Class Lesson February 10, 2013

Hey Gang,

We continue this week in our series entitled: What Matters Most. We are studying the five “faithful sayings” in the Pastoral Letters of Paul. These sayings are clues for what matters most for churches and for believers today. This Sunday we look at Character being what matters most to those who desire to lead in the church.

Think about these 3 questions:

1. What are the three most important qualifications of pastors?
2. What are the three most important qualifications of deacons?
3. Why are all members responsible for godly living? 

Paul tells us this morning that “What Matters Most” when it comes to leadership, especially church leadership is Character. The 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, once said: “In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.”

What makes a good leader?

What traits do you think a leader ought to possess? What choices get a leader to that character trait?

Intelligent – Honest – Courageous - Team-Builder – Attractive – 
Persuasive - Strong-Willed

A Teacher - Earns Respect - Pulls Together the Skills of the Group - 

Problem-Solver - Builds Trust

Sees Things the Way God Does – Wise – Sensible - Works Hard - Not Greedy

Life Goal

Affirm church leaders while maintaining your own accountability to godly standards.

The church needs and depends on godly leaders. This study gives opportunity for church members to notice what makes a leader godly. We can then affirm godly character qualities in our leaders. We can also develop godly qualities in our own lives. As each of us Christians grows in godliness, we build the church God has in mind.

I. BE ABOVE REPROACH – 1 TIMOTHY 3:1-7

Qualifications of Church Leaders

3 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, 3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy— 4 one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap. 

What was Paul’s faithful or trustworthy saying this week? What is noble work? What does it look and act like? How do you know when you see it? What makes a godly leader?

• As you explore the active work element of leadership, hopefully you will articulate that it’s more service than status. That’s a good thing!
• Overall it boils down to character. Church leaders had to be above reproach. That means living in such a way that others cannot legitimately call your behavior or motives into question.

Why did Paul emphasize what a church leader is instead of what he does?

• Only one item in the list describes something a pastor does.
• Everything else pertains to the kind of person he should be.
• The work of a church leader is important, but his character is the foundation for what he does.
• A pastor ought to be faithful in marriage, able to manage their temper and emotions, think reasonably, deserve respect, be generous, and teach well. At the same time they should not be drawn to wine, not be aggressive but be gentle and sensitive, not be prone to argue or stir up problems, and not be self-indulgent.

What do you think Paul would say to someone who wants to become a church leader? What personal conduct goes hand-in-hand with leadership? What qualities? What actions and attitudes show someone has each of these character qualities? Why are these reasonable essentials for someone who oversees welfare of others?

• God may be calling some in your class to a first-time role of leadership. Everyone should consider the possibility that God may be calling them to lead.
• All believers, whether or not they aspire to be leaders, should live by the standards in these verses. The only exception is being an able teacher; not all believers are called to teach. Also this is the one functional difference between overseers and deacons. Only overseers are given this charge.

How can church members under the leadership of pastors and elders, hold them accountable to these standards?

• How do we do this without picking and gossip?
• Include supportive actions such as saying thank you, or affirming specific actions, make friends with family members, and work as a team.
• Consider 1 Timothy 5:17-18
• Include that just having a leadership position at church doesn’t automatically mean godly leadership. Identify leaders who lead well even without an official position.
• A good testing ground for all these character traits is the home. If a person doesn’t display godly character in this most basic social unit, then leadership in the larger community is ridiculous. Furthermore, leaders ought to be mature enough in the faith to realize it’s about the church and not the ego. Leadership is about service and not self-gratification.

Leadership within the church is a high calling because God has high standards. But how delightful it is to live with these qualifications! How lovely is it to do life alongside someone who is self-controlled and sensible? What good happens when greed and quarreling are not part of the picture? With the exception of teaching (a particular gift), we are all responsible for lives marked by solid character (see Titus 2:2-8).


In your opinion, what does the world desire in leaders? How does Paul’s list actually fulfill these desires? How does it modify what we desire? Why do the ones being led, the common public, also need to choose these actions?





II. EARN RESPECT – 1 TIMOTHY 3:8-13

8 Deacons, likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 And they must also be tested first; if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons. 11 Wives, too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled, faithful in everything. 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently. 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

Moses, one of the most highly respected figures of the Old Testament, wisely appointed officials to help bear the load of leading Israel (Exodus 18:13-26). Jesus although completely capable of working alone, chose 12 main men to do ministry with, Paul championed this type teamwork in the church in Ephesus. The word translated “deacon” means helper or servant.


Rodney Dangerfield said he never got any and Aretha Franklin sang about wanting “just a lil bit.” Why is respect so important?

• Being worthy of respect is the only qualification listed in verse 2, 8, and 11.
• What point is Paul trying to make?
• Although you aren’t responsible for how other people view you, how can you make sure your life is one worthy of respect?

Compare the requirements of deacons to those of overseers – how are they different? How are they the same?

• Deacons in the early church served not as a governing board but ministered to meet the physical needs of the church body.
• The character required for serving as a deacon comes over time, and with repeated choices to obey God. Verse 8 indicates that deacons are held to God’s high standards. They must live lives marked by dignity and integrity. They refuse wine, and remain free from the lure of money and personal gain.

Why should church members care how their leaders manage their homes? Is it the church’s business? What does it demonstrate?

• Home life is a necessary indicator. So is being tested over time. The most telling situation to show our Christian commitment is with those we live with. The home is a community very similar to a church. We work together, we solve problems, and we help each other accomplish tasks (homework, chores, work, and budgeting money, managing the day).
• Christian parents cannot control every decision their children make – good or bad. Some teenagers and young adults make poor choices despite godly training.

How can the church test (3:10) potential leaders before selecting them as deacons? How does our church choose deacons (or similar leaders)? How biblical is our selection process?

• It takes time to test potential leaders by observing conduct and character in various situations. Call for specific examples.

How can the church increase the desire of the congregation to live out these 3:1-15 qualities?

• When do we feed greed, slander, and other damaging actions? (Hint: “It’s not gossip if it’s true.” And letting prayer requests become gossip in a tuxedo.)
• Would you agree that honorable living is a rare thing?
• Shouldn’t all Christians strive to reflect the transformative power of Christ at work in our lives?

III. INFLUENCE OTHERS RIGHTLY – 1 TIMOTHY 3:14-15


The Mystery of Godliness

14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Whose conduct was Paul concerned with? Is this group held to the same standards as the overseers and deacons? Why or why not?

• The same values and types of conduct apply to all believers (all those in God’s household) as to church leaders; being self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, worthy of respect, and so forth.
• Each of us is accountable both to God and to each other for the way we live.
• In accepting the role of a leader, deacons and pastors accept the responsibility to set an example to others for how to live the Christian life.

What does it mean for the church to be the pillar and foundation of the truth? How does our character and conduct either help or hurt us in fulfilling this role? What have you done today that helps or hurts? (Answer this privately)

• God has entrusted His Word to the church to preserve and pass on to people of our day.
• Our transformed lives testify to the effectiveness of God’s Word. Before they will ever pick up a Bible and read it, non-believers can see God’s Word lived out, or denied, in the lives of believers who have applied it in their lives.

Why do you think Paul wrote this letter to Timothy?

• To be sure there wasn’t any double standard among leaders in the church. Children are excellent detectors of double standards.

Act

With the requirements so high (above reproach, blameless, etc), how can those who lead or who live the Christian life, maintain these lofty standards in their lives?

• Paul himself struggled with sin in his life (Romans 7:15-22). In our own strength, no one can live well. But action by action, as we let God guide, we can develop Godly character. It’s choosing to obey God because we trust and love Him (Romans 7:25; 8:9-13).
• Godly leadership is not a game; it’s not about the leader’s needs; and it’s not to be political.
• Holiness is a series of choices empowered by the Holy Spirit. It affects every life we touch no matter where we go.

Church government and titles of church leaders are among the issues on which Christian groups have disagreements. Titles of leaders include pastor, bishop, elder, and deacon. Many of us believe the New Testament calls the most prominent church leader the pastor or elder or overseer or bishop, and that these terms all refer to the same office. One of the most important roles of the pastor is to equip the saints for the work of service (Ephesians 4:11-13). Deacons are also church leaders who fulfill important tasks of service.

Prayer of Commitment

Lord, help our pastor and deacons and our members be all that we should be. Amen.

This is an enlightening lesson for not only what I should expect of a church leader, but for what they too should expect of me.

Hope everyone has a blessed rest of the week and we'll look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

In His Love,

David & Susan