Turn to God's Word in 1 Timothy chapter four. 1 Timothy chapter four, and we'll read verse 12 again. Let no one despise you for your youth. but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Young Christians can be too brash. Here I am, The church has been waiting for someone just like me. I don't know how the church survived without me. Now, let me fix things. That's one of the excesses of youth, isn't it? We're too brash, we're too self-confident. But on the other side of things, young people can be too bashful. Instead of saying, here I am, who you've been waiting for, they might say, well, who am I? How can I be of any help, any use? I really can't do anything. I'm too young to be useful. Well, Timothy, that we're looking at today, he fell on the bashful side of the spectrum. He was the opposite of brash. He was timid, as we find out in various ways through this book. He was slow to step up. He was reluctant to serve. He was scared to shepherd. And this fear, this bashfulness, was really limiting his ability to be useful in the church. And one of the reasons that Paul wrote this was to encourage this shy young man to step up and to step forward and to be an example to others. And therefore, today I thought this verse, which is the cadet verse for the year, would be a great verse to look at together. And it's, of course, not just for young people, Whatever age we are, we can be on that side of, well, I'm this or I'm not that, and therefore, I can't or I won't. It's not for me. Therefore, I hope these words will be an inspiration to you, a challenge as well, that will stir you up to inspire others as well. So this question is before us, how can young Christians inspire others? Again, it's not just young Christians, but young Christians are often those who think they cannot be that example, they cannot be that inspiration, they cannot be that model for others to follow. And that was not Paul's view at all. Now, I want just to pause for a moment to try and paint for you the picture of where Timothy lived, the culture he was in. He was raised by a Jewish mother and a Greek father. He also had a godly Jewish grandmother. And both his grandmother and his mother came to faith in Christ. It would appear his father was not converted. He did not come to Christ. He didn't leave his paganism behind. And they lived in a little village called Lystra. It's in the middle of modern day Turkey. It's under excavation at the moment. It was a really forgotten town that really had nothing going for it. But Paul, on his missionary journey, stopped off there. And it would appear it was through that journey, that missionary trip that Paul took, that his mother, Timothy's mother and grandmother were converted. And then through their influence, Timothy came to faith as a young man as well. And Paul circled back to Lystra in one of his later missionary journeys and he saw that Timothy had really grown up He was growing in his faith. He was a couple of years older, but he reckoned somewhere about the age of late teens, early 20s when this letter was written. And he saw potential in Timothy. And so he took him with him on his missionary journey. And they got to this town called Ephesus. Now Ephesus was Something like the Las Vegas of our day. It was a place of great paganism. Artemis, the Temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the world was based there. There were tens of thousands of followers of Artemis. Sometimes they would meet in the local amphitheater holding 25,000 people to worship. their God. And there was a riot at one point during Paul's mission work there when many people were converted to Christ because these idol makers saw all their prophets disappearing. So this is a place where there's a real mix of cultures. There were Jews, there were Greeks, there was a big Roman presence. It was a free for all. There was very little in the way of law and order. It was a place renowned for pleasure seeking and ungodliness. and there the gospel came. It was like the gospel going to Las Vegas and a church was planted and it grew, some reckon, to something like 100 or 200 people in a very short space of time. But they needed somebody to organize them. You can't just plant a church in Las Vegas and then leave, right? So what did Paul do? He said, Timothy, young Timothy, 19, 20-year-old Timothy, young Christian Timothy, timid Timothy, I want you to lead this church. I want you to stand up and stand forward and be the pastor of this church. You've been with me, you saw how I work, I've been your model. Now I want you to be a model and a leader to the new Christians here in Ephesus. Well you can imagine how timid Timothy felt, one of the shyest, quietest people, and he's put in the midst of an ancient Las Vegas with all the hostility already towards the Christians, this place with virtually zero knowledge of God, multiple idolatries everywhere, and he says, Timothy, this is your church. this is where you're to serve, this is where you are to lead. And he wants Timothy to inspire the young Christians here and to be an example to them. That's like in our text here, let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and purity. And therefore we can look here and see how young Christians can be an example to others. And the first way is, young Christians can be exemplary characters, or exemplary in their character. What does exemplary mean? Well, you imagine your teacher one day, you're maybe working on a painting in your art class, She sees the amazing work you've done. She'll pick it up and she'll say to the class, this is how it's done. Look at this. Use this as your model to follow. And that's what Timothy's being told here. God is picking him up and saying, this is how it's done. This is the example I want you to follow. And so he begins with character. Now, it's interesting, the words here in verse 12. Let no one despise you for your youth. Despise means look down on. And this is a tendency of us older people. We might see a young person that is really thinking about their faith. really asking good questions, maybe wanting to serve the Lord in some role. And we may look at them and say, oh, come on, you're way too young for that. Wait until you get some gray hairs or no hair or something like that. You've got to wait your turn. There's a normal progression here and you're just beginning. You stay seated. We don't want your advice. We don't want to listen to your voice. We reject your opinions. Now, that should never happen in the church. It might happen in non-church settings, but here, God is saying through Paul to Timothy, don't let anyone despise you. Now, of course, you can't stop that happening if you're a young person, right? But you can work so as people have no reason, no good reason to look down on you. You can ignore that kind of contempt or demeaning attitude. You can so live that you overcome it. Of course, this is addressed to the oldies here as well. Don't do that. Don't look down, don't despise, don't demean. So command and teach these things, let no one despise you for your youth. Command and teach these things. So Timothy, I've taught you, and you're gonna stand up and you're going to be in front of 30 year olds, 40 year olds, 50 year olds, 60 year olds, maybe 70, 80, 90 year olds, and you're gonna look out and you're gonna think, how can I do this? I'm telling you, command these things. You're not here to discuss, debate, have an argument. No, just command it. Do this with my authority and with my stamp of approval. And don't let anyone looking down on you hold you back from this role. So, it says, set the believers an example. Be that model. Be that person that others can point to and say, this is how it's done. And it's interesting how the apostle here begins with character. Christian usefulness begins with Christian character. There cannot be Christian usefulness if the character does not back it up. And Christian character begins with Christ. Time with Christ. Talking with Christ. Exploring Christ in his word. And when we look at this, we cannot but think of Jesus, can we? He was the perfect example in his character, in speech and conduct, in love and faith, and in purity. But how does that, what's that look like for the young today will be an example in speech. Of course, that means not speaking cruel things to people or gossipy things about people, but it also means speaking good, being an encourager to others, coming alongside the outsider, the unpopular person in the class, and being friendly with them. asking them questions about their lives, maybe sharing encouragement from God's Word with them. In that way, you can see this is an example to others. And conduct, well, let's think about even here in church. When you come here on Sundays, how can you be an example in conduct to others? Maybe it's helping Mr. Wren keep the place tidy. Maybe cleaning up afterwards. Maybe talking to an older person who looks lonely. Many ways you can be an example in conduct, in love. You don't want to be known as a bully, do you? You don't want to be known as someone who's harsh and cruel, but someone who shows kindness and gentleness and helpfulness to your teacher, to your cadet leaders, to your parents. In faith, when things go bad, when things don't work out, when life is tough, you get knocked back, you get knocked down. You're maybe even down and out. But what does faith do? Faith picks you up again. It says, I believe in God, I believe he's in this, and I believe he'll help me overcome it. And an example in purity, and if there's one area today where you can be an outstanding example, it's in this area of purity. because this is one of the most impure ages ever known because of what is in our pockets, our phones, and all that is possible to access through these devices. And you're going to be tempted. You're going to have other people bring their phones to you and say, hey, look at this. They're gonna send you links. that look very enticing and that might tempt you just to be curious. Maybe language that is used around you about young women or if you're a woman, young men. So much filth fills our society and you can be an inspirational example to others. You can be pure in an impure world. You can be someone that God points to and says this is how it's done. This is the model for living in 2025. So really what Timothy's saying is the young can be spiritual adults. But he's also saying adults can be spiritual babies. And the two attitudes are brought together in this, this looking down on the young just because they're young. That's being a spiritual baby. It's being spiritual immature. But young people, you can be, you can be a Samuel in the Old Testament. You can be a Daniel in the Old Testament. You can be a Timothy in the New Testament. You can be an example in your character. Young Christians, all Christians can be exemplary in their character. But secondly, young Christians can be exemplary teachers. Look what Timothy is told here. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect, so that's two sides of the one coin, devote yourself and don't neglect. And the whole focus here is on teaching. It seems Timothy had a gift for that that was confirmed by the elders. and probably from surrounding churches who came together when this church was planted and ordained Timothy and said, this is God's anointed, this is God's chosen person, this is the one God is setting aside to be your teacher. So until I come, I'm going on a journey, here's what you do during that time, study, learn, read, listen, The public reading of Scripture, both doing it and listening to it. To exhortation and teaching. Teaching is really the communication of the facts of the faith. And exhortation is the application of these facts. It's saying, because this is true, here's what you do. Now let's do it, let's exhort and courage one another on words. So that is to be the great focus. Now, of course, this was true for Timothy in that very moment. He was already in that role of teaching. But number one, we can prepare for that. Even if we're not going to be a pastor or a missionary or an elder, what could possibly be wrong with this, devoting yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. You are learning. And when people learn, automatically you want to be a teacher. You want to share that. You want to communicate that. When you get the the faith in your heart. You really begin to see the beauty and usefulness of Christian truth. You cannot but share it. It might not be from a pulpit or even in a Sunday school class, but one-to-one. Maybe leading a Bible study. Maybe just talking with friends. Taking what you have learned and trying to help others learn too. So he has God-given teaching gifts. And again, some very important words, practice these things, immerse yourself in them so that they all may see your progress. Practice, immerse, progress, practice, immerse, progress. It's saying make this the main thing. You don't get better at teaching or anything by just learning the theory. You've got to actually do with all the mistakes it involves to begin with, whether it's being a cadet leader, whether it's being a Sunday school teacher, whether it's leading a Bible study or preaching. You don't become an expert in the study. You've got to get out, and you've got to do, you've got to practice, and you've got to immerse yourself in it. Now we all have callings, or you young guys, you'll have work, you'll have studies to do one day, and this isn't saying every moment of every day you've got to be reading your Bible and communicating the teaching to others. You would get the sack pretty soon. if your employer saw you doing that. But it's saying, in your spare moments, and also surround your work with this framework of teaching. Surround your sport, surround your hobbies, surround your friendships with the teaching of God's word. So that it's not, oh, God's word is a Sunday thing, or a Wednesday night thing, but God's word is everything, And inside that is Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Inside this is all our activities. This word is to be our world, what we live and breathe and live out, practice, immerse, so that they may see your progress. Not that you're perfect, but no, he's progressing, she's progressing. I can see the character getting more rounded and balanced. I can see their teaching becoming more effective and useful and accessible. And when we see that progress, we praise the Lord for what we are seeing in you. But there's a little caution here. Keep a close watch on yourself. So sometimes you can get so taken up with being an example to others and being a model to others that you forget about yourself. That you forget you need to focus on your own Christian character and your own Christian conduct. So he's saying keep a close watch on yourself so that your life is not just about others, helping others, serving others, teaching others, witnessing to others. You've got a soul too that you need to take care of, that you need to feed and nurture. You need to spend time with Jesus in prayer. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching so that, and especially today, you can type in Christian sermons and you'll get a full range there. from 100% true to 100% false. And whatever you take in through your eyes or your ears is going to affect who you are. Therefore, keep a close watch on what you are being taught so that when you teach, you're teaching what is right. And this isn't a day thing, he's saying persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. A bad example destroys souls, especially someone who is thought of as a good example, who becomes a bad example, that can destroy souls. So he's saying watch your head, what you learn. Watch your heart, what you're believing. and your hands will do the right thing. So look after your inside so that your outside remains good and useful. So how can young Christians inspire others? Inspire others with exemplary character and teaching. preparing to teach or teaching in your own place and in your own way and your own time, inspire others. So someone here that's going to stand up and stand out as an example of Christian character and service. Who's going to turn to the other kids and say, stop. We should not be doing this. We should not be saying this. We should not be watching this. Stop, let's talk about what God is teaching us in his word day by day at the cadets. Who's going to be the Timothy? And not just, of course, amongst the young, but amongst all of us. We all can be an example in character and in our teaching, our service, and therefore inspire others, lift up others, challenge others to rise up too. I think it's really beautiful here, God's encouragement of the young. that God is so interested in the young that he actually devoted two books of the Bible to helping a young Christian. Chapter after chapter to Timothy through Paul, saying, Timothy, this is how much I'm thinking about you. God says, Timothy, this is how much I care for you. This is how much I want your good. This is how much I believe in you. This is how much potential I see in you. This is how focused I am on you. So it's not, oh well, I'm so young and God hardly sees me. He doesn't even know I exist. No, use this as an encouragement to you. God is passionately interested. in all ages and stages of life. He will never despise your youth. He will never look down on you. God is saying to you, stand up, stand out. I love the young, and I want them even to be an example to the old. So the old say, wow, if the young can be like that, how much more should I? And if we're old, Like let's never ever fall into this trap of looking down on someone. We might see someone coming up through the ranks of the church who they're learning so fast, they're becoming so much more useful, we feel a bit ashamed and embarrassed, and therefore our tendency is to put them down and keep them down. Never, ever, ever. That is not what God does. That is not godly. It's condemned here. rather use their energy to energize you and to inspire you. But as we think of being an example, we also have an example of Jesus Christ. He is our ultimate inspiration. He is our ultimate challenge to rise to the time and the culture in which we live. To not be scared by all that's happening in the world, but to stand up and stand out and serve sacrificially for the good of others. So yes, be an example, but have an example as well. And lastly, and maybe most importantly, We talk in the cadets about leading the way, lead the way. But that's assuming something. It's assuming that you are in the way yourselves. Don't think about leading the way until you're sure you are in the way. Don't think about being an example to others until you have forgiveness from Jesus for all your failures to be an example to others. The Bible doesn't come to us, especially if we're brought up in the church, and say, assume you are Christians. Assume you are converted. Assume you are born again. Assume you are saved. Assume you're on the way to heaven. And so your only task is to be an example to others. No, no, no. Assume you're lost. Assume you're a sinner. Assume you're going to hell, because that's what we all are. as we're born in this world and even as we're brought up in the church, until we come to faith ourselves in Jesus. So while I want to inspire you and all of us here to yes, be an inspiration to others, we've got to start not with inspiration, but with repentance and faith. Not with leading others, but being led ourselves. being led to Jesus, being led by Jesus, so that we can truly say in the words of the Apostles' Creed, I believe in Jesus Christ. I do. God's only Son and my Lord, the one I bow to as my Savior, the one I worship as my King. And therefore, yes, lead the way. That's number two. But Jesus says, I am the way. And that's number one. And no one comes to the Father but by Him. So lead the way, number two. Get in the way, number one. Let's pray. Inspirational Lord Jesus, You've inspired us to inspire others. Give us the grace we need to be saved and the gifts we need to be inspired and to be an inspiring example to others. In Your name we pray. Amen.