Trustworthy Saying #3
(1 Tim. 3:1-7)
Intro:
A. Today we are going to study another of Paul’s “trustworthy sayings” taken from 1 Tim. 3:1. The Bible tells us read about the role of the minister or evangelist, and the character of spiritual leaders we often call “elders” or “shepherds.” We also are briefly told of the spiritual qualities of the office of deacon. But for many members in a local congregation, they don’t really think about how these people became a spiritual leader or why they are important.
B. In many churches, it’s about popularity or emotional connection. “I really like the way our minister preaches; his sermons make me feel…” Or “Our elders are good men; they came to see me in the hospital or when I was going through a difficult time they spent time in prayer with me.” And when it comes to deacons, most people don’t even think about them as spiritual, just people who have a title and do some physical work or lead a ministry.
C. I get that many members just want to belong to a healthy congregation where they can get as much God talk as they need for a week. But local churches rise and fall based upon their spiritual leaders. Elders, deacons and preachers and their families are more than just nice people who do good things, they are spiritual men and women who devote themselves first to God and then to the congregation.
D. Listen to what Paul tells Timothy is the essence of his role of an evangelist in the local church (2 Tim. 4:1-5). While we can all find some self-application, that scripture is specifically given to those of us who bring to you the understanding of scripture through classes and sermons.
E. The reason I shared that is because many Christians are more familiar with my role and my duties as a minister than they are of the role and duties of our elders. Preachers were probably more popular and followed than the Overseers who shepherd God’s flock as elders even in days of Paul. Just read 1 Corinthians 1 if you need more convincing.
I. Aspires The Office
A. Open with me to 1 Tim. 3:1-7. The trustworthy saying is found in verse 1. This is not a sermon about qualifications, this is about the encouragement to aspire to, seek, to set one’s heart on the being a spiritual leader.
B. Many times we don’t like the idea that a person should “desire the office of an Overseer.” It’s because we misunderstand the word. While it is not used often in the NT, let me give you a little context of “aspire” or “desire” as used by the Holy Spirit in the Bible. Turn to Heb. 11. This is a great chapter of men and women whose faith pushed them, led them, to seek God and God’s desire over their own. Their faith in Jehovah let them believe the unbelievable and, in some cases, gave them the strength to die for their faith in God. Read verses 13-16.
C. In verse 16 we get our word that is also found in Timothy. These people put their faith in a promise, something the did not see but believed. More specifically, their faith was in eternity, a home that belonged to God and one where God would welcome them, not as foreigners, but citizens of the Kingdom. With that mindset, we read in vs 16 that they, “desired a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” They long for, they seek, they aspire to gain this home.
D. When a man longs for, desires, aspires to become an Overseer in the local church, he sees in faith the greatness of what God can and will do in that congregation. He is not seeking his own greatness, but as we read through the qualities of that person, he is seeking to be a spiritual guide by way of leadership.
E. Paul would tell the church in Rome that the HS gifts people to lead with zeal in the church family. We are blessed with two men who serve this church as spiritual leaders we call elders or shepherds. In this case, the word Paul uses is “Overseer.” It is a word that give authority to the one who leads. He has authority to challenge teaching that is false, and authority to set a vision which the sheep follow because they trust their spiritual shepherds. This high level of spiritual leadership is not in one man alone, but in a group.
II. The Good and The Bad
A. I believe in our two shepherds here at Glen Rock. I believe they desire to see us as grow spiritually and become a church that gets the attention of Satan. They want to give you and me a place where we can be challenged to grow, encouraged to live in the work of the HS, and through us, be a light to our community that beckons others to see Jesus and walk in salvation. I wanted to come and work with this church because of the spiritual oversight of these men. While I did not know their character, I did know they had vision and desires for kingdom growth, and I wanted to be a part of that team. That vision drew me to this church family.
B. What we need as a church is men who aspire to be Overseers of this flock. We need men who are spiritually mature and sound in the faith to set the tone, vision and give us direction for growth. We need men who aspire to this and seek to become God’s shepherds of the flock.
C. Too often, men will tell you why they cannot serve in this role or what their weaknesses are. A low view of self can keep a person from aspiring to lead just as much as a dictator can manipulate a church for their own desires. We need Overseers, but we need the right men to serve.
D. How many of you plant these in your lawn, flower garden or along your walkway to your home? No one? I didn’t think so. Gideon became a great leader as judge. When he died, he had 70 sons. One of them, Abimelech told the leaders of Shechem what they wanted to hear. He asked them, “Which is better, that all 7o sons reign over you or just one?” Abimelech then used men to kill all his brothers, but his youngest brother escaped. The people gathered to make Abimelech king his brother Jotham wanted the people to think about what they were doing (READ Judges 9:7-15).
E. The point Jothan made was simple, people don’t want to be leaders because they are comfortable right where they are. They don’t want the responsibility. But most people know the need for leaders. Appointing the wrong leader will do great harm. Paul warned the Ephesian elders of that very truth. I ask you men what you do you “aspire to” in Christ?
Conclusion:
A. I close with this scripture (1 Thes. 5:12-13). I respect those who serves as Overseers. Their work is not easy. They are called upon to deal with the “hard issues” that most of us don’t want to face. They step in when marriages are hurting. They step in when members are at odds. They spend time in prayer asking for wisdom and then trying to implement ways to help us become disciples who make disciples. They hurt with those who hurt and rejoice with those who rejoice. I don’t want to make their God designed ministry more difficult by backbiting or speaking evil about a decision I would do differently. Our Overseers are honorable and fallible men who love Jesus Christ, and I am happy to serve under their leadership.
B. I believe God wants every church to have sound, mature spiritual Overseers. God knows that bad leaders will come in and destroy, so Paul told Timothy qualities to seek when appointing men to serve as church elders.
C. I pray that God will bring more men to serve in this role along side our current elders. I know what happens when a church has poor spiritual leadership. I know the difficulty I face as a minister when I can’t do my role well because I to be both a sole Pastor and preacher, trying to do the work of both an elder and minister. I cannot do that well. My desire is to work with a church that has sound visionary spiritual leaders. Men that walk the talk. I pray that their men who aspire to to be used by God as a spiritual leader.
D. I asked all of us, men and women, what do you aspire to become in Christ? What gift has the HS given you that you need to use, share and grow?
E. We are about to sing a song that is a prayer. The song has us praying for God to change us and mold us after His will. If we can help you to hear and follow God’s leading, please come as we stand and sing.
