Sundays at Home
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What Every Church Needs
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Pastor Jojo Ma
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Titus 1:5-9 & 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Titus 1:5-9
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you, 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
I. Every Church Needs Plural Elders (Pastors) [v5]
II. Every Church Needs Qualified Elders (Pastors) [vv6-8]
III. Every Church Needs Convictional Elders (Pastors) [v9]
Pastor John MacArthur: “As the apostolic era came to a close, the office of elder emerged as the highest level of local church leadership. Thus it carried a great amount of responsibility. The elders were charged with the care and feeding, as well as the spiritual guidance, of the entire church. There was no higher court of appeal, and no greater resource to know the mind and heart of God with regard to issues in the church…Biblically, the focal point of all church leadership is the elder. It is the elders who are charged with teaching, feeding, and protecting the church, and it is the elders who are accountable to God on behalf of the church.”
I. Every Church Needs Plural Elders (Pastors) [v5]
v5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
II. Every Church Needs Qualified Elders (Pastors) [vv6-8]
vv6-8 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
The focus in the New Testament for biblical leadership is not personality, nor is it ability, it's character.
1 Timothy 3:1-7
1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
18 Qualifications of an Elder (Pastor) from Titus 1 & 1 Timothy 3
Aspires to the office
A man
Above reproach (blameless)
Able to teach
Not a new convert
Husband of one wife
Submissive, obedient children
Manages family well
Sober-minded
Self-controlled
Not a drunkard
Not a lover of money
Respectable
Hospitable
Not violent
Gentle
Not quarrelsome
Well thought of by outsiders
D.A. Carson: "The most extraordinary things about the biblical prerequisites for elders is that they are not all that extraordinary."
III. Every Church Needs Convictional Elders (Pastors) [v9]
v9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
So when I say every church needs convictional elders, I mean doctrinally-devoted elders, sound-in-doctrine elders, elders passionate for truth, especially the truth of God's Word.
So pastors/elders need to be convictional, full of conviction and courage, ready to teach and refute, instruct and rebuke. It's what a loving shepherd does -- feeding and protecting the sheep. You should expect this from your pastors.
Hebrews 13:7, 17 7 Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith...17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Titus 1:1 [My ministry is] for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.