Sermon Central
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Is The Pastor Eligible?-2
Contributed by Byron Sherman on Apr 13, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 2 of a 2-part sermon. Paul told Titus that the focus of his work on Crete was to bring order to the churches & appoint qualified elders. Pastors must meet certain qualifications. But What are they? Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
Is The Pastor Eligible?-II—Titus 1:5-9
Attention:
The churches of Crete were saved but were lacking the finesse necessary to accomplishing their mission. They were not yet organized for ministry.
A pastor by the name of Titus, was charged with the fortunate task, of straightening out those aspects of a local— & possibly island-wide— church body which would bring it up to speed, thus making them viable & able to powerfully carry the message of Christ to a lost world.
With apostolic authority, Paul instructs Titus specifically, to “appoint” qualified men to pastoral positions in every city on the island of Crete. That is his first priority. This is because without headship, their can be no sustained & organized effort to win their world for Christ.
Thus Paul informs Titus of the basic qualifications for pastoral eligibility.
Paul told Titus that the focus of his work on Crete was to bring order to the churches & appoint qualified elders.
Pastors must meet certain qualifications.
What qualifies a man as pastor?
6 measures of pastoral eligibility/integrity.
Previously we found that Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
1. ALIGNMENT Stability(:5)
2. PUBLIC Stability/ Respect(:6a)
3. MARITAL Stability(:6b)
4. BROOD Stability(:6c)
So we begin at this point in verse 7.
5—Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
CHARACTER Stability(:7-8)
Explanation:(:7-8)
:7—“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
“For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God
Elders are here, equated with overseers. One of the elders would be the overseer.
The overseer, of necessity, must be without indictment because he is the “steward” of God, responsible for the overall welfare of the flock. He is to manage the household of God, as-it-were, well, in such a manner as to be absolved of any wrongdoing.
“Bishop/Overseer”—episkopov—An overseer—1a) A man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent, 1b) The superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church.
“Blameless”(See :6)—anegklhtov—That cannot be called into account, unreproveable, unaccused, blameless. Designates one against whom there is no accusation, implying not acquittal of a charge, but that no charge has been made. Strong—The negation of egkalew —To call in (as a debt or demand), i.e. bring to account (charge, criminate, etc.):-- Accuse, call in question, implead, lay to the charge. Used 5X.
“Steward”—oikonomov—1) The manager of household or of household affairs; 2) metaph. The apostles & other Christian teachers & bishops & overseers.
“Not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,”
*An overseer’s stewardship is in many respects defined by the things he is “not.”
“Not self-willed”
He is not characterized as being “self-willed.” That is, his decisions are NOT directed toward self-fulfillment but rather toward fulfilling God’s desire. He does NOT seek to do what he wants to do regardless.
“Self-willed/Overbearing”—auyadhv—Self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant. From:—autov— ‘Self’ &—hdonh—(Eng. hedonism)1) Pleasure; 2) Desires for pleasure. ‘Self-pleasuring’
“Not quick-tempered”
An overseer is NOT characterized as someone prone to anger. A quick-tempered person will not tolerate the opinions of others because he considers himself to have arrived. And usually is not willing to be taught. He takes it personally when an idea or plan of his is not accepted.
“Quick-tempered/Soon angry/”—orgilov—Prone to anger, irascible.
—Mike a Seminary student/Seemed to fly off the handle at the drop of a hat/ Distanced myself from him.
“Not given to wine”
An overseer is not characterized as someone “given” over to the influence of alcohol. Alcohol clouds one’s thinking, thus his decisions are made in the flesh.
Eph. 5:18-20—“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms & hymns & spiritual songs, singing & making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
“Given to wine”—paroinov—From —para— Properly—Near; i.e. (with genitive case) From beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) At (or in) the Vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the Proximity with ; & —oinov— ‘Wine.’ Used 2X, both regarding overseers—1Tim. 3:3.
“Not violent”
Neither is he characterized as a “violent” person. He does NOT solve his problems thru destruction but rather construction.
Rom. 14:19—“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.”
“Violent/Striker”—plhkthv—1) Bruiser, ready for a blow; 2) A pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person. From—plhssw—To pound(flat). Used 2X, both regarding overseers—1Tim. 3:3.
“Not greedy for money,”
Neither is he characterized by greed, particularly as it relates to a desire for “money.” If a pastor is greedy for money, then he will preach what money buys—the fleshly desires & preferences of the giver.
