What on earth are you on about?
Peace be with you Bill,
Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers--not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but
being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 5:2-3
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and
imitate their faith.
Heb 13:7
Therefore I urge you to
imitate me.
1 Corinthians 4:16
We do not want you to become lazy, but to
imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Hebrews 6:12
Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
Join with others in
following my example, brothers, and take note of those who
live according to the pattern we gave you.
Philippians 3:17
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but
set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12
To this you were called, because
Christ suffered for you,
leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."
1 Peter 2:21-22
Now
the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
He must also have
a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
1 Tim 3:2-7
Any organisation is lead by its leaders who set the example by their standard of life.
So here on cc, you show patience, endurance, self control, love understanding.
As an example to others to likewise follow.
So equally in the church, church leaders are called to
set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Philippians 3:17
What is amazing, and I have to say amazing, is the number of comments spoken as if
no one is to set an example, and to suggest such a thing, which scripture calls us all to,
is wrong.
Now truly, all who speak like this, do you know they speak against the Lord and His ways.
For God did not call us to be impure, but
to live a holy life.
1 Thessalonians 4:7
This is a difficult thing to understand, and to envision, until you see Jesus and His example.
Humbleness, meekness, appropriateness, love, care, support, patience, kindness, self control,
endurance, perseverance, fellowship, sharing, teaching, sacrifice, faith, prayer, giving, receiving,
listening, gentleness, purity, service.
None of these things we are incapable of doing, or walking in. Unless ofcourse one dismisses
even considering following Jesus at all as an exercise in proving yourself to God, rather than actually
recognising this is "the way" to life and the Father.
Now to those who do not want to follow Christs example and call yourselves christians, the reason
why believers were called follows of "the way", because this is what Christ called us to do. Amen.
To brothers and sisters in Christ, our example is Jesus, our guide is His word, and the Holy Spirit,
so Amen, and Praise the Lord.