Reference

1 Timothy 3:1-7 & Titus 1:5-9

Sermon Notes:
First we remember that the church is God’s creation

  • “Fundamentally, God intends the local church to be a corporate display of his glory and wisdom, both to unbelievers and to unseen spiritual powers. More specifically, we are a corporate dwelling place for God’s Spirit, the organic body of Christ in which he magnifies his glory.” (Dever and Alexander - The Deliberate Church)

Second is the importance of how we govern this body.

  • “New Testament churches are to be congregationally governed yet led by a plurality of elders who are released by servant deacons to devote themselves to the ministry of the Word and prayer” (Dever and Alexander - “The Deliberate Church”).

Third is the biblical model of leadership

  • Elders and deacons
  • Eldership in the Bible is plural
  • Eldership in the Bible is a role reserved for qualified men
  • Eldership in the Bible sets out certain qualifications.

Characteristics of Leadership

  • Situational Characteristics
    • Desire to Serve (1 Tim. 3:1)
    • Able to Teach (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:9)
    • Not a New Convert (1 Tim 3:6)
  • Family Characteristics
    • The Husband of One Wife (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6)
    • Manage his Own Family Well (1 Tim 3:4-5; Titus 1:6)
  • Moral Characteristics
  • Positive Characteristics
    • Above Reproach (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:6)
    • Temperate (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8)
    • Self-Controlled (1 Tim 3:2)
    • Respectable (1 Tim 3:2)
    • Hospitable (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:8)
    • Gentle (1 Tim 3:3)
    • Good Reputation with Outsiders (1 Tim 3:7)
    • Loves What is Good (Titus 1:8)
    • Upright (Titus 1:8)
    • Holy (Titus 1:8)
    • Disciplined (Titus 1:8)
  • Negative Characteristics
    • Not Given to Drunkenness (1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7)
    • Not Violent (1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7)
    • Not Quarrelsome (1 Tim 3:3)
    • Not a Lover of Money (1 Tim 3:3; Titus 1:7)
    • Not Overbearing (Titus 1:7)
    • Not Quick-Tempered (Titus 1:7)