Those Who Get It

Mission Statement in the Announcements!!

Introduction

Good Morning, how we doing today?

(I am doing “wheely” well today. Sorry, I know my puns can get “tiresome”. Ahh, the groans of appreciation.)

For “Show and Tell” this morning…I brought in a tire off my Jeep. This is by far the nicest tire that my Jeep has. You can see how it looks brand new. There are no wear marks on the tread. It even has the little rubber hairs from the air vents in the manufacturing process still on both the side wall and the treads. Plus all this stamped writing on the tread. It is like a shiny new tire.

But this collection of rubber and metal actually became a tire before many of you were even born, because this tire has been on my Jeep for at least the last 21 years. Yes I know, it’s an old Jeep. The reason that it looks so nice and clean is that unlike the many other tires, it has been riding in the back seat of my Jeep for all those years. It has never been on the road.

This morning we are continuing our series in the book of 1 Timothy and you might be wondering, what connection could there possibly be between the “Behavior in the household of God” that this book gives us and the condition of an old tire, that looks brand new?

Well today we are in Chapter 3 of 1 Timothy where Paul tells young Timothy what to look for when it comes to leaders in the Church. What are the qualities that it takes to be able to effectively function in one of the two leadership roles in the New Testament Church. These qualities were rolling around in my mind on Monday morning as I got out of my Jeep and walked around the back and saw again this tire through the window, and It occured to me that we probably have potential Church leaders among us who have been riding around in the back seat of our Church for far too long.

You may have become a Christian 20 years ago or more, but you have never been on the road.

You may have maintained your shiny new look, but that is because no one has ever seen you on the road.

You may have stuck around even as you watched other “tires” come and go, but that is because you have never been on the road.

You are still just sitting there in the back seat, watching as others take on the responsibility of moving this Church down the road.

And you might say, Ah, well Dan, it’s a spare tire. It’s job is just to be there as back up, to help when you need it. Will it? Maybe. I mean it looks fine, but how would I know that I could trust it? Since I have only seen it behave as a back seat sitter, I really have no idea what it is capable of, do I?

Tension

And that is really where the “The rubber hits the road” on this one isn’t it (I’m trying to stop I promise).

We are going to spend the next two weeks looking at the leadership positions that Paul prescribes for the Christian Church, but the qualifications that Paul gives for these leaders are not unique standards just for those who might consider themselves the leadership type. With few exceptions, these qualities are things that each one of us should be reaching for.

None of us get to check out here and say well this part isn’t for me, because I am never gonna be a leader. They are only listed here for leaders, because our leaders are supposed to lead us all into them! These are the qualities that Jesus taught and modeled, and if we claim to be “Christians” or Disciples/Followers of Jesus Christ, then these are the things that should be recognizable in our lives.

There is really no room for back seat sitters in this, in one way or another we all gotta get out on the road.

Because we are a smaller Church family, you all know or could get to know any one of the leaders here at our Church. So it should be no surprise to you that the leaders of this Church are just regular people just like you. We are not some special brand of Super-Saints. We are just Men and Women who get it, and want to do whatever we can to see others “get it” too. That’s it…but still…too often when I bring up the idea of stepping up into a leadership position here…you would think I just asked them to scrub up for a brain surgery.

I couldn’t learn to do that. That is not really my thing. I don’t have the time. I am not that kind of Christian.

And I am not talking about people who have became a Christian last week, I am talking about people who have been riding with us for a very long time. If you have spent more than a decade as a Christian and you still have not stepped up into some role of ministry in your own Church, then we must be doing something terribly wrong here, because that is not how it is supposed to work.

And don’t miss understand me, my point is not to force people into positions that God has not called them to. That would be devastating to both them and to our Church.

My point is just to help us all to see that the qualifications for leadership in the Christian Church are things that every Christian should already be growing towards. Paul only lays them out here for leaders so that we can all see what a “Person who Gets It” looks like, but we all should be on our way there.

That is the attitude that I believe we need to step in this study with. Not as “Outsiders” who are using these lists to judge the behaviors of others, but as “insiders” who are growing towards these things ourselves and so we look for our leaders to be people who already “Get it’. With that in mind, let’s open our Bibles to 1 Timothy chapter 3, pg 992 in the Bibles in the chairs and I’ll pray...

Truth

Chapter Three is cleanly divided up into three sections. We are going to handle just the first section today, verses 1-7 that is focused on the qualifications of Overseers. The second section, 8-13 on Deacons we will handle next week. I like how David Platt describes these two roles. He calls the Overseers of the Church “Servant Leaders” and the Deacons he calles the Leading Servants. That makes good sense to me, but we will unpack the differencese between those two more next week.

Then in the final section of this Chapter we find our theme verses for the whole letter. This is where Paul tells us exactly why he wrote this letter to Timothy. Let’s look at these verses once again:

1 Timothy 3:14–15 ESV

14 I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.

It is no small thing here that the qualifications for leadership in the Church is directly connected to the expectations for “Behavior in the household of God”.

In order to better understand these first qualifications for Overseers, I want to remind us of the principles of Biblical Interpretation that I introduced last week. (Hermenuetical Principles for the overachievers)

That Scripture Interprets Scripture, so to understand any Scripture we look first to other passages on the same subject

That Scripture is always understood in the context of the first audience. Historical, Cultural and Social contexts.

So once again, I want to ask you to put a book mark here in 1 Timothy chapter 3, and turn with me to another Scripture that speaks about these things...the book of Acts chapter 20.

As you are turning there, let me remind you that the book of Acts is a book of History, and the events of this book cover the same time frame as most of the rest of the New Testament. So we have in view here in Acts 20 similar contextual items as in the book of 1 Timothy. Paul is personally addressing the Elders from the city of Ephesus, the same Ephesus that Timothy is serving as a local Pastor.

From these verses we will see Paul lay out 3 of the 4 responsibilities for Overseers, and then we will return to 1 Timothy chapter 3 for the last one.

First of all, Paul teaches these men that...

1. Overseers serve under the authority of Christ (Acts 20:28)

Acts 20:28 ESV

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Overseers are charged with the responsibility to care for and lead the local Church, but we do not have final authority over the Church. It is not the Overseers’ Church. We are not the CEO’s. We are not the majority stock holders. We did not and could not obtain the church with any list of qualifications.

Do you see how the verse begins, we have to pay careful attention to ourselves just as much as anyone else. The qualifications are simply evidence that the Holy Spirit has so worked in our lives to make us ready to serve as leaders. Leaders who serve the flock, that we ourselves are a part of.

The role of leadership in the Christian Church is not like any other leadership position on earth. Somehow, in God’s way of working in and through His people He is able to call some of His people into leadership positions that both govern the local church and are the same time subject to the local church. How could that work? It only works because it is not our Church. We are all subject to the authority of Christ and how he works in and through us as a Christ centered community. So that is the first responsibility...

1 Overseers lead under the authority of Christ

2. Overseers care for the body of Christ (Acts 20:29-31)

To …care for the church of God… is there in verse 28, but Paul goes on...

Acts 20:29–31 ESV

29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears.

Sometimes I think that I would have no idea what a Shepherd was if it were not for the Bible, because it is a major theme woven throughout the Word of God. Jesus used this same imagery when He warned about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. (Mat 7:15) And who is to protect the flock from the wolves? The Shepherds. Jesus said in John 10:11

John 10:11 ESV

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

In the same way, Overseers are called to care for the Church, the body of Christ, and lay down their lives for their protection against those who would lead them astray. The Apostle Peter also instructed the Elders, and he said:

1 Peter 5:1–4 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

In these verses we see all three titles for this position. The “Elders” are to “Shepherd” or “Pastor” the flock, exercising “Oversight”. We will talk more about the words we use for titles next week, but here at Friendship Church we have chosen to use the title “Overseers” to designate our team of “Servant Leaders” but we could just as easily or really just as Biblically use the term “Elders” or “Pastors”, because these men are called to care for the flock…and the primary way in which they care for the flock is our third responsibility...

3. Overseers teach the Word of Christ (Acts 20:32)

Acts 20:32 ESV

32 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.

We are not to follow Overseers because they have a position, we are to follow them because they know the Word, teach the Word and follow the Word of God.

Too often Churches have been driven way off course because they took on this attitude that says, “Well, the Bible doesn’t seem to say that, but He is the Pastor so I guess he would know.” or “They are the Elders, so I guess they would know”. That is not how the Church is designed to operate.

The Overseers are charged with leading the Church…under the authority of Christ…in care for the body of Christ and…governed by the Word of Christ, but…if we took time to look into Matthew 18, I Corinthians 5 and 2 Corinthians 2 we would find examples in the early Church where whole Church is held responsible for allowing sin to persists in the body. It is not just the leaders of the Church who are rebuked, but the whole Church is called to work together to make sure that we are all following the Word of Christ.

As for the leaders of this Church, we do and have asked for Biblical correction whenever anyone of you perceives that we might be veering of course. Come to us and show us, we don’t want to get these things wrong. We need to work together in the “Household of Faith”.

That is just how every healthy household works. There has been times in my household when my wife or one of my children have come up to me and asked me about something that I was leading us in. That is good for me. Of course, we will get further faster if their concerns are shared in a respectful way, but ultimately it is still good for me. It sharpens me. It keeps me vigilant. As I may need to communicate better why we are heading in some direction …or it leads me into repentance, so we can adjust our course toward a more God-honoring direction.

The same thing is true for the Spiritual leaders of this Household of God. We need to be held accountable to be men who know God’s Word, Teach God’s Word and follow God’s Word.

Earlier in this passage, Paul said that for the three years he was there, he modeled the importance of the Word of God for them...

Acts 20:26–27 ESV

26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.

Overseers lead under the authority of Christ. Acts 20:28

Overseers care for the body of Christ. Acts 20:29-31

Overseers teach the Word of Christ. Acts 20:32

Finally, we are going to work our way back to 1 Timothy, so please turn back to those verses with me. I brought us to the book of Acts so that we would have a working understanding of all the responsibilities of Overseers in hopes that we would steer clear of misunderstanding this last one.

Overseers model the Character of Christ (1 Tim 3:1-8)

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

Even in the early Christian Church, there were sayings floating around that helped the Church to remember important things about who they are and what they were to be about. Certainly not all of them were helpful, but Paul is saying that this one is worth remembering.

The Greek word for aspire is “orego” or to reach for or go after. It is an outward action that is fueled by something inward. That inward fuel in Greek is “epithymeo” or to long for or desire. So intrinsically, the desire to reach for the position of Overseer is a good thing, but there are qualifications that must be met in order to ensure that it does indeed become a good thing that is is designed to be.

And as I said in the beginning, there is nothing too surprising here as these things are tings that every Christian can and should be reaching for…

1 Timothy 3:2–3 ESV

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.

Take another look at this list...these make sense don’t they? They are all admirable qualities aren’t they? Is there anything on this list that a parent would not be proud to be said about their son or daughter? I don’t think so.

And understand that it is not enough for a person to just claim that they value these things, or to be aspiring towards them. It clearly says that an Overseer must “be” these things. Wow, that is quite a list of things to “Be”.

Just look at that first one…to be above reproach? Many Overseers have struggled with what this one means. It is not a claim of sinlessness - if it were, then no one would qualify - but it is also more than just wishing and hoping that someday you maybe might be about to exhibit these things.

I think the best way to explain it is that...

The expectation is not PERFECTION in each of these behaviors, but a recognizable PATTERN of each of these behaviors.

There must be a recognizable pattern of these things in a man’s life before he is ready for leadership. Because none of us could do these things on our own, it is only in the power of the Holy Spirit that we are being made to look more and more like Jesus. We will never do it perfectly, but there should be evidence that “They Get It”

And then Paul offers three more qualifications for the role of Overseer, but with each of these he explains why they would matter:

1 Timothy 3:4–5 ESV

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?

The proving ground for the role of a servant leader in the household of God is how he leads in his own household. Sadly, the modern Christian Church has often overlooked this qualification and taken more of a secular professional perspective. In the “Professional” world it would be considered inapropriate to ask questions about their leadership at home, all they want to know is about your education and experience. But that is just not true when it comes to the Church family. It is part of the deal, and many churches have ignored this qualification to devastating effects.

Next Paul says that ...

1 Timothy 3:6–7 ESV

6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

This is the value of experience talking here. The devil loves to try and snatch away young believers early on, especially those who have a wide variety of skills and talents that every Church would love to put to use. The Devils hope is that he can get them to burn so bright and hot that they will quickly become disillusioned with those who have been faithfully living something more sustainable. The young Christian or the Christian with a questionable reputation need to put some time into being a believer before they get involved in leading the believers - not matter what talents they bring to the table.

The bottom line is this…what will happen if the church imitates this leader? In his personal life, in his family life, in his social or business life…in his spiritual life? The only way we as a Church will grow believers who look more and more like Jesus, is if we are being led by men who are good examples of what a pattern of following Jesus looks like. ..That is what the Overseers, or Servant Leaders are to be all about.

Gospel Application

Now you might be wondering, with the struggles and challenges going on in our world right now, why are we spending time on these “Job Descriptions”. Come on Pastor Dan, I mean shouldn’t we be leaning about what the Bible has to say on these hard hitting cultural issues that slam us in the face every time we open to our news feed? We are inundated with World Wide pandemics, Terrorism and Civil unrest, Political corruption and tyranny and here we are talking about “Church Job Descriptions” - lets get to something that really matters...

I can understand having thoughts like that, I have had a rough week too in that department... but I think it is important to remember that God’s Word says that there is nothing new under the sun. These things might be affecting us in new ways, but these things in one form or another have been a part of the human condition ever since the destructive force of sin took hold of our world. And through all of these terrible things and more, God has always faithfully led his Church.

There is not one way to be God’s Church when times are good and another way when times get rough. In fact, when times get rough we need more than ever to make sure that we are operating according to God’s design for His Church, because it is those times when the Devil is working overtime on us!

How we are organized as a Church has to be rooted in something stronger than what makes people the most comfortable. The Christian Church was not designed to accomplish our comfort, it was designed to accomplish our calling! and the Church of the living God is called to be a pillar and buttress of the truth. The life giving message of Jesus Christ.

1 Timothy 3:16 ESV

16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

Landing

And He is coming back for His Church, the Church that he purchased with his blood, the Church that he designed in His authority. How could we seek to be any less than that.

Let’s pray!