Tag Archives: being an example

Requirements of the Christian

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1 Timothy 1:3-4

As I urged you when I went into Macedonia—remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine,  nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.

  • Know what you believe

2 Timothy 2:15 – Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

  • Be a person of prayer

1 Timothy 2:1 – Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men.

  • Be an example

1 Timothy 4:12 – Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity

  • In speech – in all you say, be godly
  • In conduct – in all you do, be godly
  • In love – in the way you love, be godly
  • In spirit – in attitude and behavior – be as God would be
  • In faith – always trusting and believing in God’s Word
  • In purity – in all areas of life be pure and innocent
  • Exhibit positive qualities

1 Timothy 6:11 – But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

  • Pursue righteousness – right standing before God
  • Pursue godliness – walk according to the Word
  • Pursue faith – continue to trust in the things of God
  • Pursue love – strongly desire to love as God loves
  • Pursue perseverance – be obedient to what is right
  • Pursue gentleness – be calm and peaceful toward others
  • Continue onward

1 Timothy 6:12 – Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

  • Fight the good fight of faith
  • Grasp firmly, lay hold, do not let eternal life slip away
  • Maintain your confession of faith, do not give in to sin
  • Continue to be a witness of God’s grace

Live a Life Without Reproach

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Galatians 5:25

If we live by the Spirit, let us walk by the Spirit.

  • If we are going to be Christians we must look, speak, act, and behave as a Christian.  Name someone who has caused reproach (discredit, disgrace, to cause disapproval, an expression of rebuke or disdain, scorn) on themselves and others.
  • Richard Nixon
  • Jimmy Swaggart
  • Bill Clinton
  • David (with Bathsheba)
  • Achan
  • King Saul
  • Judas
  • Samson

Galatians 5:16 – But I say; walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Romans 7:25 – 8:5 – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.” 

  • Look at an apple – describe:  shape, size, weight, texture, smell, taste, color
  • Christian – describe:  What does a Christian look like?  The Bible gives us nine characteristics in Galatians 5:22-23.
  • Love, joy, peace (inward manifestations)
  • Patience, kindness, goodness (outward – toward others – manifestations)
  • Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (walk manifestations)
  • Only a Christian can exhibit the fruit of the Spirit constantly.
  • Only a Christian who has the indwelling supernatural power of the Holy Spirit can produce a supernatural holy life. 
  • Evidence of the Holy Spirit will consistently manifest itself by the fruit of the Spirit.

After a heavy snow fall one evening, a man made his usual way to the tavern after supper.  He was surprised a few minutes later to see his little son come in the front door.  “How did you get here through all that snow?” he asked the little boy.  “It was easy,” he said.  “I just walked in your foot steps.”

How we live our lives affects those around us.  Our emotions, our words, our expressed ideas, our dress.  What we say to our little ones and our loved ones sets the tone of their lives.

  • If we lift up others in our conversation, they will lift up others in their conversation.
  • If we ridicule, they will learn to ridicule.
  • If we boast of cheating on our taxes, exceeding the speed limit, they will learn to do the same.

How do we bring glory and honor to God when we say one thing and do another?