What Is An Elder: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

1 Timothy - Lasting Instruction: What Is An Elder: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Pastor John Weathersby Sunday January 27, 2019 Something tells me we had a similar childhood, and to a lesser but real degree, I think that it will help us understand a major point about God, how to read scripture, and ultimately the role of pastor/elder in the Church. I want us to have a single unified understanding of Elders and Pastors inside our Church. Why? Because we need a healthy understanding of a) what leaders are and b) what leaders aren’t. Here is our similar childhood; I would hear from a parent my house, my _________ Look with me to an interesting text, Acts 9:4 (ESV) 4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” What had Saul been doing? This is key: Acts 9:1–3a (ESV) The Conversion of Saul 1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way… Jesus comes to Saul who is breathing threats and murder against, the Lord’s Disciples. Against the members of Jesus’ church - and the members of Jesus church and acting against them IS acting against Christ himself. The Church, is Jesus bride - Christian marriage is to be an image of Christ and His Church. The bride submits to the husband, and is wholly safe in doing so, because the husband would sacrifice deeply, to death for her. So, my house my rules - The Church is Jesus house, it’s His rules. Scripture is His word that’s what we see in John 1:1-3. And so when it comes to the order of the Church, it’s organization and the roles inside, we look to the word. John 1:1-3 (ESV) The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. His house His rules. Exegete scripture (insights and walk through) 1 Timothy 3:1–7 (ESV) 1 The saying is trustworthy: This is a phrase that Paul uses at least 4 other times, and is meant to snap the attention. The saying is trustworthy or as Wuest translates: “this is a trustworthy word”. If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. If there is someone, Timothy, aspirant got the overseer office - that’s a noble task. Paul is not for the first time defining for Timothy what they structure of the church is. In fact, After Paul left from Ephesus there were elders in place, we see in acts 20:16-19 shows this clearly - so what Paul is doing is two part: 1) It’s a good thing for someone to aspire to be an overseer 2) There is a standard to be followed The “overseer” here is Elder, there is much interplay between specific roles given to those as Overseer - here we recognize a distinction between Elder and Pastor later in 1 Timothy we’ll read: 1 Timothy 5:17 (ESV) 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. Especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. While Elders should be able to teach, pastor’s are shepherd teachers. I think it’s similar to talking about a distinction between leaders and managers. While there is cross play leadership teams are often managers, leaders and managers are different. Managers carry out tasks and get people to do that well, where as leaders define the structure inside which tasks are defined and carried out. Good managers aren’t necessarily good leaders, and good elders aren’t necessarily good preaching pastors. Which are we? Think back to our common experience - my house my _____________ 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. When someone becomes a leader, they’re simply more visible. What Paul tells Timothy is important, this is the charge he is to carry forward, that’s being trusted to him. Because Jesus’ church must reflect Jesus own desire for it. And those who hold office in the church, must have lives that reflect what the church is about. My house my rules. They must be “above reproach”. Not able to be accused of wrong doing in a way that’s clear, not that anyone is sinless - however, the elder pastor leader should not be someone that the community would say, really? That guy? There is much in this list, husband of one wife, certainly cannot allow for a polygamist, I do believe that a non-Biblical divorce would restrict someone from this office. I don’t believe that means the Elder pastor needs to be married - though I think that’s a good idea. You see these constructs are given to Timothy for considering future elders. This is why when we consider an elder here we think through qualifications, look at reputation, talk with them and others - and pray over the process. We’re in no rush. His house, his rules. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? I think there are good principals here - and great ways for congregations to be judgmental and break kids down making them (perhaps rightfully so) frustrated with the church. Congregations have duties to protecting pastor’s kids - so many have advice for pastors and their kids. Kids are just kids, they’re learning, they need space and they’re people just like you. Except they have every set of eyes on them picking apart everything they’re doing - you don’t. They get a lot of advice from a lot of people - consider holding that back. The other 20 people behind you may offer it up, maybe be a friend and a supporter in stead. But certainly the pastor is to manage their household well. What does that mean? Are the children robots? Do they move when instructed? Or do they have freedom to play and have youthful energy? Sometimes goo management of the household is giving people room and letting them be expressive and grow up. Look back up the list, I think this is important and often over looked…. Not violent but gentle. Perhaps someone could “lead” as a pastor violently - being mean and just making people do things - but is that how Jesus leads? The Elder is to lead in a way consistent with the Church’s mode, His house, His rules. 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. It would be bad for everyone if the Elder is a recent convert. Why - TONS of reasons, not the least of which, living as a Christian with a transformed spirit and human flesh for a time, gives grace and supports gentle leading. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. His house his rules. Church the Elder Pastor isn’t a set aside class of sinless person - the elder pastor is a qualified leader according to Paul. This book, is Paul’s lasting instruction to the church. I pray that as you think back to how we’ve handled elder ordination, and pastoral ordination that you’ll see the Church, your church, looking for Biblical evidence. Moving slowly, and following a lasting pattern for the church. Further, that we aren’t looking to be the leader church or start something new, rather we’re trying to be completely and wholly obedient to Jesus own word for the Church. Because in the end the Church is Jesus’ own bride, and we’re his Church - we look to him for instruction. We live in a day that looks to great ideas, and creatively like the bird box challenge for worship, we have false teachers who are looking to build bigger churches and bigger salaries to extract money from congregations - when what the world needs to the word of God, salvation and obedience, not another charismatic leader, but one who is gentle yet, firm, and a disciple of God first - a follower of Jesus, who rules His home well, loves His wife, and loves the word - imagine how the Church would be different if that’s what we looked for? Pray through the following questions: • When a church looks for a pastor - does the requirements list look like Paul’s lasting word to Timothy? • Have I ever considered the Biblical calling for Pastors/Elders? • Do I pray for my Pastors / Elders that they uphold these continually? • Do I cheer my leaders on and support them, or secretly hope they fail?