Paul makes a huge statement in Phil 4:9...whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me...put it into practice. Paul tells the Philippians to look at his life and do everything he does. As they follow his example, they will learn to follow Christ in all that they do. The ministry application from this verse is tremendous. I am a youth pastor and this has impacted and will continue to impact the ministry that God has given me. I believe that Paul would hold to the adage that a teacher cannot expect to take his pupils where he has not already been. The life of the teacher/pastor must be an example. However, this does not imply perfection...in fact, I believe it is far from it. Paul even stated in Romans that he found that the things that he should be doing were the things that he didn't do...and the things that he shouldn't be doing were the very things that he found himself doing! I wouldn't say that Paul was constantly living a life of sin, but he also wasn't perfect and he would be the first one to tell others that! I think that when Paul speaks of being an example to his pupils, he speaks of being a good and sometimes a bad example. Paul had to be real with the people that God entrusted to him. He recognized his weakness and had others around him. Paul's attitude was that of a man that sought to follow Christ in all that he did, but he did not present himself as perfect. When a pastor/leader presents himself as "above" his people, he loses almost all ability to impact anyone. Nobody can relate to a perfect person that everyone knows is imperfect. Realness is of utmost importance when ministering to real people.
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