Living A Life Worth Following (2)

Intro

Text - 1 Timothy 4.12

Series - Living A Life Worth Following

Key Questions

Have you experienced being “looked down” or despised by another person/s? How did you feel? Were they justified?

Can you think of a reason why your Christian life should not be despised?

Paul mentioned six areas of Christian life. Why is it important that we become examples to the believers in these areas?

How can we improve our lives so that we can move from “despised” to “example”?

Why some people look down on others

Various reasons

they are bigger, richer, or wiser

they have influence

they think they are above the person

the person is shameful in some ways

1 Peter 4:15–16 NKJV

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

Why the Christian life should not be looked down

Christian life represents true religion or true faith.

Christian life is Christ living in us and through us.

Christian life God’s new creation.

Why be an example in these areas

Paul encourages us to move up from being despised to being an example

because it glorifies Christ

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

1 Peter 2:12 NKJV

12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

because it is good testimony

because people need a pattern for Christian living

Why be an example in “word”?

Key verses

Colossians 4:6 NKJV

6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Titus 2:6–8 NKJV

6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Why be an example in conduct?

Key verses

Philippians 1:27 NKJV

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

James 3:13 NKJV

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

1 Peter 1:15–19 NKJV

15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1 Peter 1:22–23 NKJV

22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

Why be an example in love?

Key verses

Romans 12:9–10 NKJV

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

Why be example in spirit?

Key verses

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Why be an example in faith?

Key verses

Why be an example in purity?

How can we improve our lives so that we can move from “despised” to “example”?

Key to a life worth following

right actions

discipline

excellence

Key verses

1 Timothy 4:13–16 NKJV

13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. 16 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2 Timothy 2:15 NKJV

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Conclusion