Men in leadership, part two.

This week's post is really just a follow-up from last weeks. I'll post my sermon notes here in case you'd like to comment on leadership in the church, how God has set it all up etc.

The Pastoral Epistles, 1 Timothy 3:8-16

Intro…Discussion in our home fellowship on the whole ordination, license, title deal with leaders in the church…
· Both last week and this week we are focusing on the men in the church. Good timing with Father’s Day…and remember, these are great qualities for all men to be striving for.

Text: 1 Timothy 3:8-16

Last week we looked at the qualifications for the elder, overseer, or bishops within the church. These are the men who provide the spiritual leadership in the church. The pastors are included in this group.

Today we continue on with qualifications for the deacons in the church.
· Deacon means “servant” or “minister”.
· Originally deacons were helpers of the elders. As a result, their qualifications were practically the same as the elders.
· This office of deacon originated in Jerusalem, (Acts 6:1-6, Phil. 1:1)
· “Deacon” is also used throughout the NT in an unofficial sense for anyone who serves.

Now that we’ve defined deacon and know where it originated we can look at the qualifications for the deacons. (and again, most of these are self-explanatory)
· Worth of respect
· Sincere
· Not indulging in much wine (doesn’t get drunk….”person” at Ty’s party last week with beer…”I guess I can’t be an elder….”)
· Not pursuing dishonest gain (a leader in the church for all the right reasons.)
· “Keep hold of the deep truths (mystery) of the faith with a clear conscience” Be able to speak Biblical truth in an increasingly “tolerant” world that is more concerned with being “PC” then it is speaking the truth in love. The secret of salvation through Jesus Christ, which is revealed by the Holy Spirit to all who will believe. Today the word mystery implies knowledge withheld; in the Bible it indicates truth revealed.
· V. 10 Able to be tested…Before men were accepted as deacons they had to prove themselves before the community. Then they could serve as deacons, "if there is nothing against them."
· And that’s the way elders and deacons are still chosen today, men who have proven themselves before the community of believers.



The first six had more to do with the individual, these next two have to do with his family.
· Having wives that are worthy of respect, not malicious talkers, but temperate and trustworthy. A deacon should be leading his family in a way that helps his wife be a woman of respect, trustworthy etc.
· Ideally if women had husbands they respected spiritually and/or fathers who set a great example for them, then they probably wouldn’t wrestle or struggle with the leadership of men in the church.
· I know that’s not always the case though, yet the leadership of men in the church is evident here in all of chapter 3.
· V. 12 (If married) A committed family man who manages his family and household well. It’s because it all starts in the home…

The reward for being a deacon?
· V. 13 “Gaining an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”
· Basically that means “honored by God”. IOW, if God is pleased with your service as a deacon, then that’s all that matters.
· You’ll also gain respect from people in the church.

v. 14 Paul reminds Timothy that even though he can’t be there in person, this is how the people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, the church.
· Remember, “church” is “ekklesia” meaning, “called out ones”. We are called out of our former lifestyle into a life that honors God.
· Paul reminds us that it is the “church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.”
· The truth that is revealed in God's Word. The meaning of this clause is well expressed by Lock: "Each local Church has it in its power to support and strengthen the truth by its witness to the faith and by the lives of its members."

(One of the jobs of the elders and deacons is to communicate…) The mystery of godliness. V. 16
· “The revealed secret of true religion, the mystery of Christianity, the Person of Christ."
· Let’s take a look at this statement: This is foundational, a credal statement: “He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by the angels, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, and was taken up in glory.”
· If you break this down it’s talking about: “Jesus, his deity justified, watched over by angels during his earthly ministry, he was preached after his death among the nations (literally “the gentiles”), not as a theory or a creed but as a person (“We preach Christ” 1 Cor. 1:23), the true preaching of Christ produces faith in him on the part of many hearers, Jesus ascended into heaven, the climax of his earthly ministry.
· The church and it’s leadership should be all about Jesus.
· Preaching Christ means preaching his life, death, resurrection, and ascension as the glorified Lord. GOSPEL

We’ve looked at the leadership structure of the church.
· God, Christ, Man, Woman
· Elder, Deacon, team leaders, ministry area leaders etc.


Conclusion: Reader article on arm wrestling champion who is not only super strong, but a godly man.