Elders Who Rule Well

1 Timothy 5:17

Introduction

We come to leadership last in this series and on purpose.

A lot of times we talk about organizations needing to change from the top down.

Leadership can certainly be the issue in a congregation but I think we find more often than not, poor leadership is generally a symptom of what produced that leadership.

Elderships rise up from within. We don’t go out and hire CEOs. Nor do elderships come first and establish churches that follow after.

No, it the church that comes first and leadership rises out of that.

Nevertheless, it is a subject that demands our attention if we are going to talk about having strong churches.

The Portrait

The titles are descriptive (Acts 20:17, 28).

But they are still titles (Acts 14:23).

The qualifications paint a picture:

Experience

Husband of one wife (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

His children are believers (Tit. 1:6; 1 Tim. 3:4)

Not a new convert (1 Tim. 3:6).

Able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:9).

Character

Blameless and holy (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:6).

A good reputation with those outside the church (1 Tim. 3:7).

Serious minded and self-controlled (1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).

Gentle, peaceable, and not pugnacious or quarrelsome (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

Not given to wine (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

Free from the love of money (1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7).

Respectable (1 Tim. 3:2).

Hospitable, loving what is good (2 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8).

Wives

Dignified - see above

Not gossips - the word here is the word for devil. This seems to bring in the notion not of just talking about someone, but particularly the idea of accusation. Running someone down.

Temperate - this would have particular application to alcoholic drink but would be more general as well. She should not be one who lacks self-control in general.

Faithful in all things - here is the idea that she can be relied upon. She will do what she says. Honesty.

We need to be purposefully developing such portraits.

Lording Over

Leaders who demand respect rarely get it (Rom. 13:1).

Jesus established his authority through sacrifice and humility (Jn. 13:

What is lording it over (Matt. 20:25; 3 Jn. 9-10; Acts 19:16)?

“Obey” and “submit” carry the idea of persuasion and trust (Heb. 13:17; Matt. 28:14; Acts 13:43).

Obey and Submit

Honor cannot be demanded but it should be willingly given (1 Tim. 5:17).

We ought to be cautious about accusing elders (1 Tim. 5:19).

We should be trying to make their job easier (Heb. 13:17).

What lording it over isn’t:

It is not giving instructions with authority (Jn. 13:4-8).

It is not deciding something on behalf of the group (1 Pet. 5:2).

It is not taking personal responsibility for souls (Heb. 13:17).

Conclusion

Don’t wait for good leadership to happen.

Work toward developing it both through developing leaders and through developing that culture of supporting leadership.