Honor Leaders

Children’s Church moment

What is Honor? Showing respect, lifting something else up above ourselves

How have you seen someone or something be honored? (Flag/National anthem, President, Judge, Bride at a wedding)

Who does the Bible say we should honor?

God/Jesus -

Matthew 22:37 “37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’”

John 5:23 “23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.”

Mother and Father

Exodus 20:12 “12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Deuteronomy 5:16 “16 “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”

Each other

Romans 12:10 “10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”

1 Peter 2:17 “17 Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, fear God, honor the emperor.”

Possible illustration

Our passage today is going to talk about honoring leaders in the church, as well as our bosses (teachers) at work. See if you can hear where the Bible talks about that today and ask your parents if they heard it too.

Dismiss kids in honoring way

We are continuing our series in 1 Timothy. Paul’s letter to Timothy is a letter instructing Timothy on how the church is to interact with one another...how they are to be a household together. Today’s passage focuses on how the church family is to best honor leaders. Let’s read

1 Timothy 5:17–6:2 NIV

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.” 19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. 1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.

We’ll divide this passage up in 3 big chunks the first one will be a bit self serving...

Honor Leaders in the Church Generously

1 Timothy 5:17–18 NIV

17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”

lead well => Double honor

Wages - Generous

So Grateful for Crossroads in this

2. Rebuke Church Leaders Carefully

1 Timothy 5:19–25 NIV

19 Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20 But those elders who are sinning you are to reprove before everyone, so that the others may take warning. 21 I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure. 23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 24 The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.

Not just gossip

Leaders held to higher standard

No partiality - the church is protected by calling out sin, not hiding sin

vs 22 - Also raise up leaders carefully as well - might prevent a rebuke being necessary

3. Honor Leaders at Work

1 Timothy 6:1–2 NIV

1 All who are under the yoke of slavery should consider their masters worthy of full respect, so that God’s name and our teaching may not be slandered. 2 Those who have believing masters should not show them disrespect just because they are fellow believers. Instead, they should serve them even better because their masters are dear to them as fellow believers and are devoted to the welfare of their slaves. These are the things you are to teach and insist on.

Honor in the workplace is our witness of Christ’s teaching

Paul is not affirming slavery here, he is speaking to what was a very common structure of a work relationship in the Greco-Roman empire

Application today is our workplace - those in authority

Summary

Honor starts with seeing the value of the person being honored. We are all God’s creation and as I said to the kids, we should start by honoring everyone in our path.

God commands a special honor to be given to those who have been placed in positions of authority - parents, church leaders, bosses, governmental leaders. This honor is commanded even if you disagree.

A double honor is for those church leaders who lead well.