him along with the brothers.

Paul goes on to say,

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young...

This might give the impression that Timothy was ultra young. The Greek word

neotes = young

could refer to anybody up to the age of forty as being young.

The NKJV says,

1 Timothy 4:12 (NKJV)

12 Let no one despise your youth...

It can be hard to take somebody seriously, if we think that they are only young and have no practical experience. We might think, “They have a head knowledge, they’ve got the theory down pat, but they have no experience.”

The day may come when God uses somebody that we consider too young to speak His word, and we have to decide whether or not we are going to receive it based on the fact that it is God’s word or reject it because we don’t think the messenger is mature enough or worthy to speak God’s word.

Timothy may have been in his thirties, but could have been much younger than some in the church. I think the same can go for young pastors today. In cities, usually the church is big enough so that they can start as a youth pastor or an assistant to the lead pastor, but in small churches in places like rural Saskatchewan, young pastors can come to pastor and be intimidated because some despise their youth. A young leader can’t change someone else’s mind on what they think, but they can

Set an example for the believers...

It doesn’t matter our age, and it doesn’t matter if we find ourselves in leadership at the present moment or not. There is never a better time than the present to be an example for other believers. Paul was encouraging Timothy to set an example. In this way, he could exercise his authority as pastor because of his example.

When I was at my first church as youth pastor, a young guy my age refused to call me Pastor Dave. He just called me Dave. there were four or five Daves in the church. It didn’t bother me either way, but one night a conversation came up at a couple’s place that were very strict on calling the pastor the Pastor. In this case there were two strong opinions: One was that you give the pastor his respect and call him, Pastor. The other opinion was that the title of pastor needed to be earned and not just given. To make a short story long, the young man was asked to leave their home.

In Timothy’s case, Paul instructed him not to let anybody look down on him because he was young, but set an example for the believers.

How could Timothy set an example?

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

12 ...but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Paul doesn’t leave Timothy guessing. He spells it out clearly. Let’s look at these words and see how we can apply this to our lives.

How can we set an example in every area of our lives?

(Thoughts from LANTC)

In speech...

Do we use our words wisely?

When Timothy would preach or teach, he needed to stay out of the weeds of useless arguments but to preach the truth. It can be so easy to get off course with our preaching or even our words and conversation.

Even during our election, we need to speak our words wisely. We have to be careful that we don’t believe everything that we hear, but before we start talking, we need to take the time and do some research. And when we do speak, we need to make sure that the words we do speak bring honour and glory to God.

It can be so easy to say words that we later regret, but we can never take the words back that we have spoken .

Colossians 3:16–17 NIV

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

In Conduct...

The way we live needs to be consistent with the gospel. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour but He is also our example.

Hebrews 4:15 NIV

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

If we look at the temptations that Jesus endured in the wilderness. He was tempted with bread. His physical needs. He was tempted to test God and to jump from the pinnacle of the temple. He was also tempted to bow down and worship the devil. Satan promised to give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if He would only bow down and worshiip Him.

If Jesus wasn’t fully human, He couldn’t be tempted by evil, but Jesus didn’t use His divinity to His advantage, so He understands when we are tempted, He He empathizes with us.

He not only empathizes with us but He empowers us.

2 Peter 1:3–4 NIV

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Because Jesus gets it, we can come to the throne of grace.

Hebrews 4:16 NIV

16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you need mercy? God’s mercies are new every morning. Do you need grace? His grace is enough.

The Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh and he pleaded with the Lord to take it away.

2 Corinthians 12:8–10 NIV

8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul also encouraged Timothy to set an example

In Love...

In our language, love can mean a whole myriad of things, but let’s clarify the word.

Once again Greek has four words for love that I know, and Paul is using the word

Agape...

this is God’s love. This is that sacrificial love that sent Jesus to the cross for us. This is that kind of love that would make someone die for another person. It is unconditional without the guarantee of being reciprocated.

We can say the right words, and we can even do the right things but without agape love it holds no lasting value.

The next way to set an example is

In Faith...

We can claim to have great faith, but if we don’t back our faith up with action, it’s dead. The first three ways that we should set an example: our speech, our conduct, and our love, happen because of our faith. Because we believe in Jesus’ crucifixion and His resurrection, we have reason to proclaim what we believe, to live out what we believe and to show God’s love to others.

People will be a lot more open to hear what we believe when they have seen a demonstration of God’s love being poured out of you and me.

Let’s not hide our light under a basket, but let your light shine so that others will glorify God.

The last encouragement was to set an example

In purity...

This implies

integrity and consistency...

A few years ago I read a book that talked about the front stage of our lives as well as the back stage. The front stage is what everybody sees. That’s when the lights are on us. The back stage represents the deep recesses of our lives that nobody sees.

Purity is having integrity before God when nobody else is around. We need to invite and allow the Holy Spirit to clean out those corners of our lives that nobody else sees.

Let’s look at three things that Paul encouraged Timothy to include in a public worship service.

1 Timothy 4:13 NIV

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.

The public reading of Scripture...

You might wonder why each Sunday, we publicly read a passage of Scripture. Here is a reason. It is important to not only read God’s word but to hear God’s word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

To preaching...

This is encouragement, exhortation. It’s helping bring application to what we learn from doctrine. It can even be pleading and urging people to come to Christ and for others to draw near to God. It’s preaching the message of the cross.

To teaching...

This is teaching about doctrine. It’s what we believe. When we teach what we believe, we need to back it up with God’s word. It doesn’t hold much weight if there is no foundation in Scripture. We might believe because we have heard somebody teach a doctrine, our teaching needs to be tested by the word of God. God’s word is truth.

I’m sure Paul knew how hard things can get so he kept encouraging Timothy to stand firm.

1 Timothy 4:14 NIV

14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Paul doesn’t say what the particular gift was but he encouraged Timothy to use it. He received it from God when the elders had laid their hands on him and prayed.

Let’s not neglect the gifts that God has given us. He has given each one of us gifts and He wants us to be faithful to use them with the measure of faith He has given us.

Romans 12:6–8 NIV

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

We as a body function more effectively as we use the gifts that God has given us.

As we look at the last two verses, Paul ties this section together. Let’s not gloss over what he has to say because there is great value here.

1 Timothy 4:15–16 NIV

15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Be diligent in all these matters...

We, too, need to be diligent and give ourselves wholly to the Lord in every area of our lives: In our speech, in our conduct, in our love, in our faith, and in our purity.

If we do, people will see our growth, our progress. One thing that we need to guard against is that we can become stagnant in our walk with God. As we abide in Christ and are being nourished, we will continue to be fruitful.

In verse 16, Paul admonishes Timothy to watch his

Life and Doctrine

closely.

Persevere in them...

Let’s be careful not to get of course. Never give up. Keep your foot on the petal. Let’s not coast across the finish line, but let’s press in.

Philippians 3:14 NIV

14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Let’s keep our eyes on the prize.

Jesus gave a warning to the Laodicean church in Revelation 3.

Revelation 3:14–20 NIV

14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. 19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

If we watch our lives and our doctrine, and persevere in them,

You will save both yourself and your hearers...

Let’s be careful to be found in Christ. If we do persevere, we will have an impact on others.

We may never know what people will read when they read the letter of our lives.

My prayer is that they would see Christ in us the hope of glory.

Let’s pray!