Sermon Central
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Lessons In Leadership Pt1
Contributed by Brian Menear on Jun 14, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: The Books of 1 and 2 Timothy are the perfect manual for any Pastor.
Lessons in Leadership From Timothy
1. Ministers must not only be charged to preach the true doctrine of the gospel, but charged to preach no other doctrine. If an angel from heaven preach any other doctrine, let him be anathema, Gal. 1:8.
2. In the times of the apostles there were attempts made to corrupt Christianity (we are not as many, who corrupt the word, 2 Co. 2:17), otherwise this charge to Timothy might have been spared.
3. He must not only see to it that he did not preach any other doctrine, but he must charge others that they might not add any thing of their own to the gospel, or take any thing from it, but that they preach it pure and uncorrupt. He must also take care to prevent their regarding fables, and endless genealogies, and strifes of words. This is often repeated in these two epistles (as ch. 4:7; 6:4; 2 Tim. 2:23), as well as in the epistle to Titus. As among the Jews there were some who brought Judaism into Christianity; so among the Gentiles there were some who brought paganism into Christianity.
The early days of Christianity were both exciting and dangerous. You had people from different religions all coming into Christianity. Everybody wanted to bring their old beliefs with them. Paul knew this wasn’t going to work.
Verse 4 “controversies” the only thing that can happen is people would argue about what they thought they should do.
Verse 7-If you are going to be a leader, know what you are talking about. You need to know what scripture says inside and out on the subject of your ministry.
1. It is Christ’s work to put men into the ministry. Ministers, properly speaking, cannot make themselves ministers; for it is Christ’s work, as king and head, prophet and teacher, of his church.
2. Those whom he puts into the ministry he fits for it; whom he calls he qualifies. Those ministers who are no way fit for their work, nor have ability for it, are not of Christ’s putting into the ministry, though there are different qualifications as to gifts and graces.
3. Christ gives not only ability, but fidelity, to those whom he puts into the ministry: He counted me faithful; and none are counted faithful but those whom he makes so. Christ’s ministers are trusty servants, and they ought to be so, having so great a trust committed to them.
4. A call to the ministry is a great favor, for which those who are so called ought to give thanks to Jesus Christ
It doesn’t matter what a person did in the past (jail, drugs, alcohol) if God calls them it is for a purpose and it is not up to the Church to reject them as a leader or member based on their past offenses to God. What has God forgiven you of that should have prevented you from being a leader?
Verse 18
1. The ministry is a warfare, it is a good warfare against sin and Satan and against the world: and under the banner of the Lord Jesus, who is the Captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10), and in his cause, and against his enemies, ministers are in a particular manner engaged.
2. Ministers must war this good warfare, must execute their office diligently and courageously, notwithstanding oppositions and discouragements.
3. The prophecies which went before concerning Timothy are here mentioned as a motive to stir him up to a vigorous and conscientious discharge of his duty; so the good hopes that others have entertained concerning us should excite us to our duty: That thou by them mightest war a good warfare.
4. We must hold both faith and a good conscience:
Chapter 2
Verse 1-Nobody is ever too good or too bad to be prayed for or receive counsel from a minister. In our prayers we are to have a generous concern for others as well as for ourselves; we are to pray for all men, and to give thanks for all men; and must not confine our prayers nor thanksgiving to our own persons or families. Prayer consists of various parts, of supplications, intercessions, and thanksgivings; for we must pray for the mercies we want, as well as be thankful for mercies already received; and we are to deprecate the judgments which our own sins or the sins of others have deserved.
Verse 5-We need no one to stand in the middle between us and God when it comes to prayer. We can go straight to him with all prayers and concerns.
Chapter 4
Verse 1-5 When it gets close to the end of days, there will be an increase in false religions, cults, false teachers, selfish leas, etc.....(Heavens Gate, Scientology, David Koresch)
