"The Calling"

Have you ever had a difficult experience in a church?

Mistreated by the leadership

Expressed a concern to the leadership and nothing was ever done, nor was there ever any follow up.

Treated wrongly

A Church will only go as far as its leadership -

This morning we will being a three week study on 1 Timothy 3:1-7 where will be learning about “Qualified Leadership.” This morning we are going to focus on vs. 1 where we will learn about the calling for qualified leadership.

The Qualities of Godley Leader vs. 2-7

Moral Qualities Part 1

Moral Qualities Part 2

Interrogative question - what is my role in the calling of qualified leadership?

Turn to the following passages - This is why Paul is so detailed on Church leadership -

1 Timothy 1:3 “As I urged you upon my departure for Macedonia, remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines,”

1 Timothy 4:1-3 “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.”

1 Timothy 4:7 “But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;”

1 Timothy 6:3-5 “If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”

1 Timothy 1:6 “For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion,”

1 Timothy 1:7-11 “wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”

1 Timothy 2:12 “But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”

1 Timothy 5:20 “Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.”

1. The Calling - vs. 1

A. Reliable Calling -

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Trustworthy)

Adjective: πιστός (pistos), GK 4412 (S 4103), 67×. pistos means “faithful, trustworthy, reliable, dependable.” See faithful.

1 Timothy 1:15 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

1 Timothy 3:1 “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

1 Timothy 4:9 “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.”

2 Timothy 2:11 “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;”

Titus 3:8 “This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.”

B. Specific Calling -

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

C. Real Calling - (Aspires and Desires)

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.

[3977] ὀρέγω oregō 3× to extend, stretch out; mid. to stretch one’s self out, to reach forward to, met. to desire earnestly, long after, 1 Tim. 3:1; Heb. 11:16; by impl. to indulge in, be devoted to, 1 Tim. 6:10* [3713]

ὀρέγω

The sense of this word is that when a man has the desire to serve in the Lord's church, then he will exert much energy and effort in serving the Lord and His Church.

“Desires” - to crave - to have an intense desire for some particular thing

Matthew 13:17 ““For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.””

Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”

James 4:2 “You lust and do not have; so you commit murder. You are envious and cannot obtain; so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask.”

The MacArthur Study Bible - “Two different Gr. words are used. The first means “to reach out after.” It describes external action, not internal motive. The second means “a strong passion,” and refers to an inward desire. Taken together, these two words aptly describe the type of man who belongs in the ministry—one who outwardly pursues it because he is driven by a strong internal desire.”

D. Rewarding Calling -

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (Beautiful)

Adjective: καλός (kalos), GK 2819 (S 2566, 2570), 101×. kalos denotes the quality of an object or action that is beautiful, ordered, or virtuous and may be translated as “beautiful, good.” Jesus commented that the stone of the temple were “beautiful” (Lk 21:5) and that the woman who anointed her with perfume had done a “beautiful thing” (Mt 26:10; Mk 14:6). See good.

Fine - adjective meaning “free from impurities; having a high or specified degree of purity.”

E. Working Calling -

It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.

duty - work that a person is obliged to perform for moral or legal reasons.

1 Timothy 2:10 “but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

1 Timothy 3:1 “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”

1 Timothy 5:10 “having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.”

1 Timothy 5:25 “Likewise also, deeds that are good are quite evident, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed.”

1 Timothy 6:18 “Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,”

2 Timothy 1:9 “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,”

2 Timothy 2:21 “Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

2 Timothy 3:17 “so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

This calling includes -

Ruling - 1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Preaching and teaching - 1 Timothy 5:17 “The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”

Praying for the sick - James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;”

Caring for the church - 1 Peter 5:1-2 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;”

Examples to follow - 1 Peter 5:3 “nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”

Set Church Policy - Acts 15:22-25 “Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them to send to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas—Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren, and they sent this letter by them, “The apostles and the brethren who are elders, to the brethren in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the Gentiles, greetings. “Since we have heard that some of our number to whom we gave no instruction have disturbed you with their words, unsettling your souls, it seemed good to us, having become of one mind, to select men to send to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,”

Ordain other leadership - 1 Timothy 4:14 “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.”

Closing Thoughts -

MacArthur - “As already noted, some seek the office of overseer for wrong motives, such as money, power, or prestige. The true motive for seeking the ministry was described by Patrick Fairbairn: “The seeking here intended … must be of the proper kind, not the prompting of a carnal ambition, but the aspiration of a heart which has itself experienced the grace of God, and which longs to see others coming to participate in the heavenly gift” (Pastoral Epistles [Minneapolis: James & Klock, 1976], 136). It is not the office the truly called seek, but the work itself. Samuel Brengle wrote that “the final estimate of men shows that history cares not for the rank or title a man has borne, or the office he has held, but only the quality of his deeds and the character of his mind and heart” (C. W. Hall, Samuel Logan Brengle [New York: The Salvation Army, 1933], 274).

Simply put, ambition for office corrupts, desire for service purifies. Our Lord described the true character of spiritual service in Mark 10:42–44:

And calling [the disciples] to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. But it is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all.”

MacArthur - “Godly leaders are not produced by Bible colleges or seminaries; they merely give them the tools with which to work. Nor do pulpit committees or ordination councils make men fit for the ministry; they merely have the responsibility to recognize those who already are. Only the Holy Spirit can produce a true spiritual leader.”

So What?

Interrogative question - what is my role in the calling of qualified leadership?

Believer -

Pray for Church Leadership

Pray that we as a church will be committed to training and equipping biblical leadership

Pray that God will raise this kind of leadership up

Unbeliever -

Repent and Believe in Jesus