Learning to Lead: Leaders in the Church

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.

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

1 Timothy 6:9

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

2 Timothy 4:1

chapter 4

verse 1

we get another

another example

of what

this means

2 Timothy

2 Timothy 4:1

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

Hebrews 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3

if you've

got a

page number

somebody

can tell

me

1 2

0 2

Hebrews

Hebrews 13 · chapter mention

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

1 Timothy 3:1

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

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.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.