Elder’s- Honor and Discipline

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.

17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,[c] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,[d] and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism. 22 Don’t be too quick to appoint[e] anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface[f] later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Context

This week we are rounding out chapter 5 in Paul’s letter Timothy. As you have heard me say several times before, this letter was not just for and to Timothy, but was also to all of the church in Ephesus and it’s leaders as well as all church bodies for all of time (just like us). In the last chapter, this chapter, and much of the next chapter, Paul writes on the importance of how the church body is to treat one another as brethren, as a family in Christ. How we are supposed act towards everyone and look upon everyone as brothers and sisters in Christ. He also touched on our rolls within the church and as it relates to home as well.

This week, rounding out chapter 5, Paul turns his attention from the widows with no one (these were the most vulnerable within the congregation of the time) to the leaders within the church. That is, the leadership of the church consisting of the elders as within the New Testament context, the leaders of the church are those that are in the office of pastor/elder/overseer/bishop which are of course the same office just under a different name. In chapter 3, Paul wrote at length on the requirements of a person who wanted to become or was in this office and then the same to the servants/deacons within the church. This chapter though, touches a little on that, but even more so on how the congregation is to treat and respect their pastor/elder/overseers/bishops. When looking through this letter, it’s clear that we are to be sure to know that Church Elders receive both double honor from us and more responsibility from Christ.

This is a call and a warning to all elders, who are both ministers by vocation or lay elders. Because it is these men who one day will have to give an account for of your spiritual state and condition and who have to answer before Christ why a congregant either grew or leveled out while they were under your care; just as an under shepherd has to give an account and be held responsible when a lamb from a flock is wounded or missing or dead. So, we have to take the office of pastor/elder/overseer/bishop very seriously, 1 because his spiritual state has a direct effect on you and 2, a lazy one will make excuses to be lazy and not push you and encourage you into a closer relationship with Christ. So, it is a church’s great responsibility to chose well when calling in or ordaining and elder, because his state effects the congregation, and unfortunately in Ephesus’ case, they had selected many bad ones it would seem and now Timothy had to clean up and fix their mess.

So, let’s jump into the text, and see from the text that what we are to give, see, and expect from elders these points and actions to the church’s elders.

Message

The first point is to: Give Double Honor. (17-18)

17 The elders who are good leaders are to be considered worthy of double honor,[c] especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says: Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,[d] and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Paul here sets up a precedence and requirement that unfortunately a great many people get wrong while he had been nothing but clear on it. First of all, I think everyone can agree that the elders that serve well should be given and are worthy of double honor, people don’t usually disagree with this one. But look what the rest of the verse says, he say’s especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. The word work here, isn’t just a sort of soft work, but in the original language means hard work like toil, like farming by hand or hot work in a steel mill. It is difficult when done rightly, and it takes time. It’s always baffling to me when a believer insists that a pastor or bible study teacher shouldn’t spend much time preparing and should just come and go in their sermons and bible lessons. This is not the mandate, it’s not the expectation, and quite frankly, it’s just lazy and we should expect more as believers who are hungry for God’s word. God certainly expects more from His chosen men, and it’s clear here that Paul expects more as well. Verse 18 then recons back to a command from God, given to Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 25, that an ox is not to be muzzled (kept from eating) while he is working and toiling in the field. This makes it clear, that the double honor certainly refers to at the very least respect/honor and pay for his work. More plausible additions can be made regarding this and even pay scale, but it’s very clear that congregations were to give both honor and pay to the elders that work at preaching and teaching and were not allowed to not offer (though Paul made it clear in other letters that a minister could refuse it or decide to work for less if he so chooses).

Whether we know it or not, a good pastor spends much of his time in preparation for the Sunday meal of the sermon. In fact, in many of the books that I have read from men much smarter and better than me, a recommended 20-25 hours was prescribed per sermon for a young minister and little less (maybe 12-20) for a well seasoned minister. Take that along with the fact that in Acts 6, the apostles set the precedence that the church leaders were to devote themselves to the ministry of The Word and to Prayer first and foremost before all other things, a pastor using the full 25 hours and 1 hour for prayer each day spends 30-32 hours in preparation and prayer, and has not yet delivered the sermon on top of other teaching, pastoral care, administrative, communicative, or benevolence duties.

What’s especially sad when you look at this truth and what is a good expectation for a church pastor, is that in a recent study of Kentucky Pastors released earlier this month, it found that those men received no cost of living adjustments or raises by in large since the year 2017, and as we all know and have felt the pinch, inflation and price of goods has skyrocketed since then. Who remembers when a can of chicken noodle soup was .50 cents? Well now it’s $1.25 or more. Yet, we don’t show the respect that God has called for us to give the elders by ensuring that they are taken care of both in our hearts and in their family’s needs. Let me be clear, we aren’t talking about making them rich or sucking the church coffers dry, but we are talking about a fair wage within the minsters/elders context and community. After all, if God cared about how we treated an ox, how much more do you think God is concerned for His servants and their families wellbeing? So, church’s near and far, believers near and far, we have to ask ourselves and maybe even be willing to ask your paid elders quietly, are you receiving the double honor that you deserve? Because church elders are to receive double honor from us and also more responsibility from Christ.

The next point to see from is your elders is that they: Take Sin Seriously. (19-21)

19 Don’t accept an accusation against an elder unless it is supported by two or three witnesses. 20 Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the rest will be afraid. 21 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels to observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing out of favoritism.

After addressing honor and provision for the elder, Paul then moves into the area of sin for the elder. He begins, by offering the same protections for elders that would be expected in general with the people of Israel, that is for any kind of charge to be legitimate, it was necessary in the proof that multiple people could give the same kind of charges and proof. Afterall, 1 person can easily and maliciously make a false charge, but it is much more difficult to have multiple people give the same account. So, making a charge against an elder is to be done seriously and not deceptively for the sake of covering ones own sin. Verse 20, then get’s at some of the additional responsibilities for elders. That is, their sin and vices are to be much more public and publicly known to the congregation than the average congregant. For the average congregant, it is not to be made publicly known until the final stages of church discipline as laid out in Matthew 18, but for the elder, once there is sufficient proof that the charge is true, everyone is to know about it. That doesn’t mean necessarily that it means a removal from office or a temporary step down, but it could. Even though it may not be pleasant, it is also a part of teaching ministry of an elder to be subject to this, because it allows others to see and understand the seriousness of it and how great God’s forgiveness of us is. Then, Paul in verse 21 charges Timothy with observing this sin seriousness without prejudice or favoritism and giving it to all elders, both the beloved and begrudged.

Any elder that refuses to be subject to this, or any church that choses to cover up an elders sin, does a great disservices to themselves, their community, and to Christ Himself. Christ desires honesty and integrity within His under Shepards, and anything else is of Satan’s desire to tear a church body down from the inside. A such it’s clear, if God takes sin seriously within His under Shepards, He takes sin seriously from everyone. All sin needs repentance from ourselves and forgiveness of God. No matter how large or how small, sin separates us from God, He does not want to be separated from us. He paid a high cost, Jesus’ death, so that we can be restored to Him. Don’t take that gift half heartedly. It is the most costly and beneficial gift a person can ever and will ever receive from a loving heavenly Father. That though we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That though we dead in our trespasses , the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. So, take sin seriously congregations. Take sin seriously believer, take it seriously both in yourself and take it seriously from elders. Because Church Elders receive both double honor from us and more responsibility from Christ.

Another point to expect is that elders would: Keep themselves pure. (22-25)

22 Don’t be too quick to appoint[e] anyone as an elder, and don’t share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Don’t continue drinking only water, but use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 Some people’s sins are obvious, preceding them to judgment, but the sins of others surface[f] later. 25 Likewise, good works are obvious, and those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden.

Paul continues here on the issue of sins within the elders. That is, first of all, Timothy and we are to not hastily appoint someone to being elder. They are to be observed and proven for a time and their character and conduct and genuine love of Christ and hatred of sin is to be clearly seen and observed. In fact, so serious is this, that Paul warns timothy and believers everywhere that the church that ordains an elder prematurely takes part in the sin that he will inevitably do and damage with. Then! In random and often Paul writing style, he has one sentence thought to Timothy regarding his stomach illness, urging him to drink wine some instead of just water (think of this is as kind of a fatherly (Oh Yeah by the way) kind of moment). After this very brief moment, Paul gets back the subject of elders and sin in verse 24, saying that some people sin are secret and hidden and will take time to surface, this is why you are not to be to quick to appoint an elder, in the same vain the good works a person does even if they try to keep them hidden will sooner or later be seen and cannot be hidden. So, to put it simply, the good character an elder is to have will display its self with time. So, Timothy as you are appointing elders in Ephesus, keep yourself pure by making sure your selection is very good and sharp and cutting out the disqualified.

This idea of keeping themselves pure, while given to all Christians, is especially highlighted for the elders. They are to be one of the ones watching out the flocks in their sins and correcting them as necessary as a farmer corrects the fertilizer or water and as a shepherd takes the steps necessary to take an unruly sheep who is prone to wonder back into the safety of the flock. As they are charged with doing this for the congregation, they are also charged with keeping up with themselves as well. After all, how can you council a couple out of divorce when you are on the edge of it yourself or how can you teach children not to lie when you are well known for being a liar and deceiver? News flash, you can’t, or not for long at least.

Ultimately, Satan and sin want us to not take sin seriously, ultimately Satan and sin want elders to not take Satan and sin seriously. But what is charged here, what is a biblical requirement? That we keep ourselves pure, avoiding, not doing, and if we have repenting from sin so that 1 yes, we can be forgiven. But, more importantly God can be glorified by our repentant hearts both in our own hearts and the eyes of everyone who sees it. So, elders and believers, yourselves keep pure and take steps congregation to make sure that you are not knowingly putting your elders in situations that would make them impure. A great example is a few weeks ago when I told the congregation that Emily and I were at great risk of sinning by not sabbathing that week, so we needed an accommodation to make not sinning in that way happen. This means, yes some times it means you will have to ask your elders quietly where they need help to avoid sin, and it’s another good reason for the biblical prescriptions for multiple elders in a congregation, so that they may address one another, help one another, and hold each other accountable in this matter. It matters because Church Elders receive both double honor from us and more responsibility from Christ.

Conclusion

Beloved, what you put in is what you get out of your relationship with Christ. Being forgiven of sin and experiencing heaven upon death is just the starting point, and unfortunately for a great many misguided believers it is both the beginning and the end. However, each believer has available with them the joy of a closer relationship and the bible even seems to elude to greater rewards within the heavenly places. This is the same for the elders, what they put in is what they get out, just like Jesus’ parable of the seed and the soil. Just like a good farmer, who takes the time to till and build up their soil, and plant and space the crops well, and water where necessary verses a bad farmer who just willy nilly throws corn on a grass covered field. Will the bad farmer get something, yes probably, but not a lot, especially when compared to the good farmer who took the time, toil, and energy and put it into their crop. The same is true of the elders, so congregation remember that we are to give double honor to those elders who labor well. Know that elders and ourselves are supposed to Take Sin Seriously. In turn both they and we are to Keep themselves pure. If we invest in these points made by Paul, then a congregation will inevitably grow spiritually and as a congregation grows spiritually, God will call in new believers into that church bodies family care. It’s all about trusting God and plan a church body, and his plan ultimately includes double honor being given to the elders who have more responsibilities for and to Christ.

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.