Standards for Church Leaders

STANDARDSFOR CHURCH LEADERS

1 Timothy 3:1-13; Acts 6:1-7Pastor Lito Arsenue

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

1 This is a true saying: If a man is eager to be a church leader, he desires an excellent work.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

2 A church leader must be without fault; he must have only one wife, be sober, self-controlled, and orderly; he must welcome strangers in his home; he must be able to teach;

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

3 He must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money;

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

4 he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

6 He must be mature in the faith, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

7 He should be a man who is respected by the people outside the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

8 Church helpers must also have a good character and be sincere; they must not drink too much wine or be greedy for money;

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

9 they should hold to the revealed truth of the faith with a clear conscience.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

10 They should be tested first, and then, if they pass the test, they are to serve.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

11 Their wives also must be of good character and must not gossip; they must be sober and honest in everything.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

12 A church helper must have only one wife, and be able to manage his children and family well.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

13 Those helpers who do their work well win for themselves a good standing and are able to speak boldly about their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 3:1-13 (GNB)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

1 But as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. Those who spoke Greek complained against those who spoke Hebrew, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

2 So the Twelve called a meeting of all the believers. "We apostles should spend our time preaching and teaching the word of God, not administering a food program," they said.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

3 "Now look around among yourselves, brothers, and select seven men who are well respected and are full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. We will put them in charge of this business.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

4 Then we can spend our time in prayer and preaching and teaching the word.“

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

5 This idea pleased the whole group, and they chose the following: Stephen (a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit), Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas of Antioch (a Gentile convert to the Jewish faith, who had now become a Christian).

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

6 These seven were presented to the apostles, who prayed for them as they laid their hands on them.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

7 God's message was preached in ever-widening circles. The number of believers greatly increased in Jerusalem, and many of the Jewish priests were converted, too.

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

What type of leaders do we want to have in our church?

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Why do you think some churches lack qualified leaders?

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Paul is instructing those who would be “bishops”

• Elders/Leaders/Council Members in our time

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

The word "bishop" means "overseer".

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

When we see this term we often think of the pastor and other Godly leaders (council members, deacons, servant leaders) in the church.  

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Every church or congregation needs Godly Leadership that will guide, help them live godly lives.

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

But how do we select Church Leaders?

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

We thank God because we already have “Leadership Standards” found in the bible.

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

How do we know? We will know them by their:

INTRODUCTION:

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

v. 8, 9 & 10b – Deacons must have good behavior and pure conscience

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

V. 2 – “without fault” or “blameless” in other translation means “beyond reproach”.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

To be the husband of one wife is to be “a one-woman man”.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

To be the wife of one husband is to be a “one-man woman”.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

This quality should be reflected in our attitudes and our actions.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

To be sober means is to be “vigilant” in his behavior, actions and demeanor.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

In this situation it would refer to being sober spiritually.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

A spiritually sober person has “self-control”.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

The spiritually sober, self-controlled person is actually “under the control of the

Holy Spirit”. Eph. 5:18.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

If to be sober is to be "serious, earnest, sound”,

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

If this is the case, what part do joy, joking, and laughter have among us?

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

An "orderly" person is good a person with “good behavior” "well ordered".

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

In what ways should leaders show orderly behavior?

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

In what ways should all leaders be “able to teach”?

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

V. 3 – Do you think “drunkards” can be church leaders ?

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

“Not violent man”. What about if a leader is not under control of the Holy Spirit?

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

What should be the attitude of leaders towards money? “Not lovers of money”.

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs”.

1Timothy 6:10 says;

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Elders/Leaders

v.4 he must be able to manage his own family well and make his children obey him with all respect.

II. FAMILY - v. 4-5

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Elders/Leadersv.5 For if a man does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?

II. FAMILY - v. 4-5

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

v.11 – Deacons must have Godly wife/ husband

II. FAMILY - v. 11

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

v.6 - He must be MATURE IN THE FAITH, so that he will not swell up with pride and be condemned, as the Devil was.

III. EXPERIENCE - v.6

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

v.10 – Deacons must be “Tested and Proved” first

III. EXPERIENCE - v.10

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

V.7 - He should be a man who is respected by the people OUTSIDE the church, so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the Devil's trap.

IV. TESTIMONY - v.7

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

If the work of God is going to get done there must be willing leaders, fellow workers. God has given a special group of servants to the church.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

These special servants are known as council & deacons.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

In the early church these men were "servants" who assisted the elders or overseers of the church.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

These were men who knew how to serve and how to serve well.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

In our church we need men who follow in the footsteps of the original elders (leaders) & deacons.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

Look what happened in the early church. Is it possible also to us?

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

1.)Deacons/servant leaders were appointed when the work became too large.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

2.)Deacons/servant leaders were appointed so that the word of God will not be neglected.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

3.)Deacons/servant leaders were appointed when Godly men were available.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

4.)Deacons/servant leaders were appointed when leaders had their priorities straight.

CONCLUSION

STANDARDS FOR CHURCH LEADERS

5.)DEACONS/ SERVANT LEADERS WERE APPOINTED AND THE CHURCH GREW.

CONCLUSION