College Park Church

It is not too hard to understand why Paul would give specific instructions to Timothy regarding the necessary qualifications of an elder.  As the leaders of the church go, so goes the church.  That is, the church body will inevitably reflect its leadership.  In order to have a healthy church, we must wisely choose the right kind of men for the office of elder.  This Sunday, Pastor Mark will walk us through 1 Timothy 3:1-7.  My aim in this post is to get you warmed up and ready to hear God's word preached on Sunday morning.

Unlike Any Other Vision of Leadership

If you went to Barnes & Noble and randomly pulled a book off the shelf from the section on business leadership, what do you think you would find?  You might learn how to motivate people, communicate effectively, or cast a vision that inspires.  Undoubtedly, by God's common grace you would probably learn some helpful things from such books.  But you will not find any of them that share the same vision for leadership found in the New Testament.

What is so different about the New Testament's vision of leadership?  New Testament leadership, unlike any other model, is fundamentally defined by the cross of Jesus Christ. 

Cross-Shaped Leadership

In Mark 10:42-45 Jesus turns the world's view of leadership on its head.  James and John had just requested from Jesus that they be given the honor of sitting at the right and left hands of Jesus in his glory - a bold request!  Upon hearing this, the other disciples get upset with James and John.  Jesus takes this opportunity to blow the disciples away with a view of authority and leadership that is simply stunning.  Jesus said:

You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.  But it shall not be so among you.  But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

In effect, Jesus says, true Christian leadership is lived out in the shadow of the cross.  It must be understood in light of the fact that our supreme leader died on our behalf.  Whereas the world's leaders exercise leadership for their own benefit, Christian leaders must sacrifice themselves for the good of those whom they lead.  Christian leaders are self-sacrificing servants.

Character-Based Leadership

Another unique aspect of teaching on the qualifications of Christian leadership is that they are given in almost universally moral categories.  In other words, the overwhelming emphasis is on the moral character and maturity of an elder, not skills, wealth, status, or any other criteria.  We see this especially in passages such as 1 Timothy 3.  In verses 1-7, there are fourteen qualifications listed which one must fulfill to be an elder, and all but one have to do with his character! 

Another striking trait of the lists of elder qualifications is that the moral prerequisites are so ordinary.  As D. A. Carson writes, "the most remarkable feature of the list is that it is unremarkable."  One is tempted to ask, "Aren't all Christians to refrain from drunkenness?  May those who are not overseers love money?  May the ordinary Christian dispense with faithfulness to his one wife?"  The obvious answer to these sorts of questions is "no".  The point is that, as Carson writes, "Christian leadership demands a focus of the kinds of characteristics and virtues that ought to be present in Christians everywhere."

Leadership is For All of Us

What does a sermon on church leadership have to do with the 99% of us who are not elders or deacons.  Much indeed!

For starters, we all need to know what to look for when selecting the right kind of leaders.  We have the great privilege of nominating and voting for leaders, and we need to be wise lest we elect leaders who will lead the church astray.

But even more directly, whether you realize it or not, you are most likely a leader in some capacity.  Husbands, you are charged with leading your wives and your children.  Are you sacrificing yourself for their good?  Mothers and fathers, you are charged with leading your children.  Are you developing the character qualities of a leader?  Employers, Bible study leaders, friends with informal influence, and the list could go on...almost every one of us has some sort of leadership role.  Pursue leadership that is shaped by the cross of our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!