A Healthy Church Has Godly Pastors.

Introduction:

As we continue with our Worship of the Lord this morning, I want to invite you to turn with me to 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

As you are turning there in your Bibles, let me provide you with a little recap of what we have talked about thus far in our study. Remember, as we are studying this book, we are trying to seek to understand

What Is A Healthy Church?

We know, that 1 Timothy does not give us all of the answers that we need. We get that. But I do think that a lot of the problems that we are facing in the American church right now can be seen in light of what we read in this book. We know that the Church in American is in trouble. I was listening to a Podcast just earlier this week and they are now saying that somewhere between 8000 and 12000 churches will close in a given year. When we started this study, the data was pre-covid…so 2019 data. In a more recent study, they have found that 8000 to 12,000 churches are going to close. That is just alarming to me. That is heartbreaking.

Like, what in the world is the problem? And the aim of this message, nor the aim of this series, is to fix all of the problems or even to address all of the problems .... but I do think that the things that we are talking about here in the Word begin to build a foundation for us to think through.

What has often happened, the church moves away from the main thing being the main thing…and it turns inwardly… and stops being on mission. It loses sight of what God has called it to.

And these are similar problems of what the church at Ephesus was facing at the time of this letter. The church was in some big trouble. They were losing sight of some things. There was some confusion about roles. There were these false teachers that had snuck into their midst and were leading them astray. The church was a mess. So, Paul writes this young Pastor, Timothy, to help him know what to do.

So, again, to use the words of Warren Wiersbe....

Chapter 1 Is About the Church and Its Message.

Chapters 2-3 Is About the Church and Its Members.

Or to say it another way and to put it in the language of trying to understand what makes a healthy church....

A Healthy Church Must Understand the Gospel Rightly.

A Healthy Church Has Members Who Are Committed to Prayer.

A Healthy Church Has Members Who Respect and Honor Their Roles in the Local Church.

I say all of this because I want us to see the letter as a whole. I want us to see how these things tie in together. These are not just isolated verses… but they are written down for our instruction.... and part of teaching something is being exposed over and over and over again to it.

If we want to grow in our health as a congregation.... then we have to look at our lives in light of what we have studied thus far. Are we doing these things well? Where can we grow? How can we be strengthened in these areas? These are good questions to ask ourselves as we seek the Lord.

This brings us to Chapter 3. Paul was pretty hard on the men and the women in Chapter 2 as he spelled out their roles.... and now, Paul is going to turn his attention to the leadership of the church. Body:

If you have your Bible open, follow along with me as we read the Word of God together.

Hear the Word of the Lord this morning.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil (1 Ti 3:1–7).

Let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Leadership Guru and teacher John Maxwell had once famously said, “Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership.” To him, leadership was that important. If you were going to run and operate a successful business, then you better have great leadership skills because if not, then you were only asking for failure.

But what about in the church world? Does leadership matter when it comes to churches? Like, will a church really fail if it does not have the right leaders?

That is kind of a scary question to ask, isn’t it? That is scary for me to ask. That calls all kinds of things into question. We know and understand that Jesus is the one who truly leads His church. We get that. But even still, we have to see that leadership does matter… if it didn’t Paul wouldn't be writing to Timothy about the False teachers.... nor would he be giving the qualifications for who should serve in this role.

Leadership Matters In the Local Church.

That is what we are going to see as we look at verses 1-7 and then next week at we look at verses 8-13.

But what we are going to notice as we work through this chapter is that God thinks so different than the rest of the world when it comes to leadership.

What does the World want in leaders?

Cutthroat. Do whatever it takes to win. Strong. Vibrant. Never giving up. We normally think in terms of their education and background.

These are the things that the World looks for in leaders… but I want you to notice as we look at this passage, God is far more concerned with character than He is anything else.

What Type Of Man Is He?

That is the driving force of these verses. Like we said last week, what the world looks at and what God looks at are often very different. God is looking at the heart.

So, as we work through this text, let me point the Main Point on the Screen for us. I want this to frame our time in the word this morning.

Main Point: A Healthy Church Has Godly Pastors.

And I know, many of you are coming into here this morning with things that are weighing heavy on you and you are looking at this passage… going really? This? Like, how does this help me on Monday? Like, how does this speak to my life right now? How in the world does this apply to me? Shouldn’t this be something that you, Phil, the deacons, do a study on, on your own? Wouldn’t that be better?

And listen to me, I hear you. I really do. But, because we believe that this book is the inspired word of God for you and that every part of it is profitable… I believe that this too will speak to your soul.

Because listen to me, this is vital for you to understand, you need to understand what is required of those who are leading you, and you need to understand their role for your care.

We are actually going to take this passage and broaden it out just a little so that we are all on the same page here. Paul uses some terms that I think were assumed in the early church that I think we can get confused on.

Here is my goal for us today. I normally don’t put this out there for you all, but I want you to see the goal for us this morning.

What Is An Overseer? Defining roles and responsibilities.

What Are Their Qualifications? Who should be in this role?

What Is The Church's Response? How should the church respond to their leaders?

Those are my goals. Now, we will have to move rather quickly in our time together, and we will certainly not go as deep as I would hope to go. But I think if we start here, that will give us good footing as we seek to be a healthy church.

Let’s start with our first goal for this morning...

What Is An Overseer? Defining roles and responsibilities.

Look at verse 8 with me. This is where we are picking up on this language of being an overseer.

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task (1 Ti 3:1).

This is Paul’s second time of saying “the saying is trustworthy...” he is probably pulling from some well-known early creed. This just goes to show how important this office was considered even in the early church. What is the statement? “if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.”

The work, or office, of being an overseer was not something that is to be treated with ill regard. Those who desire to serve in this was.... they are called to noble work. Litteral good work. Work that is to be held in high esteem. And that is not because they are something special. That is not what is conveyed in the New Testament at all. It is noble work and considered a good work because it is a HARD work. Listen to how Paul describes it in 1 Cor. 4.

4 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.....9 For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. 11 To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, 12 and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things ( 1 Co 4:1-2 & 9–13)

Like, can you imagine this as a job posting? This is not a calling of come and sit back and enjoy the easy life. Desiring to serve in this way is a noble work because it will require a lot from you....and yet this is an honorable desire.

But, what exactly does the text mean by overseer? What is the definition? What do they do exactly?

I wish I had more time here to show you exactly what is meant by these things, but time does not permit me. So, I am going to put some references on the screen. I want to encourage you to write them down and go back and read them later.

What is an overseer?

A Pastor of a Local Church (Acts 20:17-38, Titus 1: 5-9, Eph. 4:11, and 1 Peter 5:1-5).

We tend to see three words that are used, but they are used throughout the New Testament. We see the word Shepherd, which is where we get our Word Pastor (that is why I labeled this as I did), we see Elder, and we see overseer. Now, when you look through the New Testament, you see the same writer, Paul for example, use these words almost as synonyms. And you also see others, Peter for example, use the words to describe one another. In 1 Peter 5, we see Peter telling the elders to shepherd the flock that is among them.

So, this is the definition, or the office that is in view here when Paul is telling Timothy in verse 1 of chapter 3. He is talking about people who desire to work in the church as a local church Pastor. I will add to this quickly, the normal pattern that is seen in the NT is that there were always a pularity of elders or Pastors in the local church. It was not upon 1 person to get the job done. We will see that a clearer in a few chapters when Paul talks about this topic again.

Alright, but now that we have a picture in mind of exactly what we are talking about. Let’s talk about role real quick.

What Does A Pastor Do? (Acts 6:1-5, Eph. 4:11-16, and 1 Peter 5:1-5).

We don't have time to do a deep dive into this subject, but I do want us to think Biblically about what role a Pastor is to have in the life of the church.

Hold your place there in 1 Timothy, because I do want us to at least see two other passages when it comes to the role of a Pastor.

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Ac 6:1–4).

Turn to 1 Peter 5:1-3 real quick with me.

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock (1 Pe 5:1–3).

What do we see here? What is a Pastor to do?

Pastors Do Shepherding Ministry to the Flock.

Ok, but does that exactly look like?

I am going to use a list in which I think is helpful by Brain Croft.

Guard The Truth

Preach The Word

Pray for the Flock

Set an Example

Visit the Sick

Comfort the Grieving

Care For Widows

Confront Sin

Encourage The Weaker Sheep

Identify and Train Leaders

(and a I am going to add 1 to the list, and that's)

Equip and Train Others to Do Ministry

Now, this does not mean there are things that I am missing from this list, nor does it mean that the Pastor is the only one who is called to do these things. It is good, right, and well for everyone to pray for one another. It is good for everyone of us to visit the sick or to care for widows. But the Pastor is to make sure that these areas of ministry are being done…and He is to lead out in these things as He shpeherds and cares for the flock.

Can’t you see why this is considered a noble task? This is for the betterment and care for others. And it makes sense why the person who is doing this role needs to meet certain qualifications to perform this role. That is where Paul turns to. Who is qualified for such a work?

Or to put in back into the words that we were using earlier....

What Are Their Qualifications? Who should be in this role?

Paul spends the rest of these verses outlining the qualifications. Look at them with me. Look at verses 2-7.

2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil (1 Ti 3:2–7).

He must be above reproach. This cannot mean that Pastors or church leaders are to be sinless. If that were the case, then we would have no one to lead us in this way. To be above reproach means to be unblamable. This person should not have any glaring faults in their character that would prohibit them from serving in the ministry.

What might that look like? Well, Paul is going to give us a long list of what that means in the day to day of those wanting to be leaders in the church.

He must be the husband of one wife- literally- His must be a ONE woman man. This is a call against polygamy and “open” relationships. He is to be known as a man of faithfulness. He is to have eyes for His wife and her only. I do not believe that this verse teaches that a person who has been divorced cannot be a Pastor of a local church.... depending on the circumstances of course. I know we need to be careful here, but I do think that it is crazy to think that in a culture where worship was often done by temple prostitution, Paul would put a limit on any person's past life. Again, I think if that were the case no one would be able to serve in this role. Paul is talking about the current state of that person's life. How are they right now with their wife?

He must be sober-minded- He has to be known as a person who is able to think clearly. His thoughts are not a mess.

He must be Self-controlled- This is one of the fruits of the spirit. He is to be known as a person who is able to keep himself under control...even if things are bad.

He must be respectable- People need to look at him and give him respect.

He must be hospitable- He has to be willing to let people into his life and into his home. Relationships are key to the role of overseer.

He must be able to teach- Everything up to this point has been about this person's character. This is about his giftings from the Lord. If a person in going to lead the people well, then that person must be able to teach them the Word of God.

He must not be a drunkard- This goes, I think, back into the ideas of being self-controlled and sober-minded. A pastor must not let anything dominate his life. Notice that Paul does not say that an Elder or Overseer must not drink… the prohibition in the Bible is that a person not be given over to much wine… not to never let it touch your lips. There is a big difference.

He must not be violent but gentle, not quarrelsome- Again, we are talking about character traits of the person who wants to be over the church. If a person is going to lead the Church then that person cannot be violent with the people of God. He must be a man who knows who to walk gently with them as He guides them through this life. He must not give into every fight that comes knocking on his door, for there will be many. He must keep the course and remember what His true role is.

He must not be a lover of money- Church leaders do not get into the work of the ministry so that the can get rich. Now, does that mean that we should not pay Pastors a living wage? It does not mean that at all. Scripture is very clear about this matter. Those who work in the Gospel ministry should be paid for their service. However, if someone is going into ministry for Money, that is the wrong motive. It is not good for your own soul or the souls of others.

He Must manage his own household well- The testing place for an overseer is his home. How does he do with caring for his own wife and kids? He must manage them with all dignity and he must keep his children submissive. Does that then mean that if a person has a child that is not perfect then they are not fit for the service of the church? No. It does not mean that. I do think that this has to deal with how a person is trying to lead his household. Is this person raising those under his care to love the Lord? Is this person teaching their kids about right and wrong? is this person trying to show them Christ? I think this is why Paul says, “for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?”. The home is the testing ground for those who want to go into ministry.

He must not be a recent convert- Those who have just come to know Christ do not need to be leading other people in the role of an Overseer. The reason that is given here is that “he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.” Pride might over take this person's life. They may think that they are something “Special” I do not think that Paul is talking about losing your salvation here… but I do think that there is a huge warning here for those who want to go into ministry. You have to be willing to wait for a little while. Let the Lord shape your heart before running right into some things.

He must be well thought of by outsiders- Paul is saying.. let this person be so well known that even those in the community know this guy's testimony. The reason given is so that he doesn’t fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Satan wants nothing more than to make leaders of churches fall. This is why it has often been said that when a person steps into ministry they are putting a big fat target on their backs. If Satan can mess with the leadership of the church, it not only hurts the Pastor and his family, it will hurt the church, it will hurt the churches testimony, and it will give one more reason for a watching world not to trust Christ.

But it isn’t just this last qualification that matters here. All of these qualifications are vitally important for the life of the church. The church needs good Godly men who are leading them. Now, don't get me wrong, none of the qualifcations that we have talked about are unique to those who want to serve in the ministry. But, leaders are to excel in these characteristics as an example to the flock.

It is as if Paul is telling Timothy here, look at the lives of these guys who are in leadership, are they walking a truly Christian Life? Is Jesus evident in their lives? If not, then they have no business doing this work.... that would be one of the reasons why Paul would include this in his letter to Timothy.

Conclusion:

Ok, we have defined the roles, we have talked about qualifications, and now we are going to talk real quick about....

What Is The Church's Response? How should the church respond to their leaders?

I just want to list out a few ways that we see God’s word direct the church in their relationship with their Pastors.

Pray For Them (Eph. 6:18-20 & Col. 4:2-4).

This is one of the reasons why we are doing the book order for “when the people pray.” As your Pastors, Phil and I, need your prayers daily. I want to encourage you to purchase this book at let it serve as a guide for you in praying for us.

Show Honor, Respect, and Love to Those Who Serve (1 Thess. 5:12-13).

12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves (1 Th 5:12–13).

Support Them ( 1 Timothy 5:17-18 & 1 Cor. 9:3-14).

There is always a lot of talk about if Pastors should make a living wage from ministry. According to the Bible, it is well, right, and good for Pastors to earn their living from the work they are doing. Part of what happens when you tithe, you are supporting the ministries here at the church, and part of that support goes to supporting the Pastoral staff here at Berean.

The last thing I want us to see from Scripture is this.

Follow Their Lead (Hebrew 13:17)

17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you (Heb 13:17).

Two things I want us to see from this passage. 1. The church is called to follow the lead of their Pastors. Pastors don’t get this right just because they have that titled, however. Pastors need to be able to say, Follow me as I follow Christ. That is the goal.

The second thing here is that Pastors have to give an account for your souls. I will stand before God one day to give account for you. That is a terrifying thought.

There is a high calling to this position. This is not to be taken lightly. Pastors must be willing to lead and care for the flock that God has placed under them because we are entrusted to care for your souls. To do that a Pastor must first be seeking the face of God, living a Godly Life in all areas of his life, and then he must be leading the church towards a closer relationship with Christ.

That is the goal of the Christian life. We want to be like Jesus.

And here is the beauty, and I want to end with this, none of us are going to do it perfectly. I am not going to do my role perfectly, Phil is not going to do his role perfectly, and you, as a church, are not going to do your role perfectly. And that is ok because we have trusted in the One who is called the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We know that one day He will appear and we will be made fully like Him. What a day that will be. Until that day comes though, let's continue to seek Him together as we strive towards His mission for us together.

Let’s pray together.

Conclusion: