Requirements and Qualifications of Overseers

Introduction

Scripture

Father God, we thank You for Who You are. A great Big God who sees each and every one of us here and cares deeply about us. We ask this day, as we are continuing in this time of worship to You, reading Your Word and hearing Your Word, that You refine us with it. Mold us, make us, shape us, rearrange us so that we can more like You, and more made into the image of Christ. Help us be a people who love You and love others so much, that we are moved into action by whatever it is You are going to show us about Yourself today and what that means in our lives. Help us do this, because all to often our selfish and sinless flesh war against our will to follow Yours. As we are doing this, and as we are coming into Your Word today, we ask that You take away any distraction that we may have, and make it go as far away as it possible can, because we want to see and we want to know You better. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

3 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,,he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.

4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

Context

Moving back into our series on the book of first Timothy, we move into another important portion of scripture for every church member, every pastor, and every person aspiring to be a pastor to know; because we as the church, the body of Christ must be very careful and examine any man that wishes to be a pastor. Now, you have heard me say this before, but it bears repeating again, any time with regards to the new testament church, you see the words Pastor/Elder/Overseerer/Bishop within your bible, it is speaking about the same scriptural office; with the other office being a deacon which means servant.

In our text today, we see the word overseer, but your bible may read that word or the word “Bishop,” either way they mean the same thing. Be sure though, not to get confused with how some denominations treat the word bishop to mean a sort of ruler of pastors, the word Bishop or overseerer simply means a man or group of men that God has appointed for the spiritual and general oversight of the local church.

With Paul writing to Timothy about Overseers within the church at Ephesus, it is clear that the church had men (and perhaps even women in their case) that were both unqualified and unprepared to lead the church, and as a consequence were damaging the church body, the spiritual growth of the believers, and ultimately the reputation of Christ to those outside the church. So, the bad, unqualified, and not God ordained leadership within the church made it difficult for the church to fulfill it’s mission of bringing the gospel to those outside of it.

So, what then is the purpose or roll of a Pastor/Elder/Overseerer/Bishop. As you probably know a Pastor/Elder/Overseerer/Bishop is a man that is accountable before God for the general growth and equipping of believers within a church body. He is himself under the authority of Christ, where the true source of authority comes from, who is then a sort of “undershepherd” for the flock, doing as the chief shepherd (Christ) directs and wills for that body of believers both together and on their own. Within the Baptist Church context, it is then our job as congregants to be in constant relationship with God so that we can affirm 1, If this man is qualified for the post and 2, if how he is trying to lead is consistent with what scripture teaches. All of this is of course, with the leading and close relationship with God the Holy Spirit in us. So, in our partnership with the Holy Spirit we affirm a calling (this is what we do when we select a pastor) and we watch him and how he leads and follow him (because He is following Christ) if the way is consistent with what Christ teaches. Additionally and importantly 3rd, we observe him in that He is constantly seeking God and growing in the love of God through his life.

So, and I would say especially in the local Baptist Church context, but also in every other church context as well; Knowing and observing the qualifications of an overseer is important for any member of a church because their overseer’s spiritual condition directly effects the spiritual health of any church body and person within it.

So, let’s dive in. From the text I want you to see the requirements for overseers.

Message

The first requirement for overseers is that: Overseers are to have committed lives. (1-3)

This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,, he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.

Paul begins on overseers with making one of 5 “trustworthy statements”, one of which we read earlier in this book. He begins by saying that it is to be commended and encouraged if a man wants to be or spires to be an overseer. We should encourage and help those that do, as any investment in a man who wants to be one, is an investment in the future for God’s kingdom. Paul then makes it clear though, that not everyone will be, and those that are have a list of requirements that they have to meet to be scripturally considered to be one. By the way, Paul makes another similar list in his letter to Titus and other letter to Timothy.

He begins this list with descriptions about the life and conduct of the man. It begins with saying he must be above reproach, that he is not a person who can be blamed for the downfall of others. He is to be the husband of one wife, when you look at what the Greek means exactly here, it means he is a one woman kind of man. He is a controlled man and not given to bouts of anger. He is respectable, when someone hears of him becoming a leader in your church; it should be no surprise. He is hospitable, able to comfort and invite others. He is able to teach (which is a clear difference between the offices of Deacons and Overseerers, the expectation and requirement to teach is not found for deacons). Furthermore, he is not to be an excessive drinker, literally addicted to alcohol, a gentle man, a man who doesn’t relish in quarreling, and a generous as opposed to greedy man.

When you look at all of these requirements, and of course knowing that there are more coming up behind them. It is clear to any reader that if a man is to become an overseerer, that man must have a committed life. He must not be a wavering man who is with it one moment and a train wreck the next on a consistent biases. Now granted, all people will make mistakes and no person is perfect outside of Christ Jesus, but this man is to be consistently committed to the cause of Christ. So much so, that it does not strike you as odd, but rather very ordinary that this man would put aside whatever comforts he may receive in life and instead take up the cross of Christ. That is, he often puts away what is bad and takes up what is good because that is what is most likely to bring Christ the most glory in our lives. This is what you must see in any pastor/elder/overseerer/bishop and Knowing and observing the qualifications of an overseer is important for any member of a church because their overseer’s spiritual condition directly effects the spiritual health of any church body and person within it. If you want your church to be spiritually healthy, you have to have a spiritually healthy pastor who has a committed life to Christ.

The next requirement for overseers is that: Overseers are to lead well at home. (4-5)

4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?)

Paul then goes further on the requirements of an overseer, specifically on how he is to manage the church. He starts by saying, if a man wants to be an overseer of a church, first look at how he manages his home. Does he manage it? Or is he just a passive participant? If he is passive and not a contributor to the home, in all areas, then he has no business managing a church. If he cannot manage his own family, then how can he manage an entire church family? Newsflash, he can’t. If he can’t discipline his children, how can he lead a church through discipline? If he can’t spiritually lead a family, then how can he spiritually lead a larger family? If he can’t contribute to the home, then how can he contribute to the church? Again, that’s not to say that he has the perfect family and the perfect well behaved children, or that he has the appearance of having it all going for him. But rather, when you take time, step back and observe him in this area, and all areas; do you see a real and consistent effort and is he growing? Furthermore, do you observe that his spiritual priorities go in this order: 1, The most important thing is his own spiritual life with Christ. 2, the second most important thing is his wife’s spiritual life with Christ. 3, the third most important thing is his children’s (if he has any in the home) spiritual life. And Finally 4, the fourth most important thing is your (the church’s) spiritual life. If he gets this right, everything else will fall the way they are supposed to.

Can you imagine asking a guy to lead your church family who can’t even lead his own family? I think all of us can agree that this is essential. Can you even imagine someone who only gives 1 effort but then gives up afterwards? As the kids say, big yikes if you find yourself in this situation. This is not good. I mean, consider someone playing baseball who is at bat. He takes 1 strike, and storms off the field. While this may be a common thing in pewee baseball, you wouldn’t dream of seeing it in the pros, because leading well and the continuing to lead well (or batting well then continuing to bat well) is a mark of maturity in a man. Don’t be the pewee man as you lead your family or your church, be the seasoned pro who knows to make adjustments and that sometimes mistakes are just a part of the game.

So, believers hear me. Knowing and observing the qualifications of an overseer is important for any member of a church because their overseer’s spiritual condition directly effects the spiritual health of any church body and person within it. Be sure to observe that your overseers or someone that could become one is leading well at home. This is a requirement for qualification to serve Christ in this way. If you want your church to be spiritually healthy, your overseer must lead well at home.

Another requirement for overseers is that: Overseers are to be mature believers. (6-7)

6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.

Now Paul writes to Timothy regarding the pastors/elders/overseers/bishops qualifications now turning more specifically to their maturity in their walk with Christ. He says flat out, that if a man has this office, he cannot; repeat cannot be a new convert. Now, what is new, verses not new is up for interpretation, but when you consider that overseer is interchangeable with the word elder, it clearly shows that he must be mature in his faith, having had time to be tested and tried both in Christian walk and his calling to this particular ministry. Often when men go through this process of maturing, it leads up to the ordination of a man to the gospel ministry. So, when a man is ordained, his home church is saying that we have tested this man and find the calling in His life to be from God and consistent with what scripture teaches to be a pastor. There is also a warning from Paul, that if a man comes into this office to soon, before he is ready, he will fall into the same sin that Satan did, that is Pride and Boastfulness, in this case his head will be puffed up and he will become a prideful hypocrite. Paul also writes that this man must be so mature that even those outside of the church can observe that this is a good man who has a good reputation.

New and immature converts and men with a bad reputation are not qualified yet, though they may be one day, for the pastoral ministry. To elevate a man to this roll when he is not ready, is only setting himself and the church he serves up for failure. Why, because this man is not yet ready for the spiritual burden that comes with being an under shepherd of Christ and ultimately, he will fall into a trap that the devil has set for him in multiple kinds of sin. To put it simply, he has not spent enough time with the Shepherd (Christ) to be ready to do as the under shepherd does.

Both church bodies and men can find themselves in a tricky situation when your under shepherd is not yet ready because of maturity of faith. Whereas, he may desire to be a shepherd of the flock, but previously he may have been a butcher and only knows how to butcher a sheep as opposed to raise it up and nurture it. Both church bodies that give the office prematurely and men that accept it prematurely sin against God when they elevate the immature in faith. So, when you both choose a pastor and when you follow him as he is following Christ, is he both mature and maturing, and does he have a good reputation? You need to be able to answer this because Knowing and observing the qualifications of an overseer is important for any member of a church because their overseer’s spiritual condition directly effects the spiritual health of any church body and person within it. Overseers are to be mature believers.

Conclusion

Beloved, let me give you a recent in the news example of a man who was promoted to the pastorate of a church way way to early. This pastor, was mesmerizing. He could preach with the best of them and his words had an impact that saw his church grow and grow even to the point that it planted countless churches. In fact, this pastor became so famous and beloved that he became what is often called a mega star pastor, he was famous for being a pastor. Let alone, he was famous for being the guy yelling on stage and being crystal clear about things that were yes scriptural, but the delivery was bad. Well, with time, his toxic and domineering behavior, and the fact that as a pastor/elder/overseer/bishop he had no one he was equal with or accountable to, that eventually his pastors, staff, and eldeers removed him from His office and called him to repent. To which, even to this day he has not. It’s clear that this man was into the pastorate for the same reason the unqualified people in Ephesus were, for the prestige and influence that came along with perhaps even in some way money, not because he was called by God and had a pastor’s heart. Well, even in the last 3 weeks, this man has showed up in the news again; doing what he usually does, using well timed anger and emotion in a crowd to guess what? Correct a crowd? No, though that is what he wanted it to seem, but to sell his latest book. Yep, funny how he got on a churches stage one night during a HUGE Men’s conference and condemned something and the next day released a new book on that topic…. He is a wolf, pretending to be a shepherd. He isn’t the sheep dog tasked with protection, he is an agent of the enemy; and so is any man who doesn’t fit these criteria when they are overseers. Again, to put it simply, Overseers are to have committed lives, Overseers are to lead well everywhere and Overseers are to be mature believers. This is important to us, this is important to every believer because their overseer’s spiritual condition directly effects the spiritual health of any church body and person within it. If you have a weak and unqualified man, much like a plant in poor soil, expect a quick shoot of growth and a withering away. If you have a God fearing and qualified man, then expect, much like a plant in good soil; expect consistent and healthy growth. Do you want to grow and grow and grow in the love of Your Lord? Or do you want to grow really quickly and wither away in the Lord? You know the answer, so be sure that you know the requirements and qualifications for overseers.

With all of that being said, I would be remised if I didn’t share the Gospel (or the Good News) of Jesus Christ with you today, for the benefit of both believer and non-believer in the room. This begins all the way back at the beginning, God created everything, and he created all things good. He gave His most treasured creation (us, mankind) the ability of free will, the ability to choose Him or rebellion. Man was deceived by Satan and desired to be like God and sinned (or rebelled against God). This brought the curse of sin and death into the world and it remains with us to this day; which separates us from God. God though, loved His creation (mankind) so much that He worked through history to redeem all mankind that would turn to Him from sin so that we can experience a full and perfect relationship with Him again. This was through the perfect and final sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the pay for sins. Accepting this free gift from God, makes you new and forgiven. All you have to do accept this free gift by repenting and believing in the Lord Jesus and you will get to experience the good side of God’s justice forever. So, now that you know this, you can no longer plead ignorance. I invite and urge you to respond today non-believer and apply this to every part of your life believers in the audience today.

With that, Let’s conclude. Brothers and Sisters, I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or want to talk more about Jesus, or have something you want to talk about, I’ll be here, don’t be afraid to come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, we thank You for who You are and what You are doing to us here in this place. May whatever it is that You are doing in each of heart here, continue as we leave go out into the world this week. Change us, mold us, make us, re-arrange us, that we can be both better lovers of You and better showers of You. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.