Ministry Looks Like You! Pt.3
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Ask What You Can Do For the Church… Not What the Church Can Do For You!
Ask What You Can Do For the Church… Not What the Church Can Do For You!
1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”
2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money.
4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.
5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
Honorable Position - One that meets high standards. Or expectations of appearance. This is an idea that says, one that is beautiful. What does it mean to be beautiful? It means to be praiseworthy! When you think of something or someone who is praiseworthy you think on how they have value. Something to sacrifice, to obtain. Why is this important? Because God’s people are important. So when a man is appointed to the office of Overseer, Elder, Pastor, Bishop (which all means the same, to a certain degree) He is appointed to sacrifice so much to be an example to those who he leads, the Christian community at large and those who do not know Christ Jesus.
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly.
1 “What sorrow awaits the leaders of my people—the shepherds of my sheep—for they have destroyed and scattered the very ones they were expected to care for,” says the Lord.
2 Therefore, this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to these shepherds: “Instead of caring for my flock and leading them to safety, you have deserted them and driven them to destruction. Now I will pour out judgment on you for the evil you have done to them.
17 Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
The grk. word Presbyteros the office of watching over, directing and caring for the church and the people of God in that church.
So this is a very demanding position. It is not one to take lightly. It is a stressful positions and one that will always take attacks in the natural as well as the spiritual.
a. They must have a good reputation.
b. They must be faithful to their wife.
c. They must be self-controlled in their lives.
d. They must be wise in their decisions.
e. They must be accessible to the people.
f. They must be studious and learnt.
If you notice the first 5 is about His character. This is important because this reflects through his actions and not just his words. The old saying do as I say, not as I do! Never went over well, why? Because people are action oriented more then we are word driven.
3. Then Paul proceeds to say that he must not be indulging in things that will cause him to veer off track. Drinking in that culture was very common, when you were drinking and getting drunk it typically leads to you doing foolish things and even leads to violence. So if he was a man who struggled with his temper then he had better get that under control if his desire was to serve God’s people.
4/5 Managing his own house well was and still is an important mandate. Why? Because you typically demonstrate what you do in your home life, in your work life. So if your late paying your bills and stuff is getting shut-off at home, then that is what’s going to be taking place in the church you lead. Doesn’t mean that your kids are going to walk with God and respect you whole heartedly. It means that you are going to be the example for your family even when they don’t agree with you and possibly can’t stand. You must demonstrate the love of God with firmness.
Tell the joke of the double homicide judgement
So how does this apply to us? It applies to us because our lives should model that of Christ and God has placed men and women of God in our presence to look at and aspire too spiritually.
21 For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in his steps.
Leaders suffer - So expect to suffer as our Lord Jesus suffered. One day all this suffering will go away and we will no longer face these challenges.
6 A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.
7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.
6 This is a connecting 2 verses between the expectations of Pastor’s and Deacons. But he says 2 very very important things here.
Must be a seasoned follower of Christ. Can not be one who’s walk is new. What is considered new? I like to think of new as one who has not been through any real battles. Spiritually and Naturally.
Give an example of being attacked in your health. Also an example of one who has struggled with something naturally. Lost of Job. Illness. etc...
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
16 Again I say, don’t think that I am a fool to talk like this. But even if you do, listen to me, as you would to a foolish person, while I also boast a little.
17 Such boasting is not from the Lord, but I am acting like a fool.
18 And since others boast about their human achievements, I will, too.
19 After all, you think you are so wise, but you enjoy putting up with fools!
20 You put up with it when someone enslaves you, takes everything you have, takes advantage of you, takes control of everything, and slaps you in the face.
21 I’m ashamed to say that we’ve been too “weak” to do that! But whatever they dare to boast about—I’m talking like a fool again—I dare to boast about it, too.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
28 Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
Talk about Pastor climbing dying.
People outside the church must recognize you for your walk with God. People should say I may not agree with them on all this Jesus stuff but they are a really good person. I may not walk they’re walk but man they are serious about it. You gotta respect that!
14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
15 No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.
See every time someone sings your praises they are actually complementing the God in you. Which is a complement about God.
I love this quote I read earlier today it says: “To follow God, one must be a little “out of their mind” (and “into their Spirit”).” “When you can see God in small things, you'll see God in all things.”
How do people see you? Do they see the God in you? Or do they see YOU! Ask yourself honestly.
8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money.
9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.
10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.
11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well.
13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.
The role of a deacon is different then the role of an Elder. Deacons are to help service the church. The grk. word diakonos means servant, minister.
So when we see verse 8 it parallels verses 2 and 3 of 1Timothy chapter 3. Same body, different function. So therefore in order for the body to be healthy it must operate on the same system.
1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.
2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. They said, “We apostles should spend our time teaching the word of God, not running a food program.
3 And so, brothers, select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will give them this responsibility.
4 Then we apostles can spend our time in prayer and teaching the word.”
5 Everyone liked this idea, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (an earlier convert to the Jewish faith).
6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.
7 So God’s message continued to spread. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.
Question for everyone on verse 7 of the passage we just read. Why did the message spread and why did the number of believers grow. To the point that even Jewish Priest were converting!
Preaching of God’s Word from those who were called to do so.
The service of the Deacons to the church and the community.
Those two things grew the church. Listen those two things still draw people to this Christian walk.
Talk about Isreal getting saved and committing himself to the Lord.
9 This is important because it doesn’t mean they will not make mistakes, fall short or even sin. It means when they do sin they must have a repenting heart. They must always keep their eyes on the things of God. They are here to assist God’s people and God’s church. They must live out what they represent.
10 Before they are ever appointed, like an Elder they must be watched, examined and scrutinized. Not unfairly but with the concern for the importance of the office they are called to hold. They should want to live a life that is full of pleasing God and understanding all that is revealed in His Word.
11 This is a reflection on the service women are called to do as deaconess, this is partial to the denomination you participate in. But the wife of the man who is called to this office in this period was recognized as a servant along with her husband. They served together. There probably would’ve been security in this too. From false accusations being thrown at the man.
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea.
Did you know
The only reason Phoebe needed an introduction to the Roman church was she was physically standing before them as the letter was first read. Phoebe was Paul’s letter carrier to Rome.
As Baptist scholar E. Randolph Richards notes in Paul and First-Century Letter Writing, Paul did not consider the role of letter carrier lightly. Whether it was Timothy, Titus or Tychicus, the letter carrier was Paul’s envoy to the church.
Before leaving, the letter carrier was trained in the art of performing the letter before the community—that is, reading it aloud with certain rhetorical flourishes for persuasive emphasis and dramatic effect. Paul expected the letter carrier, after reading the letter aloud, to answer congregational questions about Paul’s meaning and to address situations, both known and unbeknown to Paul. She taught the Scriptures to the entire congregation—both the women and the men. She protected the church from false teachings and used her judgment in theological and doctrinal matters while explaining the letter and working to resolve the disputes between Jewish and Gentile communities.
12 Then he goes back in again to repeat what was explained to being an Elder. Very important because the office of Deacon requires the same emphasis as the office of Elder. Just a different part of the body. One is focused more on teaching and the other is more focused on serving.
14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?
18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.
19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!
So we need each part for the body of Christ to function. Each of you play a special role in God’s body called the church.
13. When a deacon does well people will know it and will respond to it. why? Because to much that is given much is required. When much is required then the respect from others will flow naturally.
We all watch the great men we call deacons at CTAB serve on 3rd Sat. We watch as they help those in need and organize. They minister not in word but in action. They do teach new members classes as well but the over all goal for them is to serve in action.
14/15 Paul concludes with a more personal side note of saying I hope to visit you all soon. But if I can’t follow these guidelines to get things back on track from the foolishness.
16. Doxology or and uplifting creed. This verse contains part of an early church hymn, as its uniformity, rhythm, and parallelism indicate. Its 6 lines form a concise summary of the truth of the gospel. mystery of godliness. “Mystery” is that term used by Paul to indicate truth hidden in the OT age and revealed in the NT. Godliness refers to the truths of salvation and righteousness in Christ, which produce holiness in believers; namely, the manifestation of true and perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ. God was manifested.
What as a follower of Christ can you do to help God’s Church? CTAB ____________________________________________________________________________________
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Name some influential church leaders in your life from the past and now. ____________________________________________________________________________________
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In what ways has God gifted you to bring to His body. ____________________________________________________________________________________
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