Leaders in the Church

Introduction

• • In the passage we are looking at today, Paul is addressing church leaders and deacons.

Church leaders

Some translations call church leaders:

Overseer
Bishop
Elder
Supervisor in the church
Congregation leader
Church official

These church leaders:

Shepherd (lead), oversee, teach, and serve the church.

The primary role of the church leader is spiritual leadership and oversight.

Deacons

Some translations call deacons:

(most translations use the term deacons in this verse.)

Servants
Servant leaders
Ministers
Church helpers

These individuals are those who serve the congregation and assist with its practical needs.

The primary role of the deacon is service and practical ministry, (not teaching).

1 Timothy 3:1-13 NLT
Leaders in the Church
^3:1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” ² So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. ³ He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. ⁵ For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church?
⁶ A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. ⁷ Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.
⁸ In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. ⁹ They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.
¹¹ In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do.¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. ¹³ Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus.

• Can we apply the Biblical principles that we read about in this passage to those who work in a Christian school)

In many ways, I believe we can.

Let’s begin by defining “church”.

The church is the community of people who have been called by God, saved through faith in Jesus Christ, and united by the Holy Spirit to worship God, grow in faith, serve one another, and proclaim the gospel.

In the New Testament, the Greek word for church is ekklesia, meaning an assembly or gathering of people.

The church is God’s people, united in Christ, living under His authority, and working together to fulfill His purposes.

Many of the Biblical principles addressed in this passage do apply to a director, chaplain, board member, teacher, assistant, or support staff in a Christian school.

Examine the Scriptures

1 Timothy 3:1-13 NLT
Leaders in the Church 

^3:1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”

• “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.”

• If someone aspires to work in a Christian school, they desire an honorable position. 

² So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. 

• A church leader must be a man who does not have overt, flagrant sin marring his life. 

• An employee in a Christian school must be a person who does not have overt, flagrant sin marring their life.

Paul mention some examples of flagrant sin in this passage.  They include:

Being unfaithful to a spouse.
Being a heavy drinker.
Being violent.
Being dishonest with money.

Remember:

1 John 1:9 NLT
⁹ But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 

He must be faithful to his wife. 

A similar comment is made for women.

1 Timothy 5:9 NLT
⁹ A widow who is put on the list for support must be a woman who is at least sixty years old and was faithful to her husband. 

He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, 

and he must be able to teach.

Titus 1:9 NLT
⁹ He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong. 

• Teachers in Christian schools need to have the skill and spiritual capacity to communicate sound biblical doctrine.

Remember:  We can always ask God for help.

James 1:5 NLT
⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

More about this later in the lesson. 

³ He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 

 ⁴ He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. ⁵ For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 

⁶ A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. 

Comment on this. 

⁷ Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap. 

⁸ In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 

 ⁹ They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience.

A clear conscience does not mean a person has never sinned. It means that the person seeks to live sincerely before God rather than knowingly embracing hypocrisy.

• A teacher in a Christian school must be grounded in genuine faith and must have a desire to live a life that seeks to obey God’s truth. 

¹⁰ Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons.

This suggests that the church should observe a person’s character and conduct before entrusting that person with significant responsibility.

The same applies to employees in a Christian school. 

¹¹ In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 

¹³ Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others

Respected and appreciated.

and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. 

• Faithful service can strengthen a person’s confidence in Christ. As believers serve others, they often see more clearly the practical reality of the gospel.

Leadership in the church is not primarily about talent, popularity, or position; it is about a life that reflects the character of Christ.

Paul focuses almost entirely on moral character, spiritual maturity, family life, and reputation.  Paul says very little about skills needed by the individuals who are being called to serve.

• Paul emphasizes that church leadership requires more than the ability to teach or organize. The leader’s character, family life, reputation, and spiritual maturity matter deeply.

• It takes more than being a gifted teacher, with lots of teaching experience to work in a Christian school. Godly character and integrity are far more essential to successful teaching than charisma or skill. A teacher’s character, family life, reputation, and spiritual maturity matter deeply.

Remember:

Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 

A person with a godly character and integrity can be taught the skills necessary to be a good teacher. 

• Those who lead or serve in a Christian school are entrusted with a responsibility to care for God’s people faithfully.

Adapt the following passage of scripture so that it applies to you and your current role.

1 Peter 5:1-4  NLT
^5:1 And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: ² Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. ³ Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. ⁴ And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.