09b) A Leader's Heart - Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today we are on week three looking at church leadership. Week one we looked at the scriptural basis for how the bible defines a church leader. We found that they were called elders who have been appointed by the Holy Spirit and have been charged to care for the portion of God’s flock that has been entrusted to them. They are examples for the flock with wisdom as and elder, with responsibility as overseers, and with care as shepherds.
I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. In the same way, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
God resists the proud
but gives grace to the humble.
As these leaders are overseeing and shepherding, they were to be examples to the flock. Last week we looked at the different scriptures that tell the church to imitate the faith and example of their leaders and scripture where leaders like Paul instructed the believers to follow their example.
As Paul is writing to Timothy to correct false teachers, he has been given instructions on discerning the leaders that are subject to removal and the character of men who would aspire to be overseers and desire to take on this noble task. So he gives the following instructions.
1 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.
He Must Be
He Must Be
Above Reproach
Above Reproach
The overarching criteria that Timothy was supposed to use in his discernment was whether or not a leader was beyond reproach. That when accusations of immorality came against a leader, that the accusation would be found to be false, that the accusation would “not be able to be held” to his account. All leaders will be accused of lots of things but a leader of God’s church should be living a life that he would be acquitted of any claim of immorality that would disqualify him as a leader.
The leaders in the church of Ephesus were to be examples of redeemed men following God. They are not required to be sinless but examples of men who properly deal with sin and who can stand against the charges that he reveals in the following passage. The leaders of the church were to be held accountable to the charges that Paul continued with.
The Husband of one Wife
The Husband of one Wife
The first is a husband of one wife.
1 Timothy 3:2 (CSB)
2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, ...
As we looked at this first charge it boiled down to whether or not a leader could be found guilty of not being a one woman man. Is he faithful and loyal to his wife? This must have been an issue for the elders in the church in Ephesus. They were not to get bogged down in the different nuances of marital status but focus on the commitment of the man to his wife. There would need to be wise discernment among the other elders in the vetting of a new elder or correction of a current one.
After tackling the faithfulness of a church leader to his wife, he then gives four character traits that he must be, one ability, and four character traits he must not be. This is all in one sentence and they don’t seem to get much focus because of the fact that Paul does not expound on any of them other that the ability to teach. I actually found it interesting that in some sermons and discussions about this verse there was a discussion on being above reproach, a husband of one wife, and then a leap to able to teach. It was almost like the four in the middle were a side note.
So lets continue with Paul’s instruction and see what he has here for us,
Self Controlled
Self Controlled
1 Timothy 3:2 (CSB)
An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, ...
The second thing he must be above reproach on is that he must be self controlled. This adjective describing a leader is very close to the next one so depending on the translation you are looking into they seem to overlap in the English words used to communicate God’s will here.
Different translations use words like Self controlled, Sober-Minded, Temperate
It was hard to pin this one down exactly but the idea here was a church leader is to be alert and focused. The word had a connection to literally being sober. Not letting alcohol impair the thought and mind of a person. To be a temperate person would be to be a person who would refrain from excess drink and anything that would cloud the mind of a person.
It is likely that he is not focusing on actual drinking alcohol and intoxication here as he addresses that directly latter on in the next verse. We see a man who is to be alert and vigilant in the appointment he has been given.
The leaders of the church were to be watching over and guarding against the attacks of the enemy.
17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
We have all watched movies and read book of the young man who is supposed to be watching out for the enemy as he sits on watch. He sits there by himself in the night peering out into the night. Who here has spend the night on watch? Over tired lack of sleep. Eyes get tired, only a quick moment. A then what. The mind is asleep the enemy comes.
What was the purpose of the watchman? To ring the bell, to call out, “The red coats are coming the read coats are coming.” They were to announce anyone approaching the city or the camp with enough time for those who were inside to prepare themselves to respond to an enemy.
But if they were not alert, to busy playing card, day dreaming of those that had it better on the inside, grumbling in their heart and clouded by the hardness of their hearts. If they were not alert and vigilant, sober-minded who was at risk? Those that they had been charged to warn.
And what is the warning that is to be heralded by church leaders?
7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and because of his appearing and his kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. 3 For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, will multiply teachers for themselves because they have an itch to hear what they want to hear. 4 They will turn away from hearing the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
It is the words of God given to the leaders to warn and correct. The enemy is the attack on the truth of God’s word. The attack is on the truth of the gospel. And this is not to be taken lightly by those that are appointed to be watchmen.
16 And at the end of seven days, the word of the Lord came to me: 17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 18 If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, or from his wicked way, he shall die for his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 20 Again, if a righteous person turns from his righteousness and commits injustice, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not warned him, he shall die for his sin, and his righteous deeds that he has done shall not be remembered, but his blood I will require at your hand. 21 But if you warn the righteous person not to sin, and he does not sin, he shall surely live, because he took warning, and you will have delivered your soul.”
What is the value of a man being able to teach if his mind is clouded with selfish ambition and pride? What if he is distracted by the world? What if he has become dull and complacent? What if he has stepped from the wall to join the people at the party? When the enemy comes in full force it will be too late.
10 Israel’s watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep.
What if he sits on the wall and sees the enemy attacking? They are coming over the wall, one after another, each one going deeper into the city, but the watchman hold his tongue, refrains from ringing the bell, because he does not want to be a hindrance, he doesn’t want to ruffle feathers, he wants to be liked, so he looses all boldness to sound the alarm.
What happens he watches the enemy swarm and devour the people he was appointed to watch over?
8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour.
God told Ezekiel that when God gave him words to say to the people he could warn them or not. God said that his blood I will require at your hand. This also applied to the righteous that turned to sin, the same requirement.
But if he spoke the words given to him, it is up to him to respond but God says the watchman will have delivered his soul.
The second charge was a elder who was accused of leaving his duty to be alert and vigilant on the wall.
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be alert and sober-minded for prayer.
28 We proclaim him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
The next one is sensible.
Sensible
Sensible
1 Timothy 3:2 (CSB)
2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, ...
This word is like the last but has an emphasis on a prudent leader’s control over himself. It speaks of a man who is moderate in his life. Not one who swings to the extremes of life. A man is wisely keeping self-control over his passions and desires. Not that he does not have them but that he has control over them and not the other way around.
8 The sensible person’s wisdom is to consider his way, but the stupidity of fools deceives them.
15 The inexperienced one believes anything, but the sensible one watches his steps.
18 The inexperienced inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
A church leader who is clear minded and living in his role will need to be prudent. They are known to have a reputation of being sensible, showing good judgement in avoiding risks or uncertainties. They have shown to be thoughtful in decision making.
They are not known to be lead by emotions or characterized by rash decisions. They may seem to act slower than others but they are evaluating and discerning the appropriate response verses the immediate response that comes with emotional impulse. The parallels in Titus may be a little more direct.
7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money,
When Paul instructs Titus he spells out one of the common ways that men are prone to not be prudent. They are hot-tempered. A church leader acting as a watchmen who speaks the truth of God’s word, will find that he becomes the targets for people to lash out.
Who likes their sins to be revealed in light of the word of God? We should want to have the light of the word expose our hidden and unknown sins. However, there are many who do not respond in this way. They lash out fight back, gossip, slander, make false accusations, leave. They sit behind closed doors instead of praying and humbling themselves. They create a following of people who agree with them and then they attack.
A church leader will find themselves in the trenches of the fight between the flesh of a believer and the truth of the word. Christ said that persecution would come.
16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you. 21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. For truly I tell you, you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 A disciple is not above his teacher, or a slave above his master. 25 It is enough for a disciple to become like his teacher and a slave like his master. If they called the head of the house ‘Beelzebul,’ how much more the members of his household!
A church leader must be wise in the response to these attacks. When the church is divided on what the community believes, he cannot pick sides, he must not be swayed by emotions of anger, jealousy, despair, greed, or any other emotion. They must be an example of the words of James
19 My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.
They will be living to to discipline themselves to be prudent leaders.
27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
And his instruction in second Timothy
5 But as for you, exercise self-control in everything, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
The consequence of not having this characteristic in a church leader is the wounds and foolishness of leaders who cannot control their emotions or desires. They find themselves not in control of their emotions and desires but they rule over them.
This is not to say that leaders will not make mistakes and have moments that where they may lose focus or make rash decisions. We see many times in scripture that leaders made these mistakes. The question is if the situation speaks of a moment in time of if this person is known to be the opposite of these characteristics.
Is it common for the leader to struggle with emotional out bursts that he seems to not be able to handle? Has the leader turned from the watch tower to focus on other things? Has he abandoned his post or did he never take it up?
I hear stories from people who have been hurt by leaders in the church and many of them could be tied directly back to these two characteristics. We saw earlier that this was one of the issue in corporate worship.
8 Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.
When men fall into rash, impulsive decisions there are always consequences. It is at these moments that you will find the breaking of trust, wounds, words that are spoken that can never be taken back. When I think of all of the things I wished I never said, that I wished I could take back, I find them in the context of rash responses. Quick to speak. Not listening, being selfish.
The leader does this on a large scale. His words have lasting impact and can turn many in the wrong direction. Therefore church leaders should be careful in their words and always sober minded and on guard for the infiltration of the enemy.
Conclusion
Conclusion
To be above reproach in these areas. He must not be able “to be held to the following charges”
To be a two women man.
To be unable to control himself from extreme behavior, alcohol, gambling, spending. Unable to resist the temptations of the enemies schemes.
To be accused of not being able to control his emotions both highs and lows. anger, depression, to be impulsive, reactionary, to fly off the handle, to be hastily, lacking sense
The leaders are to be on watch as examples to the flock, to the church. There may be a temptation to have the attitude, well I don’t plan on being a church leader so these are not important for me. This would be a shame as these are the qualities that all men should be developing through the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of men.
Where do men learn these? They are not natural to the selfish natural man. So where do we develop these. We develop them in the context of our marriage, the family and the church.
To be the head of your house the way that the God describes is to learn to be men of this type of character. On watch for your family and being sensible and prudent in your behavior. I think most would agree that in the context of our marriage and family there are always challenges and opportunities for these to be tested.
How do we sit and guard our families from the attacks of the enemy. Are we watching or have we become distracted with the success of our career or hobbies. Do we leave the task that has been given to us for our wives and children to fend for themselves. This should not be the way.
We are to grow in Christ likeness and develop these in our lives.
Let us pray.
Let us pray.
Prayer
Communion
Warning
Children, Lost, Sin
19 And he took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 In the same way he also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
27 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he gave it to them and said, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 For this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer
Song
Closing
Blessing/Benediction
20 Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
