The Pastor/ Elder

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NASB95

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Character is important. If you are a business owner or a manager of any kind, you would probably prefer your employees to be people of character first, above even their skill. Yet, often the world will emphasize skill or talent above character. This is true in professional sports- how many trouble-makers are playing sports and are catered to because of their ability even though they cause problems in the locker room? There are some who recognize that talent alone is not what makes a good team leader.

John Maxwell describes a good leader as one who “Knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way”

This is true as we look at the church as well.

We’ve been working through this series called “For the Sake of the Church” for a few weeks now. And we’ve talked about guarding the gospel. In order to Guard the Gospel, we had to recognize the dangers of false teaching, the necessity to prioritize prayer, and our call to personal godliness.

Today, I put myself in the “hot seat” as we look to the office of pastor/ elder. The word used in the text translates as ‘overseer’ - it is the word ‘episkopos’ which means bishop, but that word in English has gained some rather unfortunate publicity. It is worth noting that this word is different than the words used to describe leaders in the secular world. I believe this is intentional as the pastor is not a business manager or CEO, but rather a shepherd.

When we think of what an overseer or pastor is, we often put a list of expected duties together, (preach, teach, visit, marry, bury, etc.) but this is not what we see here in 1 Tim. 3.

What we see here are several areas of conviction as it relates to the character of the pastor. This is not a checklist, per se. Rather it is a list of observable character traits to which the pastor aspires and by which the church can evaluate, offer correction, or even dismiss a pastor.

Remember, Ephesus already had overseers/ elders in place, so this instruction was given to help Timothy and the church know what they should expect from these elders as it pertains to their character qualifications. After all, when we are thinking of guarding the gospel, there is perhaps no more dangerous place for false teaching to enter than through the office of pastor. If a pastor has these character traits, he can say to his congregation as Paul did to ‘follow me as I follow Christ’ (1 Cor. 11:1)

This morning, as we walk through these verses, I have categorized these traits into 4 groups to help us see the picture.

The Pastor’s Heart (1-2a)

We see right away that Paul addresses the heart of the pastor. In fact, in v. 1, we see that the pastor has a desire to do this work. And the work, Paul says, is admirable. It is worthwhile. The heart of a pastor is not to be popular or to be in charge. His desire is not ‘craving’ but rather a passion- a drive to serve in God’s kingdom.

I believe that when God calls someone into ministry, He often simply gives them a heart for serving Him and a discipline to pursue it. It is up the the individual to respond, but God works out the details.

I have seen so many who have ignored this calling or who burned out in the role of pastoring. I wonder if it is because his heart is not to serve God’s kingdom, but rather to serve himself. It is a good thing to desire the office of pastor/ elder.

In verse 2, Paul says that an overseer must be above reproach.

This is the first conviction Paul lays out and I think that the others actually fit underneath this heading. What does it mean to be above reproach?

Being above reproach means that you are free from legitimate concerns or criticism. There is no evidence of hypocrisy- He believes what he is professing and his life reflects it. He is honest and sincere. When he says he is praying for you, he prays for you. When he offers a kind word or encouragement, it is meaningful.

John MacArthur says that it is especially important for a pastor to be above reproach for 4 reasons:

He is a special target for Satan. He will face severe temptations and is on the front lines in spiritual warfare.

If a pastor falls, it will cause great harm to many under his influence

Pastors have a typically greater knowledge of the truth and therefore their sins will bring about greater chastening.

A pastor’s sin is more hypocritical because he is teaching against that which he is taking part in.

Out of a pastor’s heart flows his observable character. He must have the right heart.

Discuss: Why is it important for a pastor to have a heart for God’s Kingdom?

The Pastor’s Home (2b, 4-5)

Now, I’m not talking about what kind of house he lives in or even how messy his bedroom is… No, this is again speaking to WHO he is as a person.

He is the husband of one wife (2b).

There are a number of discussions as to whether or not this means a person can or cannot serve as a pastor if he’s been divorced. I think that would depend greatly on a case by case basis. What Paul is talking about is the fidelity and integrity of the man who desires to be a pastor.

He should be a faithful husband- all in - in his marriage. There should be no doubt that he loves his wife and treats her so.

In the 1st century, women had very little rights. It was culturally acceptable and very easy for a man to decide to send his wife away or to bring concubines (mistresses) into his home. But, as we dive into Scripture, we see that marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. Pastors, elders, and those who desire this role must model our marriage after Christ’s treatment of His bride, the church. For Christ loved the Church and gave Himself a ransom for her.

A pastor’s leadership in the home is also important (4-5). In fact, there is a caveat here- If a man cannot lead well in his home, he is not qualified to lead in the church. God instituted the family to be the primary vessel of education and growth in our relationship with God.

I have seen several men who have disregarded their responsibility to their families in the name of ministry. Folks, my family is my primary ministry. They certainly sacrifice in order for me to serve the church faithfully, but I cannot treat my role as pastor as more important than my role as husband and father.

Friends, I can’t ask you to follow me if I am not leading well in my home.

A Pastor’s heart must be for God’s Kingdom, and his home must be his primary ministry.

Discuss: Why is it important for a pastor to prioritize his home?

The Pastor’s Conduct (2c-3, 7)

This is a rather broad category, I admit. But, as we look at these descriptions, we see that

A pastor’s conduct is a testimony of his personal holiness.

Let’s look at what Paul says:

He must be temperate, prudent, and respectable (2c)

These three words describe his demeanor. He must be level-headed (temperate) , not unstable or moody. He must weigh his words and actions and seek what is truly right (prudent/ sensible). And he must have good motives (respectable).

Next, we see that he must be hospitable. This speaks to his disposition. He is kind- even and especially to strangers. He smiles and offers conversation and help as needed. He is polite and see the value of showing warmth to those he encounters. After all, he is living out a testimony of the church. If he is not hospitable, it is unlikely that the church will be.

Further, Paul describes the pastor’s propensity. Listen to what he says

1 Timothy 3:3 NASB95

not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.

He is not in the grips of a vice- alcohol was the most prominent vice in the 1st century, but there are others. He is not violent- his love for God & people restrains him. He is gentle. He considers others and acts accordingly. He is peaceable- not looking for a fight or to seeking out unnecessary confrontations. He is not in love with money. He cannot be bought or bribed. He is motivated by the call of God on his life, not where he stands to make the most money.

In fact, Paul says that those outside the church should think well of him as much as those on the inside. (7) This means that he is consistent. He is not putting on a show while at church, but he is authentic. If you were to take your pastor to the golf course, he should exhibit the same character there as he does from the podium on Sundays.

What does the wait staff at your favorite restaurant think of you? The cashier at Ingles? What would they say about your character? Would people outside the church know that you are honest and kind? Would they know what you believe?

If your pastor is not well thought of outside the church, it is likely that he will be an easy target for criticism and may even bring a bad name upon the church.

Discuss: How have you seen the conduct of pastors effect the testimony of the church?

A pastor’s heart must be for God’s Kingdom, his home must be his primary ministry, and his conduct must reflect the fruit of the Spirit.

Finally, Paul points to

The Pastor’s Spiritual Maturity (2d, 6)

These last two convictions point toward the importance of a pastor’s personal growth in Christ. Paul gives it to us this way:

He must be able to teach (2c)

This means that he is capable of teaching. He is skilled and can effectively teach God’s Word.

He must be faithful to the Bible- explaining it, relating it, and helping his listeners apply it.

I went to a conference one year and a man stood to teach from God’s Word. He read the passage, and then began a rant that consisted of catchy sayings and popular song lyrics. I sat amazed that with all these words, the Scripture was never again mentioned, the truths were not pointed out, and the only application point I got was that I should never listen to him again. Pastors are called to teach God’s Word faithfully. If he cannot do this, he is not ready to be a pastor.

He must not be a new convert (6)

New converts can have a wonderful energy and charisma, but it is vital that leaders in the church are mature enough to lead in wisdom.

Paul says “so that he will not become conceited...”

This is easy- people say all kinds of nice things to encourage young pastors and when he sees what looks like success, pride is close by.

The warning is that he may fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

Pride is a slippery slope. It robs God of His glory, and comes with great consequence.

This is why a pastor should not be a new convert, but rather one who has grown in wisdom and spiritual maturity so that he can handle both the blessings and challenges of leading a church.

So a pastor must have a heart for God’s Kingdom, his home must be his primary ministry, his conduct must reflect the fruit of the Spirit, and he must be spiritually mature.

So what? Why do you need to know this?

2 Points for you to apply today:

First of all, if you are listening and you have been dismissing God’s call on your life to enter into ministry, I am calling you to stop resisting God’s will and take that next step of obedience.. maybe that’s taking some classes at the Bible College- Fruitland is open for registration and it’s real cheap! Listen, you don’t want to get to a point in your life where you regret ever fully surrendering to God. Friend, ministry is a fine work to desire to do.

Secondly, as a church body, you now know the character that your pastor ought to display. I’m far from perfect. I am growing daily & I truly desire for your prayers as I strive to be the man that God has called me to be. So today, I plead the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Only Christ is good enough. Only HE is sufficient. Jesus is the only true Master Teacher and He will sustain this church and me as we place our faith and trust in Him.

Will you commit to pray for your pastor this week?

Let’s pray.