Rediscovering the Church: Servant-Leadership pt 2

Scripture Reading

1 Timothy 3:1–7 ESV

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

“Sober Minded”

​ ESV13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

The sober mind is a prepared, focused, spiritually clear-thinking mind that remains focused on the end game, on glory!

​ ESV8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.

The sober mind The outcome of the sober-mind is a person who is not “tossed to and fro by the waves (trouble) and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes”

“Self-Controlled”

Lit “Sound in mind”, sensible, reasonable.Not crazy acting, or impulsiveA fundamental Christian virtue and one of the fruits of the Spirit of .

“Respectable”

What do we mean when we tell someone to look respectable? Clean-up, make-up, dress-up, look the part, modest, or appropriate.Grk -Kosmios. Same Greek root that we get the English word cosmetics.meaning orderly, modestTitus 2:10 “but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn (Kosmeo) the doctrine of God our savior”

The christian’s and especially the elder/overseers cosmetics, what makes them (and most importantly the faith) “look respectable” is how we live out the gospel!

“Hospitable”

Grk “philosxenos” = friend, stranger/foreigner; love of strangers.

​ ESV2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

Gene Getz “refers to the way we use our material possessions-particularly the homes we live in and the food we eat. All Christians are to be hospitable -but this is a quality that should characterize every spiritual leader, no matter what his resources”

“Able to to Teach”

The Character of His Teaching

​ ESVNot many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

Should model integrity and patience

​ ESVAnd the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil,

​ ESVpreach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

The Content of His Teaching

The Word of God

​ ESVAnd I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

“wisdom” Grk=sophia -root for English philosophy1 Cor 2:4 NLT “And message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit”. Today’s so called Christian Philosophy is to supplement God’s word with Antics- elaborate illustrations, visuals, cliches, and entertainment. Excuse me, God’s word doesn’t need to be supplemented!

​ ESVFor the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

​ ESVAll Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

The Word of God Rightly Handled

​ ESVDo your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

​ ESVThey read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

NLT “They read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage”.Every now and then someone will give me their 2 cents, “tell more stories or jokes, show a video, use less scripture...” are you kidding me!? We’re talking about the eternal fate of peoples soul’s,etc! That’s why I preach the way I do-not feeding you fruit snacks, but usually through books of the bible, giving the historical-grammatical context so that you get sense, meaning, a right understanding of the passage. The application is really the Holy Spirit’s job!

Doctrine

​ ESVHe must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

What is doctrine?Doctrine is what God has revealed to us about:His Word-the ScripturesThe Godhead TrinityThe Person and Work of JesusThe Person and Work of the Holy SpiritHumanity-Total DepavitySalvation/The GospelThe Assurance of Believer’sThe Christian LivingSpiritual GiftsThe Purpose of the ChurchHave you devoted yourself to learning sound doctrine?

The Days We Live In

​ ESVI charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

​ ESVTherefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, and of instruction about washings, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.

Are you one of the people prophesied about that has no stomach or attention span to hear sound, more mature teaching- just looking for an easy feel good, or licentious message? Are you wandering of with superstition and myths? Content to just hear the gospel explicit over and over again?As you go on to maturity, you will develop a biblical worldview you and be able to think and respond spiritually to all of life’s circumstances. Imagine if each of us was focused on God’s purpose and design instead of just what’s pragmatic/what will work! Imagine how vibrant and healthy the church would be, how much joy and freedom we would experience!The Servant-Leader Elder/Overseer must be able to teach!

“Not a Drunkard”

Grk paroinos - (para-from, of at, by, besides, near) + (“oinos” - wine). One of who frequents, influenced by, addicted to wine/alcohol.

​ ESVAnd do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

“Not Violent But Gentle”

“Violent” - Literally a striker, ready for a blowFocus on the physical response to adversity.

“Not Quarrelsome”

Grk “Amachos” - peaceable, not a contender

“Not A Lover of Money”

​ ESVBut godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

A lover of money manipulates relationships and resources, mismanages his time and priorities to acquire it. But a person who is content with their lot in life does not chase after it, or envy those who have it, but stays focused on God’s purpose for their life (godliness) and works hard at for the glory of God and trust him with the outcome!Don’t let your hangups prevent you from experience the fullness of what God intends the church to be, including your role in in it. Keep the bar of God’s Maturity Profile high. Seek to be above reproach/blameless in every way. This is God’s best for you, for his glory and your joy!

Benediction

​ ESV32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.