He that desireth the office
Notes
Transcript
I Timothy 3:1-7
If a man desire the office of a bishop.
Blameless Husband of one wife Vigilant Sober Good behavior
Given to hospitality Apt to teach Not given to wine No striker
Not greedy Patient Not a brawler Not covetous
One that ruleth his house Children in subjection Not a novice Good report
Mistreatments of this passage...
1. We make too much
The role of the pastor can be made too much of in the church.
Outreach Magazine puts out an annual magazine called “100 fastest growing churches in America”
Elmer Towns made his name in 1968 when he published the 10 largest Sunday Schools a book that you can still find today.
You can get on the 100 Largest churches
You can build one of the 17 prettiest churches in the World
CARASMATIC ENTERTAINER
CHURCH GROWTH GURU
AN ORGANIZATIONAL GENIUS
TED TALK COMMUNICATOR EXTRODINAR
CERTIFIED MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANT
LITTLE LEAGUE COACH
FULL TIME BLOGGER
CALM ENOUGH FOR COFFEE
EXOTIC ENOUGH TO BE TRAVELED
KISS BABIES
BUILD HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY
In all of that we should ask who is it that calls for this. Is this how Jesus really sees the man who pastors his flock.
Some may come from himself.
Some comes from his peers.
I remember years ago getting a call from a pastor that wanted me to come and preach for a preachers meeting. I told him that I could make arrangements to be at his meeting and hopefully could be an encouragement. Two weeks later I got his invitation that went to all the churches/ pastors. Inviting all pastors to come to the Tuesday meeting. But this will be a different kind of meeting. He listed the unique things about his meeting. At the bottom of the list “if you don’t spend two hours in daily prayer you need not come”. I can’t tell if he was teasing or joking. I hope he was. I can tell you that morning I picked up the phone and called the preacher back. I kindly explained that this wasn’t the spirit of meeting that I was trying to participate in and hed have to go on without me.
There is no need to shovel more and man made expectations on a pastor.
Some come from consumers.
Pastors feel a pressure to compete with area churches. To hold on to market share and prevent their people from going and finding greener pastures. Someone may say well how do you prevent that. If anyone comes up with an antidote I’ll be first in line. You love your flock and it hurts every time someone no longer wishes to be a part.
2. We don’t make enough of the role.
There are denomination that want to argue everyone including women on to this list.
There are some things that absolutely should be present.
A DEEP LOVE AND BURDEN FOR PEOPLE AND SOULS
A CLEAR, PERSONAL LOVE FOR JESUS
A WARMTH IN PERSONALITY THAT PEOPLE RESPOND TO WELL
A UNIQUE ABILITY TO UNDERSTAND AND EXPLAIN GOD’S WORD
AN ABILITY TO EMOTIONALLY ENGAGE PEOPLE BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE
A CLEAR COMMUNICATOR
AN AUTHENTIC, HONEST AWARENESS OF HIS HEART AND PERSONAL BROKENNESS
A HUMBLE TEACHABLE SPIRIT
A CLEAR POSSESSION OF WISDOM AND DISCERNMENT INTO LIFE AND STRUGGLES
A STRONG ABILITY TO EMPATHIZE TO A HURTING PERSON
If you’ll notice the issue will be his heart. It starts in verse 1. Why does he desire the office of a bishop?
Can a pastor be a good man if he pastors a mega church - absolutley.
Can a pastor be a smart man is he pastors a small country church. - absolutely.
If you can say no to either one of those you might need to evaluate if you are one that continues modern unhealthy “Christian” views of the role of Pastor in the world.
Necessity of Qualifications…
Remember the context:
Church of Ephesus
As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
We need qualification because
1. The Spiritual health of your Family is as stake.
Someone may say that there are no qualifications for the wife of the pastor. That is not so. She has to be one that is willing to be ruled. You say well that sounds horrible. Consider the expectation of the church. They have the same spirit.
Understand that this is the intention for all the families. Noted by the fact that Paul instructs the same for the deacons and their wives and children.
2. The Spiritual impact of our Church is at stake.
3. The Spiritual eternity of the World is at stake.
Commendations for the Church - Overseeing a church is a good thing.
There are warnings to the Church -
If he can’t rule his house he can’t rule the church.
The product of the church is demonstrated in his family. When his life runs wild and undisciplined don’t be afraid that your church will as well.
If he is a novice pride will pull him down.
This stands in contrast to the opening commendation of the pastor. He desires the office. But if he wants it as an auxiliary to his pride than he will lead the church away from God. So it is good when a man wants the pastorate only if his motivation is one of humility.
He will take the same trajectory or condemnations the devil.
He risks falling into the same path that satan fell. Make no mistake that the devil liked his job because of the position it gave him.
Why then is this the point of the Apostle Paul. Because of how far the church had gotten away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They needed an environment that.
But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
It is here that I think we see the Spirit of Christ. This Gospel centered relationship emerges when we all realize just how dependent we are on the transformational power of Jesus Christ.
When you think that Christ’s primary adversary wasn’t the devil it was the Pharisees we can’t help but see the danger of leadership.
But in our brokenness we need a leader that will guide us to what is right.
But you will follow a broken leader and he needs you as well to humbly follow and serve alongside.
It is here we see Jesus walking into a broken Jerusalem. And finds broken men and asks them to be the Apostles of broken people in broken churches. And you and I broken people watch how from them he produced a perfect word that calls broken men to lead broken people to a perfect savior.
God can use broken sticks to draw straight lines.
This reality calls for a
Shared Humility
Shared Compassion
Shared Gratitude
Church you go out of your way to demonstrate your gratitude for me. You will never know how grateful I am for you.