Ministry Qualifications

Intro

Text - 2 Cor 3:5-6

2 Corinthians 3:5–6 NKJV

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Two general types of ministries

those appointed by God

God appoints by gifts and calling

1 Corinthians 12:28 NKJV

And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

1 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

those appointed by the church

elders - appointed by those whow belong to the ascension gifts

deacons - the congregation with the approval of the elders

Two general categories of workers in the N. T.

Philippians 1:1 NKJV

Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

elders

related terms

overseers; presbyters;

(modern) ministers; pastor; associate pastor; senior pastor; lead pastor; pastor of worship, etc.; minister of....;

elders are men who are appointed to minister to the spiritual needs of the church

Acts 20:28 NKJV

Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

they oversee

they feed

they lead

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

1 Peter 5:1–4 NKJV

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Which church works belong to the Elders

Pastor; Associate pastor;

Preacher (evangelist); Bible Teacher;

Overseers (outreaches)

deacons

workers

deacons are the workers of the church who attend to other needs of the church besides the teaching of the Word.

they administrate services

Acts 6:3–5 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch,

these are not officially “deacons”

there are women deacons and workers

Phoebe - Romans 16.1 “I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,”

Priscilla - Romans 16.3 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,”

Mary - Romans 16.6 “Greet Mary, who labored much for us.”

Tryphena and Tryphosa - Romans 16.12 “Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.”

which church works belong to the deacons

visitation and follow-up

welcome guests to church

accommodate visitors

assist elders in their works

accompany elders in travels

lead in worship (emcee and song leader)

maintain peace and order in church meetings

administrate distribution of goods

maintain house of worship

why we need to qualify ministers and workers

to ensure that the workers possess the personal and spiritual character needed for the job.

to ensure that the right person is doing the right job

to minimize problems in the future

the qualifications of workers

Acts 6:3–6 NKJV

Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.

of good reputation

full of the Holy Spirit

full of wisdom

full of faith

1 Timothy 3:8–13 NKJV

Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

Note - verse 11 reads “their wives”, but the Greek reads “the women”

Verse 11 most likely refers to “women deacons”

why would Paul set required qualities for deacons’ wives but not for elders’ wives?

there is no female word in Greek for deaconess, hence Paul use the word for woman, gyne

deacon is not church leadership; it is oriented towards providing services for the benefit of the members

Deacons are the “official helpers and service people” of the church.

the qualifications of ministers

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NKJV

This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5–9 NKJV

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— if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. 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, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, 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.

Conclusion

We need qualified Elders

men who have mature spiritual and personal characters

men who are able to teach - so that the church is fed and nourished in the word of God

men who are committed to the work of the ministering of the word

We need qualified Deacons/Workers

men and women who will serve the needs of the church besides the pulpit

men and women who are willing to give their time, strength, and resources to serve the local church

men and women who are willing to do service oriented works so that the Elders are free to devote their time to prayer and the ministry of the Word.