Sunday Service 11-7-21 - Officer Qualifications Part 5 - Doctrine & Motivation

Officer Qualifications 5 - Doctrine and Motivation - Sermon Guide Doctrine: Deacons - 1 Timothy 3:9 They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. "hold" "mystery of the faith" "clear conscience" Elders - Titus 1:9 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. "Hold fast" "trustworthy word" "as taught" Calvin: "A pastor needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves." How important is this? Motivation: 1 Timothy 3:1 - The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. "Office" ... Should be read: "If anyone aspires oversight, he desires a noble task [or good work]". "aspires" (oregetai) "desire" (epithymei). "selfish ambition" (eritheian). (Phil 1:17, 2:3) "How can you know for yourself whether God wants you to go [into the ministry] or not? You must ask both your own conscience and the church.... Your conscience must judge of your willingness and the church of your ability." - William Perkins Why does the Bible bother to say that an overseer does good/noble work? 1 Timothy 3:13 - For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Rewards: "No one will leave house or land or family that will not receive 100-fold and eternal life." "Lose your life for my sake and you will gain it." "To the one who conquers, I will grant him the crown of life, etc" "I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the race. Henceforth, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the righteous judge will award to me on that day (not to me only but to all who have loved his appearing)." Gen 15: "I am your shield and your very great reward.") "A good standing" "Great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus" 1 Timothy 3:14-15 - 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. Serving the Church. 1 Timothy 4:10-16 - 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially (particularly) of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. Doctrine & Motivation Rom 10: 14-17 - 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?c And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" 16 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Rom 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe." WCF 3.1, 5.2, 5.3 3.i. God from all eternity did, by the most wise (Rom. 11:33) and holy counsel of His own will, freely (Rom. 9:15, 18), and unchangeably (Heb. 6:17) ordain whatsoever comes to pass (Eph. 1:11): yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin (James 1:13, 17; 1 John 1:5), nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures (Matt. 17:12; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28); nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established (John 19:11; Prov. 16:33). 5.ii. Although, in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first Cause, all things come to pass immutably, and infallibly; yet, by the same providence, He ordereth them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently. iii. God, in His ordinary providence, maketh use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure. Love. Love for God and neighbor. 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. Peter's motivation: God's willingness to have you. Not man, but God. Christ! Doctrine: He is worthy!