The Mark of a Christian Leader
The Church: Standards and Leadership • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 35:57
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Welcome back! Today we are continuing our series titled The Church: Standards and Leadership and will be looking at 1 Timothy 4:11-16 this morning. It’s a continuation from the passages of past two weeks. If you remember two weeks ago Paul warned the church against false teachers, seeking to draw Christians away from the truth. Last week, Marcus covered the section where Paul continued to encourage the church to combat false teaching by training for godliness. And now this week, Paul breaks from his general address to the church to speak to Timothy directly. The false teachers within the church were dismissing what he taught. So in all the confusion, how was the church supposed to know that Timothy was the real deal? That this young guy knew more than the well respected elders? So, let’s bring the question to you.
Q: How would you tell a genuine teacher apart from a fake one? How do you distinguish a genuine teacher from a fake one?
Telling the genuine from the fake is often important. There’s this TV show on History channel called Pawn Stars. How many of you have seen Pawn Stars? Show of hands? Pawn stars is a show about these guys in Las Vegas who run a pawn shop. They have people from all over the world come in with items wanting a lot of money. But before the pawn shop dishes out their money, they have to certify if the item they’re purchasing is real. So what do they do? They call in an expert to give an appraisal.
Now an expert knows what to look for: certain industry stamps, certain types of ink in an autograph, the sheen and verneer on a sword, manufacturing tips and tricks. In order to tell if an item is real or a forgery is by comparing these details and seeing if they line up. If there are discrepancies, then the object is revealed to be the fake that it is.
In the same way, Paul gives us the answer of distinguishing false teachers from the real ones. We can distinguish a false teacher from a proper one by comparing them to the word of God, to the life and ministry of Jesus. If the life aligns with Christ’s and the teaching aligns with scripture, then they are of God. If not, then they are false. And that’s what our passage is about this morning.
This teaching shouldn’t be new to us. Jesus said: “A tree is known by its fruit.” The results of a person’s life will show the doctrine and beliefs that they hold. What they do, what they practice internally is what will eventually show externally.
So let’s read what Paul says to Timothy, his encouragement to Timothy to show true genuineness:
Read passage
Command and teach these things.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Let’s pray.
(Pray)
Command and teach these things.
This is a transition statement, summarizing the command of last week to train in godliness, but taking the same sentiment and applying it to Timothy’s instruction.
Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.
“Let no one despise you for your youth”. Timothy’s opponents sought to dismiss him because he was young, or younger than they were. Timothy was most likely in his late 20’s or early 30’s around the time this was written. We know this because he traveled with Paul for a while before he was set up and established on his own. It was also Jewish custom to give priority of proper interpretation of scripture to the older scholars. Young men were to work their way up to such a position. So it’s not unlikely that the false teachers tried to dismiss Timothy based on his age. But Paul encourages Timothy to stand up to them and prove them wrong. How does Timothy do that?
By setting the believers an example.
The idea here isn’t quite like how we would picture it in our English brains- of following after someone. It’s more the direction to Timothy to make an impression upon the lives of others. Like a stamp sealing a wax seal. Or like this picture.
This stamp was found in Israel, and it’s the kind of thing that people would use to seal their granaries, or kings would seal their letters. But the idea is Timothy is to be like that hardened piece of clay that makes an impression on the softer clay. Once the softer clay hardens, it retains the same shape of the stamp that was pressed into it.
And what shape was Timothy to stamp into others?
Speech
Conduct
Love
Faith
Purity
Essentially, a life transformed by the Spirit of God.
So Timothy was to prove the doubters wrong by stamping and showing the seal of the working of the Spirit in his life, the results of good doctrine and a life lived in relationship with God.
But how was Timothy supposed to regulate his life, so that it becomes full of good speech, good conduct, full of love, lived in faith, established in Purity? Paul has an answer for that too! He continues
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
Scripture was the thing that would keep Timothy in check, keep him in bounds.
Read
Caught
Taught
in verse 15, we see Paul’s full instruction for Timothy to be fully immersed in these things, that is, living a godly life in accordance with the scriptures.
Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.
Again, the goal was so that all may see Timothy’s tested genuineness, his superiority over the false teachers.
And Paul gives Timothy further encouragement in verse 14:
Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.
He’s most likely referring to Timothy’s gift of teaching, his ability to be a pastor. It was the practice of the early church for the elders to commission church leaders through prayer and the laying on of hands. We see this happen when Paul and Barnabas are sent off in Acts 13:3
Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
So this verse is describing a specific commissioning, Timothy’s commissioning. This gift was affirmed by the elders through prophecy. If you’re familiar with Biblical prophecy, you’ll know there are two types: forth-telling, and fore telling. Forth-telling is the telling of things that are. Fore-telling is telling of things yet to come. Most scholars agree that this prophetic appointment was more of a forth-telling, a recognition of Timothy’s ability and his commissioning. But even if you read it as a fore-telling, Timothy certainly is a man who is leading others and guiding them in the truth of scripture. So Paul reminds Timothy of his commissioning, of those who had faith in his ability, that the doctrine that he taught was genuine and true. In 2 Timothy, we also know that Timothy had been trained since childhood in the scriptures and proper doctrine:
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
Paul appeals to Timothy’s past to strengthen and encourage him in his present ministry of trying to prove the genuineness of his own teachings, in accordance to the scriptures.
Why is this encouragement necessary?
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
The salvation of souls is at stake … not only Timothy’s, to work out his salvation with fear and trembling, but to safeguard those under his care so they don’t follow after the false teaching.
Okay, this is all good for Timothy, but you might be wondering, what does this mean for us?
Breaking this down into bite-sized chunks, three truths are apparent:
1. God will prove himself as you take hold of his word
1. God will prove himself as you take hold of his word
-speech, conduct, love, purity, faith
Personal life and growth in Christ is necessary for outward results, which are a proof to God’s doctrine and a defense for the believer.
The Fruits of the Spirit are enough to show genuineness.
God will vindicate his own name.
What law is there against loving others? Against good conduct? Against respectful and loving speech? When your life is transformed by the gospel, and you are shaped by God’s word into a man or woman of righteousness, you will provide a vibrant witness to the genuineness and effectiveness of Christ. For this same reason, many of the early Christians suffered horrific and gruesome deaths, like Christ doing no wrong, but condemned and scorned by the world. Even Christ in his death showed his genuineness to the centurion who stood nearby and breathed “Truly this is the Son of God!”. There are those who will take notice and will see based on your actions.
2. God has given in Scripture
2. God has given in Scripture
God’s good doctrine is given in Scripture, which acts as a guide to shape and correct our thinking.
Scripture is to be
publicly read
used as exhortation (caught)
taught
Public reading: The early church existed at a time when most of its members were illiterate: often only the wealthy and educated could read (or those who would need it for their business). And so the word was brought to the people through public reading … no preaching attached. Do you remember the repentance of Israel when the word of God was read to them? The effectiveness that God’s call has upon one’s life is unfathomable. Do we read large portions of scripture in our service? Do we express our trust and belief in God’s word by allowing it to speak for itself, and letting our hearts respond to him? When we gather together, let us cling to God’s word and come, kneeling before our God and listening to his voice, lest we harden our hearts in our routine and become so focused upon our program that we neglect to listen to God’s own voice.
The Word is also to be used as exhortation- as encouragement, as a challenge. It is fit for the conviction to the soul when the soul needs convicting. Encouragement when the soul needs encouraging. Truly, God has spoken to every need that you have through his word.
Sitting under faithful teaching of the Word will allow our lives to be shaped and molded into God’s pattern, his shape. He will impress his seal upon us and form our lives. And what picture will result? That of the cross: of Christ and him crucified. As we sit under God’s word and it is taught, we are pressed into being further like Christ. And this part can be difficult. You may be challenged, you may be convicted, but that’s a result of your life being transformed into that of one like Christ.
But not only are we transformed by God’s word, we are to bring that word to others.
3. Christians bring God’s truth to the lives of others
3. Christians bring God’s truth to the lives of others
Paul’s exhortation to Timothy is to maintain the good doctrine, so that he should save both himself and his hearers. Our faith, our walk with God, is beneficial for us yes. But it is also beneficial for others: the souls of others depend on how you walk with Christ. God has chosen you, people who are redeemed, to bring his light and his image and his glory into the lives of others for their salvation.
If we do this, if we follow God, in carrying out the goodness which is according to the will of God, we will affirm our own salvation and will help bring it to others. To be transformed into the image of Christ. To bring others to Christ.
False teachers will not do this. Their deeds will result in something grotesque, an abomination of what the Lord has planned. They will lead others to their doom. So recognize a good teacher of God by where they lead you, which should be to Christ.
Application
Application
Be Immersed in God’s Word
Be Immersed in God’s Word
Hear it
Meditate on it
Speak it forth (disciple others)
He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Be Transformed into the Image of Christ
Be Transformed into the Image of Christ
Paul says to the Corinthians
Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
Speech
Conduct
Love
Faith(ing)
Purity
How did Christ speak to others?
How did Christ live?
How did Christ love?
How did Christ exercise faith?
How did Christ maintain purity?
Paul gives these same encouragements again in his second letter to Timothy. They must be important.
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
But not only are our lives molded and shaped into Christ’s image, we are also called to impress that image onto the lives of others. Once the clay hardens and is no longer soft set, it then becomes able to press into the lives of others.
Bring the Image of Christ to others
Bring the Image of Christ to others
Let’s take a step back for a moment, just to catch a picture, a glimpse, of all that God is doing. From the beginning of time up until now.
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
Not only was there a beautiful world full of good things, but God wanted his presence, his essence, to be made known in all the earth. So he made man, to go and bring his light, his goodness, to all of creation. So God made mankind and sent them out to bring his image into the whole earth.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
And we know how effective that was once sin entered into the world, and it stopped God’s image from being carried forth into the world. The problem wasn’t resolved until Christ. And Christ is so powerful that he eradicates the effects of sin, the very matter which hindered us from performing our task of carrying God’s blessing into the world. And he restores us, and recommissions us out to go back into the world.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
And this life is your time of transformation. Of renewal, restoring what was lost to sin and reclaiming it for Christ. And one day, God will complete his work, and reveal his final product.
They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.
We will be pressed into Christ’s image. Those who will live with God in eternity will be those who have been marked by Christ, who have become God’s image, as he created mankind to be.
This Sunday is the first Sunday of the month, which means we collectively take time to come together and recognize the bond that holds us together: the bond of Christ, united through his death on the cross. It is this meal that we will one day share with Christ in heaven. Jesus said “I will not drink of the vine until God’s kingdom comes”. One day The Lord will fully unite his people, and his kingdom will be revealed. In that day we shall eat and drink with the Lord, and live in his presence. But until then, we regularly take time to remember that future hope: to remember the work that Christ has done to bring us all together: through the brokenness of his body for us on the cross: through the shedding of his blood, and the forgiveness of our sins. Through God’s blood we enter into the new covenant. Though we mourn that Christ’s body was broken, we rejoice in our salvation and hold fast, knowing that God did not leave Jesus in the grave, but gave him new life! This table, this meal, is for believers who have fully placed their hope in Christ. It’s for sinners who have recognized their own need for salvation and who run to Christ for forgiveness, for new life.
Let us come and sit at Christ’s table. And as you do so, take a moment to prepare your heart for the Lord’s table by confessing your sin to the Lord and finding hope in the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(moment)
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
(Prayer)
“May the Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.”
Take hold of the peace that you have in Christ, and be transformed into his image.
We are dismissed.