1 Timothy 3:1-7
Relax, Read and Reflect
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen
Overseers and Deacons
1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Paul holds the lay leaders of the church to very strict standards, that are very high. Someone who meets the qualifications listed has to have self discipline and direction. This is critical in leading the church, which is the body of Christ. Sometimes, we as church leaders get so involved with the work of the church, we neglect our families. As Paul points out in verse five, if you can’t manage your family-how can you manage God’s church, ouch!
New converts tend to have lots of fire and enthusiasm and we want to get them plugged in and working. That’s fine, they can and should be allowed to volunteer, but not lead! They need to find spiritual maturity. Children have lots of energy and enthusiasm as well, yet no one would put a child in a position of in the church. It would not be fair for the church or the child. The church can not function or survive without strong lay leadership, but these leaders need to understand-they are the church! We will all be tempted and trapped, the stronger and smarter we are, the more successful God will be.
Prayer- Use me as a leader Lord. Continue to teach me and guide me, but most of all-love me. Help me love others as well. Go-Fight-Win. Amen
Prayer- Lord, Open our hearts and open our minds and help us learn. Go-Fight-Win. Amen
Overseers and Deacons
1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Paul holds the lay leaders of the church to very strict standards, that are very high. Someone who meets the qualifications listed has to have self discipline and direction. This is critical in leading the church, which is the body of Christ. Sometimes, we as church leaders get so involved with the work of the church, we neglect our families. As Paul points out in verse five, if you can’t manage your family-how can you manage God’s church, ouch!
New converts tend to have lots of fire and enthusiasm and we want to get them plugged in and working. That’s fine, they can and should be allowed to volunteer, but not lead! They need to find spiritual maturity. Children have lots of energy and enthusiasm as well, yet no one would put a child in a position of in the church. It would not be fair for the church or the child. The church can not function or survive without strong lay leadership, but these leaders need to understand-they are the church! We will all be tempted and trapped, the stronger and smarter we are, the more successful God will be.
Prayer- Use me as a leader Lord. Continue to teach me and guide me, but most of all-love me. Help me love others as well. Go-Fight-Win. Amen
posted by Steve Killam TMTL | 7:06 AM
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