Day 1
1 Timothy 3
Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
The Book of 1st Timothy chapter 3 talks about leadership; so, anybody in any form of leadership should not fail to study this chapter. Of course the discussion is specific to elders and bishops but the principles are principles that will be needed in anyone in any level of leadership.
Obviously, titles for leaders are many. For example some are called bishops but they are also called overseers, others are called elders but also presbyters, others are called shepherds but also pastors. That is something that one needs to think about and ask if you really have such leaders in your structure, whatever your structure is.
I think that will be important.1st Timothy chapter three vs 1 says,
Here is a trustworthy saying: whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
In other words, desiring to be a leader is not a bad thing at all for that is what Paul is actually saying.
But what is the work of a leader? The work of a leader is to set examples. The word lead means you are ahead, and others follow. To be a leader means you have set an example for others to follow. He says ‘”oh lets go this way'” and people follow that direction. Thus, one can clearly say one of your roles as leader is to set example, what you do, not what you say will be followed. What you do you should expect others would also do.
Another way of putting it, especially if you are in spiritual circles, is you are supposed to care for your followers. The bible calls it to watch over members spiritual condition. How they are? Leaders look after the welfare of your people.
Day 2
1 Timothy 3
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders[a] for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
The third responsibility of leaders is train people. Teach them what is expected of them. Find a way of telling them when they are doing right and when not doing right. The bible says ‘…. speak the truth and rebuke error.
I think the fourth responsibility is to organize your team of followers. You are an organizer, ruler, and overseer of the group of people that are actually following you.
So, basically whether you are called a shepherd, pastor, overseer, or bishop, there is some level of organization and supervision you are expected to be doing.
You are a steward of God’s people. That’s why for the church, the head remains Christ, never a pastor! and, in order to say Christ is the one leading, he has left us his word. After all the Gospel of John says in the beginning was the word, and then verse 14 says, and the word become flesh and dwelt among us. Therefore, when you say that Christ is the head of your group, it means that you follow the bible fully and teach your followers to check any instruction against the bible but besides that, the elders have a role to play.
The other thing that you note about leadership here, is that the leadership expected of the church is what we call plurality of leaders in each church. At no time did Paul ever appoint one elder for a church. He always appointed elders’…plural. I think the format of having a pastor, pope, who is in charge and controls alone is not bible way. Where others must do as he says, mmh! It is the way of a cult.That’s not the format the New Testament gave us. The format Paul had is he had a group of leaders leading together.
Chapter 1:1 is talking about overseers in the church of Philippi. In Acts 15:21-22, again it talks about elders.Plural leadership was the way of the church in Jerusalem. Acts 20:17 the church at Ephesus, there are elders, again plural. Then in Acts 20:26, talking about the flock of Christ; one flock of Christ’…. he talks about overseers. Even when in 1st Peter 5:1-3 is talking about the ministry of pastors to tend the flock, singular, a flock! Is always elders not an elder. Or go to Acts 14:23, in every church, were expected to have elders, again plural.
So, I think it will be very important to understand that the church structure does not support anarchy. All faithful churches had elders and we also can see clearly Paul ordains them in every church he established. Clearly bishops coordinate the elders because they are in charge of the rest of the churches. So if you have a church without elders, plural, there is a problem! one man show in not the New Testament way.
Day 3
1 Timothy 3
2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
That’s the list of requirements for overseers, the bishops. Please note the way it is introduced. That is not that you need one of the qualifications, No! it is all the qualifications in the same man. For you to become an overseer, enh! and elder, all those qualifications are actually needed, not one. Why? because all the qualifications are necessary! Each one of them. You can’t be a good leader without all of them. So, whoever you are, do you actually have all those qualifications? Before you accept to be an elder, go through the list and check whether you qualify in all. If you have been appointed, regularly check, am I continuing to be that kind of man that the bible is describing. When you become an elder, check if you can’t qualify, the best thing is resign.
You know, we can add many other man-made qualifications and ignore the ones that the bible has put, but it is to your peril. Your purpose is to select men able to lead in biblical way.If there is no evidence in a person that he has these qualifications, you should be reluctant to elect or appoint such a person. Of course, some qualities in this this list are absolute, but others you can have them to different degrees. So, overtime, some of those that are fundamental, you get better and better with time, but you must have the basics before being appointed.
So, could somebody describe you as verse 2 says blameless? enh! That means, like Daniel, when they tried to see what they can accuse you, they can’t find! Number two, could you be described a husband of one wife? do you how important this qualification is? Polygamy was not allowed at all! But if you became a Christian when you already are polygamous, then you do not become a leader. My understanding of that is for you to become an elder, you must have a good family, a responsible family.
Would somebody describe you as temperate? This is somebody who is not prone to uncontrollable emotions, losing his temper.
Or next thing in verse 2, could somebody describe you as sober minded? You are not given to taking some wine and you are not able to answer questions at any time because sometimes you are not yourself.
Another question, could somebody describe you as a man of good behavior? Or sometimes you are okay and sometimes you are not? If you are going to be a leader it means you need to be a peoples person, yet they will be disturbing you,but remain stable.
Are you hospitable, somebody willing to be disturbed by others and because we said leadership is setting an example, lets then ask the question clearly, are you able to teach, are you able to explain where you are taking the group? So, I think that’s what is important.
Obviously if you can see somebody is an addict of alcohol, you can’t touch him even in the long haul. Do not ask him to enter into leadership. you know, clearly alcohol is a big, big subject. Forbidding an extreme does not necessary excuse that extreme. In other words, if something is wrong, we are being told is that you must not be given to wine, that’s something that you need to ask, if you qualify in it.
That’s basically what verse 3 is saying. That if you are going to be an overseer, it will be important that you are not a lover of money, that you are not given to wine. Some versions say, not given to drunkenness both of them are important.
You can get this message in Isaiah 10:2 Or Romans 39, Proverbs 23:29-33.Some people talk of social drinking but social drinking is the one that leads to excessive drinking. In fact even this social drinking may get people to become addicts. Unless wine is prescribed by a doctor, why would you want to take risks on a matter that could render you into sin?
You know, the wine they took in the bible days is fermented or unfermented, or diluted substance. Compare with todays distilled alcoholic beverage unknown the bible times.One can of beer as alcoholic bottle of beer is a shot of whisky. So, you need to be aware that if you really want to serve the Lord, if you want to be a leader, even in industry, in business, alcohol must be a no go zone.
You know 1st Peter 4:3 is condemning various degrees of drinking, why? You need vigilance, self-control and sobriety. Same message is in 1st Peter 5;8, 1st Peter 5: and you can go on and I think it will be important to just think of it.
My hope is that you take this alcohol issues seriously and avoid it altogether rather than talk about the degree of drunkenness. Unless it is prescribed medicine, there are many alternatives, for you can take, tea, you can take coffee, you can take juice, etc. There are so many alternatives. If you are a Christian, why would you take the one that the bible is discouraging you from?
Day 4
1 Timothy 3
7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.
One of the requirement I see in verse 7, is that you must have good report outside the church.
This must be the toughest requirement for leaders. Most people argue ‘”but those people hate me already! I can’t care what they think of me!'” no! The bible is telling you to care! You should not become a leader if the people out there, the ones you are working with, the ones that are your neighbors, do not respect your Christianity. They do not have to accept Christianity but they respect you.
If they want to become Christians, you will actually become an impediment to them. If they hear ‘”that guy is a leader to our church? Whoa! I can’t go to such a church!'” They say.So if you really intend to become a leader, then you must watch out how you live your life in public.
If you want to be a leader ‘…avoid every one of the things that are listed above. Be sure you are able to teach, be sure you are not violent .Also note about violence, you can’t be a good leader when somebody annoys you and you lose your temper easily and become violent. Be gentle. That’s really what would help you. Gentleness is Christian. So, you must avoid being quarrelsome. It doesn’t mean you don’t make a stand on controversial issues.
Also, you must avoid being greedy or covetous. So, you will not be a good leader if that’s where you are, and that’s the way things are moving. It will be critical that you are not quarrelsome or greedy, or covetous. Be happy with the little you have until God blesses with more! You know, your subordinates can be richer than you and you have no problem because you are not driven by what you want. You are a steward, if God gives you less you are not bothered.
Day 5
1 Timothy 3
8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain
Them remember this rule of ruling your house well, with your children being in subjection. Of course, you must assume they are not talking about adult children because for adult children you are not in control of them. Young children, you can pinch and discipline, but if you are unable to discipline them, then don’t become a leader in the church.
But then the other thing verse 6 is saying, if you really are going to be a leader, grow in the Lord first. A novice should not become a leader. Let him first of all grow which needs time. If he is newly saved, don’t ask him to become a leader. I think that would be important to note.
The next list of requirements now is for deacons and it may be important to just look at verse 8, that says,
8 In the same way, deacons[b] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons
The lists for elders and deacons are pretty similar. You know deacons are actually physical servants of the church. They are doing actual work of serving the tables the way Peter puts it in the Book of Acts.
Any Christian is a servant to God and other people, but there are other responsibilities. You may be a treasurer, you may be the one in charge of cleaning up the church. All those have to be done by somebody. These are the deacons who are responsible for them. Any Christian, a servant to God is potentially a deacon!
Of course you could still be a preacher like Phillip but he must of necessity be involved in administration. You know men appointed to act specifically qualified position to do work of service on behalf of the church. They should actually be picked carefully.
Do you notice that the deacons requirements are listed in similar way to bishops? They have similar qualifications. It is only the work they do which is different. The elders are looking at the spiritual life of the congregation ‘… the deacons at the physical administration of the church.
Deacon qualifications include being reverend, somebody who can be respected, not double tongued, somebody who can be trusted.
Again, back to that issue of alcohol. If it is somebody who likes his bottle of wine leave him out. What about love of money? Is he in control of money? He must not be greedy for money. He is able to stop himself from being materialistic.
Also this person must be a guy keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. He fully trusts in God and he is actually blameless. That’s something you need to ask whether you really can be described as that somebody who is blameless.
Day 6
1 Timothy 3
11 In the same way, the women[c] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
The woman must number one, not be malicious talker. Number two, temperate, , and trustworthy in everything. You have charged me to be faith to the Lord, Acts, 15:16 is what the woman is asking, talking about the faithful in Christ Jesus. And 1st Timothy 6:2 is talking about believing masters, they are brethren, Revelation 2:10, be thou faithful unto death, 1st Peter 3:11, elders and deacons’ wives must be faithful in all things.
So, here, we are talking about the importance of women leaders, and, the fact that they have to be reverend. She must be somebody who can be respected. They are worthy of respect, mmh! That means you can have a wife who is not worthy of respect, pastor’s wife who is not worthy of respect is an issue. Also, they are not slanderers. These are people who do not gossip and spoil other people’s names. Then they are temperate. When we say temperate, it means they are not emotionally out of control, and they remain faithful in all things.
What does it mean to be double tongued? Whatever else it means, it means that you cannot trust the person. And maybe when no one trust you when you talk about the mystery of God and godliness which they are supposed to hold onto and share.
We are talking about the fact that Christ was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, this Christ was seen by angels, this Christ was preacher among the Gentiles, and this Christ was believed on in the world, and this Christ was received up in glory. That’s the mystery we all must preach but are we credible? You cannot agree to become a leader in a church when you don’t accept that mystery itself.
Day 7
1 Timothy 3
12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus
I think this even list should be important. How important family life is to her, should come out.
verse 14 says,
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing to you with these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth
So to be a Christian who doesn’t belong to any church, has no local church, you will soon discover yourself becoming cultic! The church holds the truth and if out of how will you know you have veered off.
verse 16 says,
16 Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit,[d]was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Is that mystery something you believe in? If not should be a leader? I think that’s something that you need to ask whether you could be described as a qualified leader. If you have qualified, then you know that one of the things you will be committed to is order. That things must be done in order. You cannot come to a Christian meeting and there is total confusion. Or come to your organization and there is no proper division of labour, and there is no clarity of who does what. That will not be a good example at all. So, whether you are women, whether you are elders, whether you are deacons, all of us must be committed to listening to God’s voice and having listened to God’s voice, choose to obey God’s voice; choose to do things that will honor God. Whether you are a woman, a deacon, an elder, that must be important.
So, what we learned as requirements for leaders?
Paul has emphasized several things. Your personal life must be exemplary. That means you yourself must have hope in the Lord, not having Christianity for your followers, and no Christianity for yourself.
Number two, if you are involved in marriage, it must be a good marriage. Invest in making it a good marriage and your children happy.
Number three, I think it will be important that you learn that God wants to use you and this is nothing to do with payment. There is no payment mentioned here. Deacons, elders, we are not talking about paying them. That’s why they are being told they should not be people who want to gain out of ministry. It means they are people who simply want to serve the Lord, and want nothing else.
But I wanted to especially note verse 10, They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In other words, don’t just pick somebody who has just joined your church, and start giving them responsibilities. Have a probationary period of time after people have joined your church. When they participate in worship and are involved, but they cannot become leaders yet! That’s what the word of God says. Give them time to be tested. So how come you arrive in a place and within no time you want to be a leader, you want to be recognized.?
Let me read the verse again, they must first be tested; mmh! And then if there is nothing against them, that’s the time they can become deacons. It does require a period of time. Some actually doesn’t allow you to even become a member of the church officially before taking time. Then once you are a member you can vote in the AGM, if you have not stayed in that church for more than a year. That allows the new member to get to know the church, and allows the leadership of the church to get to know the congregants.
I don’t know why people are in a hurry to enter into leadership? The word of God seems to say, ah! don’t force your way, it will be important that you give time to be tested.
Then here we are learning that, you must live your life so that you are worthy of respect. Whether you are a woman, a deacon, an elder, they must have exemplary life so it shows you are worth of respect. You are not earning respect by title, you are worth of that before the title.