That's Going to Leave a Mark!

“Command and teach these things. Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in faith, in purity” (1Tim 4:11-12).

CRASH! A car door opens and dents your brand new ride in a parking lot. BANG! Your smart phone bounces off the driveway. POW! An MMA fighter slams his opponent against the octagon. What in the wide world of sports do these things have in common? Something's going to be changed as a result of what just happened. A ding in a door. A cracked screen on a phone. The distinctive pattern of cyclone fence across the back. They all leave an impression. Okay, not necessarily in a good way. But they all leave a mark.

In a letter to his protege Timothy, Paul encourages the Ephesian lead pastor to allow himself to be used by Jesus to leave a lasting impression. “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” (v11-12). Tim won’t just be teaching by preaching. He’s to teach by example. That’s going to leave a mark!

Paul’s spiritual son may be a rookie compared to those he’s pastoring in Ephesus. But age doesn’t matter when you’re doing the right thing. People are keeping an eye you. They’re watching you closer than you realize. As my friend Ross Turner liked to say, “A talk talks and a walk talks but a walk talks louder than a talk talks.” Say that three times fast! Set an example for others. When we follow Jesus, He uses us to make a dent that makes difference. God is using you to make an impression. That’s going to leave a mark!

The apostle has left Tim as the new pastor in Ephesus now that he’s moved on to his next ministry assignment in Macedonia (1Tim 1:3). The two are doing what they can to hammer out the dents done by a team of false teachers (1Tim 1:4-7, 20; 4:1-3). Paul instructs Tim to appoint a new leadership team of overseers and deacons (1Tim 3:1-13). Their most important job is getting everyone’s eyes back on Jesus and His incredible Good News. 

Paul tells Pastor Tim to “command and teach these things” (v11). Do “these things” sound familiar? Well, they should. The apostle has just told his spiritual son to “put these things before the brothers” (1Tim 4:6, emphasis added). Just down the page, he tells him to “command these things as well” (1Tim 5:7, emphasis added). And just in case there’s any doubt what Tim is do, his mentor tells him a fourth time, “teach and command these things” (1Tim 6:2, emphasis added). Hello, McFly!! “These things” are REALLY important!

So what exactly are “these things?” Folks who wear ties and tuck in their shirts have spent tons of time trying to figure it out. Let’s just say it’s basically the material found in 1Timothy 3:16-4:4; 5:1-6:10. The revealed mega mystery of Messiah. God’s overwhelming goodness and generosity. How to interact and encourage people of varying ages, life stages, and professions. If we’re teaching “these things” in the local church, we really can’t go wrong.

But wait just a Macedonian minute. There are some serious doubts about Tim’s credibility and credentials as a pastor. He’s young. VERY young. Because of that, he doesn’t exactly have the longest resume. His LinkedIn profile isn’t all that impressive. But Paul that’s not a problem for Paul. The apostle pumps Tim’s tires by telling him, “Let no one despise you for your youth” (v12). A warning against any sort of age discrimination for all of us!

The verb in the original language translated “despise” (Gr. kataphreneo) is a compound word which literally means “down (kata-) think (-phreneo).” It’s when we despise, disparage, or disregard somebody or something often without giving them a fair shake. Jesus loves the little children. It’s more than a song lyric from Sunday School. He told his crew, “See that you do not despise (Gr. kataphreneo) one of these little ones” (Mt 18:10). Paul warns us not to blow off God’s grace. “Or do you presume (Gr. kataphreneo) on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not know that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom 2:4).

What a powerful reminder not to put our leaders in box. Don’t “down think” somebody simply because they don’t fit your particular mental picture of what your pastor should look like. Don’t kick a young gun to the curb just because he doesn’t have a few grey hairs. This is all about humility. Your humility. Their humility. Do you truly trust the Lord to sovereignly select and use someone you see as a kid wearing skinny jeans? You see, it’s not so much about the young leader as it is the God who guides him. Meanwhile does this Next Gen pastor readily and humbly admit he doesn’t know it all? Are they willing to listen to wise and godly counsel? 

Pastor Tim may not look old enough to drive but Paul has given his sidekick his stamp of approval. He may be a rookie but this isn’t his first rodeo. He’s got plenty of road miles as the apostle’s traveling partner since they first met a few years back in Lystra back in the day (Acts 16:1-3). He’s what we call an old soul. Humble. Wise beyond his years. As a believer, don’t dismiss someone just because of age. As a leader, humbly lean into God’s calling, no matter how many candles are on your birthday cake. 

Instead, Tim is to “set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (v12). Let’s take a closer look at the term the translators of the ESV use as “example” (v12). This is the Greek word tupos. It describes an impression made by an impact or the imprint of one thing smacking another. This is the very same word John uses in his Gospel when telling the story of Thomas’ skepticism of Jesus’ resurrection. Tom’s not buying it until he sees “in His hands the marks (Gr. tupos) of the nails” (Jn 20:25). Just to be sure, the risen Christ didn’t show his disciple examples or samples of Roman spikes. He had holes in His holy hands and feet from the crucifixion. They made an eternal impression. They made an everlasting mark.

In the same way, God uses leaders to make a dent that makes a difference. Paul uses tupos to hammer home the idea all throughout the New Testament. He tells the Philippian believers to “join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example (Gr. tupos) you have in us” (Phil 3:17). Through Jesus, the Thessalonians “became an example (Gr. tupos) to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia” (1Th 1:7). While in Thessalonica, the apostle and his posse did everything possible “to give you in ourselves an example (Gr. tupos) to imitate” (2Th 3:9). And in a very similar letter to another pastor on assignment, Paul beats into Titus the importance of setting an example. “Show yourself in all respects to be a model (Gr. tupos) of good works, and in your teaching, show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:7) When leaders follow Jesus, He uses them to make a dent that makes difference. God is using them to make an impression. That’s going to leave a mark!

During His three years of traveling the highways and byways of First Century Palestine, Jesus continually told folks to follow Him and follow His example. “Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you find rest for your souls” (Mt 11:29). Following His example means putting down my ego and comfort. “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24). Christ’s washing of His disciples’ filthy feet was an object lesson for all of us. “For I have given you an example, that you should also do just as I have done for you” (Jn 13:15). Following Jesus means following His example. That’s going to leave a mark!

Even now that our Savior’s headed home to heaven, we’re still called to love as He loved. That means serving as He served. “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Phil 2:5-7). Forgiving as He forgives. “Forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so also you must forgive” (Col 3:13). Suffering as He suffered. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps” (1Pet 2:21). When you don’t know what to do, focus on  “Jesus, the Founder and Perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God” (Heb 12:2). 

Leaders set the standard. They present the preferred pattern. A few years back, Charles Barkley went out of his way to say he was no role model. But the problem is that everyone makes an impression on those who those who are watching. God provides godly leaders who show us how to love, how to serve, how to forgive, how to give, and how to live. Paul made the incredibly bold offer to Corinthian believers, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1Cor 11:1). Just to be sure, the apostle wasn’t cocky enough to think he was all of that and a bag of godly chips. He was humbly confident in the impression God could make through him. 

The apostle tells Pastor Tim to set an example for the Ephesians in five specific ways. “In speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (v12). First, make your mark through what you say. This is not just in messages and lessons but in our everyday conversation. Words matter. They matter a LOT! 

Second, show folks a pattern for behavior. Be a great spouse, great parent, great friend, great worker, and great neighbor. Work hard. What we do preaches a sermon! 

Third, show others what self-sacrificial love looks like. Let everyone know that godly love is so much more than a warm fuzzy feeling. It’s a love that does and gives with no strings attached. 

Fourth, demonstrate faith in who Jesus is and what He’s done. We’re not working our way into God’s favor. We’re placing our full trust in His life for us, His death in our place, and His resurrection we don’t deserve. 

Fifth, set an example of godly purity. This is more than washing your hands and wearing clean underwear. Don’t get me wrong, both of them are GREAT ideas! But a closer look at the Greek term here (Gr. hagneia) describes our conformity to a standard of sexual purity. The only other time we see this word in the Bible is over in chapter five of this same letter. Paul tells Tim to see “younger women as sisters, in all purity (Gr. hagneia)” (1Tim 5:2). 

Godly behavior doesn’t come with any age requirements. It’s not like a ride at Disney World that says you have to be this tall to ride. Set an example for others. Follow Jesus and He’ll use you to make a dent that makes difference. God is using you to make an impression. That’s going to leave a mark! And unlike the ding in your car door, that’s a VERY good thing!