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)


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;



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



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



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



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



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.



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



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



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



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



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



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 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)


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)


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)


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

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)


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)


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

Acts 6:1-7 (NLT)


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)


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

INTRODUCTION:


Why do you think some churches lack qualified leaders?

INTRODUCTION:


Paul is instructing those who would be “bishops”

• Elders/Leaders/Council Members in our time

INTRODUCTION:


The word "bishop" means "overseer".

INTRODUCTION:


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

INTRODUCTION:


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

INTRODUCTION:


But how do we select Church Leaders?

INTRODUCTION:


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

INTRODUCTION:


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

INTRODUCTION:


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

I. BEHAVIOR - v. 1-3;


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



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



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



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



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



In this situation it would refer to being sober spiritually.



A spiritually sober person has “self-control”.



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

Holy Spirit”. Eph. 5:18.



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



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



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



In what ways should leaders show orderly behavior?



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



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



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



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



“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;


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


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


v.11 – Deacons must have Godly wife/ husband

II. FAMILY - v. 11


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


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

III. EXPERIENCE - v.10


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


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


These special servants are known as council & deacons.

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION


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

CONCLUSION

Documents

Standards for Church Leaders