Sermon Central
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The Marks Of Maturity: A Leadership Checklist Series
Contributed by Larry Osborne on Jun 13, 2007 (message contributor)
Summary: Spiritual growth and maturity is often accelerated under difficult circumstances. In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (see 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10), he describes what spiritual growth looks like in the midst of “severe suffering.”
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1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way
North Coast Church
Message #4 July 29-30, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne
The Marks of Maturity
A Leadership Checklist
1 Timothy 3:1-16
Sermon Outline
Note: PowerPoints and Small Group Worksheets
for this sermon are available at www.northcoastchurch.com.
THE BIG PICTURE:
THE BIG PICTURE
Paul Tells Timothy… What this chapter is all about
How to pick your leaders.
The minimum requirements for spiritual leadership.
The telltale marks of spiritual maturity.
THE PASSAGE:
1 Timothy 3:1-16/ Titus 1:5-9/ Acts 6:1-4/ 1 Peter 5:1-4/ Acts 20:17-30
A QUICK FLY-BY: Review the entire passage! Highlight key points.
Spiritual Maturity In A Nutshell: No glaring weakness.
1 Timothy 3:1 & 8/ Titus 1:7/ Acts 6:3
~ “Above Reproach:” The key trait! Followed by 14 examples!
~ “Progress Not Perfection Present Not Past
Titus 1:5-9 ~ Above reproach then a slightly different list.
Acts 6:3 ~ Deacons – Choose 7 men full of the Spirit and wisdom
Notice What’s Not In The List:
1 Corinthians 1:7 & 3:1-3/ Matthew 7:21-23/ John 13:17/ Colossians 2:20-23/ Romans 10:1-3
► Giftedness
Incredibly gifted/ spiritually messed up!
I Cor 1:7 & 3:1-3
► Spiritual Power
Prophesied, Cast out Demons many Miracles! Depart, I never knew you Mt 7:21-23
► Theological Training
Now that you know these things, blessed if you DO them Jn 13:17
► Religious Disciplines
Do not handle, touch, taste ~ Of no value Col 2:20-23
► Zeal
Pharisee’s & Israel’s Zeal Rom 10:1-3
A BAD TRANSLATION, A BLIND SPOT & THREE SURPRISES:
The Bad Translation: “Husband of but one wife”
1 Timothy 3:2/ 1 Corinthians 7:1-8, 32-34/ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 & 2 Corinthians 5:17
► Literally: A one woman man
► What’s The Difference?
It eliminates anyone single, divorced or remarried.
Including the Apostle Paul! I Cor 7:1-8 & 32-34
It contradicts the rest of Scripture.
Such were some of you I Cor 6:9-11
All things become new 2:Cor 5:17
It focuses on marital status, not moral purity.
Woman at the well - Jn 4
Deut 24:1-4
It makes the past more important than the present.
None of the other traits are ever applied to the past!
The Blind Spot: “Not quarrelsome”
1 Timothy 3:3/ Proverbs 17:19
►If I’m contentious for the right things, I’m still contentious!
“More than argumentative: Loves a fight – Christian Pit Bull
The Three Surprises:
A family under control.
1 Timothy 3:4-5/ 1 Corinthians 7:32-35/ Titus 1:6/ Ezekiel 18
Why This Is Important:
~ Priorities: Even if it’s not your fault, your family is your top priority!
~ Reputation: If a leader’s family is a mess, it casts a bad light on the church.
Titus 1:6-7 ~ Children must walk with God
Ezekiel 18 ~ Parents don’t bear guilt for the sins of their kids
Not a recent convert.
1 Timothy 3:6/ Proverbs 8:13 & 11:2/ James 1:2-4/ Acts 14:22
~ We can be instantly spiritual.
We cannot be instantly mature!
¡ It Takes Time:
¡ It Takes Trials:
~ Too much too fast leads to pride!
Too much too fast stunts growth.
Prov 8:13 God hates pride & arrogance
Prov 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace
A good reputation with non-Christians.
1 Timothy 3:7/ 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12/ 1 Peter 2:11-17
~ Getting along well with not-Christians is not a sign of selling out – It’s a sign of being like Jesus!
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12: Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders
~ Minister instead of meddling! 1Cor 5:9-13
1 Peter 2:12-17 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you, they may see your good deeds and glorify God…
Available as a North Coast Church Podcast - www.northcoastchurch.com
1 Timothy: Doing Church God’s Way North Coast Church
Message #4 July 29-30, 2006 Dr. Larry Osborne
The Marks of Maturity
A Leadership Checklist
1 Timothy 3:1-16
THE BIG PICTURE:
The __________________ requirements for spiritual leadership.
The telltale __________________ of spiritual __________________.
THE PASSAGE:
1 Timothy 3:1-16/ Titus 1:5-9/ Acts 6:1-4/ 1 Peter 5:1-4/ Acts 20:17-30
A QUICK FLY-BY:
Spiritual Maturity In A Nutshell: No __________________.
1 Timothy 3:1 & 8/ Titus 1:7/ Acts 6:3
Notice What’s Not In The List:
1 Corinthians 1:7 & 3:1-3/ Matthew 7:21-23/ John 13:17/ Colossians 2:20-23/ Romans 10:1-3
A BAD TRANSLATION, A BLIND SPOT & THREE SURPRISES:
The Bad Translation: “Husband of but one wife”
1 Timothy 3:2/ 1 Corinthians 7:1-8, 32-34/ 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 & 2 Corinthians 5:17
► Literally: A __________________.
► What’s The Difference?
It eliminates anyone __________________, __________________ or __________________.
It contradicts the __________________.
It focuses on __________________ , not __________________.
It makes the __________________ more important than the __________________.
