{"id":60413,"date":"2006-04-20T21:28:00","date_gmt":"2006-04-21T02:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/?p=60413"},"modified":"2023-04-20T21:31:31","modified_gmt":"2023-04-21T02:31:31","slug":"three-examples","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/three-examples\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\tby Sam Stinson\n

“Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us<\/em>” (Philippians 3:17, ESV).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Experience is not authority. Because Jesus is our authority, his word is authority. However, how do we, those of us who deliver God’s message of salvation in Jesus, direct people from us to God and his word? The experience we give the world in us helps direct them. Jesus illustrated the influence of his disciples as salt and light. (Matthew 5:13-14) Our personal examples lead people to God and his word. An example is a pattern that others follow or do not follow. If the example we give is good, we may help lead willing hearts to God. Paul, above, invited the Philippian brethren to imitate his example and to note those who followed that lead. Again, that’s what examples do: they lead. What example should we give the world?<\/p>\n

Our example should show us to be conservative.<\/h2>\n

Let us each give the sincere example of those who seek to conserve, that is, to preserve the pure gospel. Paul stood his ground against false teachers so that “the truth of the gospel might be preserved<\/em>” for the Galatian brethren. (Galatians 2:5) Let us stand our ground against those who falsely take liberties with God’s word, twisting it to their own desires or wresting them to their own fall. Let us speak the word and not our opinions as though they were God’s precepts.<\/p>\n

Our example should show us to be moderate.<\/h2>\n

Paul taught the Philippians to “Let your reasonableness be known to everyone.<\/em>” And for what reason? Because “The Lord is at hand<\/em>.” (Philippians 4:5) Let us not bounce between doctrinal extremes, tossed around by every wave of doctrine but stand in maturity. (Ephesians 4:14) Let us daily practice moderation in our choices.<\/p>\n

Our example should show us to be liberal.<\/h2>\n

Yes, you read that right. Please accept that I’m not advocating a political view but suggesting only what the Holy Spirit thought fit to exhort Christ’s disciples. Regarding the collection for needy saints, Paul exhorted the Corinthians, “Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.<\/em>” (II Corinthians 9:13, KJV) These showed their liberality in generous hearts by gifts they gave to those who were in want. Let us also be prepared, ready in generosity, ready to share, and ready to give to those who have genuine needs. The poor are with us always: especially in this cycle of the economy! Let us desire to minister to their needs knowing they may someday aid others too. Let us each consider the needs of those outside Christ and how we might do good to them.<\/p>\n

Have we not been excellent examples of this? Then let us repent. And when we have turned again, let us strengthen our brethren.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Sam Stinson “Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us” (Philippians 3:17, ESV). Experience is not authority. Because Jesus is our authority, his word is authority. However, how do we, those of us who deliver God’s message of salvation in Jesus,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[1570,353],"class_list":["post-60413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-examples","tag-influence"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":53972,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-approach-to-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":0},"title":"Jesus’ Approach to Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 24, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry W. Benton Here was Jesus' approach to authority: The Son can do nothing of Himself (positive authority must allow the action). But what He sees the Father do (Divine precedent or example). The Father\u00a0shows\u00a0Him all things that He Himself does (John 5:19-20). Thus, Jesus placed a lot of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57882,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-to-establish-biblical-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":1},"title":"How to Establish Biblical Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 14, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Heath Rogers God is the proper source of authority in religious matters. Our authority must come from heaven and not from men (Matthew 21:25). God has given authority to His Son, Who gave the Holy Spirit to the apostles. These and other inspired men have written the New Testament.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35470,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/approved-examples\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":2},"title":"Approved Examples","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 1, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Mike Johnson What should be our attitude toward the concept of \"example\" as an acceptable form of Bible authority? There are three possible attitudes one might have. First, a person might say that all examples are binding. However, this attitude is unlikely, and, as we will see later, this\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":63991,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":3},"title":"Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"April 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Suppose you were studying with someone about the gospel of Christ \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We will assume that the person believes in God and that the Bible is God\u2019s Word \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0B.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are many who fit this description; yet, they do not obey the teachings in the Scriptures \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0C.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How do\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Audio"","block_context":{"text":"Audio","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/audio\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":57680,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-and-the-sabbath-law\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":4},"title":"Jesus and the Sabbath Law","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 5, 2006","format":false,"excerpt":"by Walton Weaver From\u00a0That They All May Be One: Studies on Unity, Freedom and Authority in the Body of Christ, pp. 90-93 Those who adopt this way of handling the word of God believe that the law of love gives them the \"right\" to exalt love above God's law and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/01\/disciplesGrain.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/01\/disciplesGrain.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2006\/01\/disciplesGrain.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":58207,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/submission-to-authority\/","url_meta":{"origin":60413,"position":5},"title":"Submission to Authority","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Heath Rogers We have discussed the need for authority in religious matters, the proper source for authority, and how to establish Bible authority. 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