Saturday Afternoon Session: Joel Stapley

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. Who should be the example in the church? • teens can set the pace and be an example to others • marathon runners follow a pace-setter • young people should be the pace-setters in their church • it's not the older folks that should be left to be the example

Speech: • who Jesus is (Word) is what we need to be talking (word/speech) • what do we communicate and why do we communicate it? • the words we use need to be purposeful for Christ • Matt. - we are accountable for our speech/words

Conduct (conversation): • you can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk? • Colossians 3:7 - in all you do • I will be faithful; I will be thankful; I will honour • the journey, and how we live it, is important

Love: • we think love more than we 'do' love • 'doing' love often requires personal sacrifice • Mark 12:29-31 • people should know about our love for God because of our love shown for others • do we spend time showing love? • we can be an example in our love • do we love others as we love ourselves

Energy (emotion): • are we engaged in the difficult times of others to be an encouragement • we need to invest ourselves emotionally in the lives of others • this too may require personal sacrifice, be prepared

Faith: • your relationship with God • your standing in Christ • stand firm in the face of approaching/raging adversity

Purity: • moral purity • Philippians 4:8 - whatsoever things are....think on those things • purity of life

Teens should be the example to others, independent of what others are doing and what kind of example they are being.

Would your church fall apart if they were to start following your example?

Do we set the example among our friends by drawing lines about right/wrongs?