Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:26 — 33.2MB)
Subscribe: RSS
1 Timothy 3:1, 2
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can download our service on iTunes or tune in for “The Good Word” each day on AM 1230 WSAL or on Hoosier Country 103.7 FM just after 8am. Last time we studied how a man “must be” in order to serve as an overseer in one of God’s local churches today. Now we are going to focus on the individual qualifications, and study what they mean and why God put them in the list. I remind you all these qualifications are to define the man and his character in the present. You will remember the theology of the NT teaches that God looks on and deals with a person as they are now, not as they were, or even will be. We may not impose on Scripture anything Scripture itself does not say! To do so is clearly violating Scripture. Read Rev. 22:18, 19. Just FYI Jesus is quoting Scripture here from Deut. 4:2; 12:32; and Prov. 30:5, 6 which all say the same thing. I’m using the outline of two respected expositors who suggest 4 general statements that summarize the qualifications for overseers listed in these 7 verses. So, 1st an overseer must be:
I. OBEDIENT IN OBSERVABLE BEHAVIOR – 2, 3. There are 4 criteria that others must be able to see in an overseer’s daily life. The first two qualifications deal with the man himself. So an overseer must now be: A. ABOVE REPROACH. This does not mean a man must be sinless, or obviously no man could ever be an overseer. To be above reproach a man must be, one who cannot be attacked (even by non-Christians) because of his moral conduct. A respected theologian says the life of an overseer should be one that is worthy of imitation. The TDNT defines this word as meaning “not to be taken hold of.” It means that the man is now a man whose moral character is such that no one can charge him with anything that would make him unfit to hold the office. To make matters more serious, the man must be above reproach in all these things! He doesn’t turn them on and off for his convenience and benefit depending on the situation. Whether the man is in church or with unsaved, ungodly people, or with his family or at work, he is always above reproach. As a man grows in Christ and releases more and more of his own personal life to the control of God The Holy Spirit, he becomes “above reproach.” Becoming what God wants a person to become is the result of a teachable spirit. God not only uses His inspired, infallible, inerrant Word to teach people, He also uses other Godly men and women as examples, teachers and counselors. If a man will not allow himself to be guided and taught by other brothers and sisters, his heart is hard and arrogant! It is the attitude to minister that drives an overseer to be above reproach. Read Prov. 15:31-33 and 18:12. What do pastor, elder, overseer, bishop, deacon all have in common? 1st they are all titles. No one is born a pastor, elder, or deacon – or any other position in the Kingdom of God. Salvation is the 1st step in being fashioned by God to wear one of these titles. 2nd they are all earned titles. God never awards honorary titles to men who haven’t earned them in God’s school of re-creation and transformation. 3rd all these titles are awarded by God. He, and He alone, chooses who will be His leaders of His family! Every true overseer is a man whose heart is humble and pliable in God’s hands. Do you know why it is non-negotiable that a man be subservient and humble in God’s hands, and must be now above reproach? Because he is the tool God uses to teach you those works of the ministry Paul addresses in Eph. 4. If a man can’t be taught, he can’t learn. If a man can’t learn, he can’t teach! And if a man can’t teach, he can’t be an overseer!
If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at 574-643-9419.
