“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” I Corinthians 11:1 I Corinthians 11:1 Paul Makes Two Bold Statements: Paul Makes Two Bold Statements: I am an imitator of Christ I am an imitator of Christ Be an imitator of me Be an imitator of me “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” I Corinthians 4:16 I Corinthians 4:16

I Corinthians 4:14-17 I Corinthians 4:14-17 “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my “I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. ” (4:14) beloved children. ” (4:14) “ For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would “ For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.” (4:15) through the gospel.” (4:15) “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” (4:16) “I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.” (4:16) “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved “For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.” (4:17) which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church.” (4:17)

I Thessalonians 1:5-8 I Thessalonians 1:5-8 “for our gospel did not come to you in word only… you know what “for our gospel did not come to you in word only… you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1:5) kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1:5) “ You also became imitators of us and the Lord, having received the “ You also became imitators of us and the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation and with joy of the Holy Spirit, …” (1:6) word in much tribulation and with joy of the Holy Spirit, …” (1:6) “so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia “so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” (1:7) and in Achaia.” (1:7) “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in “For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.” (1:8) God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.” (1:8)

I Thessalonians 2:12-14 I Thessalonians 2:12-14 “ And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you “ And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not received from us the word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” (2:13) also performs its work in you who believe.” (2:13) “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ “For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, …” (2:14) Jesus that are in Judea, …” (2:14)

Conclusion Conclusion Paul claims that he lives his life imitating Christ Paul claims that he lives his life imitating Christ He exhorts other believers to imitate his life He exhorts other believers to imitate his life We should be able to say to others, imitate me as I imitate Christ We should be able to say to others, imitate me as I imitate Christ We should be mentoring others in the Christian faith We should be mentoring others in the Christian faith entrust yourself to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also entrust yourself to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also