Servants

Introduction

A lot of work around a church.

Teaching & Preaching & Visitation & Administration.

Three words in Bible:

Pastor / Elder / Overseer

God never intended one person to carry the load of ministry.

Certainly, the whole church is called to minister to the whole church.

But:

God raises up certain individuals to carry out the church’s physical ministry.

Scripture names them deacons.

Paul is writing to Timothy. Has charged him to set up elders / overseers.

Now, he calls him to set up a team of those who would take care of physical ministries.

What should Timothy be looking for as these individuals are called out to serve?

Look for Partners

v. 8a

“Likewise.” Along with the pastors.

Looking for people who can work well with pastors.

Division of labor.

Thankful for the few deacons we have here who allow me to use them to discuss ideas.

Truly partners in ministry.

Confusion in times past where deacons felt it was there responsibility to run the church, as a board.

Even had a guy years ago here who argued with me that deacons was just another name for overseer.

Pointed this passage out to him and he really didn’t have an answer.

Paul knew the challenges of ministry and that Timothy and other pastors would need partners.

Look for Examples

v. 8b

Dignified / worthy of respect. People to look up to.

How do we define it?

Three qualities help define, by saying people who aren’t…

Pursue duplicity.

Pursue drunkenness.

Pursue dollars.

These are people who are not serious. Not dignified.

Chasing after temporal things.

Look for Christlikeness

v. 9

“Mystery.” One of Paul’s favorite terms.

Something that was once unknown but now known / revealed.

The Gospel - “How is God going to reconcile the world to Himself?” It’s a mystery!

Christ then answers that question.

The church is not just to look for someone who is good, but someone becoming more like Jesus.

Look for Fruit

v. 10

Testing - not a Bible quiz, though biblical knowledge is important.

Matthew 7:20 ESV

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Watching to see what they produce.

Fruit can and does take time. Not a recent convert.

Look for them to be “blameless.” Above reproach.

Not perfect, but that there is an observable consistency in their lives.

Look for Fidelity

vv. 11-12

Look at the home.

Did he chose a wife well?

Similar in those descriptions.

v. 12 - a lot of contention.

Guy in seminary who wouldn’t go to my church because I didn’t have children.

I asked him about Paul or Jesus and he said he wouldn’t go to their churches either.

I figured I’m in good company.

What is Paul talking about? A “one woman (wife) man (husband).”

Blank page for “one women (wife) man (husband).”

Couple of options as we look at this grammatically.

A man who has to be married. You can’t be a husband without a wife.

So, a deacon becomes a widower? Nor could you allow a man who was never married.

Are we talking about a man getting divorced?

If we look at these words, “One wife man” within the context, we see no actions here, but character.

Is he faithful to his wife? Or does he have a reputation to wander?

What does his marriage reveal about commitment?

Connected to the calling as a father.

Children reveal a lot (but not everything) about a guy.

You can put on a good front out in public, but much harder to do that in the home.

Kinda like a parrot. They just repeat what they hear.

Look for Holiness

v. 13

Good standing = a step. Like the olympic games.

Certain level of recognition.

Olympic racing parent.

Just at a different level.

Goal of this life - people just know, they can see.

And that different, holiness, provides boldness.

Not just hearing, but authentically see sanctification.

Conclusion

Time of prayer.

Good things are happening, but we can all use some help.

Need help to carry the load.