10b) An Authentic Leader - Out of the Home
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Today we conclude the first section of Paul’s instruction to leaders in the church, Elders/Pastors. Timothy has been given the charge to put the church in order. Much was out of alignment with God’s will and he is supposed to correct that.
He was given instruction to correct behavior in the church that was inappropriate and not beneficial.
15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
The leaders of any church will have a great impact on the behavior and conduct of any body of believers. Just like any coach or teacher. Those that are seen as leaders will influence those that are under their responsibility. A responsibility that a is not a light one.
1 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: 2 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; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
and
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.
The importance of the work of the Pastor requires men that have certain qualities to do the work. In a very succinct sentence we see eight qualities that a man must have to be a leader of the church. The leaders
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,
And then Paul gives four examples of behaviors that reveal motives that will undermine the work of the church leader.
3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.
And finally Paul gives three areas of influence that must be seen in a man for him to be qualified as a church leader.
He must be authentic and capable in three areas of his life. The home, the church, and the world.
He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
Many authors and preachers have spoken on the impact to the church when a leaders life does not reflect the preaching he expounds from the pulpit. He must be living out what the scripture is revealing.
A church leader is to be an example to God’s People
7 Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith.
Last week we looked at the first area that a leader is to be looked at, his home. As his home is where he trains to be a minister to the flock. It is the place where all men train to lead. He is to be a competent manager of his home with children that are under his authority. They have found that his management is a blessing and for their benefit. He does this in a way that is dignified and worthy of esteem.
The second area Paul turns to is his life in the church. Which is where we pick up today.
Godly Leader in the Church
Godly Leader in the Church
6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.
The man who is to oversee the church is to be a man of spiritual maturity. He is not to be a new convert or a novice in some translations. Paul paints an interesting picture in the mind of Timothy. The Greek word translated into a new convert is only used this one time in the bible. In other literature it is usually used to refer to newly planted trees. He puts this image that a church leader cannot be newly planted.
This brought to mind the instructions that the Israelites were given when planting a new plant.
23 “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, you are to consider the fruit forbidden. It will be forbidden to you for three years; it is not to be eaten. 24 In the fourth year all its fruit is to be consecrated as a praise offering to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way its yield will increase for you; I am the Lord your God.
The Lord said let the plant grow and mature for three years, then on the fourth year the mature fruit was given to the Lord and then they could harvest the fruit for themselves. Plants were to be matured before they were to be harvested. This could have been in Paul’s mind as he said that an overseer was not to be newly planted.
A recent convert to the faith would be unprepared to lead. It doesn’t matter if they are a man who has lived a long and full life, or a CEO that has lead a multi million dollar corporation, they could be well known in the world as great influencers, athletes or celebrities or musicians. If they are newly converted to the faith they are not to be leading in the church.
There were influential and wealthy people in the this church that could have been desiring the positions of leadership because they were accustomed to that in there lives outside of church.
Let us look at a small review of the work of God in a new believer.
As Christians we are born again. We have spiritual life as we come to trust in Jesus as our Lord and savior. We are newly planted. We receive the Holy Spirit who makes hopeless men and women alive.
63 The Spirit is the one who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.
The Holy Spirit is the gift of God from God.
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit is unable to be recieved by those that are lost. But to those who are saved he remains with and in the believer.
16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.
A newly planted believer will have been given life which is universal for all believers.
10 Now if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.
He seals us forever as the children of God.
13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. 14 The Holy Spirit is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.
We are saved and sealed but that is just the beginning of the new life that we are to live. We are no longer our own but we purchased at a price for the glory of God.
19 Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.
Salvation, sealing, purpose are all given to a believer but there are other aspects of a new Christians life that take time and work to grow. Like a new plant coming to maturity.
There is completed work in us at salvation but there is also progressive work in our lives.
We are given gifts to be used for his purposes.
1 Corinthians 12:4–11 (CSB)
4 Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are different activities, but the same God works all of them in each person. 7 A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person for the common good: … 11 One and the same Spirit is active in all these, distributing to each person as he wills.
It can take time to understand our gifts and to develop them in the body of believers. These are developed as we learn.
26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.
We come to see ourselves in a new light. Sin is revealed and we grow in righteousness through the work of the spirit.
16 I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.
When a Christian walks by the spirit there will be fruit.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.
There is so much more that the Holy Spirit does in our lives that we do not have time to go into today. like he gives us power, and wisdom. He intercedes for us and gives us the strength as Paul prayer for this church earlier.
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. 16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. I pray that you, being rooted and firmly established in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love, 19 and to know Christ’s love that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
There is work of the Spirit that is immediate as we are saved and sealed. However that is not the end. We are to live out our purpose being built and grown into mature believers. Mature Christians that God uses to accomplish his kingdom work here on earth. After Paul prayer for the Ephesian church to be strengthened he urged them to live it out. To grow in oneness with one another and to be working in our own way to support the whole body.
1 Therefore I, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope at your calling—5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. 7 Now grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 For it says: When he ascended on high, he took the captives captive; he gave gifts to people. 9 But what does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower parts of the earth? 10 The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. 11 And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit. 15 But speaking the truth in love, let us grow in every way into him who is the head—Christ. 16 From him the whole body, fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament, promotes the growth of the body for building itself up in love by the proper working of each individual part.
Each and every believer is to be growing into maturity in the faith and in our lives. Going away from Spiritual infancy to Spiritual maturity. We are growing into Christ and so there is no end to our growth. There is no, I made it moment. Walking worthy of the calling we have recieved. God has appointed men to help equip the saints for the work of the ministry.
Leaders are to equip until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s son. Growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.
Maturity is measure by no other means than looking to Christ’s fulness. He is the example that leaders are to imitate and that believers are to also imitate. The men that they Holy Spirit appoints are men filled with the Spirit and must be mature in their faith.
28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.
There is a danger today in the common practice of looking for successful people in the world and appointing them to leadership with out a second thought about their maturity. Their fruit. They are the seen as a solution to grow the church. Celebrity pastors, CEO Pastors or celebrity worship leaders who are all seen as a way to bring more people through the doors. It is amazing when a celebrity or a CEO becomes a Christian but they are born again and must be trained.
Paul then reveals a single reason for restricting a new believer from being an overseer of the church.
6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.
There is a temptation for a new believer to become conceited or proud by his appointment. He gains a false sense of who he is as a babe in Christ.
The word translated conceited means to be puffed up like with air. To be inflated. It can also mean to be enveloped in smoke. The blindness of pride and arrogance leads to consequence. When we think more highly of ourselves we gain blinders to the reality of who we really are.
Have you ever looked at someone who is beyond arrogant. So puffed up in his own world. He isn’t even a fraction as cool or as important as he thinks he is and and you just wonder, “What is he thinking?”
Arrogance and pride are blinding. It is one of the reasons we need people outside of us to make us humble.
Mark rebuke.
18 Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
The new convert may fall into the same condemnation as the devil. This most likely points to the condemnation that the devil experienced from God.
12 Shining morning star, how you have fallen from the heavens! You destroyer of nations, you have been cut down to the ground. 13 You said to yourself, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will set up my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of the gods’ assembly, in the remotest parts of the North. 14 I will ascend above the highest clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
I will, I will, I will. Pride pride pride. I remember visiting churches when we first came to Spokane. I was a new convert so it wasn’t something I picked up on but during the sermon the pastor ran through a list of things that were filled with I wills. I will do this, I will not do that. To her it was like a gong going of in her head. Needless to say we did not go back.
A new believer could fall into this punishment if they become conceited by a position they are not ready for. Being hasty to put a person in church leadership could lead them into temptation and the sin of pride.
It brings to mind the parable of the wedding feast that Jesus taught.
7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t sit in the place of honor, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host. 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Leaders are to be different.
11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
A leader in the church will likely be one who is not seeking the position but one who is already doing the work of a servant. Leading, caring, and shepherding people in the church. God will exalt them and have them appointed to the work of overseeing.
A leader needs to have a level of spiritual maturity that has been demonstrated in the life of the church and should be found to be consistent with his life that is demonstrated by his home life.
Godly Leader in the World
Godly Leader in the World
7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
The leader must also have a good reputation among outsiders. A good reputation comes from a word that means evidence given, record, report, or testimony. If you go to those outside of the church that know him and that he interacts with, what would be their testimony of him. What would they say about his character.
They won’t believe in his beliefs but does he live out what he claims to be as a christian. Does he bring reproach on God’s kingdom by how he treats people who are not Christians. Would they say that even though I don’t believe what he believes he lives it out in his life. His character is known and they know he loves the lord and keeps his commands.
Does he have a high standard for his life that sets him apart from those who are unbelievers?
If they were to come to church would they look at the man in the pulpit and say that, that man is not the man I see at work, or on the boat, or at the club. Who is this man?
Does he dishonor or honor God with his life outside the church?
23 You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? 24 For, as it is written: The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
All believers are to be a light in the world as God works in their lives but a leader is to be an example for other believers to follow as they grow in their walk with the Lord.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
They may slander you today because of your good works, but that is a testimony of God. The person who does not conform tho this world, who is not a friend of the world, will be set apart.
12 Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that when they slander you as evildoers, they will observe your good works and will glorify God on the day he visits.
Paul is not saying that a leader is a friend of the world but do outsiders confirm that he keeps and follows God’s commands even when he is away from the church.
If a man does not live a consistent life inside the church and outside, the devil is said to be waiting to snare the leader. To bring disgrace to the church and to the man.
It seems to be with more regularity that we hear about failures of pastors. It is with grief that we hear of them and it shows that even leaders are not above the temptations common to man. The schemes of the enemy will constantly set traps and snares to bring reproach to the church.
We need to be in prayer for many of these men and their families and churches. They will be thrust into the national spotlight. It is likely that there will be more in the future. The world likes to slander them and make a statement through them.
Though we will continually hear of men who have fallen into sin that will be promoted by those outside of the church, we remember that there are many faithful pastors that we will never hear of. Men who serve faithfully as God appointed Leaders.
Your leaders need you prayer, your fellowship, and your friendship. They may have been called to lead but they are still a sheep themselves. Leaders face many challenges and temptations that others may not face in the tasks of overseeing.
I personally need your prayer, fellowship and support. I am very thankful for the many of you that let me know that you are praying for me daily and weekly. I am thankfully for those that ask me every week, how are you doing? and I know they really want to know. I am thankful for those that are willing to bring concerns and discuss them without creating dissension in the back ground. I am thankful for those that treat me like a brother or a son and have concern for me and my family. I am thankful for those that let me know how the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives by the teaching of God's word. I am thankful for those that keep constant invitations open knowing I may not make many of them. I hope that all pastors are cared for in the many ways that have encouraged me.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Paul’s instruction to Timothy on overseers is very rich in teaching. Each area applies to every believer’s life as they grow and mature. But they must be present in the leaders life.
8 Qualities he must have.
4 examples of motives he must not have.
3 areas that he must be shown to be authentic in. Those that are authentic and genuine. They are the same at home, in the church, and in the world.
They have been proven trained through the testimony of their home.
They have they been proven mature through the testimony of their church.
They have they been proven authentic through the testimony of the world.
When any three of these are missing there is an issue. Does the same man exist in his home or at work?
This is a great test for all believers. What would happen if some friend from church dropped into your work and asked your co-workers about your faith. Would they look puzzled or would you have a good reputation with them. Students what if your Sunday School teacher showed up to your school and participated in the conversations that you are having at school. We are all to be authentic in all of our lives. Fully commited and growing by the wok of the spirit in our lives.
No church leader is perfect and Paul's list isn’t exhaustive in all of the areas that a leader must be or must not be. They are the fruit of a man that is striving to live out the greatest commandments.
34 When the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test him: 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.”
Love God and Love our neighbor. Our Love is demonstrated in the obedience to his will and his commands. Our love for our neighbor is demonstrated by living out those commands in the lives of those around us.
Let us be people who are known as those that Love the Lord and Love our Neighbor.
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.