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Back to the Series  Essentials of the Church

We’re going to start with a short video clip to help us get focused.  As you’re watching this think about what’s essential.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBnNfTa0_Jc

With friends like that…

How essential are essentials?

On past Sundays we’ve talked about Merced being a broken city.  We’ve agreed that Jesus is the only answer for the brokenness of this city.  That our living out and sharing the Gospel is crucial.  The bottom line of why we as a congregation - why we’re here.

We’ve been talking about essentials - the essentials of the church.   What is absolutely essential for us if we’re to be the congregation that God has called us to be.  To be a congregation that God can use in taking His gospel into the places where we live life.  Where people are hurting to know for Jesus.

Point being that if we lack an essential - or we’re out of balance - emphasizing one essential over another - or just kind of sliding by - living the status quo - hanging on to our comfort zone - really not put our heart and soul into doing what is essential - we’re setting ourselves up for failure as a congregation - failure to be who God has called us together to be.

Which isn’t something to take be taken lightly.  “Oh well.”

Failure on our part means people are still living on a trajectory towards hell.  Failure on our part means continued brokenness in the lives of people we deeply care about.  Failure means that people will look at the church and see us and not God.  Christians may even give up on the church as a place of security - nurture - growth - as a congregation to serve God with.

The reason essentials are essential is because they’re essential.

Over the past few Sundays we’ve been looking at Paul’s first letter to Timothy.  We’ve looked at the essentials of love, faith, Godly men, and Godly women.  Today we’re coming to The Essential of Godly Leadership.   Let’s try that together, “The essential of Godly leadership.”

Please turn with me to 1 Timothy 3. 

When Paul writes this letter to Timothy - Timothy is pastoring in Ephesus.  Ephesus  was a large city.  A crossroads and port city.  A tourist destination.  A political and religious center.  It was city where sin was part of the culture.  Prostitution was part of their religion.  Satanists, witches, worship of a Mother Goddess of the Earth - practices we see in the New Age Movement today - all were openly a part of the scene in Ephesus.  Maybe called by different names.  But very much a part of Ephesian culture.  The entire city indulged in sin - so much so that we could say that sin was politically correct.  Sound familiar?

In Ephesus it was hard to be a Christian.  In the church - there was a great need for Godly leadership.  But, in looking in 1 Timothy and elsewhere in Scripture - we’ve been seeing that that - for the most part - the leadership of the Ephesian church was as corrupt as the society they were living in. 

The leadership of the Ephesian church is described as men who had rejected their faith.  They’d become shipwrecked spiritually.  They were teaching all kinds of strange doctrines that mixed human philosophy and different religious beliefs and traditions in with the Gospel.  Does that sound familiar?  With all these interfaith movements and confusion about what gospel really is?

The result was that the church was being led around and around in fruitless discussions over secondary issues.  It was lacking in purpose and vision - in Godly direction.  They were focused on themselves.  People were dying spiritually and hurting each other.  The one thing the church wasn’t doing was penetrating Ephesus with the Gospel.

Look with me at what Paul writes - the essential of Godly leadership.  1 Timothy 3:1:  It is a trustworthy statement - this is a truth that stands the test of time - you can depend on this - base your life on it - if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.  Being an overseer is a good thing.

Before we go on, we need to understand what Paul means by “the office of overseer.”  Many people have the idea that Paul is talking about pastors, priests, bishops, or some kind of church governing structure with a professional clergy at the top - or seemingly at the top.  Professional clergy do the job of the ministry while lay people cough up the money to support them.

The Greek word for “overseer” is “episkopos.”  Same word we get “episcopal” from.  Looking at the Episcopal Church - the Anglican Church - we can see how the Episcopalians have adopted this professional top down model of leadership.  A professional hierarchy ruling over the church.

What Paul is describing is different.   In fact Paul could have very easily stepped into that kind of role of leadership and yet over and over again he continually rejected it.

In the New Testament there’s never a description of this massive professional top down governing structure over a church or churches that some churches have fallen into.  That structure just doesn’t exist in Scripture.  In reality that “top down” structure - professional clergy verses laity - all that is antithetical to the whole teaching concerning Spiritual Gifts - how God gifts and desires to use each one of us together in His ministry.  Overseers could be someone with the gift pastor or teacher or administration or helps or mercy or any other spiritual gift.

“Episkopos” - “overseer” is a technical term that describes a position or office in the church - a leadership role in the congregation.  The ministry description of that office is someone who has oversight over the ministry of a congregation by watching over it - guarding it - shepherding it - guiding it - protecting the ministry of the congregation.  Not someone who exercises ruling authority over the congregation.

Are we together?

Closely related to “overseer” - used almost interchangeably in Scripture is the word “elder.”  The Greek word is “presbuterios” which is where we get our English word “presbyterian.”  “Presbuterios” was how the Greeks translated the Hebrew word “zaqen” which literally meant “to have a beard.”

Point being is that an elder is someone who is elderly - at least old enough to have a beard.  To be an elder was to have a position of leadership in the Hebrew nation - a position of leadership that was based on age and experience.  Someone that had been around the block a few times.

An elder - someone who was older - became an elder - leader in the nation - as people recognized their gifts of leadership and wisdom and justice as well has their age.  An  “elder” was set apart to administer justice, settle disputes, and guide people under his charge.  The elders were the counselors of the king - the governing council of the town - the heads and leaders of the tribes of Israel.  In New Testament times they were the members of the Sanhedrin - the Hebrew Supreme Court.

Still with me?  This will get clearer.  I hope.  Putting all that together - elders and overseers - an overseer is someone that the people recognize has having the elder experience necessary to put them into this position - this office of oversight - as an overseer - in the nation - or in the New Testament - the church.

When Paul writes to Titus - who was pastoring on the island of Crete - Paul tells Titus to appoint “elders” to the office of “overseer.” (Titus 1:5-9)  What Paul is saying is that within the local church God is raising up men - “elders” - to this position of - “overseer.”  When we want to find people qualified to be overseers - we need to look for elders.

We need to also observe that there’s no example anywhere in Scripture of an elder being a women.  There were leaders - prophetesses and Deborah who was a judge and Esther who played a huge role in Hebrew history - women who for a time gave counsel or took roles of leadership in the nation.  But the elders - those who led the nation in that role - the elders were men.

That fits the pattern of Scripture from the Fatherhood of God through the headship of Adam - the patriarchs - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - through Hebrew history down to Jesus - Son of God - Son of Man - Head of the Church.

In the New Testament there were a number of women disciples.  Numbers of women followed Jesus closely as He traveled around Judea.  Some were His close associates.  They were respected.  They were honored.  They were integral to the ministry.  Later, women came to have significant roles of ministry in the church.

Jesus could have appointed a women to be one or all of His Twelve Apostles.  But He didn’t.  When the church came to replace Judas - they choose Matthias - a man.  That pattern is consistent through out Scripture.

All that may make some people uncomfortable.  But if Godly men would step up to the plate taking leadership in the congregation - sacrificial headship - as Godly men - women would feel a whole lot more secure and we’d probably have a whole lot less uncomfortableness.

Bottom line:  Elders were spiritually mature men who had proven themselves over and over again - and so gained the respect to be called “elders” - to be placed into this role - this office of overseer in the church.

Paul writing to Timothy - pasturing in a difficult city - with a church focused on itself - overrun with men claiming to be teachers who were teaching all kinds of nonsense - how was the church suppose to weed through all  those “wannbe” overseers - to get the right men in the right place - to avoid spiritual disaster - to move forward taking the gospel into Ephesus - Paul writes about the essential of Godly leadership.

How do we recognize men qualified for the office of overseer?  Who qualifies for the office?  If we - here at Creekside - if we encourage people into leadership who are not spiritually qualified to be in leadership - it’ll be a disaster for them - for us - for the ministry of the gospel - failure.

Verse 2:  The Qualifications For Overseers.  Let’s say that together, “The qualifications for overseers.”    How do we recognize the men God is raising up to spiritual leadership.

Walk with me through these.  Verse 2:  An overseer, then, must be above reproach

Stand up for God and we become a target.  Godly leaders will be accused of wrongdoing.  Above reproach means the accusation has no basis - it won’t stick.  It doesn’t mean that an overseer hasn’t ever done anything wrong.  We’d all be trouble if that was true.  But, it means that the sin has been dealt with honestly - openly - moving the man forward in the pursuit of godliness.

Next - The overseer is the husband of one wife

There’s some discussion about what this means.  What about a divorced man or a widower or a single man?

The culture of Ephesus was kind of like ours today - where the commitment of marriage didn’t mean a whole lot.  At least they still realized that marriage was between a man and a women - sort of.  People went from marriage to marriage to marriage to marriage without thinking about it to much.  People had mistresses.  Prostitution was a way of life.

Paul’s point is that a man with elder material is not bouncing flippantly from marriage to marriage.  He’s living by the Biblical commands for what marriage is.  He’s not an adulterer.  He’s a one woman man - committed to one woman - his wife - whom he loves sacrificially.

The overseer is temperate - which means he’s calm - not jumping from one thing to another - prudent - meaning self controlled - able to keep his mouth shut -  respectable - he has order and purpose to his life - hospitable - he’s open to strangers and promotes fellowship in the church.

The overseer is able to teach

There are godly men who fulfill the other requirements but they’re not gifted to teach.  Overseers teach.  That’s crucial because overseers are to be able to explain the Scriptures and to correct those who misuse or misunderstand them.  They watch over the congregation by keeping the congregation focused on God’s truth.

There’s a second idea here too - overseers must be teachable.  In order to teach they need to first be in the Scriptures themselves - growing in their own relationship with God - open to instruction.

Going on - verse 3:  The overseer is not addicted to wine or pugnacious - meaning violent - maybe as result of being drunk - but gentle - desiring to work through problems in a reasonable way - peaceable - he’s not  stirring up trouble in the congregation - free from the love of money - not free of money - but free from being consumed by pursuing wealth.

Verse 4:  He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?).

Anyone here live in the perfect family?  Everyone has issues at home.    Even the Cleavers had issues.  Stuff happens.  Maybe a child going off the deep end spiritually.  The bottom line is how a man handles those problems.  How does he manage his family as they go through the stuff of life?  How does he partner with his wife in raising their children?

Which is a tremendous test of how a man will handle problems in the church.  That may come as a surprise to some people.  But it happens.  Some times God’s people struggle as they seek to together follow God.  If this man is an overseer will he run away from problems and issues and people or will he deal with them in love and grace - applying God given wisdom?

Verse 6:  and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.

Which means that - first - he must have a personal saving relationship with Jesus Christ.  He needs to have received God’s gift of salvation offered through Jesus - must have turned from his life apart from God - from sin - and turned to God - trusting Jesus as His Savior - giving his life to God.

Second - he needs to have a track record.  Evidence of an ongoing - growing - deepening - having gone through the stuff of life - relationship with God.

A new convert may mean well - wanting to serve.  But too quickly put into leadership its too easy to become impressed with our position rather than to be impressed with God and His graciousness towards us.  Its too easy - given the pressures of the position - as a target for Satan on the front lines of the spiritual battle - too easy to seek the approval of others rather than God’s approval.  Too easy to go along with the opinions of our friends in the church rather than following God - doing what may be right even though its not popular.

It’s dangerous to move people too quickly into leadership - dangerous for them - dangerous for the church.

Verse 7:  And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 

An overseer isn’t a Sunday Christian.  Know what I mean?  Game face on for Sunday - righteous clothes - righteous vocabulary - Bible tucked under the arm - kids lined up - faces polished - the wife looks like Snow White.   Great image.

Monday he’s swearing up a storm - ripping people off at work - flirting with the ladies.  Its pathetic how many Christians there are that we’d never know they’re Christians by their behavior at work or school - outside of the congregation.  For a Godly man - what you see is…. what you get.  A Godly man doesn’t have a hidden life that Satan can tap into and use to destroy the testimony of the Gospel.

Those are the qualifications for overseers.  Godly Men - raised up by God - obedient to God in how they live their lives - guiding the congregation by their teaching and own life example.  Godly Men of prayer who teach God’s Word and hold the congregation accountable to live in obedience to God.  (Acts 20:18-35; Hebrews 13:7; 1 Peter 5:1-4) 

In verse 8, Paul turns to the office of Deacon.  Like overseer - deacon is an office - a position of ministry in the congregation. 

In Acts 6 (Acts 6:1-7) we read that a problem came up in the Jerusalem church.  The church had gone in size from being a handful of disciples to a community numbering in the thousands.  The Apostles tried.  But, they couldn’t keep up with the needs of that many people.  So a problem came up.  The church had a food distribution ministry - a way of caring for needy people.  But, certain widows were not being adequately cared for.

When they brought this problem to the Apostles - who are in the role of overseer - the Apostles told them to choose 7 men - and they gave certain qualifications - how to choose these men - 7 men who were appointed to a position of ministry that was to take care of the problem. 

Then the Apostles - in the role of overseers - the Apostles said, “It’s not right for us to neglect the preaching of God’s word in order to serve tables.” (Acts 6:2)  That word “serve” is “diakonos” - which is where we get our English word?  “deacon” from.  This is the first time we see the ministry of deacons in the church. 

We need to also notice that in the New Testament - unlike with overseers - there are examples of women serving in the ministry of deacons.  “Overseers” - are men who focus on guarding, guiding, and teaching.  “Deacons” - are men and women whom God raises up to serve the practical needs of the church.

Verse 8 to 13 focus on The Qualifications For Deacons.  Let’s say that together, “The qualifications for deacons.”  How do we recognize the men and women whom God is raising up to serve as deacons?

Verse 8:  Deacons likewise must be men of dignity - serious - not double-tongued - talking out of both sides of their mouths - not to be given to pleasing people by saying one thing to one person and another thing to someone else.  Deacons speak the truth.

Deacons are not addicted to much wine - they’re not alcoholics - or fond of sordid gain - not taking advantage of situations to gain money - especially if their going to be in situations where they’re going to be discretely handling the church’s money.

Verse 9:  but holding to the mystery of the faith - a deacon must have a testimony of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He or she believes the Gospel - with a clear conscience - a deacon lives what they profess to believe. 

Verse 10: These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.  A man shouldn’t be shoved into a position of responsibility without first being given some initial assignment and being watched to see how he does.

Verse 11:  Women must likewise be dignified - same word as with the men - serious - not malicious gossips - malicious meaning that they use information to slander others - not that anyone would ever do that - but temperate, faithful in all things - responsible - trustworthy - someone who you can count on to follow through.

Verse 12:  Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.  We talked about this with regard to overseers.  For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

In too many churches today, leaders are selected based on popularity - or because of their financial status - or their education - or because they’ve faithfully been doing some ministry around the church for years.  Maybe they’ve just been around longer than anyone else.  Or, maybe they’re the only one who’s volunteered.  “We gotta fill the slots cause the Bylaw say we need someone in that position.”  So we’ll take anybody who’s naive enough to step forward.

The Head of the Church is Jesus.  It’s His Church.  His ministry not ours.  When looking for Godly leaders - if we’re going to move forward as a church - we need to recognize those God is raising up to leadership - those that God qualifies.  Leadership not focused on themselves - or maintaining the status quo - focused on church activities - administrating the work of the church.  But leadership that will lead us spiritually - that will lead us forward with God because they themselves are being led forward by God. 

Taking this further - look back with me to verse 1.  Paul writes, “If any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”  Then in verse 8, “Deacons likewise.”  Meaning that what Paul writes about overseers in verse 1 is the same reality for deacons.

There are two words here in verse 1 that we need to understand.

First is “aspire.”  Greek word “orego”  Kind of like Oreo with a “G”.  Which means to stretch.  To stretch out after something - to lay ourselves out - total commitment - reaching farther than we thought possible - to stretch out with a great desire to grab onto to something.

Second is “desire.”  In Greek its “epithumei.”  Which is two Greek words stuck together to make one word.  “epi” which means “over” or like above and beyond.  And “thumos” which has the idea of hot passionate desire or anger coming right out of our hearts - the core of who we are.

Think about Jesus in the Temple - seeing how the money changers had turned God’s house of prayer into a bazaar - selling animals needed for sacrifices and gouging people on the exchange rate - ripping people off.  Jesus - with zeal - passion - anger - from deep within - taking a whip and knocking over tables - pouring money all over the place - driving the money changers out of the temple.  (John 2:13-17)

Our Bylaws - under qualifications for officers and Board members lists a whole lot of Scripture.  First on that list is 1 Timothy 3:1-13.  Our Bylaws sate that “The Pastor must meet the scriptural qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7.”  Which isn’t a bad thing.  In fact it’s a very good thing.

But way too often we get caught up in these lists of qualifications - stop there - and think that if we find someone who meets these qualifications we’ve found someone who can be put into leadership.  And that’s just not true.

Behind the qualifications are “aspire” and “desire” - the qualification.  The heart of a Godly man or women who is totally committed to their relationship with God - stretching forward - reaching for godliness - poured out before God - passionate in desire coming from the core of who they are - passionate about moving forward in their relationship with God - in being surrendered to Him - trusting Him fully with their lives - allowing God to shape them and mold them and use them - according to His purposes - for His honor - for His glory.     

Paul says - to do the work of an overseer is a good thing.  Paul writes that those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.  Serving God transforms our lives.  Gives us the confidence in our relationship with God that we need to live life.

Church leadership is the most exciting job on earth.  “It’s not just a job.  It’s an adventure.”  To be in the center of what God is doing on earth - as His human channel through which the mind and will of the living God is active in the lives of His people - what they can do and how they can move forward accomplishing His ministry - goes beyond the ability to put into words.  It’s never dull.  It is a noble - honorable - purposeful task.

We miss all that when we look at a list and not a life.  Being a leader in God’s congregation is a privilege to be sought after as an extension of a life passionately desiring after God - not a burden to be avoided at all costs.

Imagine the next time the nominating committee goes out looking for volunteers and finds the whole congregation full of people passionately desiring to serve.

As the Church - God calls us to penetrate the world - Merced - with Gospel of Jesus Christ.  To do that it’s essential that we have Godly leadership - Godly men and women who are aspiring and desiring.

Two questions:

First:  What are you aspiring to?

Second:  What do you desire?

_________________________

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.  Used by permission.