A Leadership Example
New Testament Example
(I Timothy 4:12-16)
Introduction:
And I have been asked to share some information regarding the importance of leadership
And I wanted to share a thought with the congregation and the people that work with Bro. Ralph Smith
To help lead the people of God at Centreville Church of Christ.
And I want to do that from the aspect of what it means to be a Christian example.
Body:
When we talk about an example, we are talking about something that is very powerful in terms of its influence.
Whether it is for the good or the bad, it is powerful.
You can have a good example (positive things), bad example (not so positive)
Illustration: TV Repair man
An example is a powerful thing. Good or bad.
It promotes a kind of influence that we need to be careful with.
If I am prone to be weak in the battle, you can show me your courage
And it will help me fight, when I otherwise would have fainted.
When I lack patience and I am burden with frustration
I can look at your longsuffering; It will help me start out fresh in the morning.
When I have problems with my faith, and my hope for tomorrow is gone,
I can look at your faith and find the strength to endure until the end.
See, the Hebrew writer had this is mind in the 11 chapter of the book of Hebrews.
- Abel (who by faith offered a more excellent sacrifice than Cain)
- Enoch (who because of his faithful life, bypassed death. God took him)
- Abraham (how he sojourned in an area that he didn’t realize would later be an inheritance. But he did it all by faith)
The Hebrew writer goes on and on and finally when he gets to verse 32.
(And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson,)
All these other people who by faith were able to do great things.
Neglect for a moment (chapter stops at verse 40)
Reason he gives example after example after example
Read: Hebrews 12:1-2
(Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses, let us…
When you have example, after example …let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith;)
This is a critical time in the life of the Christian for a good example.
There is a need for that positive example in the life of God’s leaders (men/women)
Read: I Timothy 4:12-16
If you/we are going to gain the respect of the people that you/we lead, you/we must be something called an example.
Paul told this preacher you have a great charge and responsibility.
Paul had developed the church at Ephesus and needed to go on into Macedonia.
And he told Timothy to remain at Ephesus and charge some that they teach no other doctrine.
Paul knew that the Ephesian church was going to have problems. (Proph. Acts 20:28)
So this young preacher had a great job to perform.
In doing so Timothy, don’t let the congregation despise you because of your youthfulness.
Point: Just because you’re
(Young / doesn’t mean that you can’t get the job done)
(Not as experienced as the Apostle Paul)
(But, I am going to tell you how you need to do it Timothy)
If you are going to be a blessing to that church, you must be an example to the believers.
People don’t respect the office as much as they respect the content of the character of the person in the office.
So Timothy, if you are going to be a blessing to the church at Ephesus
If you are going to have those older brethren and those older sisters respect you
You are going to have to be something called an example.
Now, the ancient world had an interesting way of painting a picture of an example.
Peter liked to use a word for example by putting to different words together to make one word.
Explain: Huppo (under) – Grammos (write)
The meaning that Peter assigns to the word example means to “write under”
Read: I Peter 2:21 (…for Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps.)
Point: The word example means to write under.
(Copy book method of teaching a child how to write).
Example: Teacher writing on the chalk board
He is an example of suffering. And if you are going to learn to suffer, write under His life.
But Paul had another word. Paul liked to use a word for example called “tupos.”
Tupos carried the meaning of leaving an imprint on the material.
Example: Kings writing on material
John used it in the dialog with Thomas (…unless I see the imprint)
Point:
An example is an imprint made upon somebody’s life.
So, Paul tells Timothy, Timothy if you are going to get the respect of the congregation
Be an imprint on their lives.
Now, Timothy how are you going to do it?
The text says the way you go about being an example is to:
1. Pay attention to your personal life.
Be careful how you carry yourself
Be careful of your manner of speech
Be careful of what you listen to
Because if you are not careful, you will become the very thing you are trying to avoid.
2. Be an example in faithfulness
And he’s not talking about necessarily just to the word, even though that’s important.
But he is talking about being faithful to God’s people. Being faithful to the people that you lead.
You must in your personal life, live a kind of life that says to those that follow you
(I want you to be the very best you can be)
Don’t you know people will follow someone like that?
3. Be an example in purity
Purity means you live a clean life. You live a life that imprints upon the life of those that follow you.
Then he says to Timothy, not only should be an example in your personal life,
But in verse 13 (Be an example in your personal ministry)
He says to Timothy (Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching).
He says, you have an obligation to read it and you ought to read it well.
Give attention to the public reading. And after you read it, give a word of exhortation.
After you read the text then exhort folk from the text.
( Don’t Say) -People don’t assemble to hear (your opinion, commentary)
(Don’t Say) They assemble to hear the text (That’s why we must preach and teach the text)
Then after you have exhorted them from the text.
Take your teaching and teach so that lives can be changed.
Make an imprint on their lives.
Conclusion:
He tells him in the next verse (That you give yourself wholly to it)
(Live with it, eat it, sleep it, breath it, and let it become a part of you.
And then finally he tells him in the 16th verse (For in doing this)
There’s a great reward.
Be an example in your (personal life, public ministry)
For in doing this (You will save both yourself and them that hear you)
Explain: Save yourself from hypocrisy
Reference: I Timothy 4:1