BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 3

Qualities of a Leader

1 Timothy 3:1-16

 

I am certainly not an expert on the subject of leadership. If I were, I would be writing books and lecturing around the country sharing my expertise. Having said that there are obvious examples of those who should not be in leadership roles. Many years ago George Barna did a survey of pastors. From that survey it was determined that only a small percentage of them believed that they received the gift of leadership. This means that there is a shortage in the very place where it is needed the most. I have seen this problem in every church that I have attended. It is hard to find those who are willing to take positions of giving direction to the ministry and people of the church. One example I have seen that is indicative of this problem is the lack of interest of participating in leadership training. Over the years we have provided opportunities for men and women to learn from some of the best people in the Southern Baptist Convention. Sadly the attendance was always very low. Even in the state convention there are not as many meetings for leaders to learn how to lead.

 

Within the church all too often those who fill the positions of leadership come from the ranks of those who are the most recognizable among the people. The same is true in the political and secular world. The choosing of people to fill the positions sometimes follows the pattern of the “Squeaky wheel gets the oil.” Sometimes those who are not gifted to provide leadership are put in those positions to the detriment of the church. Those who are not gifted will not have the heart to do the job well. Paul is going to speak of those who he considered qualified.

 

1 Timothy 3:1

Paul stated that there was a truth he wanted the church to latch onto. It was there are some people who want to become leaders for all of the right reasons. Paul used a term that comes from the Greek word episkopos, which translated means bishop or overseer. One other word synonymous with episkopos is presbuteros from which comes the concept of elder. In reality they are one and the same. The men about which Paul spoke were those who in their hearts had a deep desire and believed they were call to give oversight and direction to the church as shepherds of the flock. To have that kind of heart is to perform a fine work.

 

1. What is the difference between the proper aspiration and coveting a leadership role in the church?
2. How do we recognize those who aspire to do a fine work?
3. What does it mean to give oversight to the church? (To shepherd or watch out for the best interest of the people.)
4. What are the words that Paul used to describe these leaders?
5. In what way is the term used at our church biblically accurate?

 

 

1 Timothy 3:2-3

Paul listed several characteristics that an Overseer/Elder were to possess. The things described below were pictures of what the world saw in a man. They were to be men who were:

• Above reproach. One in whom no fault can be found that would disqualify him.
• Husbands of one wife. There are a number of options that this verse may mean. But it means above all else that man is loyal to his wife.
• The word used here also means sober. The leader of the church should be one who takes the position seriously, thinks clearly and does not jump to conclusions or make frivolous decisions.
• Meaning well behaved.
• Because he is well behaved he holds a position of esteem among men.
• Enjoys having people into his home on a regular basis.
• Able to teach. A man who became an elder is one who had been willing to spend the hours necessary to gain the knowledge of God’s word and by his giftedness the ability to share it with others in a clear way.
• Not addicted to wine. Alcohol does not dominate or control his life. He would not be classified as a drunkard.
• Not pugnacious. He is not argumentative or violent towards others.
• Forgives the faults of others
• It is a desire to live alongside others in harmony.
• Free from the love of money. He was not to be greedy or covet what belonged to others.

 

1. To sum up these attributes what does these things say about a man?
2. Which of these do you see as very important in the church today?
3. Why did you choose those over the others?
4. What would happen to a church that accepted a man or men as leaders that did not have these characteristics?
5. How is a man able to fulfill them? (In the power of Christ.)

 

1 Timothy 3: 4-5

Paul moved from the more public aspect to the more private. What happened in the home could have been hidden for a while from the church. The consequences of a man’s actions would at some point become obvious. One other factor comes into play. The leader was not being a man of integrity if he allowed his home to fall a part while maintaining a outward appearance that he had everything under control in his home. In the mind of Paul the way a man managed his home and the way he tried to lead the church could not be separated. The same qualities would be needed to be successful in both venues.

 

1. In what ways are the characteristics listed above the same or different than those needed to be a good husband and parent?
2. Why did Paul believe that a person could not be a good leader in the church if he was not one at home?
3. What does the family constitute? (The smallest church and small group.)
4. If he were not able to operate well in that small arena how could he oversee the lives of others in a larger one?
5. What other examples in a man’s life would you think might disqualify him from a leadership role in church? (The way he behaves in the secular world.)

 

1 Timothy 3:6-7

There is always a danger in putting a new convert into a leadership position. They will all too often lack the spiritual maturity and skills to provide what is needed to give direction to a ministry. Remember Moses spent forty years in Midia, Joseph was in Egypt for thirteen years, David fled from Saul for over a decade, and Jesus did not begin His ministry until He was thirty. It took all of those years cultivate the character and skills they would need to lead the people. Having experienced so much they learned the great lesson of depending on God. A new convert may try to rely on himself and become bitter when things do not go well. The understanding of being discipled until one is ready to lead will keep him from the sin of pride that was the problem the devil had.

 

1. What happens to people who try to lead before they are ready?
2. Why do abilities one may possess sometimes not carry over into the new life as a follower of Christ?
3. What examples can you give of someone who was promoted too quickly?
4. Why was it important for the men I mentioned to wait before they were given leadership roles?
5. What is one tendency of new believer? (To rely on himself because he has not matured in his faith.)
6. How can pride set in when a new believer is given a position in the church?

 

1 Timothy 3:8-9

Paul then turns to describe the men who were deacons. Many of the characteristics of the deacons in the early church corresponded to those of the overseers/elders. The word from which deacon comes is diakonos. It means servant. They were to be men who served the body in the work that needed to be done for it to function well. These men were to be men:

• Of dignity, which meant they were to be serious about their work not taking it lightly.
• Who were not double-tongued. They were not to talk out of both sides of their mouth which means telling a person one thing and another one something entirely different. Their speech was to be straightforward and honest.
• Not addicted to wine or money.
• Who held to the gospel message of mystery of “Christ in you the hope of glory” as Paul had said in Colossians 1:27

 

Before those men could become deacons they must prove themselves over time to be worthy of the task they were given. As with the elders they were to be men of

good reputation.

 

1. What does the word diakonos mean? (Servant.)
2. How does the role of the deacon different than that of overseer/elder? (The deacon serves the church in different ministries while the elders give oversight and direction to the church.
3. What attribute did Paul specifically spell out for the deacon? (Not to be double-tongued.)
4. What does that characteristic mean?
5. How is it destructive in churches today?
6. What is the mystery of Christ to which they were called to maintain?

 

1 Timothy 3:11

Women, especially those who were wives of deacons, were also be those who were serious minded about the ministry of the church. He went on to list three other qualities they were to possess. They were to:

• Not be malicious gossips, who spread stories that would be destructive to the body of Christ.
• Be temperate, self controlled and vigilant in her life as the wife of a deacon.
• Be faithful in all things. She must be one who was dependable and consistent in her actions.

 

1. What would indicate that the women about whom Paul spoke here were the wives of deacons?
2. Why did Paul add the quality of not being a malicious gossip or slanderer when describing the women?
3. What are some of the ways that this happens in churches today?
4. How does it bring harm to the church? (It sets one group of people against another and thus divides the church.)
5. Why is the characteristic of temperance or self-control so important in our lives?
6. If Paul was describing you what are some things to which he would want you to be faithful and consistent?

 

1 Timothy 3:12

The deacons were called to have the same relationship to their wives and children as did the overseers/elders.

 

1. Why did Paul give this command to deacons? (All those in leadership have the same responsibilities to their families?
2. Are all of the above the criteria by which we select those in leadership rolesin place in our church?
3. If not why?

 

1 Timothy 3:13

To serve well brings honor to the deacons but more importantly to God. Because of their faithfulness it also points people to the Christ they have served.

 

1. What comes to the man who serves well? (honor and respect.)
2. By serving well who ultimately receives the honor and glory?
3. What does serving do for the cause of Christ? (By one’s faithfulness people are led to Christ.)
4. In what ways have you or do you want to serve that both gives honor to God and brings people to Christ?

 

1 Timothy 3:14-15

Paul obviously had been released from prison and hoped to go to Ephesus to be with Timothy. Because of the work Paul never knew whether he would be given an opportunity to minister that might prohibit him from leaving the place where there was fruit to be harvested. This letter had been sent to Timothy in case he was delayed. In it he provided instructions for the young man. They were to help him in conducting himself in the church of God. He described the church in three different ways.

• The source and founder of the church was God.
• The pillar
• The support of the truth.

 

1. What would indicate that Paul had been released from prison?
2. What might delay him from going to Ephesus?
3. Why had Paul written the letter in the first place?
4. Have you ever received a letter that gave instructions of how to move forward with the work to which you had been called?
5. How did Paul describe the household of God?
6. What do those three things mean to you?

 

1 Timothy 3:16

This verse almost appears to be a simple creed for Timothy and the church. It might also have been a hymn. It spoke of the mystery of godliness who was Christ Jesus. In Christ is seen the One who

• Became flesh
• Witnessed to by the Holy Spirit
• Seen by angels
• Proclaimed by Paul and others throughout the known world
• Was believed by those who heard the gospel and the mystery of godliness.
• Ascended into heaven to be with the Father until His eventual return for His people.

 

1. In what ways could you see this as a creed? (A creed is a declaration of beliefs. This certainly fits that description.)
2. How do these words speak to you?
3. Why was each of them important to Timothy and the church at Ephesus? (It refutes in a concise manner all of the false teachings that were being shared with the church.)
4. How do they help you?
5. How could you use them to witness to others?
6. What is the hope that they give you? (Christ is coming back.)

 

• Memorize verse 16 as a quick witnessing tool to point others to the truths of God’s word as it relates to Jesus Christ.
• Take great care in selecting the leaders to oversee the ministries of the church.
• Review the qualifications of leaders and make them personal in your own life.
• Discover your spiritual gifts to be prepared to serve accordingly.

 

Leadership in churches is too an important issue as to be taken lightly. Those who volunteer to serve should be interviewed to discover if they are gifted in that area of ministry and have the skills and passions to serve there. All too often the leadership is chosen from among those who are the most visible and outspoken. They may be very successful in the secular world but those skills may translate into the life of the church. The list of qualities Paul gave us as a standard for selecting elders or deacons is a good standard by which candidates can evaluated. Not everyone is gifted to lead, but each of us is shaped by God for some type service. We are never to use the fact that we have not been given certain gifts to do nothing at all. Every gift is important, let each of us serve in the manner for which we have been equipped.