Today is my 25th birthday! Some of you look skeptical because you’re sure I’m older than that. Through the witness of my college roommate, I was born spiritually on October 3rd, 1979. Actually, I wish I acted older than I am. While I’m thankful for all the changes that Christ has made in my life, as I have spent some time studying the qualifications for pastors and Elders, I’ve been greatly humbled. I know that I’m allowed to shepherd this flock by His grace, and that in my own power and strength, I am nothing. These Elder expectations are high and I want to grow in each area.
Today we’re going to look at the second half of the list of qualifications for Elders from Titus 1:8-9 and then we’re going to take a brief look at the role of Deacons in the church. Last winter, the leadership of the church had a retreat in which we looked at the structure and systems that we currently have. We spent some time refining the roles of Elders and Deacons and realized coming out of our time together that we all needed some teaching on this topic. Actually, this has become a recurring refrain when we discuss certain issues. Inevitably someone will say, “Pastor, we need some teaching here.” This series called, “Fortifying Our Foundations” is in response to that.
We concluded last Sunday by talking about vices that overseers are to avoid. Let’s look first at verse 8 to view the virtues that Elders are to emulate: “Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.”
1. Hospitable. This word literally means, “stranger-loving.” The Elder must be one who is fond of being a friend to those in need. In the country of Crete, it was imperative for believers to offer hospitality because of the persecution that took place, leaving many Christians homeless. In addition, traveling preachers needed a place to stay because there weren’t many “Motel 6s” around and those that were available were expensive, dirty and immoral. The home of the overseer must be open to the downhearted and discouraged.
The majority of our Elders shepherd small groups and have people in their homes on a regular basis. This is not just the responsibility of the Elders as Romans 12:13 states: “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” The word “practice” here is good because for many of us, we need practice in this area. Peter reminds us that when we do open our homes we must do so without complaining about it: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling” (1 Peter 4:9). Do you know that there are a number of lonely people in this church? It is human nature to talk to people that we already know and to hang out with those we consider to be friends. But, we must also reach out to those who are strangers to us. It grieves me to see someone come to church and leave lonelier than when they arrived.
For many years Dr. Frances Schaeffer and his wife Edith ran a Christian hospitality house in Switzerland called L’Abri. They opened their hearts and homes to hundreds of people seeking Biblical answers to life’s challenges. In her book “What is a Family?” Edith offers this counsel: “Every Christian home is meant to have a door that swings open.” God can use your home and your hospitality to meet the needs of hurting people. Does your door swing open? When the service ends today, instead of talking to someone you already know, look around and initiate a conversation with someone that is new to you.
2. A lover of good. An Elder must spend time with things that are good and love those things that are worthy in this world. Overseers must see that which is intrinsically good as Philippians 4:8 states: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” Elders must also be examples of good. This is stated in Titus 2:7: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good.”
Aren’t you thankful that God loves to do good things for us? Some of you may have a difficult time believing that today because of what you’re going through. I love John Piper’s insight: “God will not turn away from doing you good. He will keep on doing good. He doesn’t do good to his children sometimes and bad to them other times. He keeps on doing good and he never will stop doing good for ten thousand ages of ages. When things are going ‘bad’ that does not mean God has stopped doing good. It means he is shifting things around to get them in place for more good, if you will go on loving him.”
We’re faced with good news and bad news almost every day. I came across some news that pastors can hear from time to time.
Good news: The Women’s ministry voted to send you a get-well card. Bad news: The vote passed 21-20. Good news: The Elders accepted your job description the way you wrote it. Bad news: They were so inspired by it that they formed a search committee to find somebody capable of filling the position. Good news: Church attendance rose dramatically the last three weeks. Bad news: You were on vacation.
3. Self-controlled. This quality refers to being “level-headed” and sensible, of one who is temperate. When the Greeks wanted to illustrate self-control, they built a statue of a man or a woman in perfect proportion. To them, self-control was the proper ordering and balancing of the individual. Aristotle once said, “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.” Plato believed that our animal urges must be governed or else they will produce “a feverish state in the soul, a city of pigs” which knows no limits. When we’re not self-controlled, our life is like a pigsty. That’s quite a word picture.
To be self-controlled is to not live in bondage to the desires, passions and appetites of the flesh. My body is a good servant but a miserable master. After summarizing what a shepherd is to do in the beginning verses of 1 Peter 5, Peter describe the importance of this quality in verse 8: “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
4. Upright. This is also translated as “just.” Gene Getz states that the New Testament writers used this word in two basic ways. First, to become “just” describes what happens when we are saved. Second, to be “just” describes the way we live after we are saved. Stated another way, an upright Elder is righteous in all his relationships (“Measure of a Man,” Page 213). The idea here is that an overseer is to be fair and just. In Luke 1:6, both Zechariah and Elizabeth are described with this quality: “Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly.”
5. Holy. The root meaning of “holy” is to be set apart. An Elder is to be progressively growing in holiness as one who is striving to be more like Jesus. The model and example for our lives is God himself as 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” A related word is “devout.” None of us can be holy in our own efforts so we must lean on the Lord and ask Him to give us holy hearts. Exodus 20:8: “Keep my decrees and follow them. I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
6. Disciplined. This word is related to “self-control” and focuses on one who is able to say “no” to that which is wrong or even just good, so that he can cultivate that which is best. An Elder must be devoted and disciplined and according to 1 Timothy 4:7 must “train himself to be godly.” The word “train” comes from the word from which we derive gymnasium. It has the idea of sweaty exercise.
7. Committed to the message. Look at Titus 1:9: “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.” The phrase “hold firmly” is very strong. It has the sense of cleaving or adhering to something as if glued to it. Godly leaders must be glued to God’s Word. We can cling to the Bible because it is a “trustworthy message” as Psalm 111:7 states: “The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.”
Elders are to hold firmly to the faithful Word so that they’re able to encourage believers with the Word of God and refute false teachers who spread falsehood. The phrase “sound doctrine” means to be in good health and free from sickness. Scripture can keep us from becoming spiritually sick. Paul wrote something similar to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” Overseers must be declarers and defenders of the Bible as they both lead and feed the flock of God. John Calvin wrote that the overseer “needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves” (As quoted in “1 Timothy and Titus” by John R.W. Stott, Page 179).
Like Paul, Elders must not withhold the Word. Listen to how he defined his duty in Acts 20:27: “For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.” I like what Spurgeon said about how diligent we must be in our study of Scripture: “It is blessed to eat into the very soul of the Bible until, at last you come to talk in Scriptural language, and your spirit is flavored with the words of the Lord…and the very essence of the Bible flows from you.”
To sum up, more is said about the character of Elders than about their task. These men must be sold out personally and saturated with Scripture so that they can lead by example and shepherd the flock of God.
Leadership Structure in the Church
The Bible actually establishes a two-tiered leadership structure in the church.
Elders who assume primary responsibility for leading and feeding.
Deacons who serve alongside in various practical ways.
Elders have broad oversight; Deacons have more specific responsibilities. Both are necessary. Let’s look at how the office of Deacon first got its start. Please turn in your Bibles to Acts 6:1-7. Let’s look at verse 1: “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food.”
This is the first case of racial prejudice in the Christian church. It comes about primarily because the church had grown so fast that it outstripped its leadership base. In the early days the apostles and their helpers could easily care for everyone in the congregation. As thousands joined the growing movement, it was inevitable that some would fall through the cracks. By the way, while thousands haven’t joined this Body, one of the reasons we are seeking an Executive Pastor is so we can do a better job of making sure people get connected and stay connected.
The problem stemmed from the fact that although the early church was entirely Jewish, it was made up of two different groups. Jewish-Christian converts spoke Hebrew (or more probably Aramaic, a dialect of Hebrew) as their main language. They had been born and raised in Israel, and they brought their extensive culture with them when they entered the church.
By contrast, the Grecian Jews were Jewish-Christian converts who spoke Greek because they had been born and raised outside Israel. When they came to Christ, they brought their Greek-speaking culture with them. This means they probably looked a bit different and certainly acted and sounded different from the Hebrew-speaking Jewish Christians.
The Hebrew-speaking widows were being favored over the Greek-speaking widows. I think it’s easy for us to dismiss this as a fairly minor problem. It wasn’t. If you were a Greek-speaking widow in the Jerusalem church, it was a big deal because you weren’t being fed. This is a serious problem that demanded careful attention. Churches routinely split over issues much less important than this.
Verses 2-6 tell us how the early church confronted this difficult issue. The solution involves a four-step process.
Step 1: Setting Priorities. There was an immediate response in verse 2: “So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together” and a clear statement of priorities: “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables.”
Whenever I read those words, I always stop and ponder them because at first glance they seem a bit harsh. The apostles understood that God had called them to the ministry of the Word and to prayer. Anything that moved them away from that priority—no matter how good or noble or necessary it might be—was actually a diversion from their divine calling.
In any church there are many tasks that need to be done. It is tempting to say to the leadership, “Do a little of everything.” That can lead to spiritual disaster. Since the church is built upon the Word of God, leaders must devote themselves to the study and teaching of the Bible. Nothing must be allowed to take the place of this central priority.
In verses 3-4, we see that Step 2 is Making a Plan. Notice that this plan begins with congregational involvement: “Brothers, choose seven men from among you.” That’s one reason we have elections for Elders and Deacons. It continues with a clear statement of qualifications: “known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom.” Then, there is a commitment to definite delegation: “We will turn this responsibility over to them.” And finally there’s a restatement of their own priorities: “and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.”
Verse 5 gives us Step # 3: Finding the Right People. Luke tells us that this plan won unanimous approval: “This proposal pleased the whole group.” Here is a list of the seven men they chose: “Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism.” This list is unique in that all the names are Greek names. These men no doubt knew the widows personally, would have the trust of all the Greek-speaking believers, and would know how to handle any problems that might arise.
The fourth step is found in verse 6: Commissioning the Workers. After the congregation selected the seven men, they were presented to the apostles who laid their hands on them and prayed for them. This final step is important because it puts the full weight of the apostles behind the seven men.
Verse 7 brings us to the end of this little episode from the early church. Notice first that there is a new receptivity to the message: “So the word of God spread.” Second, there are many new converts: “The number of disciples in Jerusalem spread rapidly.” Third, there are conversions in high places: “And a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.” By God’s grace an interruption that threatened to divide became an opportunity for further growth.
The word “Deacon” is a transliteration of the Greek word for “table servant” or “waiter.” Let me introduce our servant Deacons to you right now…
Harold Davis (Chairman, PCS, Insurance, Budget Committee)
Matt Dewald (Ushers, Building Maintenance)
John Grampp (Secretary, Multimedia team, PCS, Purchasing)
Don Harvey (Decorating Committee)
Terry Hendren (Mercy Fund, Widows, Missions Committee)
Nathan Hilt (Vice-chairman, Cleaning Supervisor, Budget Committee)
Scott Peterson (PCS)
John Wahls (Ushers, Insurance)
Here are the responsibilities that Deacons have from the PBC Constitution (Article VII, Section 3, C): It is the primary responsibility of the Deacons to serve the physical needs of the church and its members. They should seek to serve well. [And they do!] Their responsibilities include:
Caring for the property of the church.
Assisting with baptism and communion.
Keeping all insurance policies up to date.
Ushering.
Caring for the poor and needy and overseeing the care for widows.
Superintending the disbursement of funds in cooperation with the Elders.
Meeting periodically with Elders.
Let’s look briefly at the list of qualifications for Deacons from 1 Timothy 3:8-13. These qualifications are very similar to that of Elders, and also deal more with character than with a specific job description: “Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as Deacons. In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. A Deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.”
Conclusion
Let me make three closing points.
1. There is a great reward for serving as Deacons. Deacons gain “an excellent standing” by virtue of their humble, selfless service. These servant leaders also receive “great assurance in their faith,” meaning that they know their labor in the Lord is not in vain (see 1 Corinthians 15:58).
2. The natural leadership structure of the church is made up of Elders and Deacons. We see this in Philippians 1:1: “To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and Deacons” and 1 Timothy 3. The crucial distinction is this: Elders guide the church and the Deacons serve the church.
3. Everyone can do something. God has a place for you here because He has given you a unique SHAPE (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, experiences) for serving Him. You have been won to Christ in order to work. That’s God’s plan for the local church. A few serve as Elders and Deacons and most serve in other ministries, but everyone can and must do something. Your ministry matters and you’re needed on this team. Romans 12:14: “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many” and therefore each of us must play our part. What’s even more important than “doing,” however, is “being.” And our character is only cultivated by feeding on the Word of God.
There’s a story about a man who lived alone and went to a pet store to buy a parrot. He thought the bird might fill some of his lonely hours. The very next day, however, he came back to complain, “That bird doesn’t talk.” The store owner asked if he had a mirror in its cage, and the man said he didn’t. “Oh, parrots love mirrors,” he explained. “When he sees his reflection he’ll start talking away.” So he sold him a mirror.
The bird owner was back the next day to gripe that his parrot still hadn’t said a word. The pet expert replied: “That’s very strange. How about a swing? Birds love little swings and a happy parrot is a talkative parrot.” So the man bought a swing, took it home and installed it in the cage. But he was back the next day with the same story. “Does he have a ladder to climb?” the salesman asked. “That just has to be the problem. Once he has a ladder he’ll probably talk your ear off!” So the fellow bought a ladder.
The man was back in the pet store when it opened the next day. From the look on his face, the owner knew something was wrong. “Didn’t your parrot like the ladder?” His repeat customer looked up sadly and said, “The parrot died.” “I’m so sorry,” the stunned businessman said. “Did he ever say anything?” To which the owner replied: “Well, yes, he finally talked just before he died. In a weak little voice he asked, ‘Don’t they sell bird seed at that pet store?’”
As the Elders ensure that this flock is led and fed we will grow in the grace of God. If we want to be healthy we need to make sure that we’re taking nourishment from the Word of God and following the lead of our leaders.
In his book called, “Courageous Leadership,” Bill Hybels writes: “The local church is the hope of the world and it’s future rests primarily in the hands of its leaders…The outcome of the redemptive drama being played out on planet earth will be determined by how well church leaders lead. Romans 12:8 tells those of us who have the gift of leadership that we better sit up and take notice, we better lead with diligence. Why? Because the church, the bride of Christ, upon which the eternal destiny of the world depends, will flourish or falter largely on the basis of how we lead…leaders must yield themselves fully to God, they must cast powerful biblical, God honoring visions. They must build effective, loving, clearly focused teams. They must fire up Christ followers to give their absolute best for God. And they must insist with pit bull determination, that the gospel be preached, the lost be found, the believers equipped, the poor served, the lonely enfolded into community…and God gets the credit for it all” (Page 27). Prayer for Leadership of Church (ask Elders and Deacons to stand).
