WEBVTT 00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:05.679 We're going to be in 1 Timothy chapter 3 this morning. 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:08.240 1 Timothy chapter 3. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:18.719 We had this week, as a lot of you know, it seems that sickness has just been making its rounds among our congregation here. 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:23.760 And this week, in the last couple of days, it has struck the Ramos family in particular. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:29.280 Pastor Justin called me yesterday and said, Hey man, no way I'm making it tomorrow. 00:00:29.839 --> 00:00:31.679 So we adjusted. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:37.280 And so this morning we're gonna, it seems a little odd, but we're gonna jump ahead a chapter. 00:00:37.359 --> 00:00:44.320 We were getting ready to start chapter two, but instead of jumping into chapter two, we're gonna skip ahead to chapter three, and then next week we'll come back. 00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:45.119 Is that okay? 00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:48.320 Strange, but it's okay, I promise. 00:00:48.719 --> 00:00:49.439 It'll make sense. 00:00:49.600 --> 00:00:50.560 It'll flow. 00:00:50.799 --> 00:00:53.840 So we'll be in 1 Timothy chapter 3. 00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:57.119 We'll read verses 1 through 7. 00:00:57.600 --> 00:00:59.119 This is God's word. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:02.000 The saying is trustworthy. 00:01:02.240 --> 00:01:07.359 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:25.439 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 00:01:25.760 --> 00:01:30.480 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity, keeping his children submissive. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:36.719 For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 00:01:37.359 --> 00:01:44.239 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 00:01:44.480 --> 00:01:45.200 Verse 7. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:52.799 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil. 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:54.239 This is God's word. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:55.519 Thanks be to God. 00:01:55.680 --> 00:01:58.480 Would you pray with me before we jump in this morning? 00:01:58.640 --> 00:02:01.840 Father, thank you for your kindness to us. 00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:06.000 Thank you for your sufficient, uh, infallible word. 00:02:08.159 --> 00:02:16.560 I pray that your spirit would help us to love you with our minds this morning as we engage with the text. 00:02:17.120 --> 00:02:34.400 And that what you say, the the things that, the ways in which you instruct us through your word this morning, that they would stir the affections of our heart for Jesus, for the gospel, for for one another, for our city. 00:02:35.919 --> 00:02:41.919 Father, I pray that we wouldn't just hear information, but these things would penetrate our hearts. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.919 Helping us to see the beauty of the gospel. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:53.280 See the beauty of a Christ who died and rose again and has called us into a family. 00:02:56.719 --> 00:02:58.879 Father, thank you for this gift. 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:02.159 We pray this in the name of Christ. 00:03:02.560 --> 00:03:04.639 Amen and amen. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:06.159 Dr. 00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:23.199 John Maxwell, a writer, an expert in the field of leadership development, in his book titled The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader, he says this: everything rises and falls on leadership. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:35.039 We've undoubtedly seen this in our own lives, experiencing what it's like to have a great leader, or perhaps surviving the fallout of a bad one. 00:03:36.240 --> 00:03:54.960 When it comes to the church, specifically in recent years, it seems there's been a steady stream of high-profile pastors and leaders who have crashed and truthfully burned in what was ultimately seen to be really poor leadership. 00:03:56.719 --> 00:04:01.439 Leaders who abused their authority and abused people under their care. 00:04:02.639 --> 00:04:11.199 Leaders who used the church to build their own platform and their own fame rather than the fame and the glory of Jesus Christ. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:25.120 Leaders whose character and lack of holiness eventually caught up with them as they fell into patterns of destructive sin and disqualified themselves from ministry. 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:34.879 No doubt when we think of church leadership, particularly the office of elder, for many of us, some of those things come to mind. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:37.519 And rightfully so. 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:56.399 And so as we breach this subject today, I want us to do so not primarily through the lens of these poor examples of what eldership should be, but primarily through the lens of what Paul clearly tells us are marks of a qualified leader. 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.399 Very quickly, I want to define some terms. 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:04.720 In verse one of our text, you'll see this word overseer. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:11.600 Overseer, it can be and often is in other translations, translated as bishop. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:27.920 Then throughout the New Testament, we also see words such as pastor, which can also be translated as shepherd, and then the word elder being used to communicate essentially the same office and function as we see here in our text this morning. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:40.160 So as we make our way through this subject, if you hear me use any of these words, be it overseer, bishop, shepherd, pastor, elder, I'm using them synonymously. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:47.839 There are some nuances in the definition, particularly in maybe function and giftings as it pertains to each one. 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.959 But throughout the New Testament, they're used interchangeably. 00:05:51.040 --> 00:06:03.920 And so this morning, as we work our way through the text, if you hear me say shepherd, I'm in our context, I'm not meaning something different or other than when I use the term elder or bishop or overseer. 00:06:04.000 --> 00:06:04.639 Does that make sense? 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:05.920 Is that helpful? 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:06.800 Okay. 00:06:08.560 --> 00:06:16.560 I want to begin by addressing one common misconception about the office of elder. 00:06:17.600 --> 00:06:26.560 It's common and I would say it's misguided, and it's understanding regarding this office in the men to whom are called to fill it. 00:06:26.800 --> 00:06:27.759 Who are called to fill it. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:45.040 I know this to be true, not only because I've had personal conversations with many who hold this misconception, but we also see the implications of it evidenced throughout churches and throughout structures of leadership in the church. 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:55.600 And so I don't want us to think ourselves above misunderstanding or a miscommunication about what the office is. 00:06:55.759 --> 00:06:59.279 And so I want to dive right into addressing this. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:16.800 It's often perceived by people that elders or pastors are held to what they would consider to be a higher standard of moral achievement or commitment to Christ-likeness, commitment to holiness than the average believer. 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:35.199 It's often understood that there's this there's this kind of regular standard, and then there's this extra, this next level of Christ-likeness or holiness, and that's the level that elders are called to, or uh or pastors are called to. 00:07:42.399 --> 00:07:45.360 We don't see this communicated in the New Testament. 00:07:45.759 --> 00:07:53.199 Paul certainly doesn't communicate, and I think as we work our way through the text this morning, that will begin to make sense. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:59.199 All believers are called to the same standard of holiness and Christ-likeness. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:09.360 We're all, as the people of God, as those who have come to Jesus by faith in the gospel, have been redeemed through the work of Jesus Christ alone. 00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:12.160 We're all called to be like Christ. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:31.920 There aren't different and varying standards of what Christ is or what he looks like, and different or varying standards to which we may be called depending on our position or vocation, whatever the case may be. 00:08:32.480 --> 00:08:36.639 We're each called to be like Christ. 00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:46.159 All who are in him are being conformed more and more into his image, and that goes for elders and members alike. 00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.440 This is what's called sanctification. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:56.240 It's the process through which God is making us more and more like Jesus. 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:08.159 And it's his work, he accomplishes this in us, and he does this as we relate to one another in Christian community. 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:38.480 You'll notice as we look through these qualifications that with the exception of two, particularly that of the gifting or the capability of being able to teach, and then second, that of being uh not being a novice as we work, or not being essentially immature in the faith, with the exception of these two, all of the qualifications that we're given are pertaining to character, pertaining to being and looking like Jesus. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:44.480 And so there's not varying degrees of looking like Jesus. 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:47.519 We're all called to do that. 00:09:50.879 --> 00:09:55.759 And so as we work our way through, I think we'll we'll notice that. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:20.480 And so if if that's the case, if we see or if you'll grant me the idea that members, pastors, uh uh kind of quote-unquote normal church people and then maybe church staff, that we're not on this separate level, separate calling to Christ-likeness, if you'll grant me that, then what is the distinction? 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:22.559 What's the point here? 00:10:24.480 --> 00:10:29.600 Why is Paul giving this to Timothy as a qualifying list for elders? 00:10:31.039 --> 00:10:40.480 Because what he's getting at is that elders or pastors in the church are to be examples in these areas. 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:52.320 They're to be consistently, though not perfectly, walking in holiness and leading those who follow them into holiness as well. 00:10:53.039 --> 00:10:59.919 This is why Paul tells us uh in 1 Timothy chapter 4, verse 12 let no one despise you for your youth. 00:11:00.000 --> 00:11:07.759 He's talking to Timothy here, a young man, but set the believers an example in speech and conduct and love and faith and purity. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:12.720 Set before them an example of what it looks like to be like Christ. 00:11:13.679 --> 00:11:17.200 He communicates the same thing to Titus in chapter 2, verse 7. 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:22.639 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:35.919 I say all this to say those who hold the office of elder or aspire to hold it are not called to some other or higher standard of Christ-likeness than any other believer. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:45.919 Rather, they're to be examples, not perfect examples, but examples. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:50.639 Why am I belaboring this point? 00:11:51.919 --> 00:12:14.159 Because the implications of holding to this misconception is that if we believe that elders are held to a higher standard or another of Christ-likeness, called to a whole other level of holiness, then when they lead well, we'll be tempted to place them on a pedestal. 00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:23.519 We'll be tempted to make them our functional savior through which we find our acceptance before God. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:36.559 And then if they don't lead well, if they fail us, then we'll see this as a greater betrayal, a greater failure. 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:43.360 And it'll make us question the validity of the church and perhaps even the gospel itself. 00:12:44.879 --> 00:13:01.759 So we need to understand that God has not called elders to a whole other level of holiness, but he's given us this office and he's called qualified men to fill it to help us become more and more like him as we live this life together in a messy pursuit of Jesus. 00:13:02.480 --> 00:13:03.519 I hope that's clear. 00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:13.679 I hope that's helpful as we begin to unpack these qualifications for the office of elder, as Paul gives this to this young pastor named Timothy. 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:18.320 Now, one more caveat, and then we're actually going to get into the text. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:28.960 This is not a full uh all-encompassing theology of the office of elder, okay, or the office of pastor. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:34.000 I have some really good recommended resources that I'd love to share with you. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:50.480 And so if you have, if we touch on some things this morning uh that pique your curiosity, or perhaps if you're someone who has uh a desire and aspiration to even uh step into that uh office at some point, then I would love to share with you some really good resources. 00:13:50.720 --> 00:13:52.639 So, last caveat. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:58.559 Now, let me give you a summary statement and then we'll move into the text. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:04.879 Here's what I want us to see from what Paul is saying to Timothy this morning. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:14.399 Qualified elders are men who exemplify Christ's likeness and shepherd God's people toward him. 00:14:15.919 --> 00:14:22.000 Qualified elders are men who exemplify Christ's likeness and shepherd God's people toward him. 00:14:22.240 --> 00:14:33.200 Now, I get the irony of an elder standing here communicating to you what the qualifications for eldership are. 00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:44.799 I I see it, that's not lost on me, and so I am approaching this text, this topic, as humbly as I know how. 00:14:45.039 --> 00:14:45.360 Okay. 00:14:48.720 --> 00:14:50.799 We see a couple of things here in our text. 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:56.000 First, the work of eldership is a good work. 00:14:58.080 --> 00:14:59.279 It's a good work. 00:14:59.440 --> 00:15:00.159 Verse one. 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:02.159 The saying is trustworthy. 00:15:02.320 --> 00:15:03.919 You can you can count on this. 00:15:04.080 --> 00:15:05.360 This is true, Paul says. 00:15:05.600 --> 00:15:12.399 If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:20.399 If anyone aspires or has a desire to fill this office of overseer or elder, he desires a noble task. 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.399 There was a man named John Chrysostom. 00:15:22.480 --> 00:15:26.320 He was a Middle Eastern pastor and theologian from the fourth century. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.879 He writes this in his sermon on this epistle. 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:34.720 He says, If a man desires the office of a bishop, I do not blame him. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:37.600 For this is a work of protection, he says. 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:46.720 If anyone has this desire, so that he does not covet the dominion or the authority, but wishes to protect the church, I blame him not. 00:15:47.120 --> 00:15:53.200 If anyone there, then, desire it in this way, let him desire it. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:16:07.200 Paul, and then later Chrysostom, tells us that the work of eldership is a good work and one worthy to be sought after. 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:18.720 Paul says it's it's noble, it's valuable, it's honorable, and its value does not come inherently from the person filling the office. 00:16:19.440 --> 00:16:24.799 The honor of the office doesn't come because the man filling it is inherently honorable. 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.879 That's not what Paul's saying here. 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:40.480 Its value comes because God has established this office as a means by which he will lead and shepherd his flock. 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:45.840 This is how God has set up to care for his church. 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:49.679 And so, therefore, it's an honorable office. 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:51.120 It's a good work. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:56.000 And to be clear, it is in fact work. 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:04.799 There's the the joke that the pastor has the easiest job because he works for you know three hours on Sunday morning and then he's done. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:09.680 That may be the case for some, but it it is in fact work. 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.799 But it's good and noble work. 00:17:13.359 --> 00:17:19.440 And if a man desires to do this work, he desires a good thing, Paul says. 00:17:20.079 --> 00:17:21.359 A good thing. 00:17:30.160 --> 00:17:42.480 Rather, he indicates that the desire itself, when in conjunction with the observable qualifications listed, is a good desire and one that should be heard and assessed. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:45.279 I find this really interesting. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:54.559 Paul doesn't say there will be this sort of divine calling. 00:17:55.599 --> 00:18:02.480 He says, if you desire this, if you want this, it's a good thing. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:04.400 It's good. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:13.039 Now, he doesn't say if you want this, therefore you're qualified and should be in this role. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:14.720 He also doesn't say that. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:17.359 It's not the, you know, I think, therefore I am. 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:19.680 That's not what Paul's saying here. 00:18:21.680 --> 00:18:33.440 But it's interesting that he says, if you desire this, you desire a good thing in conjunction with the observable, verifiable qualifications that he lays out in the text. 00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:44.480 Many think that the only way for us to know God's will or God's calling on our life is for us to experience this kind of writing on the wall moment. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:49.039 Now that that may be the case for some. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:19:01.759 But perhaps more often it's the inherent giftings and desire that God puts within you that will lead you toward a particular calling in your life. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:07.359 And Paul indicates that that can certainly be true for the office of elder as well. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:13.839 And to aspire to this office, he says, is to aspire to or have a desire for a good work. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:15.599 It's a good work. 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:20.319 Number two, here's where we'll spend the bulk of our time. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:25.599 The office of elder must be filled by qualified men. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:28.640 By qualified men. 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:36.720 Again, we said Paul didn't say if you desire this office, then fill the office. 00:19:37.759 --> 00:19:40.640 He says, if you desire it, that you desire a good thing. 00:19:40.799 --> 00:19:46.799 And he says, now, here's what we're looking for in men who would fill this office. 00:19:48.880 --> 00:19:50.079 Qualified men. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:51.359 Verses 2 to 7. 00:19:51.440 --> 00:19:53.759 Let's read it real quick and then we'll kind of break it down. 00:19:53.920 --> 00:19:56.640 Therefore, an overseer must be above reproach. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:20:02.160 The husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:07.359 Verse 3, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:19.279 He must manage his own household well with all dignity, keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the for God's church? 00:20:19.599 --> 00:20:25.839 He mustn't be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:34.400 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into the snare of the devil. 00:20:36.720 --> 00:20:50.400 Because of the nature of this work, being what it is, namely that of leading and shepherding the people of God, there are certainly qualifications that must be met by those considered for eldership. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:58.240 These are not loose, suggestive guidelines or kind of the ideal situation. 00:20:59.839 --> 00:21:06.160 But rather, these are those traits which must be possessed by those who hold the office. 00:21:08.480 --> 00:21:14.720 In verse 2, Paul begins an overseer must be above reproach. 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:29.279 Jeremy Wren, in his book, simply titled Church Elders, writes, Being above reproach means that an elder is to be the kind of man whom no one suspects of wrongdoing or immorality. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:36.319 People would be shocked to hear that this kind of man is charged with such acts. 00:21:37.920 --> 00:21:41.200 Now, this doesn't mean that he's perfect. 00:21:41.519 --> 00:21:49.680 Rather, it means that his life is not marked by or distinguished by questionable morality and character. 00:21:49.839 --> 00:21:52.079 He's an honorable man. 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:56.799 He walks and talks like Christ. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:05.039 That this is the heading under which all of the other qualifications fall. 00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:23.359 Let me also note we we need to understand that all those who hold this office must do so based on the quality of their character and Christ's likeness and not on their social standing or wealth or business success. 00:22:23.519 --> 00:22:33.039 It could be tempting to look at someone who is a great businessman, and I've seen this, I've experienced this. 00:22:33.920 --> 00:22:44.160 And then to assume, therefore, that he would also be qualified to fill the office of elder when in reality those aren't the qualifications that Paul lays out here. 00:22:44.400 --> 00:22:47.839 Rather, it's issues of character and Christlieness. 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:50.000 He must be above reproach. 00:22:50.160 --> 00:23:00.400 As Ren says, he would be the kind of man that if we heard an accusation, our first response isn't, yeah, that makes sense. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:03.680 But we would be shocked. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:11.279 Paul continues, he must be the husband of one wife. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:17.200 The literal translation of this would be that he is a one-woman man. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.960 He's faithful to his wife. 00:23:21.279 --> 00:23:24.079 He only has eyes for her. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:29.440 This is more than just a statement about how many wives a man can have. 00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:31.759 It's not a quantitative statement. 00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.240 You can have one, not two. 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:38.160 It's not the point of what Paul's saying here. 00:23:39.039 --> 00:23:42.960 He's saying, this man must be a faithful man. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:52.960 It means that he has no eyes for other women, except for the one that he's married to. 00:23:53.119 --> 00:23:55.119 He doesn't have wandering eyes. 00:23:55.279 --> 00:24:00.160 His desire is for his wife, not for some photoshopped illusion. 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:08.319 How a man treats his wife is quite telling of how he will treat the bride of Christ. 00:24:09.680 --> 00:24:16.000 That's to say, if he's not faithful to his wife, he will not be faithful to the church. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:23.279 And I would go even further and say, if he's not faithful to his wife, he's already unfaithful to the church. 00:24:27.759 --> 00:24:32.799 Now, this is not a command for every elder to have a wife. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:34.960 That's also not Paul's point. 00:24:35.119 --> 00:24:42.720 If that were the case, Paul himself, Jesus himself would be disqualified from the office. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:49.119 If we get into a theology that disqualifies Jesus, we we may need to reassess. 00:24:50.000 --> 00:24:55.039 So it's not a command for an elder to have a wife. 00:24:55.119 --> 00:25:02.559 Rather, it's a descriptive scenario of a man who is married or a man who has a wife. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:07.359 And it speaks to the faithful character of even an unmarried man. 00:25:09.440 --> 00:25:10.559 He goes on. 00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:15.200 He must be sober-minded, self-controlled, and respectable. 00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:25.200 That's to say, he behaves carefully, appropriately, and is not controlled by anything but Christ. 00:25:26.400 --> 00:25:32.000 He isn't ruled by his emotion or his lustful desires or by his anger. 00:25:32.720 --> 00:25:36.559 He remains level-headed in the midst of difficulty and struggle. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:42.480 Can you see how these characteristics begin to tie into one another? 00:25:44.319 --> 00:25:48.480 Thabidi Anya Buile, he's a pastor in the Washington, D.C. 00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:52.960 area, writes in his book, Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons. 00:25:53.039 --> 00:25:59.680 This is one of those resources that I alluded to earlier, phenomenal resource on the offices of elder and deacon. 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:07.599 He says, where soberness and self-control reign, there you have a respectable man. 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:12.079 He lives a godly, ordered life. 00:26:12.640 --> 00:26:18.319 And such qualifications are necessary for shepherding the flock of God. 00:26:19.200 --> 00:26:20.880 These are necessary. 00:26:21.039 --> 00:26:26.319 These aren't, as we said, loose, hoped-for standards. 00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:34.559 Sober-mindedness, self-control, respectability, these are necessary to the office. 00:26:39.119 --> 00:26:41.279 An elder must be hospitable. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:44.079 It's essential. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:55.759 Yet often this quality, this characteristic is overlooked, I think, in what we look for when we talk about the office of eldership. 00:26:55.920 --> 00:27:14.640 And I think perhaps even in generally in the lives of believers in general, I think sometimes we as a broader culture can downplay the role that hospitality plays in the Christian life. 00:27:15.359 --> 00:27:21.200 And this goes beyond simply being a good host for someone at your home, though that's certainly part of it. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:28.799 Its meaning is that of caring for the stranger, welcoming in those who are needy. 00:27:30.720 --> 00:27:39.359 God has always placed a high level of importance on how his people treat strangers and needy people. 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:47.279 In the Old Testament law, God required the good treatment of these people among the children of Israel. 00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:58.480 He went so far as to say that strangers who would sojourn through their land were to be treated with the same respect and protected by the same laws as citizens of the country. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:10.000 Jesus commands us to love and care for our neighbor and even for our enemies. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:18.319 Hospitality is an essential aspect of those who would fill the office of elder. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:21.680 He must be able to teach. 00:28:22.160 --> 00:28:28.960 This is one of those two distinguishing marks of this office of elder. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:36.960 He must be able to teach, that is, teach the scriptures, teach the word of God to the church. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:52.319 Inherent in this is the reality that in order for him to teach well, he must know the scriptures. 00:28:53.839 --> 00:29:02.240 And so this isn't simply a statement if this person is a good communicator, but rather, does he know the word of God? 00:29:03.440 --> 00:29:08.079 Can he shepherd the people in the instruction of the Lord? 00:29:09.039 --> 00:29:10.319 Can he teach? 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:17.200 And again, this isn't only the best communicators can be elders. 00:29:17.279 --> 00:29:18.799 That's not the point here. 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:22.720 It's not the form necessarily of communication. 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:27.519 It's does he know the scriptures and can he shepherd other people in the scriptures? 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:33.680 And not only is this alluding to instruction, but also protection. 00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:38.000 Can he defend against that which is false? 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:44.880 Paul's already alluded to this earlier in chapter one to this young pastor named Timothy. 00:29:45.039 --> 00:29:47.279 This is the charge I'm giving to you. 00:29:47.519 --> 00:29:50.880 Defend against false doctrine. 00:29:55.119 --> 00:29:59.039 Paul writes this again in his list of qualifications in Titus chapter one. 00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:12.319 He must hold firm, Paul says, to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction and sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. 00:30:14.400 --> 00:30:22.319 It's often said that the pastor has to have two voices: one for the sheep and one for the wolves. 00:30:23.279 --> 00:30:33.680 One for those who are under his care, and one for those who are attempting to feast on the sheep, destroy the people of God. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:38.480 The shepherd, the pastor, the elder has to be able to do both. 00:30:40.000 --> 00:30:49.839 And what that demands is that he be soaked in, saturated in, have his soul filled up with the scriptures. 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:52.160 The word of God. 00:30:52.319 --> 00:30:53.839 That's how we teach. 00:30:54.079 --> 00:30:57.920 That's how we instruct, and that's how we defend. 00:31:02.960 --> 00:31:05.680 He mustn't be a drunkard, Paul says. 00:31:06.640 --> 00:31:16.880 He's reiterating that this man cannot be submitted or under the control of or ruled by anything but Christ. 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:35.359 Drink, food, sex, power, none of these can hold sway over the elders, over the pastors. 00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:52.079 If we become controlled by drink or food or sex or power or our own platform, our own desires, our own soap boxes, then we have ceased as elders to shepherd the flock of God. 00:31:55.119 --> 00:32:00.160 We mustn't be controlled by anything except Christ. 00:32:03.119 --> 00:32:04.319 He goes on. 00:32:07.759 --> 00:32:10.880 He isn't violent or quarrelsome. 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:20.559 Paul essentially is saying that this man shouldn't be addicted to drama. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:31.839 He's not to use his authority to violently lord over people and abuse them with his position. 00:32:35.839 --> 00:32:53.519 This is one of those areas in which if you've been paying attention to the evangelical landscape, particularly in the Western world in the last couple of years, this is a qualification for eldership that has been destroyed. 00:32:58.400 --> 00:33:11.599 Men who had good business acumen, men who were fantastic communicators, men who were had outward things that alluded to the fact that maybe they would be a good elder. 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:20.160 These men were destroyed, and in some cases, their own churches destroyed because they were violent and quarrelsome. 00:33:20.240 --> 00:33:23.440 They were willing to fight for power. 00:33:24.960 --> 00:33:27.680 And they abused people in the process. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:41.279 Any authority that the elders have is not from within themselves. 00:33:41.359 --> 00:33:44.160 It's not an inherent authority. 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:54.960 It's not something that we as an elder team have derived from our own selves or our own will. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:00.240 Any authority that the elders have is from God. 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:08.880 Insofar as the elders submit to and instruct people in the scriptures by the Spirit of God. 00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:14.719 Once the elders step outside of that, we've disqualified ourselves. 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:21.519 Our authority is an authority from God, not from ourselves. 00:34:21.599 --> 00:34:30.239 And therefore, to use the office of elder to try to ascend to a certain level of platform or power or fame is absurd. 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:35.039 And it's disqualifying. 00:34:37.920 --> 00:34:40.880 Elder mustn't always be looking for a fight. 00:34:45.280 --> 00:34:47.519 Because we may have to, right? 00:34:49.519 --> 00:34:52.400 I was listening this week to a book called Hillbilly Elegy. 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:56.639 Wouldn't recommend listening to the audiobook with your kids in the room. 00:34:57.519 --> 00:35:02.400 But he taught, he, he, he, he, he used this phrase talking about hillbilly justice. 00:35:02.639 --> 00:35:08.559 He said in his home, it was always taught to him that you never start a fight. 00:35:08.719 --> 00:35:12.559 Now, I'm not endorsing one way or the other on fighting. 00:35:12.639 --> 00:35:13.760 That's not the point. 00:35:14.159 --> 00:35:21.119 He says his grandmother taught him you never start a fight, but if a fight is started, you always finish the fight. 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:31.440 Sort of how I think through this idea of not being quarrelsome. 00:35:31.599 --> 00:35:34.480 The elder is not to go looking for fights. 00:35:35.440 --> 00:35:42.480 Doesn't mean he doesn't fight for truth, fight for the care of his sheep, fight for what's right and good. 00:35:43.360 --> 00:35:48.719 But he is not marked by violence and oppression and abuse. 00:35:50.960 --> 00:35:54.000 Paul continues, he's not a lover of money. 00:35:54.639 --> 00:36:00.320 We mentioned that if this man desires the office of elder, that desire is good. 00:36:01.519 --> 00:36:06.719 But that's not to say that there aren't wrong motives for desiring such a position. 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:09.920 Some would want it for the authority and the and the power. 00:36:12.960 --> 00:36:16.960 Some would desire it even for the money. 00:36:17.760 --> 00:36:23.679 If you're controlled by the pursuit of money, then you're not qualified to be an elder. 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:29.840 Again, we're to be ruled by nothing but Christ. 00:36:30.480 --> 00:36:32.239 We're to look like Christ. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:36.400 Paul goes on to say that an elder must manage his household well. 00:36:36.559 --> 00:36:39.039 This is an interesting caveat here. 00:36:39.440 --> 00:36:44.559 If you want to know how a man will lead his church, look at how he leads his family. 00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:49.760 Look at how he cares for and shepherds his wife. 00:36:50.079 --> 00:36:52.480 Look at how he treats his children. 00:36:52.800 --> 00:36:57.920 Watch how he leads them, not by instruction alone, but by example. 00:36:58.320 --> 00:37:01.679 He sets a path for them to be able to walk. 00:37:03.599 --> 00:37:13.679 These qualities that must be present to lead in the church should be present and observable and verifiable in the very man's life and home as he leads his family. 00:37:14.960 --> 00:37:18.960 Great indication of how a man will treat his church is how he treats his family. 00:37:21.039 --> 00:37:23.119 Paul then says he must not be a new convert. 00:37:23.199 --> 00:37:36.239 This is that second qualification that doesn't necessarily speak to character, but simply he's saying that a man must be tested and found qualified. 00:37:36.960 --> 00:37:44.639 This takes time, it takes development, and those things are not something that a new convert or someone who's new to the faith can have. 00:37:44.719 --> 00:37:47.039 This is speaking to maturity. 00:37:48.480 --> 00:37:51.199 Some translations use the word novice. 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:57.840 It's not speaking about the relative age of the person, as if a young man couldn't fill the role. 00:37:58.000 --> 00:38:00.719 This letter is to a young man who's filling this role. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:13.199 Rather, it's speaking to his having proved himself qualified, been observed, and found to be able to fill the role well according to the instruction of God. 00:38:14.000 --> 00:38:18.480 Shouldn't be a new convert, shouldn't be essentially immature. 00:38:19.760 --> 00:38:24.880 Finally, Paul concludes his list with this: He must be well thought of by outsiders. 00:38:24.960 --> 00:38:41.199 If that first qualification is kind of the summation of the rest of the list of characteristics, this last one kind of wraps up our full understanding of what it means to be an elder. 00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:58.239 Not only should this man have observable, verifiable character in the way he leads his family, in the way he uses his money, in the way he treats his wife, but also in how he is thought of by outsiders. 00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:04.880 That is, by unbelievers, by those outside of the family of God. 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:11.519 It's interesting that Paul says this man even has to be thought well of by those outside of the faith. 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:42.239 I know of a church in Birmingham, Alabama, that when they have observed and assessed a man to uh recommend that he fill this office, they will take out an ad in the Birmingham newspaper for a month asking for anyone who knows this man to write in and to send an email or a letter to the church with any information they may have that would disqualify this man from filling the role. 00:39:43.280 --> 00:39:44.800 That's pretty bold. 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:57.519 But the office of elder has to be filled by men who are thought well of by outsiders, who have a good reputation among unbelievers. 00:39:58.239 --> 00:40:05.840 Paul says so that he doesn't fall into the trap of bringing shame on the name of Christ and on the church. 00:40:07.039 --> 00:40:13.519 If there's an offense that someone could bring against this man, it should only be the offense of the gospel. 00:40:16.159 --> 00:40:30.239 No doubt many of us, some of us, have observed church leaders who have such a poor reputation in the community that it's a detriment not only to the cause of Christ, but to that congregation. 00:40:35.119 --> 00:40:38.559 The office of elder has to be filled with qualified men. 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:42.800 That is not to say perfect men. 00:40:44.800 --> 00:40:59.360 Or men who never have a bad day, men who never struggle to hold it together, men who never have an outburst, men who never think, well, maybe if I could just get a little more money, that's not. 00:41:01.039 --> 00:41:06.159 It mustn't be men who are marked by these characteristics. 00:41:07.440 --> 00:41:18.639 Not perfect men, but men who have been tested and observed and found to meet the standard. 00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:31.760 Men of whom it could be asked, what would happen if the church imitated him? 00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:37.119 Not just the visible him, but the true him. 00:41:41.039 --> 00:41:44.639 What would happen if the church imitated this man? 00:41:44.800 --> 00:41:47.760 Paul said, imitate me as I follow Christ. 00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:49.360 Follow me as I follow Christ. 00:41:49.920 --> 00:41:51.840 That's a bold calling. 00:41:54.719 --> 00:42:01.760 If we could ask that question and the answer be, they would look more like Jesus. 00:42:05.199 --> 00:42:09.199 And that's a man who qualifies for the office. 00:42:10.239 --> 00:42:14.559 As we've worked through these qualifications and we're we're wrapping it up. 00:42:14.719 --> 00:42:18.159 I know we've blazed through some of this stuff. 00:42:18.559 --> 00:42:26.079 Certainly, if you are like me, you have begun to feel the weight of these qualifications. 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:35.039 Recognizing that we could never perfectly live up. 00:42:39.199 --> 00:42:43.280 But that, friends, is the beauty of the gospel. 00:42:45.199 --> 00:42:52.639 We don't get the luxury of saying, well, I hear what you're saying, but that's your standard, not mine. 00:42:54.559 --> 00:42:54.880 No. 00:42:56.559 --> 00:43:02.480 This is the standard of Christ's likeness, of holiness. 00:43:02.719 --> 00:43:06.639 And so we don't get to say, no, that's not for me. 00:43:07.760 --> 00:43:12.079 We should feel the weight of these qualities. 00:43:13.679 --> 00:43:16.159 But this is the beauty of the gospel. 00:43:16.320 --> 00:43:18.480 This is our gospel conviction. 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:40.960 Jesus, not the elders, is our true exemplar, our chief shepherd, who doesn't just demand righteousness, but became our righteousness through his life, death, and resurrection. 00:43:41.119 --> 00:43:44.880 See, Jesus is perfectly above reproach. 00:43:46.320 --> 00:43:52.079 Jesus is the husband of one wife, having only eyes for his bride, the church. 00:43:52.239 --> 00:43:55.119 He is not an unfaithful husband. 00:43:56.400 --> 00:43:58.960 Jesus is sober minded and respectable. 00:44:00.559 --> 00:44:06.000 To strangers, welcoming them into his home and making them family. 00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:14.480 Jesus teaches as he instructs us on how to look more and more like him. 00:44:14.719 --> 00:44:20.960 He's not ruled by drink or lust or anger, but shows kindness to undeserving people. 00:44:21.199 --> 00:44:27.039 See, even in these qualifications, we see a glaring picture of the righteousness of Jesus. 00:44:29.360 --> 00:44:33.920 And this is the very hope for elders. 00:44:35.519 --> 00:44:38.639 This is the hope for members. 00:44:40.000 --> 00:44:45.920 It's hope for elders because we don't have to keep up a facade of perfect righteousness. 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:46.400 Why? 00:44:46.639 --> 00:44:50.719 Because we have been made perfectly righteous by Jesus Christ. 00:44:52.480 --> 00:45:06.639 And so I don't have to feel like I cannot reveal my shortcomings or my weaknesses or the moments in which I betray the very things that I'm that I've been speaking of. 00:45:06.800 --> 00:45:09.599 I don't have to feel like I can't reveal that. 00:45:09.840 --> 00:45:10.400 Why? 00:45:11.440 --> 00:45:21.679 Because through the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, he has given me his righteousness, and so I don't need to earn it. 00:45:24.559 --> 00:45:40.320 I can simply live in the righteousness of Christ, walking imperfectly, often looking more like a stumble than a walk, but walking nevertheless toward Jesus Christ. 00:45:44.239 --> 00:45:52.800 And this is hope for members because we can submit and follow imperfect leaders. 00:45:53.920 --> 00:46:05.519 Because it's truly and ultimately Jesus who we follow, who calls and equips men to lead us into Christ-likeness. 00:46:07.360 --> 00:46:09.599 The gospel's our hope. 00:46:12.079 --> 00:46:23.119 So as we conclude, let me give you a couple of ways perhaps in which we can live out the implications of the gospel as it pertains to eldership in the church. 00:46:23.280 --> 00:46:26.000 First, this may seem a little self-serving. 00:46:26.320 --> 00:46:27.920 Pray for your elders. 00:46:30.000 --> 00:46:35.360 Pray for your elders because I promise you we feel the weight of this text. 00:46:38.079 --> 00:46:51.440 And we do not want to be so arrogant as to look out and see pastor after pastor after pastor falling, disqualifying himself, and arrogantly saying that could never be me. 00:46:54.000 --> 00:47:03.360 Rather, it is only by God's grace and with his help that we can love and lead the church. 00:47:04.239 --> 00:47:09.840 Second, lean into community with your elders. 00:47:10.800 --> 00:47:16.239 Sometimes we feel as if we have to pull back. 00:47:16.400 --> 00:47:19.760 We can't really show who we are or be honest. 00:47:20.639 --> 00:47:22.480 Don't let us do that. 00:47:23.760 --> 00:47:26.000 Lean into community with us. 00:47:26.239 --> 00:47:31.760 Because before we are shepherds, before pastors are shepherds, we're sheep. 00:47:33.199 --> 00:47:44.000 And we need covenant community to hold us accountable, to lift our heads, to point us toward Jesus. 00:47:45.599 --> 00:47:49.760 And then third, follow Jesus first. 00:47:51.840 --> 00:47:53.599 Follow Jesus first. 00:47:55.119 --> 00:48:03.599 Because it's only insofar as elders follow Jesus that they earn the right to lead the church. 00:48:06.320 --> 00:48:12.079