A Leadership Manual (7)

Leadership roles in the church...

There are many gifts that God has given the church, and God uses many different people to lead and to serve in the church. Each part of the body is necessary and useful to help the body function and achieve the purpose for which we have been called.

Romans 12:6–8 NIV

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Each of one of us has been called to the work of God. This morning, we are going to look at two positions of leadership that the early church instituted to help the church function.

Let’s look at ourScripture for today. We’ll break it into two sections.

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NLT

1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” 2 So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.

(Some thoughts from the LANTC)

As we start to read the qualifications, let’s remind ourselves that in Ephesus, Paul did not allow a woman to teach a man, so when we look at the qualifications, Paul spells it out to men.

Paul starts by saying,

This is a trustworthy saying...

What I’m going to say is true, it’s dependable, it’s faithful. It’s reliable.

If anyone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position...

In the case of church leader, many translations use words like:

Bishop, elder, overseer...

It’s honourable to want to be in this type of leadership. Some churches have an elder’s board that takes more of a lead into the spiritual direction in the church.

In many cases, there has been a real push towards metrics in the church. I’m not saying that it’s not important to see what’s working and what isn’t, but we need to be seeking the face of God and being led by the Holy Spirit, rather than trying to use a program that another church is running just because it has worked for other churches. I’m not saying that God doesn’t want us to learn from other churches, but there are times that we want see what God is doing in another church, and we want to put what God is doing in a bottle, and bring it back to our churches. As church leadership, we need to discern what God wants to do here, and follow Him in it.

If you believe that God wants you to help lead, each of us need to aspire to live godly lives and to lead our families well.

As we look at the list, there may be a place where you look and say, “I don’t know how anybody can fully achieve each of these perfectly, but this shouldn’t stop any of us from wanting to live a godly life in Christ Jesus whether we want to be in church leadership or not.

To live a blameless and godly life takes great effort on our part. This is learning to say no to the temptations that we face each and every day, but we must never forget that the strength that we need to please God comes for ChristJesus our Lord.

Let’s look at what Paul expected in leaders.

A life that is above reproach.

An elder in the church must have a good reputation, blameless, not having accusations thrown at them.

Faithful to his wife.

First of all, let’s remember the church and the time. Most women were uneducated. It was in Ephesus where there was a temple cult to Diana.

Paul had taught that in this particular church that women were to learn quietly and in submission, so it would make sense that he was referring to the men as he wrote to Timothy.

Some translations say,

Husband of one wife...

In this case Paul was speaking against polygamy, and he was calling the men in the church to be faithful to their own wife, and to not be promiscuous.

Some have taken this as far as someone who was divorced could not be an elder, or widower who remarried could not be an elder, or somebody who had never married was not worthy to be a leader in the church.

It would appear that Paul and Timothy weren’t married, so this would have disqualified them. There are reasons that someone shouldn’t be a leader and one would be abandoning your wife for somebody else. (BKC)

Just a quick note. When I started in the ministry, our fellowship wouldn’t perform marriages for somebody who was divorced. This has changed, depending on the circumstance as to why it happened. We don’t perform a marriage because somebody wants to be happy, we do because we believe it is God’s will.

Exercise self-control

This is one of the fruit of the Spirit. This would refer to sound and balanced judgment, even having common sense.

LANTC says this about self-control:

Self-control is

Life Application New Testament Commentary Living by the Spirit’s Power / 5:16–26

Mastery over sinful human desires and their lack of restraint. Ironically, our sinful desires, which promise self-fulfillment and power, inevitably lead us to slavery. When we surrender to the Holy Spirit, initially we feel as though we have lost control, but he leads us to the exercise of self-control that would be impossible in our own strength.

This is something that each of us needs as we mature and grow more and more like Christ.

Live wisely...

A leader needs to live a balanced life, not given to extremes. Not extravagant or excessive, but in moderation.

Must have a good reputation.

This is more than just what others think of us, but it is living our lives out the way that God created us to live.

Hospitable

Many people have a true gift of hospitality. This can mean inviting others into your home. I believe that it can mean making others feel welcome.

You may not feel that you have a place where you can entertain guests. This might mean that you have to become creative. It may mean taking somebody out for a meal or having a meal at a park. Making people feel that they are welcome when they come through the doors of the church.

Able to teach

We need to be diligent to study the word of God, to know what it says and how it applies to our lives, so that we can teach it.

Not a heavy drinker...

Some translations say not given to drink. We need to exercise self-control so that we aren’t or don’t become drunkards.

Not violent but gentle

Gentleness does not equal weakness, it is strength under control.

Not quarrelsome

Must not love money

1 Timothy 6:10 NIV

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

Manage his own family well...

I’m sure that this has been a struggle for many people. At one time, the pastor’s children were under the microscope. Look at that terrible child, and yet instead of encouraging them, they were looked down upon.

We as parents need God’s help to raise our families well. We need to lead our families well, and leading well isn’t always easy.

When I was a child, if I misbehaved, I might get a licking right in the middle of a store. Now we have to be more careful as to how we discipline and make sure that our discipline isn’t just punishment but is to train a child in they way they should go, so that when they are old, they won’t depart from it.

Paul said that if we can’t lead our families, how can we lead the people of God.

An elder

Must not be a new believer...

Why?

1 Timothy 3:6 NLT

6 A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall.

Another translation says

...become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

I remember in one case that a man came to Christ and was probably elected to the church board before he was ready. He didn’t become conceited but troubles happened in the church and he walked away from the church. It wasn’t his fault that troubles happened but he saw issues that caused offense. It was very sad to see.

Must be spoken well of by non-believers.

It’s not just what we see in the church, what do people that we do business see? If we are disgraced, we also fall into the devil’s trap.

Let’s read the Scripture about

Deacons...

A deacon’s job is not to deke, but their ministry is different than that of an elder.

A situation rose up in Acts 6, so the apostles decided something needed to happen.

Acts 6:1–6 NIV

1 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

They served and helped with the needs of the people.

Today, deacons are more concerned with the finances and the care of the building. Elders are more concerned with the spiritual needs within the church such as prayer and the word.

Let’s read what Paul said about deacons.

1 Timothy 3:8–13 NLT

8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Even though a deacon was not called to teach, they needed to be mature in their faith. Here are some words that describe them.

They must be

well respected and have integrity

Honest without hypocrisy. They don’t talk out of both sides of their mouth.

Not heavy drinkers

Not dishonest with their money

Both of these line up with that of an elder.

Committed to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience

They not only believe the message of the gospel, they live in out which allows them to have a clear conscience.

Must be tested, and then they can serve as a deacon.

This isn’t referring to writing a test to see if you can pass to become a deacon. It’s by living the Christian life with integrity and people seeing that you should lead.

Their wives or women

The Greek word could be translated either way, but I would think since Paul was addressing men in the Ephesian church, it should refer to wives in this case.

1 Timothy 3:11 NLT

11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.

If God raises up a deacon, He doesn’t want his wife undoing everything that he has done.

A deacon must also be

Faithful to his wife

and

manage his children and household well...

This reiterates what Paul has said about elders.

As Paul closes this section, this is what he says about a deacon.

1 Timothy 3:13 NLT

13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Leadership positions in the church are not just a job, but they are a calling. It’s not something to be taken lightly, but they are to be taken seriously and with the intent to bring people closer to Jesus. Jesus is building His church, and the gates of Hades/Hell will not prevail or overcome it.

God uses people like you and me to serve, to encourage, and to minister to each other.

You are a blessing to this church. I want to encourage you today to keep on loving each other, keep on serving, and keep on being faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ as you continue to walk with Him.

Let’s pray!