An Overview of Biblical Leadership

Transcript

GR 1262
1/18/2004
An Overview of Biblical Leadership
1 Timothy 3:1
Gil Rugh


We are going to return to our study of 1 Timothy today. We've taken a break of several weeks but I want to turn your attention back to the book of 1 Timothy. And we arrived at chapter 3. So if you'd turn there in your Bibles.

As you are aware, we live in a day of self-emphasis, self-fulfillment, self-expression, personal satisfaction and enjoyment. Finding what pleases me is a dominant emphasis in our society. Our advertising appeals to this dimension. Our lives have become progressively more structured around finding what will give you fulfillment and so on. This has affected the way that the Church is conducted as well. Many people conduct their search for a Church the way they do for a car or a new house. Look around and see what they like, what appeals to them and subtly the Church begins to redo its message, its music, its programs to compete in the consumer market, the way we do in selling cars or other commodities. We want this to be a place that people like, that they'll be comfortable, that they'll say yes, we'll come there. Now none of us wants to ignore people. We're here, we want to be comfortable, we want to have a good environment and so on. But we've gone beyond that. We've come to view the Church as something that ought to be pleasing to people rather than pleasing to God. The apostle Paul reminds us in Acts 20:28 that it is the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood. It's not the Church of man. It's the Church of God. It belongs to Him and it belongs to Him because He purchased it for Himself at the price of the death of His own Son on the cross. The true Church is composed of those who have come to understand what God says about their sin. They'll come to understand that Jesus Christ the Son of God suffered and died to pay the penalty for their sin and they have turned from their sin and placed their faith in Christ. When that happens, a spiritual transaction occurs where the Spirit of God identifies us with Jesus Christ in His death, burial and resurrection and makes us part of what is called the Body of Christ, that spiritual entity comprised of all those who have become believers in Jesus Christ. First Corinthians 12:15 says that we have been placed by the Spirit of God into the Body of Christ.

In 1 Timothy 3:15 we have noted on a number of occasions Paul's purpose in writing this letter to Timothy. He's hoping to come to him but in case he is delayed, "I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God." This is God's family. "Which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." So I want you to know about proper behavior and conduct in God's family. When I talk about God's family or God's household I'm talking about the Church that belongs to the living God. So you see it is not up to us to set down what we like or don't like about Church. Some churches have been started and become popular. They take surveys in the neighborhood and they write down . . . They go around asking questions. What do you like about church and what don't you like about church and then try to construct a church according to those desires. Where it's God's intention that we turn to Him and find out from Him what He likes, what He desires, what pleases Him. It is His household.

When our children were at home it didn't do any good for them to go around the neighborhood to find out what the neighbors thought ought to go on in our house. For them to come back and say they checked with the neighbors and here's what we are going to do in this house. Not in this house we're not. Why? This isn't the neighbor's house. This is our house. We need to adjust our thinking. Somehow we think we've taken possession of the Church. This is our Church in a sense we belong to it, we are part of it. It is not our Church in the sense that it belongs to me and it is mine to do with what I would like.

So we come to the Word of God to find out what God wants in His family and that's what's going on in the book of 1 Timothy. And the Church, according to the end of verse 15 of chapter 3 is the pillar and support of the truth and that's exactly where Paul started this letter in chapter 1 with the emphasis on the importance of maintaining the purity of the truth of God in the family of God. The Church is all about God's truth, the revelation that God has given. Jesus said in praying to His Father, "Your Word is truth." Jesus said concerning Himself, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me.” So the ministry of the Church is the ministry of the truth, the ministry of the truth concerning Jesus Christ. So Paul told Timothy.

What has happened, you remember, Paul established the Church at Ephesus. Acts 19 records that. He poured three years of His life into this church, getting it founded and established, grounded. Then he left and not too long after that he called the leaders of the church and had a meeting with them in Acts 20. He warned them of potential problems and difficulties that would come up. Then some things have happened now with the passing of years. Paul's been arrested and put in prison. Then he's had opportunity to return, and on his return he found things not to be the way that they should be. He started the correcting process there in the church at Ephesus. He even put some men under discipline according to verses 19 and 20 of chapter 2. He put them out of the fellowship of the Church but he had to move on to Greece. So he left Timothy there to complete the work of, if you will, cleaning up God's Church. One of the things he told Timothy in chapter 1 verse 3. “I urged you upon my departure from Macedonia, Remain on at Ephesus so that you may instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines." Put an end to false teaching in the church. Put an end to men who would teach things that are contrary to the truth that God has revealed. And he goes on to talk about the truth of God and what it accomplished in a life. He talks about the truth of God and its power for salvation and gives himself as a testimony. Down in verse 15, "It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all. This is going to be a battle for Timothy. These are not minor problems that will be quickly corrected. In verse 18 of chapter 1 the end of the verse Paul exhorts Timothy to fight the good fight. He has to persevere in this. And we noted in chapter 3 verse 15 Paul is aware that it may take him longer to get back to Ephesus than he had originally thought. Timothy's going to have to persevere and do what is necessary in the ministry of Ephesus.

From that discussion about the truth in chapter 1 he moved on in chapter 2 to talk about the importance of prayer in the Body. This is God's Church. His work can only be done in His power. And it's not our cleverness, our uniquely devised programs that ultimately bring about the salvation of lost souls. It is the power of God working through the Word of God that can bring about salvation. So Paul exhorted the Church to be praying for all men. That includes those in authority. Because God desires to accomplish His work of salvation in the lives of all.

He moved on from that emphasis on prayer to talk about the proper roles of men and women. There are no new problems in the Church, are there? There was conflict over the proper roles of men and women in the church at Ephesus. Isn't it interesting? This is one of the things Paul believes under the direction of the Spirit of God must be resolved for this church to function in a way that honors the Lord. So He set down instructions regarding the responsibility of men, the responsibility of women. Now he's ready to turn to the subject of the leaders of the church. God intends that His family be properly organized, if you will. That His Church have the leadership that He has appointed. It's easy for us to view matters like this as well, that's sort of mundane. I'm willing to live with it. Whatever leadership is there. However they decide to do it is fine with me. I don't see myself as part of that leadership so I just would like things that would help me in my life. Well, I might say the same thing if it were my Church, but it's not my Church and it's not your Church. It's God's Church, and He says here's the way it has to be done. And anytime we fail to turn our attention first to God's Word to find out what His will is and then commit ourselves to implement that truth in His family according to His will, we set ourselves up for trouble and conflict. And one of the major areas of conflict and problems in churches today is they do not have a biblical organization. They have ignored what God says about biblical leadership. And it's interesting. The apostle Paul started the Church at Ephesus and poured three years of his life into it. Day and night he’s working with the Ephesians. He appointed elders in the church. In Acts 20, not too long after he had left Ephesus after founding the church there, he sent for the elders of the Church and gave them instructions.

Why don't you turn back to Acts 20. The Church was founded in Acts 19. Then Paul left and did some traveling. Then he comes back through the area. It's not been that long.
And from Miletus, verse 17 of Acts 20, he sent to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the church. So during that three-year ministry, the apostle Paul under the direction of the Spirit had selected men who would be responsible for the leadership, oversight and nourishing of the Church in Ephesus. He gave them warnings on that occasion. Look at verse 29, "I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. From among your ownselves men will arise speaking perverse things, seeking to draw the disciples away after them. Therefore, be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." He warned the elders of what was ahead: trouble - false teachers, false teaching, even from among the elders. From among their ownselves there are going to be men arise who start to teach error and heresy, desiring to get people to follow them.
The Devil's most effective tactic is to work within. Get ahold of someone in the leadership. Now get him to get his following.

You know what has happened? Paul's prophecy has come true. Half a dozen years later you know what? Paul goes back to Ephesus and the Church is in trouble. There's false doctrine being taught. There are men who don't belong in leadership, trying to create their own following. There is confusion over even the Gospel and God's plan of salvation. Men and women have become confused on what their role and responsibility before God is. And now Paul has to address the issue of being a leader in the family of God. So it doesn't take long, does it? We are not talking about 30 or 40 years here. We are talking about a half a dozen, seven to eight years. We are not talking about a long period of time. And here the apostle Paul pours his life into this church for three years.
He himself is there to select the leaders and in such a short time it sinks into such confusion. Sad state of affairs. Reminder we have to stay on track every day. Don't think well,l we'll be, you know . . . I'm sure this church will do all right for the next 20 years or so. I'm not sure it will do good for the next two years. You know it's the fear of where sin will take me that helps keep me on track. It's the fear of where this Church will go if we don't maintain our care with the Word. It should cause us to be all the more alert.

So back in 1 Timothy 3. Paul wants to address the matter of the leadership in the church at Ephesus. He appointed the original elders. So this is not new material. In chapter 3 verse 1, "It is a trustworthy statement if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." Paul appointed the originals. Now additional men. Let's lay down what it means to be a leader among God's people and what is required. And so the bulk of this section is taken up with the qualifications of a man who would be an elder, an overseer or a deacon. Two particular positions in view. Overseers or elders are the same men. The first 13 verses just unfold a list of qualifications. Not primarily focused on the duties, though the Scripture says much about the duties of the leaders of the church; but the focus here is on the qualifications, the personal qualifications, the character qualifications required of one who would be a leader. Evidently there was a breakdown here.

So we are going to put it down in writing. Now we've had it in our Bibles for about 2000 years and yet many, many, many churches never bother to scrutinize those who would be put into leadership through the qualifications that God says are a requirement for those who would be leaders in His Church.

He starts out by saying, "It is a trustworthy statement." This phrase is used only five times in the New Testament. All five times are in the pastoral epistles. We've already seen its use one time back in chapter 1 verse 15 which I read to you regarding Paul's testimony. It is a trustworthy statement, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." It denotes something that is well familiar to the believers. You know, they didn't all get to carry their Bibles with them and open them back up when they got home and review in their mind. So these things got packaged under the direction of the Spirit in ways that would get fixed in their minds. And here's a trustworthy statement, a faithful word. It's of importance and significance, something you know. If any man aspires to the office of overseer it is a fine work he desires to do. What I want to do with you in our remaining time today is just overview some of the issues of leadership here, identifying the leaders and what God says about them. And then in our subsequent studies we will walk through each of the qualifications set down and look carefully at what God requires of those who would be leaders.

The word overseer is a literal translation of the Greek word "to oversee." Just as our English word is a compound word, two words "over" and "see," the Greek word is a compound word "over" and "see." The word was used in the Greek language, secular Greek at the time in general Greek society of those who had management or oversight responsibilities. It might be managing an area in the city or in a particular job and so on. So it would have been a rather common word. Some English Bibles translate this Bishop. And we have to be careful. There's a lot attached to that concept now that is not biblical. It has become part of a hierarchical structure. The Greek word is "episcapos." We are familiar with it, espiscopal. The episcopal church is the church governed by bishops so they've taken the name espiscopal, the idea of bishops who have the oversight of the church. We are familiar with that word "scope." You say oh, I'm going to go scope it out. Where you put a scope on a rifle. It's something you see through. So the espicopal, those who have the overnight.

So you understand that this is where they get the word bishops from? Well, it's from translating this word as bishop. Now keep in mind what it means. The New Testament does not develop a hierarchy in the sense you have bishops, then you have pastors under the bishops or some kind of order like that. Here you have the overseers. Now there's some synonymous words with overseer. The word elder is used of the same people as overseer. And the word pastor is used of the same. So there's three words but they are not three different positions. They are referring to the same position or the same people.

I want to look at each of these with you quickly. The word "elder." The Greek word for elder is "presbyterious." So we have presbyterian churches that are elder-governed. So the presbyterian churches have a session, or a group of elders who govern. But the elders and the overseers in the New Testament are the same people. The background for the elder goes back in the Old Testament. During Israel's bondage in Egypt, elders came to become the leading figures in the nation. The name probably went to the fact they were the older men, men with gray hair and gray beards and so men who ought to be leaders. But the elder men and the more mature men became the recognized leaders in Israel. So in Exodus 3:16 and in chapter 4 verse 29 when God sends Moses to the nation he tells him to go to the elders of the people, the recognized leaders among the nation. In Numbers 11:16 we are reminded that the elders were recognized and known among the people. When Moses needed help in governing the nation there were elders selected to share the leadership responsibility with him. So it's natural when you come into New Testament times and in the Gospels we read about the elders, the chief priests, the scribes, the pharisees. The elders are part of the leadership group in the nation. And in the synagogues you had a council of elders that maintained responsibility for those local assemblies.

It was natural for the Church when it was established to pick up these names, overseers, as they would have been familiar with people familiar with the Greek language as those who had management, guarding responsibilities. Elders - those with a Jewish background, that would be a familiar term for them for someone who had responsibilities for leading.

Turn over to Titus 1. You see how these terms are used interchangeably. In Titus 1:5 Paul left Titus in Greece and what did Titus have to do? He had to get things in order there and what are some of the first things he had to do? He had to appoint qualified leaders for the church. Paul's concerned for the godly character of the Church in Greece. One of the key things for shaping the godly character of the Church in Crete is godly leaders. So he says in verse 5 of chapter 1, "For this reason I left you in Greece that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you." Then note verse 7, "For the overseer must be above reproach." You see the elders are the overseers. I want you to appoint elders and these are the qualifications for the elders because the overseer must be above reproach. The elder and the overseer are the same person, referring to the same responsibility.

Look back in Acts 20 verse 17, "From Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church." And then look at verse 28, he says to these elders, "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers." So again the word "elder" and overseer refer to the same position. So you understand now. Some of you come from different church backgrounds. And say well, at our church we had bishops. But you understand that was a man's determination, not a biblically-defined distinction because the concept of bishop comes from translating the word "overseer" to the word "bishop." Now I don't have any problem with using the word bishop, but there's a lot of baggage with that term today because you understand the bishop and elder are referring to the same position. And furthermore the overseer or bishop and the elder are the same one as the pastor.

You are still in Acts 20 verse 28. Note how it goes on. "Be on guard for yourselves for all the folk among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to shepherd," poimenous, to pastor or shepherd. This is where we get our word pastor from. I am referred to as the pastor of this Church, the shepherd of this Church. I pastored a Church in Palestine, Indiana, when I was in seminary and one of my seminary professors always referred to me as the bishop of Palestine. And in class he'd say we are going to call on the bishop of Palestine today. And a new student in school said, "Why do they call you the bishop of Palestine here?" I said well, it's because I pastor the little country Church in the little community of Palestine. Oh. So as long as we don't get confused on terminology and titles. Overseer or bishop, elder, pastor--all referring to the same person, the same people. It brings out a different aspect of their responsibility. Elder referring to the age or the maturity required in the position or often identified with the position. The overseer or bishop, the one who has the responsibility for oversight, ruling, governing, the pastor for the care and well-being for God's people called sheep or the flock. In Ephesians 4:11 we are told about different gifted individuals given to the church and one of those is pastor or shepherd.

Look over in 1 Peter 5. That's all the way back, getting close to the back of your New Testament. Go to the back to the book of Revelation and come forward through the epistles of John and you will run into 1 Peter chapter 5. Peter writes, "Therefore I exhort the elders among you as your fellow elder." So Peter here identifies himself with the elders. He's an apostle but here . . . And not all the elders were apostles. The apostles were a unique position. But the apostles were also elders. Peter here served as an elder joined with these elders. Note, I exhort the elders among you. Note verse 2, "Shepherd the flock of God." So there he tells the elders. Your responsibility is what? To shepherd, take care of God's people. Note how he goes on, exercising oversight. So there you see the three responsibilities connected to the one position. The elders are to shepherd, to have oversight. And it all ties together. So it's not really confusing. We use different titles for the same position. We identify people in different ways. But we are still talking about the same person. Confusion comes in the church when they say oh well, we'll put bishops . . . bishops must be higher than elders so we'll put the bishops up here. Then we'll put the pastors here. Then we'll put elders here. Then we'll say you have to be ordained by a special group to be a bishop, but we'll have lay elders and all of a sudden we've created some kind of hierarchy that brings confusion rather than help. In the Bible we have three names for the same position.

The title of a shepherd as a leader of God's people again goes back into the Old Testament. The kings of Israel were referred to on occasion as shepherds of God's people. We'll just pick out one passage. Go to Ezekiel 34. And Ezekiel 34 contains a condemnation of the shepherds of God's people. Chapter 34 of Ezekiel verse 1, "Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, 'Son of man prophesy against the shepherds of Israel.' Prophesy and say to those shepherds, 'Thus says the Lord God, Woe,shepherds of Israel who have been feeding themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flock? You eat the fat, clothe yourselves with the wool. Slaughter the fat sheep without feeding the flock. Those who are sickly you have not strengthened the diseased you have not healed, the broken you have not bound up, the scattered you have not brought back . . . you've not sought for the lost, but with force and severity you've dominated them. They were scattered for lack of a shepherd." Remember the heart of Christ as he looked over the people and said they are scattered like sheep without a shepherd. That was the condition here. You know who the shepherds are being condemned in Ezekiel 34? They are the kings of Israel. They are like the godless dictators that we see in the world. They live in great palaces. They use the people to enrich themselves but they don't care for the people. So what has happened in Israel? But God had appointed those leaders for Israel. And they were accountable to him for their failure to care for His people.

When we talk about God appointing leaders and ordaining leaders for the church of Jesus Christ--this is not a selfish position, a position where a man can do it for the honor, for the glory, for the benefits that come to him. It's a responsibility entrusted to him for which he can give an account to God in care of God's people. We see that further in just a moment.

You see the responsibility in Ezekiel 34 of the shepherds to care for the sheep, to shepherd the sheep, to see that they are nourished. Jesus used this analogy of Himself in John 10. The Good Shepherd gives his life for the sheep. A hireling doesn't care for the sheep. He cares for himself. So he runs when danger comes. And then the sheep suffer. That shepherd is responsible to lead and to care for and feed. So we often say lead and feed are responsibilities of the shepherds.

This will come out in our study in 1 Timothy. Come back to 1 Timothy 5. In 1 Timothy 5:17 the elders who rule well are considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. As he talks about the responsibility of the elders, they are to what? They are to rule. They are involved in teaching and preaching, those two areas of leading and feeding.

Just before 1 Timothy are the letters of Paul to the Thessalonians. And turn in 1 Thessalonians to chapter 5 verse 12. Note in verse 12 of 1 Thessalonians 5, "But we request of you brethren, that you appreciate or know those who diligently labor among you, that have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction." Note what these people are to be doing. They are to be laboring hard. It's a word that means to toil to exhaustion. In 1 Timothy 3:1 Paul's going to say that the men who aspire to be overseers- -they desire a good work. A different word but the emphasis here is on work. And here he's talking about this. This is hard work. This is wearisome work. This is draining. We need to pray for the elders. It is draining work. They come home from the job that they have to support their family, and they have the pressures of the responsibility of the flock here. As difficulties come and as conflicts come, naturally then the pressures increase, the time demands and so on. We need to pray for our elders.

That's what Paul is saying here. Evidently the church at Thessalonica was having problems over leadership issues as well. He says you ought to know who the leaders are and you ought to appreciate them. Verse 13, "Esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another." Peace comes when the proper order is recognized. And when we have conflict, people decide they are not going to submit to the elders anymore. Our conflicts haven't been over doctrine basically here. We've had some over doctrine. But even there it comes to people to decide I'm not going to follow the elders. There life song is "I Did It My Way." Well, here's God's way and here's what He instructs the Church at Thessalonica. It becomes a permeating thing. Because when the leadership breaks down we move toward chaos and disorder. But the elders have great responsibility and accountability before God, and so do the people. It's not saying well, the leaders are more important in the sense that there is not spiritual equality.
There's spiritual equality but that doesn't mean we all have the same position. We have spiritual equality, but I'm the only one up here teaching right now. That doesn't mean you’re my spiritual inferior or that you’re my spiritual superiors, in maturity and so on. It has nothing to do with spiritual maturity. It has to do with the plan of God and the appointment of God

Turn over to Hebrews 13. We are going toward the back again. You were in Peter. We are going to be just in front of Peter. In front of Peter is James and then in front of James is Hebrews. And we want to go to Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13:17, "Obey your leaders and submit to them for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account.
Let them do this with joy and not with grief for this would be unprofitable for you.” You see here the responsibility of the people and responsibility of the leaders. The people-- obey your leaders and submit to them. Responsibility of the leaders--keeping watch over your souls. The responsibility of the leader is not to determine how they feel, what they want, what they would enjoy. The responsibility of the leader is what is good for the sheep, what is good for the well-being of God's people. You note that. The leaders will give an account. This is a serious matter. God will call me to account. He'll call the other leaders of this church to account for the condition of this flock. And there's a warning to the flock. Let them do this for joy and not for grief for this would be unprofitable for you. It will not go well at the Bema Seat when the shepherds have to say the sheep would not listen, the sheep were rebellious, the sheep would not pay attention, the sheep would not submit, the sheep refused to follow our leadership. You know it's like when you're at home. Parents, your children get older. You may have the older child and younger children and you put the older one in charge and you say here's your instructions and then you tell the younger ones, "You do what your older brother tells you." Well, that doesn't go down well. Well, you go away. You go out, do what you are going to do; you come back and the house is in disorder. And you call the oldest and you say, "Didn't I tell you what was to be done?" Yes. “Why didn't you do it?” I tried. They wouldn't listen. I told them not to do that. They wouldn't pay any attention. Who's in trouble? There's an accounting going to be given.

We think this is a light matter. Well, it's just a matter of personal opinions, personality. This is a serious matter before God. We think we just do it and go on with our lives.
You know, it's sort of like divorce or any other thing today. We think we just do it, get it behind us and we go on and everything's OK. There is the grace of forgiveness. I praise God for that. But everything's not okay, folks. There is accounting coming. That's what he says, isn't it? They will give an account. It's a frightening thing. Frightening thing in the good sense: it causes me to have a godly fear. This is a serious matter. This is Your people and I am responsible to You for them. Lord, I must do this to please You. There's a responsible thing for you. Just decide I don't like it. I'm going my own way. I don't like it. Good-bye. Oh really. It's not over. It's not done. We don't rule. He does. And it's to Him we will give an account.

In the New Testament there is always a reference to a plurality of leaders or elders. Back in Acts 14:23. Incidentally, maybe you ought to go back . . . Yeah, start at Acts 14. I'll pick that up with you. Acts 14:23 and this is part of Paul's first missionary journey. He established churches and then you know what he did? On his return trip as he traveled out this way, then he went back the way he came. We are told in verse 23, "When they had appointed elders for them in every church." Elders plural and every church singular. There was a plurality of leadership appointed. But the elders are unique. Paul’s ministry in personal individuals will not continue after their departure. Their ministry continues through the Word that was given through them. The oversight of the church is being passed on to elders. In Acts 15 when there is a doctrinal disagreement among churches, it has to be resolved at that time among the elders. Also joined with them in verse 2 of chapter 15 of Acts are the elders. Paul and Barnabus, some others, should go to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. At that early date the leadership is established in the church. In Philippians 1:1 Paul writes to the church at Philippi and he addresses the elders and the deacons. We read in Titus 1:5 where Paul told Titus to appoint elders in every city. So there is a plurality of eldership.

Now let me say we ought to keep it what the Bible says. The Bible says there are elders.
It does not say how basically the elders are appointed. It says what the elders must be as far as their character. It says what their responsibilities as far as duties are. But it doesn't give any details on how you appoint them. It does not give any details on how the elders are organized among themselves.

I listened to a series of tapes over the last two weeks and the man was trying to make the point there can be no organization among the elders because that would be unbiblical, that would elevate one elder above another. Well, there can be order among any group. You know when God created Adam and Eve and put them in the Garden, He put one of them in charge. Adam was created first, then Eve. God established an order according to Paul's explanation as we saw in 1 Timothy 2. Now don't get sidetracked on the role of women. That was just an illustration.

So it's not unusual to expect that there will be order. But for example among the board of elders here. There is equality. Every elder has one vote. Anyone among the board of elders can put an end to anything by his view. So I come and my control . . . I am called the chairman of the board here. What that means is Don prepares an agenda and I come and present it to the board. That guides our meeting. And we discuss it as elders. I don't even have to vote on anything unless there's a tie. You say I thought the elders would vote unanimously? We do, but we also have provision constitutionally. One of the elders gets off track and our constitution says the elders must be unanimous. And now you have an elder in sin who can't be unanimous. You've paralyzed the board of elders. They are unable to act.

So if you read our constitution, the action of the majority of the elders is the action of the board. So there is provision. We have had occasion where elders have gotten off track and had to be dealt with. But in our general functioning, if one elder says I have a problem with this, I'm not comfortable doing it, then the matter is tabled. It may be permanently tabled or shelved. Depends. Maybe we'll bring it up down the road and talk about it. It depends. So there is equality. You say well you get to preach every week. Yes. And the board of elders can call me in and say we have decided you won't preach anymore. They have authority. So there is a balance and there is a check and balance there. And that is good. Not that I would ever get off track. The Lord knows I need elders with me to share the ministry. And it's more than I can bear. I couldn't carry it. This ministry has been carried through its battles and conflicts by the grace of God through the stability of godly men. And then the congregation was willing to follow the leadership of the godly men.

I don't want to wonder, but let me say it seems often when things are calm, any kind of leadership will do. Sometimes we are trapped into saying well let's not make an issue over the style of leadership, the kind of leadership. I mean, you know, we are all in agreement here. And sometimes when a church is small everybody is aware of what's going on. And we think well, that's good enough. We allow a leadership structure to develop--but anytime we don't do it God's way we have trouble. It doesn't mean the elders are dictators here. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5 that the elders are not to lord it over God's people. We've seen from the little bit we've read so far, and we'll see more of it, and the responsibility of the elders is to care for God's people. These are God's people and the elders are accountable to God for them. They are accountable to God for the purity of the doctrine of this church. So you put this responsibility in the hands of those who are spiritually mature, godly. The problem I have with congregational style government is you get everybody to vote. We like that in our democratic society. Everybody has a vote from the most immature, ungodly person to the most mature. And so it becomes a matter of trying to swing people to your side. That's not the way God's work is done. The responsibility of the elders when there is a conflict, a difficulty, whether it's personal or doctrinal, is to turn their attention to the Word of God and dig into the Word and find out what the Word of God has to say about this. And whether it's popular or not, the biblical thing must be done. Our church would have been shattered to pieces if we would have had to bring to the floor of the congregation and vote on some of the issues we've had to deal with. And does that mean . . . There are people who are very mature, very godly who are not elders. We are not saying that everybody who's qualified to be an elder is serving in a position as elder in this Church. Don't misunderstand. We are not saying they are the only godly, mature people. But they are the ones with whom the responsibility of leadership and oversight for this flock is invested. It's God's plan and it's the best way to do it because it's God's plan. I mean He has decided this is the way His family will be organized and the way it will be structured.

How we appoint elders. That doesn't mean the congregation never has a say. Do we ever do a major project that we don't bring it to the congregation? We want to bring people along. Do we ever appoint an elder that you just all of a sudden see his picture and say oh, I wonder when did they appoint him? I mean, if we are going to bring men, we'll go through the qualifications. Then these men are interviewed and we sort through it. Some men that have gone part of the way in the process never come before you because something came up that would disqualify them. We don't need to bring it before the congregation. When we come through and think that from all we as elders can tell they are men that are qualified and maybe men that God has raised up for that then we have them what? Present their testimony to you and then we have a period of several weeks where you are invited to give any observations. Perhaps you know something about them that the elders didn't. Perhaps you have a reservation about their qualifications. Then you bring that to the elders. So the congregation . . . I'm not saying the congregation is not involved, but the ultimate responsibility for the leadership, the decisions, rests with those that God has appointed.

Come back to 1 Timothy 3. We'll wrap it up. It says, "It is a trustworthy statement if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do." Two words: aspire and desire. That word "aspire" pictures somebody stretching out after something, doing all he can to reach for it. A person who is working and wants to be an elder so he's doing what he can to get himself ready because the desire, the end of the verse there.
That word translated "desire," it's the passion of his heart, it's the longing of his heart. So he's working toward that end. Now that's not wrong. That's not selfish. Oh, I'd really love to be an elder I wish somebody would recommend me. We've had men come and address the board that would like to be an elder. I would be interested in having you evaluate me for that position. Sometimes we evaluate men and say here's why we don't think you're ready at this time. Sometimes we have observed men. Obviously,elders are going to come from men who are actively involved in this ministry and demonstrating their commitment, their godly character and involvement. There's a variety of ways that men's names can come up. Sometimes we've had the elders . . . What we do is ask each elder to make to make a list of five men that they would recommend for elder. And all of our elders make their own list without consultation. Then we come together as a group and say all right, let's start with so and so. Give us your five names. All right. How many of you have so and so on your list? And you may find out every other elder had two of those names on their list. So that's a good indication. So we sort through the list that way. And we evaluate the men. We try to be as careful before the Lord . . . This is a serious matter. One of my greatest concerns . . . God has blessed us with unified elders, men who function in harmony and unity and I don't want to take that for granted.

It would be a terrible thing for the ministry, for a self-centered man to come who had his own agenda. It would create disharmony and disorder in the leaders. So we ought to be careful. Pray diligently for the leaders and for men that God would raise up. But it's not wrong to desire that office. Acts said that the Holy Spirit made you overseers. Now he uses the process, the desire of man's heart and the work to prepare himself to get him ready and the recognition of the congregation and the existing leadership that he meets the qualifications and can perform the duties necessary. It's a recognition of one that the Holy Spirit has provided.

"It's a fine work he desires to do." This is an honorable ministry. This is something that will be especially rewarded by God for faithful service in this area according to Peter.
We want to have a Church that honors Him in every area. It's His Church. Our opinions are our opinions. My opinions are my opinions. It has to be my goal to keep my opinions out of these matters. There are things that the Bible doesn't address and decisions have to be made. We moved the piano from over here to over there. Well, it's not a major theological issue but somebody has to make the decision and some of those decisions do get made. They are not biblical decisions. They are just decisions that have to be made. We want to be careful that we are doing what the Bible requires of us so He can bring the proper blessing to our lives for all of us and thus He receives the honor and the glory. It's His Church. It's comprised of His people, people that have been purchased by Him at the death of His Son. They are His people. He appoints from among them leaders of His choosing and he's given us clear and full instructions on how we are to conduct ourselves. How one ought to conduct himself in the household of God which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. Let's pray together.

Thank you Lord, for the wonder of Your person, the extent and depth of Your love and mercy and bringing to us Your salvation, causing us to be born again and blessed into the fellowship of Your family so that we have fellowship with one another because we have fellowship with You. Thank you for Your clear instructions regarding the ordering of Your family, the leadership you have provided.

Thank you for the way You have blessed this Church with godly men who do the hard, laborious work, the draining labor of leading and caring for Your people. Thank you for the unity and harmony You've given us as leaders. Thank you for the faithfulness of Your people who support our leadership, who follow our leadership, who pray for us. We desire that our testimony will increase and grow and become stronger as we proclaim the glorious truth of Jesus Christ and manifest the marvelous oneness that He has brought about in our lives. We pray in Christ's name, amen.