這些事，你要吩咐人，也要教導人。不可叫人小看你年輕，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上，都作信徒的榜樣。 (提摩太前書4:11-12)
這段經文講到傳道人的要求，第一是教導的責任與權柄─謹慎使用自己的權柄，放膽教導切莫濫用，第二是生命的榜樣─竭力成為信徒的榜樣，堅定忠誠以身作則。
傳道人不僅是信徒的榜樣，神也賜給傳道人教導的權柄─提醒、吩咐、善勸，關懷、帶領、教導，因此傳道人必須放膽使用權柄，並慎用權柄，不濫用權柄。傳道人的教導必須來自聖經，來自主的吩咐，不能攙雜屬人的吩咐與自我的私慾。吩咐別人之前首先要吩咐自己，教導別人之前首先要教導自己。將個人魅力看做糞土，而忠心將人完全引到神的面前。
傳道人當有怎樣的榜樣呢?
自律的屬靈生命: 有基督的生命與品格就必不會被人小看。傳道人的經驗資格都是經過磨練的，挫折困難是操練屬靈生命的機會，受人輕視批評也是屬靈操練。這些成長都需要時間與努力，也需要教會的寬容與等候。
言語的榜樣: 不出污穢的話語，只說造就人的好話，使人屬靈生命得益處
行為的榜樣: 行事光明，與蒙召的恩相稱
愛心的榜樣: 盡心、盡性、盡力、盡意愛主，並愛人如己
信心的榜樣: 因信做工、憑信等候、忍耐盼望、忠心不改
聖潔的榜樣: 追求聖潔，穿上新人，有真理的仁義和聖潔
至於信徒的責任，第一是領受教導、順服權柄，第二跟隨榜樣，活出生命。因此信徒不當以監督的姿態去評價、審判傳道人，錯認為傳道人是教會花錢買的雇工，輕率評價傳道人的績效，或用專業知識來衡量牧師的表現。傳道人蒙神揀選、蒙神訓練、蒙神差遣，代表神向弟兄姊妹教導真道、傳揚福音的奧秘。他要持守真理，堅定忠誠，以身作則，將弟兄姊妹帶到神的面前。因此，弟兄姊妹當敬重並效法傳道人的生命榜樣─也是基督的榜樣─跟隨聖經的教導，聽從基督的吩咐。每位傳道人有不的恩賜、試煉、經歷、年齡，弟兄姊妹當幫助、寬容、指點、並甘心順服傳道人所教導的真道，學習真道並效法榜樣，一起活出基督的馨香之氣。
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
～1Timothy 4:11-12～
This passage talks about the minister’s requirements. The first is to teach—use the authority of teaching carefully and boldly. And the second is to live as a role model—lead the believers by your example with firm and loyalty.
The minister is not only a role model for believers, but God also gives him the authority to teach—remind, instruct, persuade, care, lead, and teach. Therefore, the preacher must use authority boldly and carefully and not misuse his authority. The preacher's teaching must come from the Bible, the commandments from the Lord, and cannot be mixed with personal knowledge and selfish ambitions. You must first command yourself before you command others, and you must teach yourself before you teach others. You must think of personal charms or abilities as nothing and faithfully lead people to God instead of yourself.
What examples should a minister have?
Disciplined spiritual life: People won’t look down on you if you have the characters of Christ. . The maturity of preachers comes from tests and trials. Frustrations and difficulties are opportunities to practice the godly characters; and being despised and criticized is also spiritual practices. The growth and maturity of a preacher take time and effort; as well as the tolerance and patience of the church.
Examples of words: no filthy words, only words that edify people and benefit others spiritually.
Example of behavior: walk in light, in a manner worthy of God’s calling
An example of love: Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and love your neighbor as yourself
The model of faith: work by faith, wait by faith, hope patiently, and be faithful.
The example of holiness: Pursue holiness, put on the new man, and have the benevolence and holiness of truth
As for the responsibility of believers, the first is to receive instruction and submit to authority, and the second is to follow the example and live out their lives. Therefore, believers should not use a supervisory attitude to evaluate and judge preachers, should not think that preachers are hired by the church, and rashly evaluate preachers’ performance, or use professional knowledge to measure pastors’ performance. The preacher is chosen by God, trained by God, and sent by God to represent God in teaching the truth to brothers and sisters and spreading the mystery of the gospel. He must hold to the truth, be firm and loyal, set an example, and bring brothers and sisters to God. Therefore, brothers and sisters should respect and imitate the life example of the preacher—also the example of Christ—following the teachings of the Bible and obeying the instructions of Christ. Every preacher has different gifts, trials, experiences, and age. Brothers and sisters should help, tolerate, point out his mistakes in love and honest and willingly obey the truth taught by the preacher, learn the truth and imitate the example, so that to live out the fragrance of Christ altogether.
～ Rev. Benguang Du 都本光牧師～