I Timothy 3:1-7  Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his

heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to hospitable, able to teach, not given to

drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his manage his own family well and see that his

children obey him with proper respect. (If children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) family, how can he take care of God's church?)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a judgment as the devil. He must also have a

good reputation with outsiders, so that he will good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

What is an elder?

Presbuteros – Mature (not just by age)

Episkopos – “Overseer”

Poimen – “Shepherd”

4 primary ways elders serve as leaders

• Suitable Leadership• Shepherd Leadership• Shared Leadership• Servant Leadership

Suitable Leadership – “Qualified”

• Determination – Do you want to?• Desire – Why do you want to?

• Deportment - What qualifies you to do so?

I Timothy 3:1-7  Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his

heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. Now the overseer must be above task. Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to hospitable, able to teach, not given to

drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his manage his own family well and see that his

children obey him with proper respect. (If children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) family, how can he take care of God's church?)

He must not be a recent convert, or he may He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. He must also have a judgment as the devil. He must also have a

good reputation with outsiders, so that he will good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

Titus 1:6-9

An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not wife, a man whose children believe and are not

open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he

must be blameless–not overbearing, not quick-must be blameless–not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He

must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

1) Moral and Spiritual Character

“Above Reproach”

- In Marital Faithfulness and Sexual Purity

- In Integrity- In Self-Control (use of money/alcohol/authority)- In Relationship Skills

(gentle/stable/sound –minded/not contentious)

2) Abilities

Manage household well

Be a model for others to follow

Able to teach and defend the faith

3) Spirit-Given Motivation

- Not grudgingly or with wrong motives

I Timothy 3:1 -KJV – “desire”; NASB – “aspires”; KJV – “desire”; NASB – “aspires”;

NIV – “sets his heart”; AMP – “seeks”NIV – “sets his heart”; AMP – “seeks”

- Approved by the Spirit- Approved by the SpiritActs 20:28 - Acts 20:28 - Guard yourselves and all the flock of Guard yourselves and all the flock of

which the Holy Spirit has made you overseerswhich the Holy Spirit has made you overseers

Why have to qualify?

Entrusted with Christ’s most prized possession – His Bride

Living examples to be followed

Protects the church from incompetent or morally unfit leaders

Shepherd Leadership

“Main Jobs”

1) Protect the Flock1 Pet. 5:1-3 – “To the elders among you, I appeal as a 1 Pet. 5:1-3 – “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds

of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money,

but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”you, but being examples to the flock.”

Acts 20:28-31 – “Keep watch over yourselves and all the Acts 20:28-31 – “Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage with his own blood. I know that after I leave, savage

wolves will come in among you and will not spare the wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three them. So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and years I never stopped warning each of you night and

day with tears.”day with tears.”

2) Feed the Flock

Jn. 21:15-18a – When they had finished eating, Jesus Jn. 21:15-18a – When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he

said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord,

you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon my sheep.” The third time he said to him, “Simon

son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you

love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, "Feed my know that I love you.” Jesus said, "Feed my

sheep.”sheep.”

3) Lead the Flock

Oversee,Goal Setting, Direction,

Affect Change,Motivate other to Follow

4) Care for the Flock

James 5:14 – “Is any one of you sick? James 5:14 – “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the He should call the elders of the

church to pray over him and anoint church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the him with oil in the name of the

Lord.”Lord.”

Shared Leadership

It’s not about one person but “pastors”Acts 15 – pluralityJames 5 –plurality

Paul’s missionary travels appointed “elders”

I Timothy and Titus – qualified elders

Benefits of Shared Leadership

•Balance each other’s Balance each other’s weaknessesweaknesses

•Lightens the workloadLightens the workload•Provides accountabilityProvides accountability

Though equals, some will stand out

I Timothy 5:17 - “The elders who direct I Timothy 5:17 - “The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose of double honor, especially those whose

work is preaching and teaching.”work is preaching and teaching.”

Equal Authority doesn’t mean equal Equal Authority doesn’t mean equal giftedness, knowledge, leadership giftedness, knowledge, leadership

abilities or experienceabilities or experience

Servant LeadershipMk. 9:33-35 – They came to Capernaum. When he Mk. 9:33-35 – They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet arguing about on the road?” But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he

must be the very last, and the servant of all.”must be the very last, and the servant of all.”

Lk. 22:24-27 – Also a dispute arose among them as Lk. 22:24-27 – Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. to which of them was considered to be greatest.

Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you over them call themselves Benefactors. But you

are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, rules like the one who serves. For who is greater,

the one who is at the table or the one who serves? the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am

among you as one who serves.” among you as one who serves.”

Churches Responsibility

Heb. 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and Heb. 13:17 – “Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep submit to their authority. They keep

watch watch over you as men who must give an over you as men who must give an

account. Obey them so that their work account. Obey them so that their work will be a will be a

joy, not a burden, for that would be of no joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.”advantage to you.”

Practical Ways to Submit to Elders

Pray for themPray for them

Encourage themEncourage them

Speak positively of them to othersSpeak positively of them to others

Love themLove them

Assist them in their jobsAssist them in their jobs

Support themSupport them

Hold them accountable for their Hold them accountable for their action and wordsaction and words