(C) The weapons Paul uses continued.

(4) Persuasion.

Paul wrote: I urge you to imitate me. For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way in Christ Jesus which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.

The Corinthians were for the most part immature Christians - still very much babes in Christ notwithstanding their pretensions. They found it difficult to imitate Jesus who was no longer present in the flesh. However, Paul had ministered to them for some time and would visit them again. He was also sending Timothy to Corinth to remind them how he lived - in a way entirely consistent with his teaching wherever he went.

Paul was so sure that he was in the will of God and living as Jesus wanted that he could say: "Be like me."

During my career as a teacher I was so certain that my work habits were sound that I would instruct my pupils to imitate me. I urged them to do tasks promptly; to do their homework the night it was set while the topic was still fresh in their mind. I advised them to work regularly every night and not let the work pile up. Nothing is more daunting than a huge backlog of work. I told them to list the jobs that they needed to do each evening and tick them off as they did them.

We should never underestimate the power of a good example. My mother set me two fine examples: to visit the elderly and to write letters of condolence and appreciation. She could encourage me to be like her in these respects in the sure and certain knowledge that if I was it would please Jesus.

(D) Paul's motivation.

Paul had two objectives:

(1) To warn. I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. v14.

Paul was the spiritual father of many of the Corinthian Christians. He claimed: I became your father through the gospel. v15. Paul was instrumental in the conversion of the Corinthians.

A good and caring father wants the best for his children. He will warn, advise and encourage what is worthwhile and admirable. Occasionally I will counsel my brother Philip over cricketing matters. When I do so it is not as an adversary out to wound but as a brother concerned for his well-being. I don't do this very often, as younger brothers do not always respond well to interference from the oldest in the family!

I would have been a poor schoolteacher if I had not corrected behaviour that was not in my pupil's best interests. Similarly, Paul would have been a negligent pastor if he had not done all in his power to check a ruinous tendency in his flock. No-one can accuse Paul of not caring for the churches he established!

(2) To restore kingdom values. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. v20.

The church is not a talking shop, a debating society, a discussion group or a place to hear great sermons. It is a family characterised by:

(a) Changed lives - new lives in Christ.
(b) Love in action.
(c) Fervent, prevailing prayer.
(d) Unity of purpose.
(e) Faith that overcomes obstacles, setbacks and persecution.
(f) Sustaining grace.
(g) The gifts of the Spirit.

Qualities like these testify to the wonder working power of the triune God.