Overview
What a leader leaves behind is not personality, title or charisma but an imprint. The Greek word tupos means a figure formed by a blow or an impression, the way a coin is stamped, and the New Testament uses it for the example believers set. Todd Cencich shows that the imprint is the evidence of inner quality, the way large fruit is the evidence of a healthy tree. The Thessalonian believers left that mark by sounding out the word of the Lord and turning to God from idols. Because God works in the present rather than the past or the future, that imprint is made moment by moment, and it points not to the leader but to what Jesus Christ has already accomplished.
Transcript
What the Greek Word Tupos Means: A Figure Formed by a Blow
All right, thank you. Great to see a bunch of wonderful faces. Some of my best friends in the world are on this Zoom, so it’s great to be with you. So, leaders as examples, our imprint. What do people remember about you? What do you leave behind in your interactions, in your communications?
What we wanna take a look at tonight, some of it comes from the Greek word tupos, which is the word used many times for, or a couple of times for, ensample, examples. And Thayer’s definition defines it as such: a figure formed by a blow or impression, and you think about stamping a coin as one of the ways that they come with this, or it could be a figure or image, and the teaching which, or a teaching which embodies the sum and substance of religion and what it represents to the mind.
We have a unique opportunity to be an image of what our Heavenly Father has given to us. As leaders, and for me as a leader, what I wanna leave behind, I don’t want you to think about my personality or how funny I was during this teaching or whatever, I want the word to be in your heart. So this is an example, these teachings are an example of what it can be like in our walk, our conduct, our actions. And it comes from the inside, not so much about what it looks like on the outside, but what the result is, the fruit. Not our standard, but his, and Jesus Christ is our example.
And when I say Jesus Christ as an example, an example not only of how he walked on this earth, but also what he did by his life and what he accomplished that we do not need to strive for anymore.
A Good Example Is Not Someone to Copy
A good example isn’t for someone to copy. You know, the way someone that we respect, how they walk, they talk, try to mimic their mannerisms, their senses, things that they do, but it’s the love, the kindness, the doctrine that they live, how they care and concern for God’s people and their concern about spiritual matters above all. We follow after the inner qualities.
The Grapefruit Tree: Fruit Is the Evidence of Inner Health
A couple of years ago, I planted a grapefruit tree in my front yard. At the time it was barely a stick, five feet tall, skinny, like almost like a pencil. It fit in the back of my van. I selected a spot to plant it where I knew it would get plenty of sunshine. I made sure it got water. I fertilized it. I pruned it. I checked for pests and fungus and cared for the health of the tree.
And the result was fruit. That was the evidence. And it was large fruit, by the way. Some of these grapefruits were almost the size of a small soccer ball. What it did was it exemplified in evidence the inner quality of the health of the tree. And that’s similar to what we wanna do. We want our inner light, the Christ within us, to shine. That’s the part that’s gonna last through eternity.
1 Thessalonians 1: A Church That Became an Ensample
Let’s go to 1 Thessalonians 1, please. And we’re gonna look at some examples of a group of believers who are examples to the church, which is what we want to exemplify today. And as leaders, don’t forget that we have the opportunity to lead. Leading isn’t necessarily assigned by a name or a title, but it’s taking the lead in situations in life as God directs us.
1 Thessalonians 1, verse 7, says, so that ye were ensamples, and that’s our word, tupos, for example, an imprint, an image, a witness, to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak any thing.
Man, you talk about a witness, you talk about an example. The word was so big in their hearts that it was undeniable, people saw it.
Verse 9, for they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Paul is praising these believers that were examples to the church. Not only what they did, and what they did was, they sounded out the word of the Lord, and that their faith to God was spread abroad, but also the result in their lives. The evidence was that they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and they waited for his son from heaven.
What People Register Is Fruit, Not Title or Charisma
This is not about a title, personality, charisma, looks, income, worldly accomplishments or social status. Those all fade. What people register in life is fruit. They see evidences of quality. Have you ever been around somebody that you see the quality of their life and you can’t deny it? You want to be around them? You want to hear what they have to say?
Seeing examples isn’t about how we act, but rather the evidence of the inner gift that we have. We should be aware in every situation of who we are in Christ, and remember that whether we’re in the grocery store, we’re at work, or we’re driving, this one can be tough, but we take the place of the absent Christ.
1 Corinthians 10: These Things Were Written for Our Admonition
Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 10, please. And remember, everybody on this call has an aspect of leadership in them. It’s not a title, but you can lead in situations as God directs you, because you have the love for him in your heart.
1 Corinthians 10 verse 11 says, now all these things happened unto them for ensamples, and that’s our word for tupos, and they are written for our what? Our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
These records in the word, these testimonies, these witness in the word, are here to admonish us, to encourage us, to inspire us. So in our day in time, what about you? What do you leave behind? What do you give? You can have the same impact today. You have the same spirit of God that Paul had, that Peter had, that James had, that Jesus Christ had.
Walking With God Happens in the Moment
So when we walk, our walk many times can speak for itself. When we walk with God, it is in the moment. It is in the present. God isn’t moving in the past. He isn’t moving in the future. He may set things up in the future. But he is in the moment, as should we. And all these things about the fruit in our lives, how we tend to our lives, what we feed our hearts in our lives, what we hold on to, can help our example, which is also in the present.
Matthew 26: The Alabaster Box and Being Present
Let’s go to Matthew 26. I want to take a look at a record where Jesus Christ is with the believers in Matthew 26, where he encourages them to focus on what’s in front of them right now.
Matthew 26 verse 6 says, Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, there came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always.
So great way to remind them to be in the moment that Jesus Christ was with them in the moment. Keeping yourselves in a position where God wants you in the moment is very important. An aspect of being present is being cognizant of your surroundings and your environment. Pay attention to those who are around you.
And remember Jesus Christ as our example in this case here. And when I say Jesus Christ as our example, we don’t necessarily quote him, you know, like get thee behind me, Satan, or quote some things that he said. It’s about his heart, his love, his example. Look how we cared for the church here. Look how we brought this woman back to reality or back to the moment saying, you know, these people are out there, but me, you only have for a period of time.
Matthew 6:33: Don’t Drag Tomorrow or the Past Into Today
Let’s go to Matthew chapter six, please. So there’s a great element of being in the moment and being present in the moment as we walk with our examples, because that’s the… That’s where we live. That’s where God works is in the moment. And that’s that imprint that we leave behind.
Matthew 6 and verse 33 says, very familiar verse to all of us, but seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
You know what this verse is telling us? It’s telling you that there’s so much things going on tomorrow, don’t drag it into today. There’s so much things behind us, don’t drag the past into today. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
I think of this like a picture. And when I was thinking this through, I was gonna say photograph, but I’d probably date myself, because that’s an older, nobody takes a photograph anymore. But a picture captures a moment, a memory, an impression. We can leave an impression on people in the moment. What’s that gonna be? We, like Rico was saying earlier, we choose to focus on who we are in Christ. We choose to live for Him.
Romans 5: Adam’s Transgression and the Free Gift by One Man
Let’s go to Romans chapter five. Romans five and verse 14 says, nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure, and that’s the word for tupos, it’s the image, of him that was to come, meaning that we all were born in sin. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
And this is a great part of the section here. For if by one man’s offence, that’s speaking of Adam, death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
This section alone is tremendous, and it shows how the original man brought in sin into our bloodline and into the world, but Jesus Christ, being a sinless man, walked and fulfilled it, and everything we have is based on the accomplishments of Jesus Christ, that He fully redeemed us, that when He said, it is finished, it was finished. When they said that the tomb, He is risen, He is risen. That is a stamp, that is a pin in history that nothing like it has ever happened for or since.
So this is why we don’t let it go to our head, because it’s a gift, we didn’t earn it. What a great thing to share with people. Isn’t something like that, a message like that, something you wanna leave with people, you wanna share with people?
You May Be the Lifeline That Someone Needs
So in the end, our example, if we can get this message to people, if our example can lead people to Him, if we live this way so it is undeniably evident, if we really want to walk in the steps of Jesus Christ, if we put personal desires looking only to Him aside, and we can be that shining examples for others to see and imitate. It’s on us to choose the genuine life that God has paved the way for us.
Remember who you are in Christ. Remember that Jesus Christ, by God, sent to pay the price for me and you. And you can be that light to anyone in your circle or out of your circle. Let your inner quality shine so that others may see the stamp, the impression, the image of our Heavenly Father’s love and goodness, and I’ll leave you with this one last thought. As we think about who we are in Christ and the image impression that we have, you may be the lifeline that someone needs. God bless you.
Key Takeaways
- Tupos, the Greek word behind ensample, means a figure formed by a blow or impression, like the stamping of a coin. It is the imprint a leader leaves.
- A good example is not something to copy. What is followed is the inner quality: the love, the kindness, the doctrine a person lives.
- Fruit is evidence. Large grapefruit proved the health of the tree, and the visible quality of a life is evidence of the Christ within.
- The Thessalonians became an ensample by sounding out the word of the Lord and turning to God from idols, not by title, charisma, looks or social status.
- God is not moving in the past or the future but in the moment, so the imprint is made in the present, in the grocery store, at work, or driving.
- Romans 5 makes the imprint a gift: Adam brought sin, and by one man, Jesus Christ, grace and the gift of righteousness abounded, so it never goes to our head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word tupos mean in the Bible?
Tupos is the word translated ensample or example. Thayer’s defines it as a figure formed by a blow or impression, the way a coin is stamped, and also as a figure or image, or a teaching which embodies the sum and substance of religion and what it represents to the mind. It appears in 1 Thessalonians 1:7, in 1 Corinthians 10:11, and in Romans 5:14, where Adam is called the figure of him that was to come.
What made the Thessalonian believers an example to the church?
Two things, according to 1 Thessalonians 1. First what they did: from them the word of the Lord sounded out, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place, so that Paul needed to speak nothing. Second the result in their lives: they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and waited for his Son from heaven. It was not title, personality, charisma, income or social status, all of which fade.
Why does being present in the moment matter to the example a leader sets?
Because God works in the present. He is not moving in the past and he is not moving in the future, so the imprint is left in the moment. In Matthew 26 Jesus defends the woman with the alabaster box by pointing out that the poor are always there but he is not. Matthew 6 says take no thought for the morrow, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, which means neither tomorrow nor the past should be dragged into today.
Scripture References
1 Thessalonians 1:7-8; 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:11-13; Matthew 26:6-11; Matthew 6:33-34; Romans 5:14-16; Romans 5:17
This text was prepared from the teaching audio. Please verify scripture references against your own Bible.
