If you'd open your Bibles to 1st Timothy, we'll be reading from chapter 3.
In the Church Bibles, it's on page 1192.
It's 1st Timothy, chapter 3.
We'll be reading verses 1 through 16, and that's again on page 1192.
Here is a trustworthy saying.
If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled,
respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle,
not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect.
If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's Church?
He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment
as the devil.
He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and
into the devil's trap.
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.
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, if I am delayed,
you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of
the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great.
He appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among
the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory.
Now, if you'll turn to chapter 5, we'll read verses 17 to 22.
It's chapter 5, 17 to 22.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially
those whose work is preaching and teaching.
For the scripture says, do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain, and the
worker deserves his wages.
Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly so that the others may take warning.
I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions
without partiality, and do nothing out of favoritism.
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others.
Keep yourself pure.
Thanks very much, Ryan.
Well, just keep the Bibles open there at Timothy.
As I say, we're starting a new series about learning to lead.
We're going to be looking at leaders within the church today, leaders within marriage, leaders
within the home, and leaders within the community.
It's a very big subject, and the Bible has lots to say about it.
So let's pray and ask for God's help as we venture into this together.
Let's pray.
Our Father, we come and we submit ourselves to you as the one who has all authority and
all supremacy.
For you are the chief shepherd, the true leader.
And we submit ourselves to you in that we want you to teach us and to instruct us, and that
our lives would be shaped and molded around who you are, and that our lives would be changed
by you.
And to do this, we need the help of your Holy Spirit, first to open up our minds to understand
it, but also for your Spirit to work that deep in our lives to change us and to enable
us to be the kind of people and the kind of church that you call us to be.
So help us this morning, help us as we go through this new series together.
We pray all this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Well, do take notes.
There's pens there if anybody needs them.
Feel free just to come to the front and get one.
Well, men, can you hear me?
Are you all sitting comfortably?
Because I'm going to make you very uncomfortable.
Listen to this.
The trouble with Irish men is they do not want to lead and they don't want to be led.
What do you think of that?
Are you offended?
Well, I was when I heard it.
That was the comment of a well-respected Irish pastor as he reflected on the state of the
church.
But, of course, what he was saying was really nothing new.
It's been a problem right from the very beginning when Adam in the Garden of Eden abdicated his
role and responsibility.
And it is a problem the world over, not just for Irish men.
Us men are slow to take on roles of leadership within the home, within marriages, within our
communities, and within the church.
And that's a serious problem because, look at chapter 3, verse 1.
Here is a trustworthy saying.
If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, that's an elder or a leader in the church.
If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.
So far from rejecting or ignoring leadership, Christian men should seek and aspire to be leaders.
Or chapter 5, verse 17.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honour.
So far from being a low calling, this is a high calling.
Leadership is critical.
And the church today needs leaders.
And before we get into the detail of what these leaders look like, let's define, first of all, what we mean by church and what we mean by leaders.
First of all, let's look at what church is.
Verse 14 of chapter 3.
Timothy is, or Paul is writing to Timothy, who is a young leader within the life of the church.
And, well, really, 1 Timothy and 2 Timothy is really all about that.
But he says in verse 14 of chapter 3,
Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions.
Instructions about leadership within the church.
So that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household,
which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the foundation of the truth.
The church is defined there in verse 15 as God's household or God's family.
The people who belong to Jesus, the people who trust Jesus.
But the church is much more than that.
It goes further than that.
Look at the end of verse 15.
The church is the pillar and the foundation of the truth.
Well, in an age when the only truth is there is no truth,
it's a good question to ask, what is the truth?
Well, verse 16 gives us the answer.
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great.
Sounds a little confusing, but he's now talking about the Lord Jesus.
Who appeared in a body, was vindicated by the Spirit through his resurrection,
was seen by angels.
Christ Jesus was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world.
People trusted him.
And Jesus was taken up into glory where he reigns with all authority.
So what is the truth?
Well, the truth is the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ.
The truth is the gospel.
So the church is the pillar and the foundation of the gospel.
Now hopefully we all know what a foundation is.
And that your house at home has a foundation.
Because that's what holds our buildings together.
This building has a foundation.
It keeps it strong.
Well, the gospel of Jesus Christ is our foundation.
It's what holds this church together.
It's what's built upon.
And if you were to take away the foundation of truth,
if you were to remove the gospel,
well, then church is just going to fall flat.
It'll disintegrate.
It will be nothing.
A pillar is not a foundation that's underground.
A pillar is kind of up high.
It's visible.
It's what makes the building seen.
And that people can see it.
Well, the gospel of Jesus is like our pillar.
The church is to take that gospel and to make it known,
to make it visible within the community and within the world.
And if we're to take away the pillar of truth,
to take away the gospel,
then the church is never, ever going to grow.
It's never going to be all that it's meant to be.
So the church is about God's instrument on earth.
It's the foundation and the pillar,
the foundation which, if you like,
guards the truth of the gospel from error.
And it's the pillar.
It's to declare the truth of the gospel to the world.
That's what the church is.
And this church needs leaders.
So what are the leaders?
Well, look at verse 17.
We get a definition there of chapter 5, verse 17.
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well
are worthy of double honour,
especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
So the leaders who are the elders,
their role is to direct the affairs of the church.
Well, how do they do that?
Well, it talks about directing
and it also talks about preaching and teaching
in the same verse.
And they're not two distinct roles.
Directing and teaching are part and parcel of the same thing.
Elders direct the church
as they preach and teach
and apply the gospel to our lives.
So as they apply the gospel,
then the church gets direction.
So if the church is the pillar of the foundation of truth,
the leaders of the church
must be responsible for making sure
that the church remains the pillar
and foundation of the truth.
That's important.
I'll say it again.
The leaders of the church
must be responsible for making sure
that the church remains the pillar
and the foundation of the truth.
that's why it's a noble task to be a leader that's why they are worthy of double honor
that's why verse 22 we must not be hasty in the laying on of hands
as in calling people to leadership because it is a serious and responsible role
well having leaders in the church is of critical importance
so let's see what leaders in the church look like
and let me say this let me preface this before we get into the detail that I stand before you as
a leader of this church Ralph is also a leader you have to hold us accountable
to what we're looking at and that is also very serious
so let's look at what we mean by leaders within the church gospel leaders first a character that
is changed by the gospel verse 2 now we're in chapter 3 here chapter 3 verse 2
now the overseer the elder must be above reproach that does not mean perfection
it simply means a character that has been changed by the gospel and is evident to everybody else in
other words there is nothing within their life that you would pinpoint and say that disqualifies them
from leading so what does this changed character look like well we've got a big list here let's go
through it one by one verse 2 they are to be the husband of but one wife you don't have to be
married to be an elder but if you are you can only have one wife well all men can only have one wife
which implies they are to care for their wives practically and they are to love their wives
sacrificially part of their leadership is as we'll see in the coming weeks is is lived out even within
home and family life the husband of but one wife they are to be temperate self-controlled and respectable
that means they don't have a short fuse or they're prone to react to people out of hand or speak
disrespectfully to others when you're with these kind of people you're not worried or afraid that
they're suddenly going to blow their top and get really annoyed with you
let's read on they are to be hospitable they're to be the kind of people that opens up their home
welcomes people regardless of their race religion or culture they're not a hermit where they like to
be kind of kept by themselves a recluse where nobody can get near them they're warm and relational
they're people orientated in fact they love to be with people they're hospitable
read on they're able to teach we'll come back to that later verse 3 not given to drunkenness
does not mean that alcohol is off limits but it means that they are not dependent on drink
and if they do have a drink they are not getting drunk and losing control
let's read on they are not violent but gentle
violence can be physical and it can be verbal so elders are to be gentle in their speech and gentle in
their actions some people are a bit more like hurricanes and volcanoes destroying and erupting all around them
leaders though come into a situation and speak gently and they bring a calmness to the storm
they're not quarrelsome they don't turn every conversation or discussion into an argument
as if their whole life depended on winning every single debate
they're also very wise in the kinds of discussions that they get involved in
there are some things that it's good not to be debating over
read on they're not a lover of money
and let me say that money and wealth is not wrong
it's making money your first love and priority
that's wrong have a look at first timothy chapter 6
verse 9
having money and wealth is not wrong it's
making your pursuit of it a priority that's what's wrong
so verse 9 people who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and
into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction
for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil
some people eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs
so if elders are just purely in it to get a good salary watch out
now while these characteristics are directed towards leaders
they are actually the fruit of every person
who has been changed by the gospel
you could read through the bible through the new testament
and you will find these same characteristics
applied to every single believer
it's what we should expect to see
it's the standard of every single christian
whether you are a leader
or whether you are not
so first leaders within the church
display a consistent
christian character
that has been changed by
the gospel
second
they're the kind of people that live a life
that reflects the gospel
and this is seen in two ways
it's seen in family life
and in work life
first of all family life
verse 4
he must manage his own family well
and see that his children obey him with proper respect
you know a disordered home where children are not disciplined
where wives are divisive
where fathers abdicate their responsibility
it's a recipe for disaster
when it comes to leadership
why?
well look at verse 5
if anyone does not know how to manage his own family
well how can he take care of God's church
God's family
you see if a leader's home life is in a mess
then church life is going to be in a mess
and in many ways it's saying here that family life
home life
is almost like God's training ground
for leadership within church life
it's where you serve your apprenticeship
it's where you get down and work out the nitty gritty
of what it is to manage your family
and how to lead within the church family
of course it doesn't mean that leaders must have families
or that leaders must be married
it doesn't mean that
but it does provide a good test for those who would be leaders
and what does it mean to manage your family?
well it does not mean forced obedience
or abuse of control with the use of a whip
no
to manage your family means to gently rule
and to lovingly care for your family
and we're going to be talking about that in the coming weeks
in practice though it simply means that
we do take sin seriously within the home
that it's not something just to kind of
pass over and say oh it doesn't matter
but at the same time as taking sin seriously
there is a demonstration of mercy
and grace
it's a life that reflects the gospel
and leads the family
in the gospel
so it's to be worked out within home and family life
but not just home and family life
it's also to be seen in work life
verse 6
he must not be a recent convert
a brand new Christian
or he may become conceited
he become very proud of his position
and then fall under the same judgment as the devil
but here we are
verse 7
he must also have a good reputation
with outsiders
so that he will not fall into disgrace
and into the devil's trap
you know when churches look for leaders
they usually ask for references
from other Christians
or from other churches
what are they like?
what's their character like?
tell us
but what about asking for a reference
from your not yet Christian workmates?
because look what it says in verse 7
he must have a good reputation with outsiders
those who you hang around with
those who you work with
because if leaders have a bad reputation
in their work
or in their neighbourhood
then you can be sure
the devil is going to exploit it
and cause great harm
within the family of the church
so leaders in the church
are to live a life
that reflects the gospel
in their workplace
the people that they sit beside
the people that they're on the phone to
the people that they're interacting with
and they see within their life
that they are fair
that they are generous
that they're kind
that they're forgiving
they're not slagging off people
behind their backs
they're welcoming
and they're helping people along
they are reflecting
the gospel
in their life
through their work
again the context here
is about leaders in the church
but you know what
this is also normal Christian living
all of these principles here
are worked out for every single believer
this is the high standard
the high calling
for every home
and for every person
who is an employer
or an employee
so second
church leaders
live lives
that reflect the gospel
in family life
and work life
and third
they are to be
a faithful teacher
of the gospel
let's go back to verse 2
at the very end of verse 2
we get this
short little statement
that they are able
to teach
a leader in the church
must be able to teach
the gospel
this is the one qualification
that marks leaders apart
from everybody else
so all that we've been looking at
so far applies to everybody
but an ability
to be able to teach
the whole church
is particular
to those who are leaders
yes again
at one level
we should all be able
to teach the gospel
it's not just
elders
who are able to teach
parents
if you're a parent here
listen to this
you should be able
to teach the gospel
to your children
you should be making
that your priority
to spend time with them
whether it's in the evening
or whenever
throughout the day
to be instructing them
in the gospel
you need to teach it
don't depend on others
to do it for you
it's your job
and of course
we need teachers
within crusaders
and Sunday school
we need people
who can teach
and grow
in that ability
to teach
in fact
we're all to be teachers
of God's word
and the gospel
to each other
as we meet up
one to one
or in groups
to pray
and to read
the Bible
together
so yes
we should all
be able to teach
but
there are those
who are set apart
and called
to teach
the whole church
and who are responsible
for the whole church
so look at
1st Timothy 4
verse
11 through to 13
let's just read that
there
chapter 4
verse 11
command and teach
these things
so here's an instruction
to Timothy
that he's now
to teach
and to pass on
to the whole church
teach these things
don't let anyone
look down on you
because you're young
but set an example
for the believers
in speech
in life
in love
in faith
and in purity
that's all the things
we've just been
looking through
and until I come
devote yourself
to the public
reading of scripture
to preaching
and to teaching
flick over to
2 Timothy
chapter 4
verse 1
we get another
another example
of what
this means
2 Timothy
chapter 4
verse 1
and again
the seriousness
and the responsibility
of this
it is done
in the presence
of God
and of Christ Jesus
so right now
yes we're teaching
but we're in the presence
of God
and of Christ Jesus
who will judge
the living
and the dead
so take it
absolutely seriously
and in view
of his appearing
and his kingdom
I give you this charge
preach the word
be prepared
in season
and out of season
correct
rebuke
and encourage
with great patience
and careful instruction
it implies
that leaders
have sound
comprehension
of God's word
and are crystal clear
in their communication
of God's word
in other words
there are people
who know their Bible
who are immersed
in their Bible
and are able to
pass that on
to others
not just pure information
but as you look
at their lives
they example
and they model
what they are teaching
this is the central
and primary task
of church leaders
this is how
they direct
the affairs
of the church
and this is how
the church
remains the pillar
and the foundation
of truth
so every Christian
and if you are a Christian
every Christian
should make it their responsibility
to be able to teach
but only some
are called
and able to teach
the whole church
so this is what
church leadership
looks like
a character
that is shaped
by the gospel
a life
that is reflective
of the gospel
and they are a faithful
teacher
of the gospel
these three qualities
are essential
to church leadership
and must never
ever be overlooked
you can't just
take one out
and then think
the other two
are fine
in fact
and I want us
all to hear this
it is your
responsibility
and I speak
as a leader
humbly to you
it is your
responsibility
as a church
to make sure
that your leaders
that's Ralph
and myself
measure up
to this standard
your responsibility
to hold us
accountable
and if ever
you think
that we are
drifting
from any
of these
areas
it is your
responsibility
to bring it
to our
attention
chapter 5
verse
19
it says
do not
entertain
an accusation
against an
elder
it doesn't
mean say
there couldn't
be one
unless it is
bought by two
or three
witnesses
so no kind
of side
snipey
comments
but if there
is something
then it should
be brought
by people
to the church
and if they
are found
to be wrong
then it needs
to be dealt
with
humbly
and graciously
we are
accountable
to you
and I
pray that
you take
it
seriously
let me
just read
one other
reference
you can
look at
it
it's in
Hebrew
so I
haven't
got the
page
number
but I
think it
will be
helpful
just to
read it
Hebrews
chapter 3
if you've
got a
page number
somebody
can tell
me
1 2
0 2
Hebrews
chapter 13
sorry
13
yeah
so if you
get to
Hebrews 2
sorry
it's
chapter 13
it's at
the end
of
okay
verse 17
of chapter
13
well you
know what
I'm going
to read
from verse
7
sorry
and then
jump to
13
okay
so here
we go
verse 7
of chapter
13
remember
your
leaders
who spoke
the word
of God
to you
consider
the outcome
of their
way of
life
and
imitate
their
faith
that's
why you
need to
pray
for us
verse 17
obey
your
leaders
and
submit
to their
authority
the
authority
remember
is an
authority
which
comes
from
God's
word
the
gospel
not
just
whatever
they
think
in
their
own
minds
they
keep
watch
over
you
as
men
who
must
give
an
account
one
day
we
will
stand
before
God
and
God
will
ask
Johnny
how
did
you
lead
the
church
family
obey
them
so
that
their
work
will
be
a
joy
and
not
a
burden
for
that
would
be
of
no
advantage
to
you
and
here
it
is
do
you
see
how
he
says
it
in
verse
18
pray
for
us
pray
for
us
you
need
to
pray
for
your
leaders
that
they
do
all
that
we
are
commanded
to
do
but
as
we
finish
let
me
speak
to
the
men
and
then
to
the
women
men
we're
great
at
pursuing
our
careers
and
having
dreams
about
the
things
that
we're
going
to
do
we're
great
at
planning
our
projects
but
don't
ever
allow
that
to
hinder
leadership
within
the
church
remember
how we
started
in 1
timothy
3
verse
1
whoever
sets
his
heart
on
being
an
elder
and
leader
desires
a
noble
task
never
put
the
career
and
the
projects
and
all
of
those
things
so
important
that
even
the
consideration
of
leadership
is
down
here
of
course
it
doesn't
mean
that
everybody
will
be
an
elder
but
we
should
at
least
be
prepared
should
we
be
called
whoever
sets
his
heart
on
being
an
elder
desires
a
noble
task
and
to
the
women
let me
say
this
pray
for
the
men
of
the
church
pray
that
God
would
raise
up
leaders
within
the
church
in
Ireland
and
leaders
who
can
go
overseas
pray
that
they
will
be
everything
that
we
have
just
looked
at
that
they
would
be
gospel
minded
pray
for
the
men
that
they
will
have
a
character
that
is
shaped
by
the
gospel
a
life
that
reflects
the
gospel
and
that
they
would
be
teachers
of
the
support
them
and
encourage
them
and
where
you
need
to
step
back
and
let
them
learn
to
lead
because
the
men
are
very
shy
God
calls
for
leaders
within
the
life
of
the
church
it
is
the
pillar
and
the
foundation
of
the
truth
it
is
the
means
by
which
the
church
is
built
strong
together
and
it
is
the
way
in
which
the
church
grows
and
the
way
in
which
the
gospel
is
spread
let's
pray
together
father
we
thank you
so much
for
the
church
we
thank you
Lord
Jesus
that
you
died
for
us
and
you
brought
us
into your family.
We thank you for providing
your church down through the years
and the centuries
with those who are gifted
and enabled to lead.
And we pray that you will keep on
raising up new leaders
for every new generation.
You would provide leaders
for new churches
and new church plants
on this island.
That you would be raising up
new leaders who will go overseas
and bring your gospel.
We pray for the men of this church.
We thank you for them.
We thank you for all of their roles
of responsibility and care.
Enable them and equip them
and call them and work in them.
We pray that you will raise up
leaders from within this church.
And we pray for the women.
We thank you for them.
We ask that you would help them
to encourage and support,
to pray,
that we would be the church
that you call us to be.
That we would never be found wanting.
But we would be people
who live a life worthy of the gospel
and see your church grow
and your gospel proclaimed.
Help us all then
and fill us with your Holy Spirit
to achieve and accomplish
all of these things.
It is for your name
and for your glory alone
that we pray this.
Amen.