Order in the Church Part II

August 23, 2015
Sermon
Lesson 11: 1 Timothy 3:1-7

ORDER IN THE CHURCH—PART II

Main idea: God's church must be led by elders who are above reproach!

The elder must:
• Be the husband of one wife (2)
• Be sober-minded (2)
• Be self-controlled (2)
• Be respectable (2)
• Be hospitable (2)
• Be able to teach (2)
• Not be a drunkard (3)
• Not be violent (3)
• Be gentle (3)
• Not be quarrelsome (3)
• Not be a lover of money (3)
• Manage his own household well (4-5)
=> With all dignity keeping his children submissive
=> Lack of home management means lack of church care
• Not be a recent convert (6)
=> Lest he become puffed up
=> And fall into the condemnation of the devil
• Be well thought of by outsiders (7)
=> So that he may not fall into disgrace, a snare of the devil
Questions:

1. Are these 15 qualifications for BECOMING an elder, or BEING an elder?
2. How can God require these impossible requirements of us?
   => The Holy Spirit qualifies elders (fruit of the Spirit, virtues)
   => The Holy Spirit ordains elders (Acts 14:23)
3. How do we proceed in elder selection?
   => Preponderance of the evidence
   => Baseline qualification
   => Continuous growth

May God continue to raise up the elders
by which the Church will grow and thrive and glorify God!