Message Notes

Senior Sunday School 21 December 2025

Text: 1 Corinthians 4

Subject: “Imitate me”

Lesson #24

14 I do not write these things to shame you, but as my beloved children I warn you.

15 For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.

16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me.

17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 4:14-17

A REPRIMAND FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL

1. The sufferings of Paul were shared candidly

a) The Corinthians remained “beloved children” to Paul

b) He still cared about them deeply

2. Intentions of Paul revealed:

a) Not intended to shame

b) But as a warning

INSTRUCTORS IN THE FAITH

1. Intended exaggeration

“Ten thousand instructors in Christ”

a) There were many instructors

b) These may have been itinerant preachers

c) They may have stayed for a while in Corinth

2. Not many fathers

a) Teachers are not necessarily “fathers”

b) “Fathers” play a more significant role

3. Paul as a spiritual father to the Corinthian Church

a) He was the founder of the Church

b) He led many to faith in the Lord Jesus

c) He taught many deep lessons concerning

i) The Lord

ii) The Christian faith

iii) The Christian lifestyle

A PLEA FROM A FATHER

“Therefore I urge you, imitate me” 1 Corinthians 4:16

1. This was an earnest plea from an anguished spiritual father

2. He saw how his children were turning out

a) They were conceited

b) They were arrogant

c) They were opinionated

d) They were worldly-wise

e) They were carnal

3. They were what Paul was not!

a) Hence the plea made

b) To imitate (follow closely) the lifestyle of the Apostle Paul

AN EXAMPLE OF A GOOD SPIRITUAL SON

1. Timothy was presented well

a) As a beloved son

b) As a faithful son in the Lord

2. Timothy’s task

a) He will remind the Corinthians of Paul’s lifestyle

b) Paul lived as he taught, everywhere the Lord sent him

OUR CHALLENGE

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:10-15

1. To follow Biblical examples

As Timothy followed the Apostle Paul

2. To beware of becoming “evil men and impostors”

3. The danger of deception and evil are very real