Qualifications for Overseers

The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

1 Peter 5:1–6 ESV

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: 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; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,

Sermon

Office & Gifts

Ephesians 4:11 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Differentiate between “Office” (Elders & Deacons) and “Gifts”

Foundational Gifts

Apostles - 12 & Paul (equal to Old Testament Prophets)

Prophets

Prophetic books (Old Testament)

Early Church Prophets (New Testament not yet written)

Served Local congregations

Worked alongside Apostlesspoke as the Holy Spirit enabled

1 Corinthians 14:29 ESV

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

1 Thessalonians 5:20–21 ESV

Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

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Ephesians 4:11 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

Evangelists - Travelling Missionaries (Philip Evangelist Deacon)

Gifts for the Local Church:

Shepherds & Teachers

1 Corinthians 12:28 ESV

And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues.

Again we see the gifts outlined

Qualifications for Overseers

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

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

Overseer / Elder - Paul uses the words interchangably

Overseer - Care & Portection

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament ἐπισκοπή

enquiry,” “investigation,” “examination

Elder - Scribes

presbyteros - presbyter - Pastor

Younger - New / Fresh / Youthful

Paul upholds honour for Elders

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

Peter also establishes teaching on Elders

1 Peter 5:1–2 ESV

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1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

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

High Risk / Sacrifical

Persecution

Attacks from False Teachers

Do not look down upon the overseer

Let no one dispise him because he does not have ALL the special gifts

The Office should seek the man, not the man the office

Paul often speaks against Sinful Ambition

Paul does not here praise “aspiration” but rather the “task”

Noble work:

Acts 20:28 ESV

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.

Behaviour to Others: Publically in Keeping with Christian Teaching

1 Timothy 3:2–3 ESV

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

Above Reproach (list defines the meaning)

Not to be confused with Sinless

Not Subject to the need for Church Discipline

When accusations are made:

he is found to be without blame when using an appropriate and reasonable investiagtion and assessment of evidence

Behaviour around Christians

husband of one wife - man of one woman (one woman man) - prohibits promiscuity and homosexuality

sober-minded - “sober”

self-controlled - “of sound mind” - rational, discretion, modesty, wisdom

respectable - “moral”

hospitable

When visiting Christians meet him does he present as a Christian should?

Is he a good example of a Christian to other Christians?

The Theological Dictionary of the New Testament:

“Between the stranger and those around him there is reciprocal tension. He is a man from without, strange, hard to fathom, surprising, unsettling, sinister. But to the stranger his odd and different environment is also disturbing and threatening”

Able to teach

able to go away study God’s Word

correctly assess the teaching of God’s Word

and correctly proclaim the Word of God

that proclaimation is able to “teach” (thus the recipient “learns”)

Behaviour around non-Christians

NOT:

not a drunkard - not an alcholic

not violent but gentle

not: “eager or quick to argue, quarrel, or fight”

but: “what is fitting, right, or fair & impartial”

not quarrelsome - “physical combat in the military sense”

“War of Words” - unjustified grumbling, legal disputes threatening others, make false accusations

“cause death to the soul”

not a lover of money

is he safe with the church funds (vs Judas Iscariot )

sell out believers

Manage his Household

1 Timothy 3:4–5 ESV

He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Does he have authority in his own household?

manage his own household well

with dignity keeping his children submissive

choice not fear

Not a recent convert

1 Timothy 3:6 ESV

He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Thought well of by Outsiders

1 Timothy 3:7 ESV

Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Hymn -

Q&A

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology(read) –

NOT TO US BE GLORY GIVEN but to him who reigns above: Glory to the God of heaven for his faithfulness and love! What though unbelieving voices hear no word and see no sign, still in God my heart rejoices, working out his will divine.

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