The Young Yield Part 1 - 2 Timothy 4:12

Introduction

Attention:

Raise your hand if you like the snow

I hope that you guys enjoyed your snow days. I spent some time this week working from home, which has been interesting to say the least

This snow has certainly served as an example

An example of what, you ask? An example of what Christmas was supposed to look like outside

Raise your hand if you have ever had a white Christmas before? I love white Christmas’s.

God is calling you to serve as a teenage example of what someone who loves Jesus is supposed to look like, and that’s what we are going to be talking about today as we dive into 1 Timothy 4:12

Need:

This is a message that you need to hear, because there is sometimes the tendency to doubt what a teenager can accomplish

Sometimes that doubt comes from others, and sometimes it comes from you doubting yourself

But you need to hear this so that you can see your full potential

You can be a better example than you think you can be, and in fact, God is calling you to be that very example

An example to the world of what it looks like for a young person to love Jesus

We all need to hear this, so let’s listen in and see what God’s got for us this evening.

Body

The Big Idea: Teenage Christians can be a good example to all Christians.

The Question: How can teenage Christians be a good example to all Christians?

Answer 1: Be a good example confidently.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Explanation:

Here, we come fact to face with the term “young”

How is it that we should understand this word? Is it talking about people your age? Well, yes and no.

Paul is writing to Timothy, and the reality is that Timothy is probably in his late 20’s or mid 30’s (so he’s probably closer to my age than he is to yours)

So then, you might be asking “Michael, what does this specifically have to do with teenagers, then?”

Here’s the connection: The term “youth” simply means “younger than the others.”

AKA, Paul is older than Timothy, and so are a good amount of the people who are at the church of Ephesus, which is where Timothy is pastoring.

So while this term isn’t exclusive to teenagers, it does include teenagers

And in the same way that people were doubting Timothy and his ability to minister on account of his young age, there is the possibility for someone to doubt you and your abilities to minister based on the fact that you’re a teenager.

Why does Paul feel the need to say this? Because its easy for people to doubt what people younger than them can accomplish. Have you ever doubted what your younger sibling can accomplish? Need I say more?

Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you as a teenager. It is really frustrating, isn’t it?

Take some time to discuss at your tables for a moment.

Table Question: What are some ways that people doubt what a teenager can do for Christ?

.... Those were some great answers!

Now let me ask this… How is it that you should respond to people doubting you because of your age?

Well Paul says “don’t let it happen,” to Timothy, and right after this, he tells him to be a good example

So Timothy shouldn’t be intimated by what other people think of him because he’s younger, but rather he should confidently be a good example.

In fact, he should be such a good example that anything bad that people try to say about him on account of his age should have no credit

But confidence can be a difficult thing for teenagers.

It is estimated that at least half of teenagers struggle with some form of confidence issues (and trust me; I was definitely one of them)

Part of the whole teenage journey feels like its about trying to find self confidence and to “fit in” with others

And confidence is especially difficult when it feels like you have so many people doubting you all of the time; when you feel like everyone is looking at you with their binoculars, waiting for you to mess up

But confidence is what we are called to. And it is possible for the teenager through Christ

It is possible through doing something different than the way that most other teenagers do it.

It is possible by not finding your identity in your sense of social belonging or in anything else apart from Christ

If you are a Christian, your identity is defined by Christ, so you don’t have to go through the messiness of trying to find it in other places

And guess what? When you do this, you are not just a good example to other teenagers; you are a good example to all Christians.

How do I know this? Well again; remember that the term “young” here means “younger than the others.”

So the people that Paul is telling Timothy to not let doubt him are people who are older than Him

Thus, he is being a good example to all believers. And you can do the same, if you find your identity in Christ and confidently stand for Him.

Illustration:

I wasn’t always as confident around Samie as I am today

There were a lot of nerves and awkwardness that went into our initial conversations with each other

But you know what? In order for me to send her a message on Facebook after initially meeting here in Guatemala, it took a good bit of confidence for me to send her a message

But I did it, and I was blessed because of it.

You can be confident in your ability to be a good example to others. You have a confidence that is yours through Christ Jesus, and now that it is yours it can be an example to others so that they too might find their confidence in Him.

Application:

Are you confident in your ability to be a good example to others as a teenager?

You don’t have to assign the same level of doubt in yourself that others do because of your age; you can do awesome things for Jesus as a teenage Christian

What can you do to make this a reality in your life? Are you finding your identity in Christ, or are you finding it in other stuff?

God has big things planned for your teenage life; there is some crazy stuff that He is wanting you to do

And He wants you to know that, through His strength, you CAN do it and you can be confident about it!

Your impact goes beyond what you could ever imagine. Don’t judge yourself according to the potential others assign to you or what you assign to yourself, but judge yourself according to the potential that God has assigned to you!

Answer 2: Be a good example outwardly.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Explanation:

So now we are focusing in on the section where it actually says “be an example.”

And the first three ways it says to be an example have to do with being an example outwardly

But let’s talk about this concept of being an example a little more before we talk about the outward stuff

According to one commentator, the word “example” refers to “a mark made by striking… an impression made by something, such an impression used in its turn as a mold to shape something else”

So the picture that this creates is that its not so much that Timothy is to be an example that other people can emulate, but rather that his “mold” of living should be “pressed” into the lives of other Christians so that they all end up being the same shape.

Raise your hand if you know what a mold is! We’ll talk more about that later

But now, let’s dive into these five ways that Timothy is to be an example to all believers.

Essentially, these are split into two categories: the first two have to do with being a good example outwardly, while the last three have to do with being a good example inwardly.

And what we’re concerned with right now are the outward ones. Let’s go over them one at a time

Be an outward example...

1. In speech

Each of these five areas that we are looking are things that some of these older people at the church of Ephesus weren’t exercising; that’s why Paul needed them to be a good example

So while these things clearly aren’t things that only teenagers struggle to be, I think that we all can admit that there are certain challenges when it comes to teenagers being an example in these five ways

Let’s apply this to speech real quick

Taming the teenage tongue is a tangle

We all know this. Just think about gossip

And by the way; I know better than to think that gossip is just something that girls struggle with. Guys struggle with it just as bad in their own ways

Gossip is a very dangerous thing. According to one study done at a middle school, when gossip was spread about someone, others responded encouragingly about 80% of the time. Yikes! So that makes it hard to not Gossip

But what about the teen that is a good example? What about the teen that doesn’t gossip, but instead uses their words to say true things, to say kind things, to uplift others, and to glorify God?

This is possible! You can make a real impact. In fact, according to that same study that I just mentioned, whenever someone countered gossip in any way, others were more likely to dissent

So disputing Gossip is a real outward way to be an example of a teen who loves Jesus!

But there’s also one other outward example for you!

2. In conduct

“In the way that you live” is the definition of conduct. It is conduct that we are talking about here

People who were Timothy’s age weren’t being a good example in conduct, and heck; even those who were older weren’t being a good example in conduct, either

Is it tough for a teenager to be a good outward example in conduct? To be a good example in the way that they live? Sure is!

You know why? Peer pressure. Peer pressure is a real thing that, to a certain extent, every teen experiences.

In fact, according to to a study done by Parent Further,only 10% of teenagers said that they had not been influenced by peer pressure

In that same survey, 28% of teens said that giving into peer pressure increased their social standing, and nearly 50% admitted to making fun of someone only after one of their friends did it.

So for the teenager, it seems that there is a lot to gain from giving into peer pressure.

But imagine a teen who doesn’t give into peer pressure. Imagine a teen who miraculously cares more about what God thinks than about what others think. Imagine a teen who uses their life in a way that points other people, both young and old, towards Jesus

That’s the type of teen that Christ is calling you to be! Jesus is calling you to be an outward example for others to see.

Illustration:

Let’s return to the idea of a mold; here’s a picture of one

The reason that you use this mold is because you want the thing to be the same size every time you make it.

In the same way, the way that you live outwardly should be a reflection of Christ. It doesn’t mean that every Christian should have the exact same personality, but each Christian should have the same standards for outward living

And you should be a mold for others to use and press into their own lives

Application:

Are you using your teenage years to be a good outward example towards others?

You are in a unique stage right now, where God is wanting to use you in a unique way

And guys; just before you know it, this time in your life will be gone. You will no longer have the opportunity to be a good outward teenage example

Of course, you’ll still have the opportunity to be a good outward example as an adult, but your specific sphere of influence right now is unique, and before you know it, it will be gone.

Are you viewing your teen years as an outward obstacle or as an outward opportunity?

Choose today to make your teenage years an opportunity to be an outward example to all believers

Answer 3: Be a good example inwardly.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NLT)

Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

Explanation:

Paul makes it clear to Timothy that it is not just being a good outward example that matters, but rather being an inward example

And that’s because Paul understood this timeless truth: what goes in always comes out.

So the last three things are more related to inward heart behaviors, but as we go through these I think that you will see how they all connect and work together

In fact, the inner qualities motivate the outward behaviors (and vice-versa)

And just like last time, I think that you will see why being a teenage example of these three things is such a great thing

Be an inward example…

1. In love

Now I’m not super concerned with defining what love is our anything like that; we all know what love is

But, in church world, one thing that we try to emphasize about love is that its not just a “feeling” but that its a verb that demonstrates itself in action

So, in that sense, it is an outward action. But love in action was already covered by the whole conduct/the way you live thing

So this is something inward; this is something that you work on in your personal life. It is something that exists within your heart

And in fact, this is something that lies at the very DNA of Christian life.

And it is something that some people at the Church of Ephesus didn’t have

So when you have someone young like Timothy have love for God and others in their heart, it really stands out as a great example

The same can be said about teenagers: A teen with love in his or her heart can turn the world upside down.

You know, its easy to have things like hatred, bitterness and rage in our heart

Bitterness has especially been a personal issue that I have dealt with in my heart

But in order for there to truly be love in my heart for God and for others, I had to let that bitterness go. And the same goes for you

Hold onto God’s unconditional love for you and harbor that same unconditional love towards Him and others in your heart.

2. In faith

Just like love, this is an inward quality that lies at the very foundation of Christian living

Faith is inwardly trusting what God says

Did you know that its hard to trust? Think of all of the people that have let you down in your life. All of those examples make something like faith hard for us to keep inside of us

In fact, I think that for a lot of us, teenage life is when trust becomes a lot harder. Your peers begin to hurt you on a more regular basis, and you begin to see all of the betrayal that happens in the world at large.

To be a teen is, to a certain extent, to be a skeptic. And there’s nothing wrong with that intrinsically.

But praise God, Jesus is not like other people! He CAN be trusted, we CAN confidently trust him in our hearts, even as a teenager

And when a teenager has faith for God in their hearts, its like lifting a banner into the sky that says something like “Even though it is hard to trust, I trust in God.”

If that’s not powerful, then I don’t know what is

3. In purity

The importance of this one really can’t be overstated

Here, this is specifically referring to sexual purity and integrity of the heart

Now we’re not gonna have a whole chat about this, that’ll happen later, but we can make a few observations about this for now

Purity is possible for the teenager.

There are a lot of things that make it difficult to navigate through this stuff as a teen, and there are all sorts of temptations that comes your way in all sorts of different forms

But purity truly is possible, and it is God’s design for your life

A teenager who rises to the task of purity can change the world

And remember; this has more of an inward focus than an outward focus

So we are mostly talking about inner purity.

Where is your heart when it comes to purity? Where is your mind? Is it focusing on inappropriate stuff? Or is it trusting in God’s perfect plan?

One indicator is in the jokes that you use. The things that you find funny are an outward expression of your heart inwardly

It is “cool” to make inappropriate jokes; it might even make you more popular because you’re making everyone laugh. But if you’re doing that, your not being a good example of what a Christian should be meditating and reflecting on inwardly.

But to the one who doesn’t laugh at stuff like that, and to the one who doesn’t make jokes like that, they will be an example to teens and to adults

And again; this is another indicator that teens can do GREAT things for Christ!

Illustration:

This is a sponge

Sponges are interesting in that they are able to absorb things

We are going to do a little science experiment here

I am going to dip this sponge in Coke. Alright, now what’s on the inside? And will that come out if I squeeze it? Yes.

Since Coke is unhealthy for you, lets say that this is sin. We as people are like sponges, we are constantly absorbing the things that we allow to be around us. And when life gets hard and we get squeezed, what comes in must come out.

But if what goes in is clean and pure, then when life is hard, what comes out is clean and honoring to the Lord

The condition of your inward being will come out when life gets tough. And guess what? Life will be tough sometimes. So the goal is for what’s inside to be loving, full of faith, and pure.

Application:

Where is your heart this evening? How are you doing inwardly? What are you taking in?

Are love, faith, and purity a reality for your heart and mind?

If they are, then you are being an example, and you can show the world what its like to have a heart that’s in the right place

And if they aren’t a reality for you, what I want you to realize is that, through Christ, this CAN be a reality for you!

And there are practical things that you can do to help you get there

First, maybe you need to stop watching certain tv shows or movies, or to stop listening to inappropriate music

Before I watch a movie, I always use the IMDB parent guide to see whether or not a movie has inappropriate content that no Christian has any business of watching.

We need to be careful of what we take in, because all of these things affect the condition of our heart, whether or not we realize it

Maybe you need to be careful who you’re spending time with. We tend to absorb the habits of those we spend time with the most. Make sure are spending time with people who are a good example to you so that you can be a good example to others

Teens are not limited in their ability to have an inward life that honors God. You. Can. Do. This

This year is an opportunity to start fresh! Allow Christ to transform your heart and mind into what He wants it to be

Conclusion

Visualization

Be a unique example of what God can do through somebody your age

Reiteration

Everybody go ahead and bow your heads and close your eyes

We are going to chat together for a moment in a posture of prayer

With everyone’s heads bowed and eyes closed, if you are in here, and you can just be honest and say “Michael, I haven’t always been the best example of what a Christian teenager can be. But right now, I am committed to doing whatever I need to in order to be a better example of Jesus to people, and to realizing that I am not limited by my age. I am all in for being a positive example of a Christian teenager

If that’s you, can you do me a favor and make eye contact with me?

Amen! Let’s pray

PRAY