He Smells Like Sheep (2)
Biblical Leadership • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsWe will discuss the need for elders in the church and what characteristics they need to possess in order for the church to mature.
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New Home Smell
New Home Smell
Our culture is strange in that we love to watch other people living on TV. It is called reality TV and one such popular category in relaity TV is that of home improvement. When we see folks come in and they bend paper clips for a living yet have a $4 million dollar budget we roll our eyes! But we continue to watch as we want to see the finished product. So you go through the process of waiting and watching and your finally get what you have been waiting for the reveal! Now place yourself here. The house is paid for, you have been patient, and when it is time to see the new house you see this...
PICTURE OF UNFINISHED HOUSE
The house has a solid foundation, it has walls, it has windows, but it is still not yet complete. And I want to proposition for you over the course of the next four weeks that here at Avenue G Church of Christ we have begun a building process. But what we have built on the corner of 11th and Ave G is not yet completed! The church is more than preachers and members! A mature church has biblical leadership. A mature church that wants to continue to grow and be able to be protected against what is outside will finish the job for the sake of those within! On this morning we will examine the role of the elder in the local church.
Please turn your Bibles to and put a marker at
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; 3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; 4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence 5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); 6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. 7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
On this morning we will focus on the text in Titus as some points and differences are present among the qualifications. Titus as well as Timothy are fellow workers in spreading of the Gospel and planting of churches. And they are trusted by Paul to work with the church once he moves on to another. Turn with me to .
titus 1 5
5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—
“Put in order what remained to be done”
Set straight, a medical term
This is where I get the idea of a unfinished house when it comes to a church without leadership. It has a solid foundation, walls, and window openings, but it is still open to outside influence and the ones inside are at higher risk.
“Appoint elders in every town”
Churches were in each town.
There were no plurality of churches in a single town at the time.
6 if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.
Blameless- pertaining to one who cannot be accused of anything wrong. (Presently) NOT PERFECT
“Husband of one wife” literally “one woman man”
Culture where polygamy existed.
The only reason for divorce. If the divorce is not legitimate, then the remarriage is not legitimate.
- If a Christian is divorced or widowed they are permitted to remarry but that partner MUST be in the Lord. (A Christian)
“having faithful children”
Some have supposed this to mean that an elder must have children who are Christians and when interpreting this passage in context and in comparison with other texts I do not see that as the meaning.
Pista- Could be believing as in Christians. Or it could be faithful.
This would be easier to lean towards them being Christians if it mentioned it in both passages for elders and also if the following portion of the passage did not mention the children being orderly ie faithful to the rule of the father in the household!
Dissipation- behavior which shows lack of concern or thought for the consequences of an action.
Rebellious- Being REBELLIOUSLY disobedient.
in opposition to the authority!
7 For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
Bishop- episcopal, service and leadership is key in this definition. Different terms are used to describe the same office as mentioned earlier in verse 5.
Blameless is mentioned again.
Steward of God
They are not in charge but they are responsible for handling what God has given them responsibility for.
Self-willed: Not arrogant/stubborn
Quick tempered
not addicted to wine
Not a bully/pugnacious- quarrelsome or combative nature.
Not greedy for gain- Shamefully greedy for material gain or profit, avaricious- excessively acquisitive especially in seeking to hoard riches.
8 but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
Hospitable- Showing hospitality to strangers. The original language is literally “friends of strangers”.
Lover of what is good- Loving good outcomes and for all people
Sober-minded- Master of himself.
9 Do not be quick to anger,
for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.
Just
Devout- Moral qualities
self controlled/disciplined
Has control of emotions, impulses, desires
tit 19
9 holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
holding fast to the faithful word
An elder must be not compromise the word of God
WHY?
Exhort- cause someone to be encouraged or consoled, either by verbal or non-verbal means.
Convict- Admonish. To state that someone has done wrong.
In order to do so the member must recognize that it is a possibility!
One of the most important things that needs to exist in this man is found only in the account in 1 timothy 3:1
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
Desire
Work
If a man desires to shepherd the flock of God, he will smell like sheep. I encourage you to return to your home groups on this evening to continue the study on Elders within the church.
Do you have the desire?
This is for both candidates and members...