Last week, we began a series of sermons on the Office of Elder looking at both the Description and Duties of the office. This week , we will continue in that study as we consider the Importance and Qualifications of the office.

1 Tim 3:1-7 “Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires

a noble task. ²Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. ⁵(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Our heavenly Father, we give thanks this morning for the understanding you’ve given us concerning the high calling you have placed upon our lives, and for the grace that you supply that enables us to fulfill that standard in Christ. We pray for the government of your church, and for the officers to whom you have appointed and entrusted the work of carrying out this noble task. May you enable each of them to fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. May you enable each of us gathered here today to better understand the qualifications of this sacred office, and the responsibilities we hold in nominating (and ordaining) men for the office of Elder. These things we pray, in the name of Jesus, the Savior, King, & Head of the Church. Amen.

Next, the Response of the American Public – In the days to follow, a significant number of polls appeared asking whether or not the American people believe a man’s personal business and character affects his ability to serve in office, and what we have witnessed is that to a large degree the American public has said “NO, it does not.” You and I live among a populace that doesn’t understand the relationship between “WHO a person is” and “WHAT a Person Does”.

The BIBLE on the other hand is PERFECTLY CLEAR on this subject! The Apostle Paul tells us that there is a direct relationship between a person’s character and their ability to serve. He goes beyond this to say there is no question about it but a man MUST be qualified if ghe is to carry out the noble work he is called to! We see that in the beginning of verse 2. The word “Now” links what follows with the information that precedes it in v. 1. In v. 2, we read “Now the overseer must be above reproach…” The issue is not in question concerning leadership … “the overseer MUST be above reproach.” In the original, this becomes even clearer when it says “…Therefore it is necessary the overseer be irreproachable.” The point is this – It is IMPOSSIBLE for an Elder to Fulfill the Function of Overseer unless his character meets the qualifications that follow in this passage. In v. 2, we see that that which is of utmost importance when it comes to leadership is not one’s skills, not even what one knows, but the type of person the man is (I would add, knowledge comes into play here, but

the ability to communicate biblical principles is not sufficient to meet the qualifications for becoming an overseer of God’s flock) That’s why v. 2 begins “Now the overseer must BE…” We find the Same truth concerning the office of Deacon, as well as the wives of the officers – v. 8 “Deacons, likewise, are to BE…” v. 12 “A deacon must BE…” v. 11 “In the same way, their wives are to BE…”

WHY is that? WHY does an Officer’s Character affect his ability to serve? For that matter, why does it affect ANY person’s ability to Serve? To find the answer, we must look to the function the Elder is required to carry out. We said last week “The work of an Elder is to Manage and Take Care of God’s Church” Now, the IMPORTANCE of a person’s work is seen in three things:

Let’s look at the first - “The VALUE of what he manages”. What value is assigned to the church which the Elder is called to manage. We know that Jesus bought it with his “OWN BLOOD”! It has Infinite worth! Next - WHO does the Elder manage the church for? Scripture tells us it is “GOD’s church”. Finally, what is the necessity and worth of the church? The church is to be the pillar and foundation of truth in and for the world.

Question: Does it matter what type of person you entrust such an important work to? I’m aware of a particular banking institution which recently was participating in a fairly aggressive expansion and building program. One particular project they were involved with was worth millions of dollars. I spoke with their building project manager and asked him “How did you decide whom to award the contract to once the bids were received?” He responded: “We opened the bids to everyone; then we narrowed it down to three contractors;, two of which had worked with us before, the other had a tremendous reputation in an adjacent area. When it came down to the final straw with the bids coming in about the same, the choice came down to this – I know THE MAN… I know HIS MORALS… I know he runs a good business… because of his flawless reputation, I/we knew we could count on him.” You see, though a great deal of the American Public might say that a man’s personal life and character doesn’t affect his ability to serve, a better picture of what they really believe is seen in whether they do any background checks when they entrust their future, their money, their retirement, etc. to their care.

If that’s not convincing enough, let’s take a closer look at the work itself. We also said last week that “An Elder is charged with Upholding the Deep Truths of Scripture”. What does that entail? In Titus 1:9, we read that “An elder ‘must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught…’” WHY? “… so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” Point – An elder has no choice but to apply the deep truths of Scripture to the people around him.” That comes in two forms (1) ENCOURAGING (this is generally not where Elders have problems); & (2) REBUKING those who oppose it. The Greek here says to “convict” or to “judge” or “prove guilty”. This is very difficult to do… especially, and even moreso when one’s own life is subject to question. Calvin puts it this way: An elder “ought not to be marked by any disgrace that would detract from his authority. There will certainly not be found a man who is free from every fault, but it is one thing to be burdened with ordinary faults that do not hurt a man’s reputation, because the most excellent men share them, but quite another to have a name that is held in infamy and besmirched by some scandalous disgrace.” Point: God’s people need to know WHAT’S AT STAKE when nominating men for office in the church. God’s people need to understand that to APPOINT UNQUALIFIED MEN is to UNDERMINE and LIMIT… even HINDER this Session’s ability to carry out the word assigned to it. Or, to put this in a positive light, to appoint men who possess the qualities mentioned in this passage IS TO EQUIP this church with qualified officers who will be in position to be ABLE to Accomplish the function of Elder!

Warning: This is NO SMALL ISSUE! It is a GRAVE, & SIGNIFICANT ISSUE! The gravity is found not only in the fact that Paul speaks to this issue directly in two of his three Pastoral Epistles (1 Tim 3 – devotes the entire chapter), but also in the WARNINGS that Paul speaks of concerning the office. Here we find that appointing an unqualified man to office can be both Dangerous & Disgraceful, … both to the Individual and to the Church.

Twice, Paul speaks of the potential for an elder to “fall”. He refers to three things he can fall into: (v. 6) Judgment; (v. 7) Disgrace; & (v. 7) Devil’s Trap

I. JUDGMENT

In v.6, we read an elder “… must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” The potential sin involved here is pride. The word “conceited” here is “typhos” which means to wrap in smoke, to be puffed up with pride so that one cannot see or think clearly. This describes a person who thinks “HE” is the answer to the church’s or the world’s problems, … a person who thinks that “HIS” wisdom and knowledge and Care is what people need most (the type person who overestimates himself but then says “Oh yeah, we give the credit to God”) The danger of such conceit and pride is to fall into the SAME judgment as the devil (who usurped the word and authority of God and led people astray) In 2 Pet 2:4, we reads God “… did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment.” What is the Prevention? A Nominee MUST NOT be a Recent Convert! The temptation is great to those not seasoned in the faith. As Henry puts it “The devils fell through pride, which is a good reason why we should take heed of pride, because it is a sin that turned angels into devils.”

II. DISGRACE & DEVIL’S TRAP

I conclude with a statement made by Samuel Logan in his book The Preacher and Preaching - “Since piety, then, is a way of life, communion with God and walking with God, we can readily see the necessity for a robust piety in [elders]. They who are called to train others in godliness must be godly themselves. Not surprisingly does Paul say, ‘Watch your life and doctrine closely’ – live first, and doctrine second, in that order.” That’s GOOD COUNSEL as we look to appoint officers in this church …Look to their Life FIRST, Doctrine second (…. And look at both!)