INTRODUCTION:

       A.  Preaching is a great task.  It must not be taken lightly.

       B.  For one to be the best preacher possible he must live consistently with
             what he preaches.

       C.  In this lesson we will note some characteristics of a good minister with
             with a view toward applying them to our lives.
        
   I.   CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD MINISTER - 4:6-16 

       A.  Remind brethren - v. 6

            1.  Remind - HUPOTITHEMENOS - signifies it causes one to remember;
                 to put one in mind of... often implies suggestion - (suggest these things
                 to the brethren)

                 a.  No one likes to be told anything

                      1)  Especially an older person by a younger person.

                      2)  I Peter 1:12

                      3)  II Peter 3:1

                  b.  Truth can be rejected because of the way it is communicated.

                  c.  Lead - don't push

                      1)  See Acts 8:31 - "guides me" (ASV)

                  d.  See I Timothy 5 - Older people require more gentleness and
                       respect.

                      1)  Remember that Timothy is having to teach the church, young and
                           old (including elders) about these coming problems...

            2.  Good minister

                 a.  Minister -  DIAKONOS - same word as servant or deacon.

                      1)  This involves EVERYONE who serves in the Word - not just the
                            preacher... but including him.

            3.  Paul reminds Timothy of how he was taught.  (How often we
                 forget )

       B.  Train yourself to be GODLY - v. 7

            1.  Train - exercise -  GUMNAZE - primarily signifies "to exercise naked"
                 then, generally to exercise or train the body or mind.  Our English word
                 gymnastics comes from this.

            2.  Godly - godliness -  EUSEBEIA - "to be devout" denotes that piety
                 which is characterized by a God ward attitude, does that which is well
                 pleasing to him.

                 a.  Translated:  WORSHIP - Acts 17:23

            3.  How do we train for worship?

                 a.  Have nothing to do with godless myths - v. 7

                 b.  Realize the eternal value and rewards of godliness - v. 8

                 c.  Labor and strive to put our hope in the lord - v. 9

       C.  Command and teach (these things) - v. 11

             1.  Command:

                  a.  Shun profane and old wives tales - v. 7a

                  b.  Train yourselves to be godly - v. 7b

                  c.  Implies command.  Never reject what God has intended for you - 
                       receive with thanksgiving - v. 3-5
            
                  d.  Implies command.  Believes in the living God and His promises
                       and will accept Him through genuine faith - v. 8-9

            2.  Teach:

                 a.  Apostasy is coming in the form of Asceticism - v. 1-3

                 b.  That error is an insult to God and His whole creation - v. 4-5

                 c.  An excellent minister is one who is nourished by the sound doctrine
                      and communicates it to others - v.6

                     1)  "Brought up" - nourished

                 d.  The benefits which come from Godly living transcend those which
                       result from physical training - v. 8-10

            3.  "Let no man despise your youth"

                  a.  Exercise wisdom in "how" you teach.
                                
                  b.  Comment:  The largest complaint that people have in the church
                        today about young men who are preachers is their attitude in their
                        teaching.  They come on like gang busters trying to tell all the "old
                        heads" what they are doing wrong.  Thus, many younger men who
                        have a lot to say cannot be heard because their youth is despised.

       D.  Be an example - v. 13

            1.  Example -  TUPOS - primarily denotes a blow; to strike, hence, an
                 impression;  the mark of a blow that impresses a seal;  the stamp
                 made by a die.  A pattern.

            2.  "For the believers"

            3.  Areas of examples:

                 a.  In speech

                     1)  No idle talk

                          a)  I Tim. 1:4; 4:7; 6:20

                     2)  Care for HOW you say something

                          a)  I Tim. 5:1

                          b)  Col. 4:4-6

                          c)  Eph. 4:29

                  b.  In life (conduct)

                      1)  There is a daily examination of our lives

                      2)  How we live affects our work

                      3)  I Tim. 5:24-25

                  c.  In love

                      1)  I Cor. 13

                           a)  Hopes all things

                           b)  Believes all things

                           c)  Endures all things

                           d)  Takes no account of evil

                  d.  In faith (trust - trustworthiness)

                       1)  You cannot sell something effectively that you don't believe in.

                       2)  Hebrews 11 - example of those who lived and died in faith.

                       3)  II Cor. 5:7

                       4)  Prov. 3:5-6

                  e.  In purity

                       1)  A complete conformity in thought and actions with God's moral
                            laws.

                       2)  Proper relationships with the opposite sex

                            a)  I Tim. 5:2

            4.  Note: The youth who is despised is the man who will NOT do these
                 things.

  II.   HIS OBLIGATION UNTIL PAUL ARRIVES - 4:13-16 

       A.  Devote yourself to (the) reading - v. 13

            1.  Public reading -  ANAGINOSKO  - to read aloud

                 a)  Used:

                      1)  Acts 8:28-32

                      2)  Acts 13:15

                      3)  II Cor. 3:14-15

       B.  Devote yourself to exhortation (preaching - (NIV))

            1.  Exhortation -  PARAKALEO‚ - to urge or exhort; to give comfort...
                 including a warning or advise and encouragement.

                 a.  This exhortation was to be based on what was read.  Thus, the NIV
                      translates - preaching.

                 b.  Implies urgency - a word used for military orders - a command

       C.  Devote yourselves to TEACHING

             1.  Teaching -  DIDASKO  - instruction

                  a.  Again, from what was being read

       D.  Do not neglect your gift

             1.  Laying on of hands by the elders - a sign of recognition for the work
                  he was doing

                  a.  Not miraculous - These only came by the laying on of the
                       "APOSTLES'" hands - Acts 8:18

                       1)  This GIFT is referred to in II Tim 1:6

                       2)  Note:

                            a)  I Tim. 4:14 - "by"

                            b)  II Tim. 1:6 - "through"

       E.  Be diligent in these matters - (reading, exhortation and teaching) - v. 15

            1.  Give yourself wholly to them.

            2.  Make your progress visible.

            3.  Be careful - watch your life closely - v. 16a

            4.  Persevere - keep on keeping on - v. 16b

       F.  The result:  Salvation of self and others - v. 16c

            1.  I Cor. 3:10-15

            2.  To practice these principles will result in the salvation of those who
                 hear.

   CONCLUSION: