Biblical Eldership Pt. 1
Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Core Idea: Elders are God’s gift to the church, for they’re called to shepherd His people and build up the body of Christ. So, as under-shepherds of Christ, elders must lead with strength, wisdom, and integrity – living lives that are worthy of imitation for every believer. Then, let’s pray that God raises up elders like this.
INTRODUCTION
Today, we begin a three-week sermon series on biblical leadership. Now, some of you may wonder, “Why do we need to talk about leadership in the church? Aren’t there more important things we should pay attention to – things that are more crucial to our faith, like the gospel or missions? Besides, aren’t we doing well with our current structure? Why stir things up when everything is already going well?” Well, I could say a lot in response but let me just share two reasons. Number one, it’s God’s plan for the church. Church leadership isn’t something we created to make ministry easier or church life more manageable. No, it’s God’s idea. He’s the One who instituted it – which means that we should never treat it lightly or reshape it according to the way we think is effective or wise. It doesn’t matter how successful a model may be in the corporate world. It doesn’t matter how efficient it is in business. The church leadership is not ours to reinvent – it must always be shaped and governed by God’s Word. A few weeks ago, I mentioned that one of my core commitments in planting this church was to lead us in becoming a community that is shaped and guided solely by the Word of God – and if it’s God’s will for us to appoint godly elders and deacons, that’s exactly what we will do. In fact, I want us to do this well – which is why we’ll take our time to go deep, carefully and prayerfully examining everything Scripture has to say.
Number two, it’ll strengthen the health of our church. Just as a body suffers when its head or vital organs are compromised, so the church suffers when leadership is unbiblical or unhealthy. Let’s be honest. Many of us have witnessed seen this – deacons clinging to power, elders lacking biblical character, and pastors falling into moral failure, causing congregations to be filled with distrust. In some cases, the damage done by a church leader is so deep that those who once professed to be Christian have walked away from the faith altogether. As a result, the world now laughs at the church instead of looking to it for light in dark times. Thabiti Anyabwile said, “A church without godly leaders is an endangered church. And a church that does not train leaders is an unfaithful church. God gives leaders to His churches for the maturity, unity, and soundness of each local congregation. Without godly, faithful, replicating leadership, churches suffer deeply.” We cannot thrive spiritually without godly leadership at its core. Healthy leadership leads to a healthy church. Then, these are the two reasons why we should study church leadership.
Now, my sermon on baptism a few weeks ago was heavy on information and light on application. I know I said I’ll try to avoid doing this again – but this sermon series will also be heavy on teaching as well. But there’s a good reason for that – it’s because we need to unify our understanding of church leadership. When we hear the word “elder,” we may all agree that it’s one of the offices in the church. But if we were to define what an elder actually does, our responses might differ significantly, as it may be shaped by our past church experiences or denominational backgrounds. That’s why my goal is to lead us toward a shared understanding so that, as a church, we can be aligned in both our desire and direction as we move toward appointing leadership. So, this message could feel more like a lecture than a sermon, but I promise you – we’ll go back to expositional preaching soon. Then, with this in mind, let’s open our Bibles to 1 Timothy 3:1-7 – and I’ll read this for us.
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. Amen. This is the Word of God for you today.
I have six points to share. Don’t worry. I’m not going to go through all of them today. We’ll look at the first three today and the rest next week. But I have to warn you – there are many sub-points in each point. I know this is a lot, but, as I said before, this has to be done so that we can all have the same starting point. I’ll do my best not to lose you. Anyways, here are my six points:
· GENERAL PRINCIPLES (THE FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK)
· THE QUALIFICATIONS (WHO ELDERS MUST BE)
· THE GOSPEL (WHAT GROUNDS AND DRIVES ELDERS)
· THE ROLES (WHAT ELDERS DO)
· THE APPOINTMENT (HOW ELDERS WILL BE INSTALLED HERE)
· APPLICATION (HOW WE AS A CHURCH SHOULD RESPOND)
1) GENERAL PRINCIPLES (THE FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK)
Here, I’m going to address three things – I have them in the slide so you can follow along. So, first, terminology. Listen to what Pastor Jeramie Rinne wrote on this issue: “‘So, this church is like your business, and you’re in sales, and God is the product,’ the newcomer said as we stood in the foyer after the church service. The man was simply trying to make sense of the church based on his experiences. He apparently knew business and sales, so he tried to interpret the church from what he knew. Granted, churches have business aspects. Churches often use financial officers and budgets, employees and policies, facilities and insurance, bylaws and committees. These are parts of a church’s life and need to be managed well for God’s glory. The problem arises when these businesslike elements become the model for understanding what a church is and its leadership. For example, the senior pastor is the president/CEO, associate pastors are vice presidents, members are shareholders or loyal customers, visitors are potential customers, and elders make up the board of trustees. Pastors minister, and elders direct. But this model fails to incorporate a key biblical truth: the elders are pastors too.” Did you know that? Did you know that elders, overseers, and pastors all refer to one office in the Bible? Let me read from 1 Peter 5:1-3, “To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: Be shepherds [the root word for pastor] of God’s flock that is under your care, watching [the root word for overseer] over them – not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” This passage is important because it shows us that these titles don’t point to different offices – rather, they highlight the various responsibilities that come with one office, namely leading, feeding, protecting, and caring for the people that God has entrusted to them. We’ll talk more about this next week, but the point I want to make here is this – that Scripture uses the titles elders and pastors interchangeably. In fact, the very fact that Paul doesn’t give separate qualifications for elders, overseers, and pastors (as he does for deacons) reinforces the idea that these titles refer to the same office. In other words, all elders are pastors and all pastors are elders. I’m an elder – and our future elders will be considered pastors. This may sound strange to some of you, but I firmly believe that this is what the Bible teaches – which is why we’ll embrace it.
Number two, plurality. When God designed the local church, He wisely established a plurality of elders so that no one would serve alone. Let me give you a couple of examples of this from the Bible. Acts 14:23, “Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” Titus 1:5, “The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town.” As you can see, we find elders (plural) in each church (singular) – and there are many reasons why God designed it this way. For example, caring for the church can often be too much for one person to handle – so having multiple elders can spread out the workload. Also, no one person is gifted with all the wisdom and skills needed to lead a congregation effectively – so by having a team of elders, the church has access to various gifts that can bless the community in different ways. In fact, when the elders function as a team, they’ll be able to complement each other’s weaknesses – allowing each elder to devote most of his time to the area of ministry in which he is most gifted. Plurality also provides accountability to elders. Sadly, many churches overlook the fact that pastors are not immune to temptation, discouragement, conflict, or burnout. Because of their role, there’s often an unspoken expectation that elders must always be strong and spiritually steady. But the truth is that shepherds need shepherding too. No wonder a plurality of elders is so vital since it allows them to care for, support, and pastor one another. Then, this should be our goal as well – we should pray that God will continue to raise many great leaders in this church.
Number three, male leadership. The Bible clearly and unapologetically teaches that the office of elder is reserved for qualified men. Now, I understand this may sound offensive in today’s culture, where any distinction in gender roles often raises concerns about fairness and equality. In fact, this is why people accuse Christianity of being repressive or diminishing the value of women. But that couldn’t be further from the truth, for this is not an issue of capability but of calling. The Bible does not say women are less competent or gifted. In fact, if that were the case, I would be the first to deny this, for I know so many godly, wise, strong women who are more than capable of leading and preaching well – one of them being Jane. I’ve had the privilege of serving alongside her for over 18 years, and my respect for her runs deep. I admire her, trust her, and rely on her wisdom – which is why I’m genuinely humbled that she has chosen to follow my leadership here at Lighthouse. Given my own shortcomings, I’m sure there were moments she was tempted to step in and take charge – and honestly, I would’ve welcomed it, knowing full well she’s more than capable. But she didn’t. Not because she lacked ability, but because she was committed to obeying God’s Word. She chose to be faithful to the calling God had placed on her life. Brothers and sisters, I truly believe that this is what Scripture teaches. I’m not advocating for male leadership out of a desire for power and control – far from it. My desire is simply that our church would be shaped by God’s Word. Yes, this may stand in contrast to what our culture upholds, but I’m convinced that it reflects God’s design. Now, if you were to ask me why God structured His church this way, I wouldn’t be able to give you an answer because Scripture doesn’t explain. But what I do know is this: God established it because it was right and pleasing in His sight – God designed men and women to complement each other through distinct roles in family and church life. Then, let’s embrace this even if it doesn’t make sense in our heads simply because we trust God in our hearts. Now, I’ll stop here (though I’m sure you have a ton of questions), because I actually preached a four-week sermon series on this issue last March. So, if you’d like to explore this further, I encourage you to listen to them or feel free to speak with me afterward because I’d be more than happy to continue the conversation later. But before we move on, let me clarify something really important – notice that I didn’t say the office of elder is reserved for men in general. This is not for just any man. No, it’s reserved for qualified men – those who have demonstrated the character required for this weighty responsibility. Then, this is the perfect segue to our next point because we’ll now consider the biblical qualifications for elders.
2) THE QUALIFICATIONS (WHO ELDERS MUST BE)
In our passage today, Paul gives us a long list of qualifications that an elder must possess. But let me first begin by pointing out what’s not on the list. As you can see, age is not mentioned – which means that older men shouldn’t automatically become elders, and young men shouldn’t automatically be disqualified. This makes sense, since in a younger congregation, a thirty-year-old man might be highly respected, while in an older congregation, even someone in his forties might still be seen as quite young. Another thing that we don’t see is worldly success. Being successful in business doesn’t automatically qualify someone for church leadership because the church is not a corporation – it’s the body of Christ, the bride of Christ. Lastly, Paul doesn’t list likeability as a qualification. Being popular or well-liked doesn’t qualify someone to be an elder. Rather, they must be faithful servants of the Lord, even if it means making difficult decisions that challenge people’s comfort and expectations.
Then, what is mentioned? Well, this list makes it clear that, in God’s eyes, character matters more than competence. Now, this is not to say gifts and skills are unimportant – of course not. I could be the kindest and most gentle person, but if I can’t preach the gospel with clarity, cast vision with courage, or lead with conviction, I wouldn’t be a good pastor. And yet, Scripture places the highest priority on character. The truth is that many churches overlook serious character issues in a pastor because they’re impressed by his performance or accomplishments. Maybe you’ve heard people say something like this: “But he was such a gifted preacher. But look at the number of people who have come to Christ under his ministry.” I’m sure you have. As a result, the church accepts what it shouldn’t accept, is silent when it should speak, and is passive when it should act. But, brothers and sisters, no leader should be untouchable – no matter how gifted, popular, or accomplished he may be, no leader should ever be beyond correction. Every leader must stand under the authority of God’s Word. Every character quality on this list is a window into what God values most in the heart and life of those He has called to lead. Then, let’s take a look at them. Now, to help us better process this long list, I grouped them into three categories – which you should be able to see on the screen. So, follow along as we walk through them together.
The first category is situational qualifications. Here, I have four qualities. Number one, desire to serve (v. 1). This really stood out to me because I’ve seen too many churches having to convince people (sometimes pressuring them) into accepting their position. And while many of them went on to serve faithfully, I noticed that their ministry often lacked joy and a sense of fulfillment – they served more out of obligation than delight. Of course, it’s possible that some may desire leadership for the wrong reasons (like pride or personal gain). But Paul reminds us that it’s still better to appoint those who are eager to serve – hopefully with godly ambitions. This is why it’s best to look for men who are already serving joyfully and faithfully, even without a title. So, let me make it clear – no matter how qualified you may be, if you don’t want to do it, we will never force you to become an elder. I might pray that God changes your heart, but we’ll never twist your arm into this role. Eldership is only for those who desire to serve in this area.
Number two, able to teach (v. 2). An elder must have the ability to communicate and apply God’s truth with clarity and power so that the faith of those who hear will be built up. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all elders must be able to preach publicly – I hope some of them can, so we can share the pulpit duty. But some elders may not be gifted in preaching to a large group – instead, they may have an incredible gift to teach or disciple in a small group setting. Then, that’s exactly what they should do. In either case, elders can’t just have a surface-level understanding of the Bible – they must be immersed in Scripture so that they can faithfully encourage with sound doctrine and correct those who oppose it. We’ll talk more about this next week.
Number three, not a recent convert (v. 6). Paul tells us that an elder must not be a new believer. Here’s why – verse 6, “or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.” A new believer often hasn’t yet come to grips with the depth of his own weaknesses or the subtle temptations that leadership can bring – so this makes him vulnerable to pride, which can quickly lead to his downfall. That’s why it’s important to give time for his faith to be tested and his character to gain the respect of others before entrusting him with the responsibility of leading the church. Just because they’re passionate doesn’t mean they’re ready. Now, what exactly counts as a “new convert”? Is it six months? A year? Three years? Paul doesn’t lay it out explicitly for us – which means that we’ll need to approach this with prayerful wisdom and careful discernment together as a church.
Number four, have a good reputation with outsiders (v. 7). The truth is that family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers may have a clearer view of a person’s character than fellow church members simply because they spend more time with him in day-to-day life. No wonder Paul stresses the importance of an elder being well thought of by those outside the church. Here’s why – verse 7, “So that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.” Sadly, we’ve seen far too many headlines about pastors falling into serious sin – whether through adultery, abuse, financial scandal, or other actions that contradict the gospel. Interestingly, Paul says that this disgrace is a trap set by the devil. Satan wants to see elders publicly disgraced. Why? Because he can kill many birds with one stone – when pastors fall, Satan can disqualify the leader, discourage believers, and drive unbelievers further away from the church. Think about it – how often do we hear people say, “Why would I become a Christian when your leaders are no better?” A man who is unfaithful at home, dishonest in business, or harsh with others will bring shame on himself, the church, and ultimately the gospel. This is why we must be careful when appointing the leaders. So, that’s the first category – situational qualifications.
The second category is family qualifications. Here, I have two qualities. Number one, faithful to his wife (v. 2). An elder must honor the sacred covenant of marriage. In other words, he must never form inappropriate connections with another woman. Now, this sounds obvious – yet, tragically, many men have disqualified themselves from ministry due to unwise and compromising interactions with women other than their wives. But an elder must remain emotionally and physically faithful to his wife. Now, does this mean that only married men can serve as elders? Of course not. Pastor Phil Ryken writes, “Commonly, elders will be married, and God will use the demands of their callings as husbands and fathers to do much of the sanctifying work that needs to be done in their lives before they are ready to serve as officers in the church. But remember that Paul himself was single and commended singleness to others as an opportunity for greater service in the Kingdom of God. Then, the point of this phrase is probably more general: elders must be morally accountable for their sexuality.” Elders, whether married or not, must remain sexually pure.
Number two, manage his own family well (v. 4). An elder should be known as someone who cares for his family – providing for them financially, emotionally, and spiritually. Now, one of the clearest indicators of this is how his children respond to his leadership – they obey and submit to the father’s leadership. They trust and look up to their father because he treats them in an honorable, respectful, and dignified way. Why is this important? Verse 5 – “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?” An elder must first learn to shepherd his own household before he can faithfully shepherd the household of God. In fact, I’m convinced that a man who neglects his family is not fit to serve as an elder. He must always be God first, family second, and ministry after that.
The third category is moral qualifications. Here, I have ten qualities. I’ll be quicker with these. Number one, above reproach (v. 2). This means that an elder is a kind of man whose life is marked by integrity in that no one would suspect him of serious wrongdoing or immorality. In fact, if an accusation were made against him, it would come as a genuine surprise because it’s completely out of character with the way we know him. Now, this doesn’t mean that he’s perfect – but it does mean that he lives a life worthy of the gospel and has earned the trust of those around him.
Number two, temperate (v. 2). This means an elder has a clear and steady mind – being able to think wisely and calmly in the face of pressure. His judgment isn’t clouded by stress. Rather, he’s mentally and emotionally grounded – which is why he’s the kind of person others naturally turn to when storms come in life.
Number three, self-controlled (v. 2). This means that an elder is able to place limitations on his own freedom. He doesn’t indulge in all of his cravings. He doesn’t give in to every desire or impulse. He’s able to say no to certain things for the sake of honoring the Lord and strengthening his witness for the gospel.
Number four, respectable (v. 2). This means that an elder lives an upright and honorable life that draws the respect of others – so much so that people are compelled to follow his example, not only within the church but in every aspect of his life.
Number five, hospitable (v. 2). This means that an elder is intentional about welcoming others into his life. He doesn’t lead from a distance – instead, he opens his life for others to enter. He seeks to invest in the lives of others and build an intimate relationship with them because of his love for people.
Number six, gentle (v. 3). This means that an elder is kind and gracious to others. He’s not overbearing but patient with others, even if they don’t deserve it. He doesn’t retaliate when wronged but responds with love – which is why when ministry gets tough, he won’t walk away. He’ll remain faithful – persevering and standing by the people God has entrusted to him.
Number seven, not given to drunkenness (v. 3). This means that an elder is not addicted to alcohol. This sounds obvious, considering that drunkenness is a sin – but this also highlights his ability to discipline himself. Now, this doesn’t mean that an elder must completely abstain from drinking, but it does mean that he must show wisdom and self-control. In fact, he should be willing to forgo it altogether if it becomes a stumbling block to others.
Number eight, not violent (v. 3). This means that an elder is able to handle conflicts and heated arguments in a calm and rational manner. He’s not rough with others – instead, he’s able to wisely defuse tension rather than escalate it with his temper.
Number nine, not quarrelsome (v. 3). This means that an elder is a peacemaker – someone who actively seeks reconciliation when tensions arise. He does all he can to restore unity because he loves the body of Christ and cannot stand to see it divided.
Number ten, not a lover of money (v. 3). This means that an elder is not controlled by a desire for wealth, but lives in contentment with what God has provided. This matters because a heart divided will be ineffective and distracted. Again, money is not the problem – the love of it is. So, this is not a criticism toward the rich – but a warning against a greedy heart. Elders must model godly contentment in the Lord.
And that completes the list. Friends, don’t you want this kind of elder in our church? Now, you might be thinking, “Did we really have to go through every single qualification in detail? I don’t think I needed to do that to get the point. I get it – an elder has to be holy.” If this is you, I understand why you would think that. But I did this because I didn’t want us to look for someone who is just generally godly – I want us to look for men who fit this list. Why? Because that’s what God desires. In fact, considering what’s at stake (the health of the church, the credibility of our gospel witness, and ultimately, the glory of God), I would rather be thorough now than be filled with regret later. In fact, we’ll use this very list to investigate the life of those who may be appointed to eldership to make sure that they are truly qualified. That being said, the truth is that no one in this room will ever measure up to this. This is a burden no one can bear. Then, what should we do? Is there any hope of finding the right people? Yes, because of what we’ll look at next.
3) THE GOSPEL (WHAT GROUNDS AND DRIVES ELDERS)
Look at the way Paul begins this passage in verse 1 – “Here is a trustworthy saying.” Now, did you know that this is not the first time Paul used this expression in this letter? In fact, he used it four times in his letters to Timothy – and every time Paul said this, he used it to emphasize a foundational truth that’s meant to serve as an anchor to his faith and ministry. In our passage, he used it to affirm that desiring eldership is commendable and worthy. In 1 Timothy 4:8-9, he used it to highlight the eternal value of godliness. And in 2 Timothy 2:11-13, he used it to encourage perseverance in ministry. In other words, Paul was calling Timothy to raise up elders, pursue holiness, and endure faithfully in the work that God has given him. Now, the first time Paul uses this phrase is in 1 Timothy 1:15 – listen to what he says, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.” Here, Paul brings Timothy back to the heart of the gospel – that Christ came to save sinners, and that we’re all recipients of His mercy and grace. This reminder is essential because it’s where every journey of faith and leadership must begin. Without a firm foundation in the gospel, it’s impossible to lead well, pursue holiness, or remain faithful through trials. In other words, before anyone can serve as an elder, he must first cling to the gospel daily. Only by resting in the finished work of Christ can he endure the weight of these qualifications without being crushed by them. Brothers and sisters, an elder is not a super-Christian – he’s, like all of you, a sinner saved by grace. Yes, no elder will ever fully meet these qualifications in his own strength. But by God’s grace, he’ll continue to grow into the man God is shaping him to be. And by that same grace, he’ll be empowered to carry out the call that he has received. So, please pray for me, pray for our future elders and deacons, and pray for all our leaders who are currently serving that we’ll be grounded and driven by the gospel, that we’ll become the people that are described in our text – for His glory and the good of His church.
CONCLUSION
Lighthouse family, elders are God’s gift to the church, for they’re called to shepherd His people and build up the body of Christ. So, as under-shepherds of Christ, elders must lead with strength, wisdom, and integrity – living lives that are worthy of imitation for all believers. Then, let’s pray that God will raise up elders like this here.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1) How have your past church experiences shaped your understanding of what elders and deacons do? What are some ways churches today might be tempted to adopt worldly models of leadership? Why are these models ultimately insufficient?
2) In what ways can unhealthy leadership damage a church’s spiritual life and gospel witness?
3) Why do you think Scripture emphasizes character more than competence in church leaders? How does the requirement of being “above reproach” influence your view of who should lead?
4) Apart from the ability to teach, most of these qualifications are expectations for all believers. Which of these areas do you sense God calling you to grow in? What would happen in our church if everyone started growing in elder-like character? What impact could this have on our witness to the world?