Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Good leadership is crucial to any Christian organization and that is especially the case with the Church.

Someone has wisely stated “as goes the leadership, so goes the church.”

It is equally true, that while it is important, it can be scarce, hard to come by and very fragile to keep.

Paul understood all of this, and that is why, under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he pinned his letter to Timothy; and, why he spent so much space in his letter relating to Timothy such things as: The kind of character and qualifications he should look for in leaders.

How he, himself should lead as an Elder.

And, here in the text before us, how to maintain and care for those who lead well.

Specifically in the areas of renumeration and discipline.

Along with, the process he should take in selecting and ordaining new elders within the church.

Paul gives instructions regarding:

Honoring elders elders who rule well.

(v.17-18)

Disciplining elders who sin. (v.19-21)

Selecting of new elders to serve.

(v.22-25)

1.) Honoring elders who rule well.

(v.17-18)

Elders- is the equivalent to what we call pastors today.

Much like the word “Bishop” does as well.

The three words that the Bible uses for pastor (Elder, Bishop, Pastor) encompass the overarching work of a pastor.

They direct the affairs of the church, along with, their preaching and teaching ministry.

A.) The condition.

Notice, that there is a condition given in order for an elder/pastor to receive this double honor.

He needs to rule well.

Rule- is a general word that essentially means to lead by oversight.

We might say supervise or to look after.

In other words, he is to work hard at “overseeing the affairs of the church” on a day to day basis.

But its not just that.

Paul goes further though that he also needs to labor in “word and doctrine” (preaching and teaching.)

This is how the church is built up and strengthened and is the main job of the elder/pastor.

There needs to be labor involved in the delivery of God’s word.

Time devoted to prayer and study.

The elder is only worthy of double honor if he demonstrates a double commitment to lead the church in every aspect his job entails.

There is no place for slothfulness in the leadership of the Lord’s church.

B.) Double Honor.

There is a two-fold meaning to the word honor here in the text: It means to respect or esteem, but, it also means compensation or pay for a special service.

Respect and renumeration.

1. Respect

There is an intrinsic respect in the pastoral position, but noticed that respect is earned due to his laboring in the oversight of the affairs of the church and his teaching and preaching ministry.

2. Renumeration

Paul quotes two unquestionable authorities to back up his claim of “double honor”- Moses and Jesus.

Note: We know that Luke Gospel had not been written yet, but we also know that Luke and Paul were ministry partners and know doubt Paul had heard these words of Jesus from Luke.

Oxen were used to grind corn by attaching them to a millstone that they would pull as they walked.

They never put a muzzle on these oxen while they were grinding.

He was allowed to eat as much of the grain as he , because he was considered to have learned all the grain that he wished.

Paul, quoting Moses and Jesus is saying that churches are to honor their pastors with appropriate renumeration for their labor.

As he grinds away at the harvest of souls for God and for His church.

Application: Scripture is clear that preachers are not to be money-grabbing.

(As sadly they’re often accused of)

But, God equally deplores inadequate compensation for the laborer.

If God ordained the oxen to be taken cared for, how much more has he ordained the local church to adequately care for a laboring pastor to the best of their ability.

It doesn't make a pastor have stronger faith if he cant properly care for his family.

Make sure to state that I am teaching a principle and not complaining.

That Heritage provides well for my family.

2. Disciplining an elder who sins.

(v.19-21)

In Ephesus there were a plurality of pastors/elders.

There were some who were worthy of double honor because they labored and did so with integrity.

(As most pastors do).

But, there were some who were sadly failing at their responsibility.

How does a church discipline an elder when he falls into sin?

Paul gives us that direction in vs.19-21.

A.) Exercise caution (v.19)

Pastoral leadership is a profession that is dependent on character and integrity.

A pastor can lose everything but Jesus if he doesn't maintain these things.

They are his most valuable possessions next to the Lord Jesus.

Pastors are also highly visible public figures and because of this they can be vulnerable to gossip and people with malevolent intentions.

Sadly, in our day and age, often all it takes is an accusation (even if it’s unfounded) to destroy a pastors life and ministry and sadly, their are people who seek to do damage to ministry leaders simply out of spite.

Share the story about someone telling a former church member in OH that I was a felon and their were warrants out for my arrest.

I had to run a criminal background check to prove to this church member that such a thing was a baseless accusation.

I didn't know this guy one bit.

Pastors are deserving of the same protection that is afforded anyone else.

We should never listen to gossip about leaders, or even a serious accusation, if it only comes from one person.

There must be evidence.

All charges must be substantiated by two or three independent corroborating lines of evidence.

There has been so much grief in the church because of failure to follow this basic biblical principle.

B.) Rebuke with courage and act with fairness.

(v.20-21)

If the charge is substantiated, you must have the courage to rebuke the elder publically.

This has to be done for the sake of the Lord’s church and as a warning to others regarding their own sin.

Pastors are not immune from sinning and they certainly are not immune from church discipline.

Far to often in churches, leaders are allowed to sin with impunity, and then simply move on to another church only to do the same thing.

Application:

Folks, we must confront those who sin.

It is unloving of Christ and his Church and of the offender if we do not to hold each other accountable.

The church has a very sober responsibility to make sure that its elders/pastors are given the proper protection and the proper discipline that the Word of God demands.

Biblical church discipline has never been popular, but when we refuse to practice it we allow the church to become perverted by sin.

We must act in accordance with the principles of Scripture.

And we must do so without showing any favoritism because its the pastor.

We are to be fair and even handed with all whom the church must give discipline to.

3. Selecting new elders to serve.

(v.22-25)

The discipline of a Pastor/Elder is a hard thing to think about, but, if a church is careful to select qualified men to be their elders and exercise some wisdom up front, this is something that should be a rarity in the life of a church.

A.) Be careful.

(v.22)

Earlier in ch.3:6 Paul said that Elders were not be new converts to the faith.

When you couple these two admonitions together it tells us that the church needs to be very careful and cautious with who they chose to lead them.

When we fail to properly choose someone we become culpable in the sin they commit.

Application: So before we make someone a pastor, we need to investigate, ask tough questions, check their criminal history, ask for references.

etc.