Randall Caselman
Bella Vista Church of Christ
September 30, 2001 A.M.
Qualifying Shepherds - Part 2
Reading - 1 Timothy 3.1-7; Titus 1.6-9 & 1 Peter 5.1-4
Next month... And again next fall... We will select and ordain an additional Elder to shepherd our church family.
On Sunday mornings... We have been talking about qualifications... On Sunday evening the kind of leadership God desires.
Now we must know that the right Elders can make it easier to go to heaven. While false shepherds can lead in the wrong direction resulting in the loss of our souls.
You see... We all need... All the help we can get to go to heaven.
Only a fool would allow cheap church politics... sentimental favoritism... to influence them in ordaining men into the Eldership. God help us to qualify... select... and follow only those who will help us stay within the straight and narrow.
One more reminder before we start this morning... And that is that we can only qualify these men by God’s inspired Word... The holy inerrant text.
There must not be any other source for Elder’s qualifications outside the Book.
Not the preacher’s ideas... Not the think so’s of any brotherhood writer regardless of how great he may be or may have been.
Let us allow the Bible to speak... And let us keep silent where it is silent.
First... An Elder must be willing to serve.
Paul instructs Timothy... That a man should have his heart set on this good work.
Peter says in verse 2... They must not be forced to serve... But be willing to serve.
Our King James says... He desires this good work.
An Elder must be an individual who has the well-being of the church... And the salvation of souls first and foremost in his heart.
He must be a man who will do whatever it takes to Lead... Guide... Protect... and Save the sheep in his flock.
Now... This is not describing a man who is running for the office of an Elder for political reasons... This kind of individual is to be avoided for obvious reasons. I think this qualification is saying to us in Bella Vista this morning... Search for the man that you know loves the church of God
Paul tells Titus that... An Elder must be upright... Holy.
The word in the Greek for HOLY is Hag-ee-os.
It has two meanings... I think both are worth our consideration.
First... Hag-ee-os means that which has been consecrated... That which has been dedicated... Set apart... Specifically for God’s use. The Temple was holy... The Ark of the covenant was holy... Priests were holy... Jerusalem was spoken of as the holy city... The Bible is holy... An Elder is to be HOLY!!
An Elder is God’s man... Set aside for God’s use.
A man that is not willing to be peculiarly different... set apart... as God’s person is not qualified to serve as a shepherd of the flock.
Secondly... Hag-ee-os means that which is righteous... Pious... Unpolluted with wickedness... Pure... Devout... UPRIGHT.
It’s interesting to note that when this word hag-ee-os is used as an adjective in the New Testament... It is translated HOLY... When it is used as a noun... It is translated SAINT... HOLY ONES.
I think this speaks to us the kind of man God desires for Shepherds of His church... RIGHT?
An Elder must be Temperate... Disciplined... A man of moderation.
When Paul preached to Felix and Drusilla in Cesaera in Acts 24 he preached of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come.
This is God’s desire for all of us... Isn’t it?... Disciplining... Controlling... Bringing our flesh nature... our human nature under the control of God so we can be right in judgment.
Paul said it this way... I must bring my body under subjection, under the control of what is right, lest after preaching to others I myself might be cast away.
Remember... One of the fruits of the spirit is temperance.
Elders are not to be Radicals... Extremists... Antis... Hobby Riders... Zealots... but TEMPERATE MEN OF DISCIPLINE AND MODERATION.
They are to be men who Hold Fast the Faithful Word... Apt To TEACH.
I like this one... An Elder must be sound in doctrine... Sound in the teachings of the Word... A man of the Book... One who knows the Bible and can... With it... Defend the truth... Defeat the false teacher.
Other men may have the best business head on their shoulders... But Elders are men who KNOW... And continue to STUDY the Book... An Elder is one who is always thirsty for the Word.
The concept is that this man has studied... He is open to the truth to the point that God’s word is second nature to him... Thus allowing him to communicate God’s will to others. We must be careful here... Sometimes we have said if a man cannot teach an adult auditorium class he is not qualified to serve as an Elder. Let’s not try to force such an issue onto the church. You see... Christianity is a taught religion... Elders must be able to teach and defend the truth.
A Shepherd must be a man of PEACE... Patient... Gentle... Mild Mannered... A man of respect and dignity.
This is a big order in our world today.
An Elder is not to have the disposition of a Clint Eastwood or a John Wayne... But the attitude... The heart of Jesus... Of whom Isaiah wrote... He will not quarrel or cry out in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break... A smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.
Church... I believe this qualification is saying just the opposite of what we studied last Sunday... The negative side says... An Elder is not to be a brawler... Not hot-tempered... Quarrelsome... Not soon to anger... Nor a striker.
You see... God’s Pastors... God’s shepherds are to be vulnerable men. They are to be men of Tenderness... Prayer... Tears... Because of their genuine concern for the flock. They must be men who will bear up under hardships... criticism... and trouble. But at the same time be gentle... peaceful... and considerate with the sheep.
The flock may never know the danger... trouble... fears... and tears he faces.
Folk... This is genuine New Testament Eldering... Shepherding.... Bishoping.
An Elder must not be a novice... not a beginner... not a new convert. An Elder is to be a man of experience... A man of maturity. You see... Character is not made in a day. God is interested in... Even commands... growth... and maturity. The Holy Spirit tells us why a new convert is not to be selected as a leader... Lest being puffed up he fall.... Solomon said... This pride always goes before a fall.
The Hebrews writer... And this same Peter tell us that our eternal salvation is a matter of growth... Going on toward maturity.
The Hebrews writer says... We must leave the milk of the Word and go on to the meat... That we must by reason of use... of experience... Be able to discern right from wrong.
Peter says... We must be diligent to add to our faith... the Christian graces.
I won’t say anymore... because the Growth of Leadership is our subject tonight.
Elders are those men of CHARACTER... Who have arrived there through experience with life... and the WORD OF GOD
Now we must know that this is not saying that an Elder must be in the church for 30 years... The truth is some of us have been here for 30 years and still are babes... Still need milk... Not meat.
An elder must not be a new convert... But a man of experience.
Not given to wine... Not given to drunkenness.
This is important... It is mentioned both in Timothy and Titus. There is no sense to argue whether or not the wine is intoxicating... Of course it is. This word in the Greek is used to describe those who sit too long at the wine tables.
In New Testament times... good water... potable water was difficult to come by. So... to purify it... to kill the ameba like organisms... wine was added to the drinking water.
Now... to get drunk... One would have to be given to much wine... One would have to sit at the wine table for a lengthy time.
Paul is saying... Such an individual is not qualified to serve as an Elder of the church of God.
Church... Look at the context... This qualification is mentioned with... Be not violent... quarrelsome... but gentle.
Why argue about what is so apparent in the context?
We have already talked about the fact that leaders in the church are to be men filled with the spirit... And that meant that they were to be under the influence...guidance... power... and control... of the spirit... Verses being filled with wine... and under its control... power and influence.
Here it is plain and simple... A man given to alcohol is not qualified to serve as an Elder in the church of God.
An Elder of the church is not to be given to Filthy Lucre
This is an old King James phrase that some might not understand. It simply means an Elder must be a person who is not interested in making money dishonestly... not greedy... not covetous... not a money grubber.
The church... and things spiritual... must come before money in an Elder’s life. If a choice has to be made between materialism... and spirituality... he will always opt for things spiritual.
We are talking about a man who will always make church decisions based upon the spiritual good of the church... Rather than from a monetary perspective. Elders must not be more concerned about money than about sheep.
One of the worst things that can happen to a church is that its Elders make all their decisions on a balance sheet rather than on faith.
Now don’t put words in my mouth... I am not preaching financial irresponsibility in the Eldership. But we must have faith in what God can and will do through us...for us... with us... as His children.
You see... Our business is to save souls... Not money.
An Elder must be Given to Hospitality
Literally, in the Greek... He must be a lover of men.
Shepherds are in the sheep business... Elders are in the people business. They are to be open to serving others... helping people... washing feet... saving the lost. This qualification has little to do with today’s concept of entertaining.
The New Testament thought was a home open to needy strangers.
Elders must be men who will reach out to help those in need... Who will be willing to do good to all men... Especially to those in the household of faith... To bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
Before we stop this morning... Let’s answer this question... Can the wife of a prospective Elder disqualify him?... I believe the answer is yes.
After Paul finishes giving the qualifications for both Elders and Deacons here in First Timothy three... He says this about the women... In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect... not malicious talkers... but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
I know this verse is found within the context of the qualifications for a Deacon... But any serious Bible student knows that if a Deacon’s wife is to be this kind of lady... How much more so for the wife of a Shepherd of God’s flock.
I hope this series of lessons have helped you in choosing that man in our fellowship that you would like to see serve as your Shepherd. I hope you have settled on that individual you believe will help you arrive safe and saved in heaven.
In your Worship Bulletin... You’ll find several scriptures that we have talked about during this series of lessons...
-Read them again...
-Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance...
-Then write in the name of the man that you feel fits God’s qualifications to serve as an additional Elder in our church family.
We ask that only members of this congregation select the individual. And that each member sign his or her selection... So that we will know it is from a family member.
Question... Are you a member of God’s family... His Church... His Kingdom?
You can become a child of God this morning by... Faith... Repentance... and New Testament Baptism... Immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins.
Perhaps you’re here this morning and... as a child of God... You need to make some things right with God... Or right with another person.
Perhaps... As a baptized believer you would like to join this church family.
Maybe you need the prayers of the church for some problem in you life.
This invitation is yours as we stand and sing... Will you come??
