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“Be An Example!”1 Timothy 4:12-16Scripture: 1 Timothy 4:12-16Memory Verse: “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12Lesson Focus: To be an example to others in how you live your life in following Jesus.Activities and Crafts: Coloring pages, work sheetCraft for 1st and 2nd graders: “Bee” an Example CraftIntroduction: Ask the kids: Who is someone young that you can look up to?(Talk about young movie stars and ask the kids how they are doing? Why do they seem to fall away from being good? What draws them to do the wrong things? What kind of people do they have around them? Does having a lot of money hurt these young people?)(Talk about Daniel, and his friends from the book of Daniel that we just studied. They were young but we saw them make the right choices…what made the difference?Bible Study:1 Timothy 4:12:First Paul tells Timothy what NOT to do:√ What does it mean to “despise your youth?”(It means “to think less of.” Just because you are young does not mean that you don’t have something to say or to contribute. God had put Timothy into a position of authority. He was a leader and teacher in this Church. Paul is telling him, “hey, you are young but God has put you here. Don’t be ashamed of being young and use the authority that God has given you.)Now Paul tells Timothy what He SHOULD DO: Be an Example:√ What does it mean to be an example?(Illustration) Ask one child to come up to you. Tell them that they are to follow what you do. Tell them that you are going to teach them how to do ballet. Do some funny steps and arm movements and they must follow you and do the same thing.)√ Ask the kids: Was (name of child) following my example or was he just trying to imitate what I did?See there is a difference between imitating and being an example. We can always copy some ones actions or words, but if we are an example it is not just copying but it is who we are. There are many Christians that just copy actions that they think would be right…but when you get them alone they are different all together. Jesus does not want us to “copy” an example He wants us to “be” an example. Paul cares about Timothy’s character. √ What was Timothy to be an example in? WordConductLoveSpiritFaithPurityLet’s look at each one of these separately and talk about which ones that you think are easy or hard. Word: How can Timothy be an example in word? Remember what we read in James 3:6, that the tongue is a fire and the words that we say con cause great harm. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”Our words matter to God and Timothy can be an example of Jesus by the words that he uses. Some of us just talk too much. When we talk too much, what are we not doing? (listening) Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking…but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Is it hard or easy to be an example in using the right words? Conduct: What does the word “conduct” mean? The word conduct means “matter of life.” It how you live every day and all day long. Your actions at church, the grocery store, in your neighborhood, school, everywhere you live and go. How can Timothy be an example in conduct? Your conduct is how you act….your actions. Let’s give some examples:When someone says something mean to you to you say something mean back?When your little brother bothers you do you push him?When people at school are treating someone mean do you join in?When your parents ask you to clean your room do you say you will but then you don’t?Do you lie?Conduct is our behavior in every situation. James 1:23 told us to “be doers of the word, not hearers only…”That means that our everyday actions need to match up with the Word of God. We have to live like we believe. Many Christians say that they believe in Jesus but live like everyone else in the world. Did Jesus’ life match what He said? Are we supposed to live the same way as Jesus?Does your life match what you say?Paul is telling Timothy that the way he lives and all of his actions matter. Show people that look down on you because you are young that your life belongs to Jesus in every way. Give them no reason to say his actions do not match his words.Is it hard or easy to be an example in your actions?Love: How can Timothy be an example in love? Who is Timothy supposed to love?God: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your hear, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” Matthew 22:37Others: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:39Why does love matter so much to God? (Because love is at the center of all that God has done for us. Romans 5:8)“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19Is it hard or easy to be an example in love? Spirit: How can Timothy be an example in “spirit”? By following the Holy Spirit’s leading and guidance. Jesus told us before He went back up to heaven that He was going to send us a helper and that He would guide us in all truth. John 14:26 We are told in Ephesians 5:8 to be filled with the Spirit. When we ask God to fill us with the Spirit we will be like a glass that is filled with water and overflows….the things of God will pour out of us through the power of the Holy Spirit.Is it hard or easy to be an example in being spirit filled? Faith: How can Timothy be an example in “faith”?√ What is faith? Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.”Faith means to believe in something. We believe in God. We put our faith in God. My faith is in God, not in people, or circumstances. √ So how could Timothy be an example in faith?Further down in this same chapter Paul will tell Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:14, to “not neglect the gift that is in you and given to you…” Paul is reminding Timothy that God has given him his gifts to be used in the Church. Timothy must have had the gift of leadership and teaching. These are gifts of the Holy Spirit to be used in the Church. Timothy would be an example of faith by using these gifts for the Kingdom of God. It would not matter if Timothy had a bad day or someone criticized him. He would live by faith that these are the gifts from God.Anything that we read in the Bible we need to listen to and by faith live it out. If the Bible says, “to not worry about anything, but to pray about everything…” (Philippians 4:6) then living by faith I would take my worries to God and pray about them and trust Him to help me through them. Is it hard or easy to be an example in your faith? Purity: How can Timothy be an example in purity?√ What does “purity” mean? Purity means to have moral character. God tells us in His Word to “be holy as I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16)Morals are the rights and wrongs of life. It used to be clear what was righty and wrong….but it is not so clear any more. The Bible tells us through the 10 commandments and in many other places what is right and wrong. To be pure is to follow God and to follow Jesus as our example. Example: If the world says that it is ok to go to a bad movie is it ok to go? (No, because anything that you put in your mind will be with you forever. Purity, keeps your mind and heart away from those things that would cause you to sin.Is it hard or easy to be an example in purity?Conclusion: Our life needs to match what we say we believe. Paul is telling Timothy that leadership is a matter of Godly character. God cares about “who” you are more than “what” you say you are! Be an example through the Spirit’s power. ................
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