Examples are For Copying

1 Peter 5:3

Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

In school, you are shown examples of how to do something so you can learn how you are to work the same problems yourself. We learn by example. For instance, when I try to teach someone how to go soul winning, I take them with me so they can learn how to witness to others, and they take what I taught them and copy it so they can lead others to Christ. I have often gone soul winning with my assistant pastors, and what gives me joy is to see them using the same illustrations I use when I witness, not because they don't think for themselves, but because they are smart enough to know that if it worked for someone else, it will work for them.

God says the Pastor is to be an ensample to the flock. The word ensamble is the same word as example. God requires the Pastor to live to a higher standard, not because they are to feel they are better than others, but so they can be an example to those they lead of how they should live their lives. For instance, God’s Word says the Pastor should live a blameless life because they are to be an example to the believers in their church how to live a blameless life. God’s Word says the Pastor is to rule his house well. The reason God wants the Pastor to rule his house well is so they can be an example to the believer how to rule their house well. That example of ruling their house well is what God expects for every believer. The requirements for the Pastor are truly a requirement for every believer. The Pastor is simply an example for the believer to follow. The Pastor is God’s human example for the church flock to know how to live.

Now, this is what is critical to learn. The Pastor is a sinful human, which is truly not a surprise to anyone; however, God wants believers to follow humans as the example of how to live. This is important to understand because so many try to make it sound as if it is wrong to follow a man. If we don't follow the example of a man, we have no human example on how to live a blameless life, or how to rule our house well, or how to be hospitable to all; the Pastor is that example for these requirements of living. The human example is all we have to see how to live according to God’s Word. It is critical for every Pastor to live according to God’s Word because it gives an example of how God expects the believer to live.

Let me illustrate. My Pastor for many years was Dr. Jack Hyles. Bro. Hyles’ example of living and pastoring a church gave me a pattern of how to live my life and pastor a church. His example of pastoring a church is truly how I try to pastor my church, and that example has proven to be successful. I have learned that if I copy the example of my pastor, I have the best chance of pleasing God with my life. I don't allow the Pharisees to shame me into not following the examples of a godly man. Only Pharisees say they follow God and not man, because the Scriptures teach to follow the human example of the man of God so you know how to live.

My friend, be careful about tearing down the examples from the past, for they are the human pattern God gives to show us how to live. Instead of tearing down our examples, let’s copy how they lived and do what they have taught us through their preaching; we will have a better chance of being the believer God wants us to be if we follow their example. God commands us to follow the example of the Pastor, so how are you doing in copying his example in living for God?