Lifestyle Evangelism

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith and in purity.

If you have been around me enough to know my thoughts and feelings, you know that I am really big on lifestyle evangelism. That is winning people to Jesus by the way we live as much as by what we say. I have heard a saying that goes like this, “I can’t hear what you are saying because what you are doing is speaking too loud.” I think you all can see the meaning of that statement. The sad fact is that it is so true. Far too often, we talk the talk of Christianity but live the life of a pagan.

Paul’s exhortation to young Timothy, who was just getting a good start in the ministry, was very appropriate. It should be noted that this is good advice for all of us.

Notice first of all that Paul is saying to him to be an example of the believers. It is so important to practice not only, what we preach, but also what the Bible says. Practice what you preach and preach the Bible. Let people see what a believer is supposed to be like by the way you live in the everyday world. It is easy to be a Christian on Sunday while you are at church. (Unless someone got your parking place or sat in your seat.) The real test is during the other seven days when you are in the real world, having to deal with the same problems that the unbeliever deals with. Don’t think that they are not watching you, because they are. They are checking to see if you really believe what you say and if it makes a difference in your life.

Be constantly aware of the fact that someone is judging Jesus by you, who claims to be His disciple. 1 Peter 2:15 says, For so is the will of God that with well-doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Today, be thou an example of the believers.