Qualifications for Spiritual Leaders
1 Timothy 3:1-13
SS Lesson for 03/13/11
Devotional Scripture: 1 Thess 5:11-24; Titus 1:5-9
The outline of the lesson came from a previous SS Lesson dated 012/15/2006. This week's lesson teaches us about Qualifications for Spiritual Leaders. The study's aim is to realize that spiritual leadership means godly leadership. The study's application is to accept that spiritual leadership in the Church is a serious responsibility.
The Leadership Industry
Billions of dollars are spent every year in the quest for good leadership. People buy books, attend seminars, pay for consultations, and earn degrees—all to make themselves better leaders. Meanwhile, businesses, schools, governments, nonprofit agencies, and churches spend countless hours and dollars to find or train effective leaders. At election time, candidates spend fortunes promoting their leadership skills while voters complain about the lack of true leaders. We are surrounded by a leadership industry. What is gained by all this effort? Most would say that good leadership is still not common. We have been disappointed too many times by our leaders. We have probably been especially disappointed by our own leadership failures. Where can we turn for a better perspective? Does Scripture tell us the secret to leadership? The answer to that question is no—and yes. If we think that there is a scriptural “magic formula” that will create leaders, we will be disappointed. But if we want to know what God calls leaders to be, our text for today can give us a clear picture.
Lesson Background
The books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus, were written by Paul to give his associates in ministry direction in strengthening the church. Timothy was working with the church of Ephesus, where a form of false teaching had damaged the church (compare 1 Timothy 1:3; 4:1–3; and 6:20, 21). That teaching threatened the core of the gospel: that all people are sinners, all equally in need of God’s grace through Jesus Christ. Sound leadership was imperative in such a circumstance. So in 1 Timothy 3, Paul instructed Timothy on the kind of leaders the church needed. We might expect that Paul would advise Timothy on the actions that leaders should take: how they can evaluate the past, assess the present, and make sound plans for the future. But Paul focuses first not on what leaders do, but on who they are. Paul gives not an action plan for leaders, but a portrait of character. In this light, today’s passage provides lists of qualities that church leaders need to possess. Such lists were common in Paul’s time. They were not intended to be complete, point-by-point checklists. Rather, they suggested a full picture of the needed qualities. (Some students prefer the stronger word qualifications, the implication being that failure to meet any one item of the list disqualifies a candidate from the leadership position in question.) We can compare the items on these lists to brush strokes in a fine oil painting. If we examine each brush stroke, we can precisely identify its length and color. But to understand it fully, we need to see how it fits into the context of the picture as a whole. So it is with Paul’s list of leadership qualities. We should identify each term carefully. But to understand them as Paul intended, we need to see how each quality fits with the others.
Plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, and paperhangers all must meet the standards of their guilds to succeed at their trades. Professional athletes must prove themselves to gain and maintain a place on the team roster. Every vocation has its own set of professional standards for practice and success. Leadership in the local church is no exception. Those who carry out its ministries must meet high standards and exhibit specific skills. But since the church is no ordinary business, profession, trade, or organization, these standards are not set by human beings. As we observed last week, the church is God's assembly and household, appointed to uphold and defend His truth in a contrary world. He has therefore set standards for its leaders that go beyond the usual human skills of leadership. They must exhibit His own character to represent Him accurately to the world. We all have seen spiritual leaders both rise and fall. It is important to note that the strong churches are those that have godly leaders who set the pace for the congregation in godly living. Godly leaders who have biblical characteristics for spiritual leadership can help congregations grow steadily in Christ. In our lesson this week, we see Paul teaching his trainee Timothy. We learn the importance of having and training good leaders in the church. Leadership is very important in the life of any church congregation. It sets the pace for the life of the church. In our lesson this week, we see how Paul instructed young pastor Timothy about the qualifications of spiritual leaders.
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3 not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4 one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5 (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);
6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me !"
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
2 Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers — not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;
19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.
14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
24 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
7 No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence.
10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.
6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.
15 Has not [the LORD] made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth.
8 If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family , he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them
5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you — unless, of course, you fail the test ? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test .
4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else,
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test , he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
8 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,
9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.
10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.
11 Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Deacons were those who had charge of the temporal affairs of the church, the poor, etc. In most respects, except in regard to preaching, their qualifications were to be the same as those of the "bishops." There were to be serious, sober-minded men. In Acts 6:3, it is said that they should be men "of honest report." They should be men who by their serious deportment will inspire respect. They were to not be double-tongued. This means, properly, uttering the same thing twice, and then deceitful, or speaking one thing and meaning another. They should be men who can be relied on for the exact truth of what they say, and for the exact fulfillment of their promises. It is not affirmed that it would be proper for the deacon, anymore than the bishop, to indulge in the use of wine in small quantities, but it "is" affirmed that a man who is much given to the use of wine ought not, on any consideration, to be a deacon. It may be remarked here, that this qualification was everywhere regarded as necessary for a minister of religion. There were not to be greedy of filthy lucre. The special reason why this qualification was important in the deacon was, that he would be entrusted with the funds of the church, and might be tempted to appropriate them to his own use instead of the charitable purposes for which they were designed; see this illustrated in the case of Judas, John 12:6.
We have here the character of deacons: these had the care of the temporal concerns of the church, that is, the maintenance of the ministers and provision for the poor: they served tables, while the ministers or bishops gave themselves only to the ministry of the word and prayer, Acts 6:2,4. Of the institution of this office, with that which gave occasion to it, you have an account in Acts 6:1-7. Now it was requisite that deacons should have a good character, because they were assistants to the ministers, appeared and acted publicly, and had a great trust reposed in them. They must be grave. Gravity becomes all Christians, but especially those who are in the office in the church. Not doubled-tongued; that will say one thing to one and another thing to another, according as their interests leads them: a double tongue comes from a double heart; flatterers and slanderers are double-tongued. Not given to much wine; for this is a great disparagement to any man, especially to a Christian, and one in office, unfits men for business, opens the door to many temptations. Not greedy of filthy lucre; this would especially be bad in the deacons, who were entrusted with the church's money, and, if they were covetous and greedy of filthy lucre, would be tempted to embezzle it, and convert that to their own use which was intended for the public service.
2:1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine .
9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine . Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
9 Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him. 11 Anyone who welcomes him shares in his wicked work.
4:1 So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.
2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
29 "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields — and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
People are inclined to find fault with those who lead. Sadly, the church is infamous for criticizing her leaders. If the church is not doing well, we do not want our share of the responsibility, so we pin the blame on others. Today’s passage forbids us from doing that. The qualities for the church’s leaders belong in the lives of all Christians (see Ephesians 5:3, 4, 18, etc.). If the church is not yet what it should be, the solution is not to blame leaders. It is to become better Christ-followers.
The text for this week talks about the office of a bishop. That designation is difficult for some to understand. To change the term to "spiritual leaders" or "elders" can be just as confusing because the spiritual leadership is set up differently in various churches. The word "bishop" is literally translated "overseer." In other passages a different word is used: "elder." Do these terms refer to the pastor or pastors of a church, or do they designate lay leaders in the church? If the purpose of the passage is to describe the leaders of the church, is there any application to church members who are not in leadership? I may have an opinion that does not fit the leadership style of your church, but let me try to explain the terms as I understand them. First, the terms "elder," "bishop (overseer)," and "pastor" are all used of the same position in the church. Check out Acts 20:17, 28. Verse 17 says that the Apostle Paul sent for the "elders" of the church. Then in verse 28 he told them the Holy Spirit had made them "overseers" (the title "bishops") so that they might "feed" (the word "shepherd" or "pastor") the flock. All three words-"elder," "bishop," "pastor-are used of the spiritual leaders of the church of Ephesus. Who is the spiritual leader of your church? Is that position held by a pastor? Or in addition to a pastor do you have lay leaders who are called elders? You may also have deacons in your church and consider them part of the spiritual leadership, but deacons were not entitled "over- seers" of the church. According to Acts 6, they were chosen to handle the physical tasks of the church. The oversight of the church was given to the elders, bishops, and pastors — three different designations for the same position. No matter what kind of spiritual leadership your church may have or the titles they may use, the main point of this week's lesson is that the spiritual leaders of any church should have spiritual maturity. But what does spiritual maturity look like in the life of a leader? Paul described that in the lesson text. A careful look at the character qualities of the overseers (bishops) and deacons shows that the same level of spiritual maturity was required of both. Those who lead or handle tasks in any area of the church should demonstrate spiritual growth and character. The official positions within the body of Christ are holy callings of the Spirit of God. The church is called to recognize those whom the Holy Spirit has given them to serve, teach, and lead! There is one final observation that should be made from the text. It talks about a man who desires the office. No one should take on a position of spiritual leadership just because no one else will do it. He should know the call of God on his life and be willing to serve. He must strive to be a man of spiritual character and maturity whom God can use in directing the affairs of the church. God honors that kind of commitment.
1. To desire an office in Christ's church is a good thing; it shows a desire to serve (1 Tim. 3:1)
2. A leader in the church should be known as a positive influence in the lives of others (vs. 2)
3. To be worthy to govern the church, an elder must first govern all aspects of his own life well (vs. 3-5)
4. Pride is a constant enemy, especially of the inexperienced Christian (vs. 6)
5. The devil rejoices to entrap a church leader in public reproach and scandal (vs. 7)
6. All officials of the church must be held to the same high standards of conduct (vs. 8-13)
It has been said that everything stands or falls on leadership. There is a lot of truth in that. As we consider spiritual leadership in the church, it is even more important that we think carefully about the requirements God has set up for spiritual leaders.
A "bishop," or overseer, is often considered the pastor of the church (although the terms "bishop," "pastor," and "elder" are basically interchangeable in Scripture). The qualifications listed in these verses are quite high, but it is important to remember that they are attainable. To be "blameless" does not mean without sin. It means that a man is above reproach. There is nothing in his life that would bring about condemnation. This is important, for the pastor is the shepherd of the flock. Jesus is the chief Shepherd (1 Pet. 5:4), and any man who is an under-shepherd must seek to imitate Christ. The overseer is to be a man, for he is "the husband of one wife" (1 Tim. 3:2). He should be characterized by marital faithfulness (assuming, although not necessarily commanding, that most of the leaders would be married). Paul wrote that a spiritual leader must not be "a brawler" (1 Tim. 3:3). This word is used only twice in the New Testament. It means "quarrelsome." We are to contend for the faith (cf. Jude 1:3), but we are not to be contentious. That takes a delicate balance. To accomplish this, we must above all realize that it is not our battle. Even when Michael the archangel was contending with Satan, he did not rebuke him. He left it in God's hands (vs. 9). The family unit is important in the life of an overseer. Paul compared the matter of ruling his children well to taking care of the church. Many overseers do have children, although some, of course, do not.
Many churches have the office of deacon, but it is not certain that Paul was actually pointing out that this was a specific church office. (Verse 13 uses the word "office," but the Greek simply refers to the idea of serving as a deacon.) The word "deacon" means a "servant." If Acts 6 shows the first instance of the early church choosing deacons (though the word is not used there), these men, at least at first, essentially ministered to widows. So why were they to meet a set of spiritual qualifications? Anyone who ministers in the church is doing a spiritual service for God. Even those who clean toilets and mop floors in a church building are doing a service for God. Most of the spiritual requirements for deacons are similar to those for the overseer. Perhaps the most striking difference is found in I Timothy 3:9: "Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." The mystery of the faith is "a term used elsewhere by Paul to refer to the revealed truth of the gospel" (Sproul, gen. ed., The Reformation Study Bible, Nelson). Paul probably mentioned this because some people seem to have been taken in by false teachers (cf. 1:3). Spiritual leaders must be qualified. God insists on it, and the church depends on it!