The Example of a Leader

Text: I Timothy 4:12-16

We cannot overestimate the power of a good example...

Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. - Mark Twain.

A man's life is always more forcible than his speech. When men take stock of him they reckon his deeds as dollars and his words as pennies. If his life and doctrine disagree the mass of onlookers accept his practice and reject his preaching. - C.H. Spurgeon

Paul is stressing the value of an example for all believers of every age.

Timothy is delivered to the church as the example needed. He is commanded to be the elder of the church by being the example to the church.

Word, (2)

“Speaking lies in hypocrisy...”

Conversation, (8)

“...godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”

charity,(3)

- He points out the manipulation building rules and manipulations (religiously) that will exclude or include people.

“Forbidding to...and commanding to...”

spirit, (6)

“nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine...”

faith, (5)

“For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

purity (7)

“refuse profane...and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

Simple positive command for this young preacher.

Offer a testimony that encourages people to grow in:

What they say

How they live

How they love

How they feel

The lengths they go to obey

What they allow in their life

This testimony is meant to impact the lives of those that you lead.

But notice that the author opens with oppositions that the congregation might feel towards his example.

As if sometimes we are looking for reasons to not follow a good example.

Don’t you think that a church full of God fearing people would want to follow and even admire a leader with a good testimony.

Paul makes room for this like it is to be expected.

But just because it is expected doesn’t mean it is right.

So expected is it that he puts the onus on Timothy. Meaning that he did not command the congregation to follow his example but Timothy to remove the reason to not follow.

Notice that his reason was not a biblical qualification rather it was an age preference.

Meaning that these were believers who were willing to follow a man who had a bad testimony with the world and multiple wives whose children wouldn’t obey their parents, but were not willing to follow the young man with a Godly testimony.

LET’S TALK...

Understand here the positioning of the leadership in this text.

We find the Formula for leadership influence. - Example

Timothy is an example (and)

Timothy is following an example

Paul

His Mother

His Grandmother

We don’t find him setting a lot of rules.

There will be some but all of them will have to do with the operation of the church in the church. (How to treat widows and why.)

But we will find a place for the Pastor to Rule 5:17 of the next chapter.

The one that is putting rules on the congregation happen to be the false teachers

forbidding marriage

Forbidding meat.

The Examples touch every area of the life.

Word

Conversation

charity

Spirit

Faith

Purity

So there is a principle that is being at least followed if not taught.

The pastor sets an example that the church should follow for the hope of saving their life.

What if the people don’t then they go down the other path.

Hold on lets talk about your rules pastor.

(First, no one has said anything to me about rules at SKBC. I am hoping to explain my philosophy of leadership here at the church so that you will understand the craziness going on in my head.)

We do have requirements for leadership here at SKBC.

We do have expectations for leaders and anyone that will influence the lives of others.

Those are expectations in the areas of

Clothing modesty and separation

Attitude and Cooperation

Planning and unity building

Well, how can you as the pastor set rules for the leaders in the church. I am taking my approach from the way that Paul leads timothy.

I like giving leadership to people who are a little to green. (young)

I like giving leadership to people who are responding to the example around them.

I like giving leadership to those that understand the importance of their own influence.

Recognize that Paul gave rules to Timothy as to protect the flock he has been trusted with. We give rules to our leaders because they are being trusted with the care of precious flock. Your influence matters and how you impact the flock is real.

To our leaders if that becomes a burden it would be good to remember why you carry that weight. It is not for the church but because at one point you saw the burden of leadership as something worthy to bear.

There may be some who give up the leadership burden for a while. That is not a problem. It can be heavy.

Behind the scenes there are a lot of people who ask not to carry the burden of leadership when I invite them. Again not a problem It is heavy.

It is important to remember that the burden is not a Christian burden but an influence one.

There are a lot of influences. We have to be ready to offer a different example. And church you must be willing to follow.

Of Course this is not universal copying...

To have unquestioned reliance upon a pastor or other spiritual leader can lead to embarrassment and even bitter disillusionment. I was reminded of this recently when I came across an interesting item about President Coolidge. Once he invited some friends from Vermont to dine at the White House. They were worried about their table manners, so they decided to do everything their host did. All went well until coffee was served. Coolidge poured his into the saucer. The guests did the same. The President added sugar and cream. So did the visitors. Then Coolidge leaned over and placed his saucer on the floor for the cat.

At least we aren’t willing to do that today.

Hold on do you know how many people live lives that match their culture than the word.

That is really easy to check. How many Christians do you know that are striving to follow God’s word in purity more than:

Duplicating the Materialism in the world around them.

Adding to the Hedonism of the culture.

Dabbling in the Humanism of the age.

Hear me every time your life looks more like Tiktok, Youtube, Bloggers, Vloggers, and sound bite Christians more than your God given leadership you are participating in this very issue.

This is not a new thing that should shock us. I mean the passage opens with the express warning from the spirit that it would be easier

to depart from the faith

give heed to seduction

listen to the devils doctrine

There is a benefit for those that are willing to follow Godly leadership.

Save both thyself

and them that hear thee.

How do we know that the world is moving away from God. It’s proofs (1-8)

How do we know leadership is being used by God. Their proofs (12)