INTRODUCTION
• SLIDE #1
The trouble with being a leader today is that you can’t be sure whether people are following you or chasing you. http://www.christianglobe.com/Illustrations/theDetails.asp?whichOne=l&whichFile=leadership
As we continue with our “When God Builds a Church” series, we are going to take a look at the first of two sermons on leadership in God’s Church.
The issue of leadership is a very important principle to understand. Great things do not happen without great leaders. I believe any organization will only rise as high is it is led.
A church can have a lot of good things going for it, but if it has poor leadership, the church will not go far or be effective in it’s’ ministry.
Because the bulk of the ministry in a typical church depends on volunteers, leadership may be even more important in the church than your typical organization.
In the first of this two part message, I want us to focus on the qualities of God’s church should posses.
Leadership is influence. A leader is able to influence people to do things they did not think they could do.
British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery is credited with the following statement concerning leadership: Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.
These next two messages are important for our church to grasp. We need to understand what kind of men God wants leading His church and secondly, one day, we will need a new generation of leaders.
I hope these next two messages will give all of us some things to work on in our lives so that we will be ready to answer the call when it comes.
The text we will focus on today is 1 timothy 3:1-7.
Let us start off by looking at the desire of a leader.
SLIDE #2
SERMON
I. THE DESIRE OF A LEADER (1 TIM 3:1)
Look at verse 1 with me.
SLIDE #3
1 Timothy 3:1 (NASB) It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
In verse 1 we are told that if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
The word “overseer” the KJV translates “bishop”, NIV translates it “elder.” The function of the office is emphasized by this word. To oversee the work of the church. Next week we will look at what that encompasses.
There is another word used to describe the office which we translate “elder”.
The terms we translate “elder” and “overseer” are used interchangeable in the New Testament. In Acts 20:17, 28, we see this along with Titus 1:5-7.
Without going into a long discussion on church government, the New Testament churches were led by a plurality of elders.
Paul tells us one of the first qualities of a leader is a willingness and a desire to lead.
The word “aspire” means to stretch out the hands after. This is not an issue of selfish motivation. It is a desire to lead. In the early church, leaders were targets of persecution.
If you could hurt the leaders, you could hurt the organization.
Being an Elder will require a great deal of sacrifice of time. It is a good thing to grow up wanting to be an elder in the church.
The last thing a church wants to do is beg a person to be a leader. For a person to reluctantly accept a position of leadership would be bad for both the church and the person accepting the position.
Young men, now is the time to start looking at the qualities of a leader so you can begin preparing yourself now. Wives, now is the time to encourage your husbands to be working on these qualities.
Next let us look at the character of a leader.
SLIDE #4
As we turn to the character of a leader, realize these character traits are something we should all be working on. In the leader, they should be evident!
II. THE CHARACTER OF A LEADER (1 TIM 3:2-3)
Bob Russell states the following concerning leadership: Leadership begins with who we are, not what we do. A lack of integrity among leaders quenches the flow of the Holy Spirit and removes God’s hand of blessing from the church.
Let us look at 1 Timothy 3:2-3.
SLIDE #5
1 Timothy 3:2 - 3 (NASB) 2An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
In verses 2-3 of this chapter, we have 12 qualities of a leader mentioned. For Paul to mention 12 in two short verses speaks to range of qualities.
SLIDE #6
ABOVE REPROACH. This literally means, “nothing to take hold upon.”
Not one of us can be sinless, but we can be above reproach or blameless. Our lives are lived in such a way, accusations cannot stick. Blameless means it is impossible for a charge to stick or be taken seriously.
SLIDE #7
THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE. This means being a one woman man. EXPAND.
SLIDE #8
TEMPERATE. Calm, one who controls their tongue, temper and other emotions. It was used of one who stayed away from wine.
SLIDE #9
PRUDENT. “Common sense”. Level-headed. Not given to sudden impulses.
SLIDE #10
RESPECTABLE. Good behavior, orderly conduct.
SLIDE #11
HOSPITABLE. Being willing to open the home, open to strangers.
SLIDE #12
ABLE TO TEACH. Does not mean you are a teacher, but that you posses the knowledge base that will enable you to encourage believers and point out false teaching. BIBLE COLLEGE.
Verse 3 deals with the overall temperament of the leader.
SLIDE #13
NOT ADDICTED TO WINE. The phrase originally meant, “one who sits long beside his wine.” Later it dealt with one who became quarrelsome after drinking it. Wine was used for medicine back then.
This phrase does not prohibit wine, but is very strong language. What redeeming quality (other than medical) comes from alcohol? We are better steering clear from it because of the effects.
SLIDE #14
NOT PUGNACIOUS. Literally means a striker, one who hits. One who uses physical force to get their way
SLIDE #15
GENTLE AND PEACEABLE. James Hewett says, “Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.” Gentle means power under control. It was used of tames horses. The horse chooses to be tame and under control.
SLIDE #16
FREE FROM THE LOVE OF MONEY. This deals with not only the love of money but questionable means of getting it. Your motives have to be above reproach when it comes to dealing with money.
Now let us look at an important part of being a leader. This are is a proving ground for a persons ability to lead.
SLIDE #17
III. THE HOME OF A LEADER (1 TIM 3:4-5)
Many times we get hung up on some of what is said in verse 2, especially the husband of one wife. Verses 2-3 are important, but let us not overlook verses 3-4.
SLIDE #18
1 Timothy 3:3 - 4 (NASB) 3not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
Notice verse 4 says He MUST manage his own household.
Since an elder is going to be set over, presiding over the church, what he does with his family is a good barometer as to the job he will do.
In Thayer’s Greek definitions, to “manage” means- “to set before”, place before, set over to be over, to superintend, to preside over, to be a protector or guardian; to give aid; to rule, to care for, give attention to.
The word emphasizes the leadership role of one who has been placed at the head of the family or church and who is therefore responsible to, “rule, direct and lead.”
The secondary meaning of the word means, “to be concerned about”, to care for.
Men, bringing home a check is only a PART of managing your household. Too many men are absentee husbands and parents. Too many of us men have advocated our responsibility to manage our own homes.
Does this mean we do it all? No. Does a baseball manager play all the positions on the team He directs others to do their job, he even has other coaches who help him.
A good manager knows his team, and knows the strengths and weakness of the team. He knows who needs to do what for the good of the team. The manager does not go fishing while the team is playing, he does not blow off spring training to pursue recreation. He spends time with his team. He teaches, rebukes, protects, and delegates responsibility.
If you cannot manage your home or you leave it all up to the wife to do it, you will not make a good leader at this time.
The second part of verse three speaks of keeping his children under control with ALL DIGNITY.
We do not beat our children into submission; we discipline and train them with all dignity. We treat them with honor and respect. Our children will be under control even when we are not around because they respect us, not because they are scared for their lives.
SLIDE #19
EPH 6:4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Children NEED and WANT reasonable rules and discipline. Share in the responsibility of raising your children.
Titus 1:6 says, having children who believe…
I believe if we handle things in a proper way with our children, if we are good example of what Jesus is, it will help them to want to follow the God we follow.
Now let us look at the reputation of a leader, especially with those outside of the church.
SLIDE #20
IV. THE REPUTATION OF A LEADER. (1 TIM 3:7)
President Theodore Roosevelt stated: The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.
SLIDE #21
1 Timothy 3:7 (NASB) 7And 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.
People who do not go to church and have a relationship with Jesus will often judge the church by the lives of its leaders.
If their lives are not above reproach, the careless living will become a stumbling block that potential converts will use as an excuse not to give their lives to Jesus.
We are trying to win the lost to Jesus. If a potential leader does not have a good reputation with the community, it will hurt the ministry of the church. If I am a shady businessman, the community will look at the church I am a leader in with suspicion.
If I am writing bad checks around town and I am a known leader in the church, do you think the church I serve will have much of a chance reaching people who know I am bouncing checks?
SLIDE #22
1 Peter 2:12 (NASB) 12Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
When we live carelessly, we fall in the snare Satan puts out for us. We will fall into reproach. The reproach in this context would be the accusations the community would make toward the guilty party, as they mocked him to his face about being a church leader.
CONCLUSION
These qualities are qualities EVERY Christian should posses and be striving for. The leader is one with whom these qualities are evident in their life.
Being a real leader is more than having a title; it is being able to inspire others to follow you.
There are many “leaders” who are have no following. Character, reputation in the community, and the home life all can have an impact on our ability to lead.
Next week we will look at the work of a leader in God’s church.
