Scripture Text: 1 Timothy 4:12-16
Memory Verse: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Lesson Aim: To identify how we can be an example of a believer and how our example can impact the lives of unbelievers.
Key Points
- Christ is our primary example.
- As examples of a believer, we continue the work of Christ here on earth.
- As professing Christians, we have an immediate opportunity to impact the lives of unbelievers because their eyes are always upon us.
Jesus, our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer left His home in glory, stepped out of divinity and into the form of sinful man to provide us with the perfect example. He bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds we are healed. Christ suffered for us, leaving us an example to follow in His steps. He committed no sin; no deceit was found in His mouth; and as He was reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously. He is our model of goodness, kindness, compassion, concern, care, tenderness, forgiveness, wisdom, understanding, humility, and trust in God.
Christ fulfilled the mission of His work here on earth. He had great impact while on earth, and though it is now decades later, His impact must not dissipate. As the sovereign God, He has the ability and the right to pull us out of this world the moment we are saved, but we are kept here to carry on the work of Christ. God wants us to be examples to the rest of the world. Our demeanor should reflect our beliefs, faith, and transformed lives. God could use anything as a witnessing tool, but He wants to use us. Someone witnessed to us, and we should, in turn, witness to others around us – family, friends, coworkers, classmates, or people we meet on the streets.
Even when we think otherwise, we are being watched, or observed closely by unbelievers to see if our deeds correlate with our testimony. Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, said to do just that: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). Therefore, in following Jesus’ words, we are to be an example to unbelievers.
Even within the Church, we are to be an example, and also look up to others as an example. A formal context in which one could be an example is that of a disciple-discipler relationship. Young converts and weaker, less mature saints need good examples. Apostle Paul admonished the Philippian brethren to mark those who follow Christ (Philippians 3:17-18). Jesus provides the model here: of the thousands whom he spoke to, he chose twelve to be disciples, and from those twelve, he chose to be even closer to a selected three (Peter, James and John). But apart from such formal exampleship, all of us are being watched, and also watching others. Therefore, we should all consider ourselves as having an impact on someone’s life and others having an impact on ours.
God wants all believers to walk according to His Word and to be an example to others. Timothy was a young believer who was also a leader of God’s people. The Apostle Paul wrote God’s Word to him about how he should walk as an example of a believer, and we should strive to do the same.
Questions and Discussion
- Define the term example.
- Identify some means by which examples can be given.
- God wants us to be examples of how to be believers. 1 Timothy 4:12 lists six areas in which a person can walk as an example of a believer. What are they?
- According to the following scriptures, identify the areas in which we should be an example of a believer.
John 13:4-5, 12-15
1 Thessalonians 2:13
John 17:14-17
1 Thessalonians 1:6-8
1 John 3:2-3
2 Timothy 2:15
Ephesians 4:22-32 - How can knowing God make us an example of a believer? 2 Peter 1:3
- How can our conversation (behavior) be an example of a believer? Romans 12:14, 17-18
- How can we be an example of a believer in charity? Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:19-20
- How can we be an example of a believer in faith? Philippians 4:6-7
- Fill in the blanks.
When we believed God’s Word as written in Romans 10:9-10 we became children of God. Now that we are sons of God, we have a responsibility to walk as examples of the believers.
- We are examples in word as we_________________ and hold forth God’s Word.
- We are examples in___________________ as we renew our minds and behave according to God’s Word.
- We are examples in charity as we________ one another out of the love of God in our hearts.
- We are examples in________ as we act on God’s Word and receive the results of our believing.
- We are examples in purity as we keep our eyes on the______________ of Christ’s return and do not get entangled in the evil of this world.
Food for thought…
Your speech indicates the state of your heart – either the evil that’s in it or grace that dominates it. Jesus’ speech in His time of trial showed a heart filled with the grace of God. He spoke no evil but answered with the truth. Does your speech show the grace of God even when faced with a severe trial?