Leadership in the Church: Elders, Pastors, Overseers (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-11; 1 Peter 5:1-4)
Summary of Pastor Jeff Moorehead’s message on 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and 1 Peter 5
Summary Statement: God designed His church to be led by Jesus Christ through a team of qualified men
❶ God designed His church to be led (3:1-2a)
The church is not a democratic community of religious co-equals who collectively decide how the church will be run.
God has ordained the church to be led by qualified and gifted leaders who will direct, guide and equip the church family.
God uses three terms to describe the same group of leaders, yet each term provides a different nuance about their leadership (overseers or bishops, elders & pastors).
The terms “overseer” or “bishop” (gr: episkopos) describes a leader who watches over, like a superintendent, so this compound word highlights the management task of God’s leaders (used only 5x: Acts 20:28; Phil. 1:1; Titus 1:7; 1 Tim. 3:1-2). This word teaches us how this leader carries out their task. Jesus is called the Bishop or Guardian of our souls in 1 Pet. 2:25
The term “elders” (gr: presbuterous) describes someone who is older (no specific age specified other than the age of experience & maturity). It highlights the maturity of God’s leaders (used 67x, but only 27 for church leaders) & tells us who this leader is.
The term “pastors” (gr. – poimainos) describes a person who tends a flock as a shepherd and highlights the ministry of God’s leaders (used 1x as noun, 3x as verb; Eph. 4:11, John 21:16, Acts 20:28, I Pet 5:2: “shepherd the flock of God…”). It describes what kind of ministry is required of these leaders.
SUMMARY:
All three of these different terms are used to describe the same office of leadership (Acts 20:17, 28, 1 Peter 5:1-2) while recognizing the useful differences in giftedness, knowledge, experience & function in that leadership (1 Tim. 5:17)
They are spiritually mature men who are responsible for the spiritual oversight and pastoral care of the church in fulfilling God’s prescribed mission.
❷ God designed His church to be led by Jesus Christ (selected texts)
The supreme authority in the life of the church is:
“the chief Shepherd” (1 Pet. 5:4)
“the head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22) or “the head of the body” (Col. 1:18)
“the chief stone, a precious cornerstone” (1 Pet. 2:6)
It is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” who said, “I will build My church” (Matt. 16:16, 18).
And this is the church Paul told the Ephesian elders “which He purchased with His own blood” (A. 20:28)
The church does not have a supreme earthly authority, but a heavenly one, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ who is “the Lord of all” (Acts 10:35)
❸ God designed His church to be led by Jesus Christ through a team (selected texts)
One of the notable features of God’s leadership design in the church is that it led by a plurality or team of united leaders.
Almost exclusively when the leadership terms are used (pastor/elder/bishop/overseer), they are used in their plural form which denotes the team concept…a management team (a plurality: Acts 11:30, 14:23, 15:2, 4, 6, 22, 23, 16:4, 20:17, 21:18, 1 Tim. 5:17, James 5:14, 1 Pet. 5:1, 5)
Why a plurality?
Multi-skilled & multi-gifted teams can minister with greater collective skill
Multi-skilled & multi-gifted teams can benefit from collective wisdom and discernment
Multi-skilled & multi-gifted teams can provide greater accountability
Multi-skilled & multi-gifted teams can cover a greater span of care & ministry.
Multi-skilled & multi-gifted teams can enjoy mutual support.
❹ God designed His church to be led by Jesus Christ through a team of men (3:1-2, 4-7)
The “equal, but different” design of God assigned designated roles to men and women.
This is not an archaic or male-driven conspiracy to keep power in the hands of men while holding ambitious & capable women at bay.
This is the design of God before and after the fall and it never gets altered in Scripture.
Equality is not the issue (since male and female are equal), but God’s appointed roles are distinct.
There are four evidences that highlight God’s assignment for men to be the primary leaders over the local church:
God used masculine pronouns & words to designate male leadership.
In the 1 Timothy 3 text, Paul uses “he” or “him” or “his” a total of 3x in v. 1-7 & you can add in a 4th from Paul’s parallel description in Titus 1:9
Paul additionally uses masculine words in describing the various character qualities that men must have and demonstrate: v. 4 (one who manages; his own household); v. 5 (but if a man); v. 6 (he will not be conceited for men)
God gave an exclusionary problem that disqualifies women (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6a, 7a)
Only a man can be “the husband of one wife”, thus the office is limited to qualified men (doesn’t necessarily exclude single men).
God has a clear prohibition for women about teaching and exercising authority over men in the public meetings of the gathered church (addressed in 1 Tim. 2:12). Why? Paul reminded us this was due to:
The order of creation: Adam was created first as noted in v. 13.
The order of corruption: Eve was deceived first when she stepped out of her role by engaging the serpent, which also highlighted Adam’s failure to step in & protect her in v. 14.
God has a consistent pattern of appointing men as the primary leaders in the home and church from the beginning.
God named the human race “man”, a generic name for mankind or the human race, but He chose to use the name of one of the sexes to designate the whole human race (Gen. 1:26; 2:5; 5:1-2).
God made Adam the central character of His story before the fall in Genesis 2.
God formed the woman out of man (Gen. 2:22) & Paul uses this truth in the Corinthian church to make his point about differences & distinct roles (1 Cor. 11:7-8)
God created the woman for the man as a “suitable helper” (Gen. 2:18/1 Cor. 11:9) which could sound offensive or demeaning until you understand God calls Himself a helper (Ps. 121) & Eve was not another male or a clone of Adam or a twin.
Women are similar but different. Eve and women have their own biology, physiology & psychology that complements the man & together they populate & rule the earth in one union.
Adam is viewed as the representative head of the fallen human race (Gen. 3:9; Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22, 45)
The record of the OT and NT highlights men as the primary and appointed leaders (all the patriarchs, priests, kings, leading national prophets, apostles) and this role wasn’t negated when men neglected their role or abused that role by adultery, polygamy, rape, violence, harshness, divorce, etc.
❺ God designed His church to be led by JC through a team of qualified men (1 Tim. 3:2-7)
When you take stock of the list of character and conduct qualities in Timothy, Titus (1:6-11) & 1 Peter (5:1-3), there are 28 different criteria or qualifications listed.
Several things to keep in mind about these qualities:
Most of these qualities are prescribed elsewhere in the Scripture for every Christian, men or women, so we should all seek to be growing in these virtues.
Spiritual growth takes time, effort, and discipline and there are no shortcuts. We live in a microwave world, but there is no such thing as instant godliness.
No one is perfectly qualified to be a church leader. These need to be evidenced in a leader’s life and no glaring violations, but no one has arrived. There’s always room to grow.
Observe that elders/pastors are the special targets of the enemy. Twice (1 Tim. 3:6-7) Paul mentions the devil in connection with elders, so they are marked men whose fall can have a big influence.
There are several ways to look at these qualifications:
Five categories of expectation:
❶ 1 foundational desire that says: “if any man aspires to the office of overseer…” 1 Tim. 3:1)
❷ 1 foremost quality in being “above reproach”: 1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:6a, 7a)
❸ 5 aspects of family management (1 Tim. 3:2b, 4-5; Titus 1:6b)
❹ 19 marks of faithful character (1 Tim. 3:2c-3, 6-7; Titus 1:7b-8; 1 Pet 5:2b-3a; Heb. 13:17b)
❺ 2 functional skills (1 Tim. 3:2; 1 Tim. 5:17; Titus 1:9; 1 Pet 5:2a, 3b; Heb. 13:7, 17a)
Notice three main categories: The right craving, the right character, the right competency.
1: There needs to be a qualifying craving in your life (1 Tim. 3:1)
The word “craving” speaks to the precise meaning of the foundational desire Paul says needs to be present as an initial indicator. “It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do”
The word “aspire” (gr: oregetai) means to reach out after, to stretch out in order to grasp something.
The word “desire” (gr: epithumein) is the common word for strong longing, craving, or lusting desire, mainly used in its negative, evil way, but here it depicts a good desire.
Paul recognizes that God will put a strong desire in the heart of certain qualified men who want to be used by God in the “fine work” (excellent, good, noble) of church ministry leadership.
This desire would motivate a man to make his desires known so he could be considered for appointment in leading the church.
2: There needs to be qualifying character in your life (1 Tim. 3:2-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3)
Between Paul and Peter, there are 20 character qualities listed (9 negative & 11 positive)
Let’s start with the 11 POSITIVES:
1.At the top of God’s list is being “above reproach” (1 T. 3:2; Titus 1:6a, 7a)
God wants His leaders blameless, being men of integrity and holiness.
There are no accusations that stick or stand against you.
You can’t have liars, cheaters, self-promoters or moral failures leading the church.
Leadership is not about finding the most talented or most influential or who has a big check-book or knows how to make things happen, but it is primarily a character issue and it’s going to flow through all the important areas of your life: doctrine, marriage, family, reputation, words, reactions, purity, opposition, finances.
2. “temperate” or “soberminded”-ESV (1 Tim. 3:2 – gr: nephalion) or “self-controlled” or “disciplined”-ESV (Titus 1:8 – gr: egkrate).
This is a person who has full control of his life, mentally, physically, sexually, spiritually, behaviorally.
A spiritual leader is disciplined and will manage his passions: anger, sexual lusts because he is full of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).
If a leader needs to be controlled on the outside (by a committee) and can’t control the inside, he’s not leading as he should & should consider stepping aside
A spiritual leader is one who is clear-headed, able to make sound judgments, and has full control over anything in his life that would hinder him from living honorably for Jesus Christ.
3. “prudent” (1 Tim. 3:2) or “sensible” (Titus 1:8) or “self-controlled”-ESV (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7; gr: sophrona)
This compound word means to save the mind which the Greeks would call saving the mind. It means to be right-minded, in control of one’s passions & mind.
It is someone who is thoughtful, wise, profound, prudent, able to keep an objective perspective, careful in judgment.
A spiritual leader is not given to overreactions, nor overcome by passions temptations, or desires, but has control of his mental processes and makes good judgments.
4. “respectable”-same in ESV (1 Tim. 3:2 – gr.: kosmion) = this is the word for “world” & it means an orderly system.
When applied to people, it’s about a person whose system of living is orderly
It describes order versus chaos in one’s inner and outer life and demeaner. A life & mind that is well-ordered.
He is a person who will fulfill all the duties and responsibilities of life because he’s controlled by that inner order of a well-disciplined spirit and can follow priorities.
5. “hospitable”-same in ESV (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8 gr.: philoxenon) = literally means to love strangers with your resources (time, house/money)
Hospitality was a way to minister to people with your resources who are travelling or dispossessed by persecution (hotels were like brothels in those days). It is not what we typically think in having lots of people over from the church…that is being hospitable, but it includes more.
In essence, it is opening your life & resources to people you don’t know…it’s focusing on the opportunities to minister to other believers in need.
A spiritual leader takes a genuine interest in others they don’t know & is willing to use their resources (time, money, energy, home) as needed.
6. “gentle”-same in ESV (I Tim. 3:3 – gr. epieike) = fair-minded, reasonable, forbearing, gracious.
The ministry can eat up anyone who keeps a mental log of all the grievances & offenses others have committed against him. Gentleness allows a man to easily pardon human failure. A gentle person does not insist on every right, but yielding, kind, courteous, tolerant, forbearing, gracious, restrained, reasonable. You can give way to others.
Leaders get criticized no matter what and if you allow those darts (deserved or undeserved) to rattle your cage, you will diminish your ability to serve the people you are hurt by.
It’s good to have a short memory in the ministry because it keeps you from being tempted to dwell on the bad things that people have said or done which could then cloud your thinking, leadership & ministry.
7. “have a good reputation with those outside the church” or “must be well thought of by outsiders”-ESV (I Tm. 3:7) a good testimony
Leaders need to be on guard all the time to model godly character IN the church as well as OUTSIDE the church.
A “good reputation” (gr: marturian kalen) speaks of a person’s demonstrated testimony…what people see lived out.
There will be many people who don’t like the message because of its high standard, but our lack of character should never be a reason why people don’t like the message.
The last thing leaders want to do is bring disgrace upon the church with a testimony of hypocrisy in attitude, words or actions.
8. “loving what is good” or “lover of good”-ESV (Titus 1:8 – gr-philagathon): A leader is a lover of qualitatively good things & people (friends, pursuits, hang-outs, entertainment)
God’s will (Rm. 12:2), God’s gospel (Rm 10:15), God’s providence “causes all things to work together for good” (Rom. 8:28) & we were created to do “good works” (Eph. 2:10) as we “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:12)
A spiritual leader is a regular benefit to those around him…kind, generous, doesn’t seek revenge
9. “just” or “upright”-ESV (Titus 1:8 - gr: dikaios = equitable in character and action)
A leader is called to be fair, equitable in his dealings with others & he is without partiality to the wealthy, popular or powerful.
10. “devout” or “holy”-ESV (Titus 1:8 - gr: hosian)
A leader is to be set apart, consecrated or dedicated to the service of God.
He is holy, pure, pious, unstained by sin that has not been confessed & addressed.
He has an outward practical holiness that comes from an inward holiness, yet still a friend of sinners like Jesus.
11. “proving to be examples to the flock” or “being example to the flock”-ESV (1 Pet 5:3; Heb. 13:7)
This is WHY the standards for faithful character are so high. Leadership is out front knowing the way, showing the way, going the way.
We are called to model what God expects, so we hear Paul say, “be imitators of me just as I am also of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).
We know we don’t have our faith perfected, but we should be being perfected as we walk the walk.
Example matters and we are accountable to God for where we lead His people and our greatest influence is our lifestyle (Heb. 13:7 – “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”)
Let’s look at the 9 NEGATIVES to avoid (“No-No’s”)
12. “not addicted to wine” or “not a drunkard”-ESV (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7b (gr. – un paroinon)
it’s a compound word (oinos = wine and para = with/alongside). Literally not given over to wine.
It’s used 4x (2x in ref to elders-I Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7b; 1x with deacons-1 Tim. 3:8, 1x with older women-Titus 2:3), so this prohibition crosses over into the general population of the church family as well.
What does it mean?
It originally meant to abstain from wine (sober), then metaphorically meant to be alert or clear-headed, mentally sober.
A spiritual leader should never be given over to anything that would dull or diminish clear thinking or hinder complete control of his senses & impair discernment or judgment (Timothy must have been an abstainer or why would Paul have to tell him to drink for his stomach’s sake)
The Bible doesn’t ban drinking alcoholic beverages, BUT it does strongly warn about the dangers of wine and strong drink, especially for leaders (Lev. 10:9; Prov. 20:1; 23:29-35; 31:4-5)
Drunkenness is always sinful (Eph 5:18; Rom 13:13; 1 Pt 4:3; 1 Cor 6:12) and leaders need to be very careful about not causing other believers to stumble. We must be an example.
It seems best that due to alcohol’s wide-spread destructiveness, intentional intoxicants, and its powerful influence in people’s lives, it’s wise and best for leaders to abstain and not play with fire.
13. “not pugnacious” or “not violent-ESV” (1 Tim. 3:3, Titus 1:7: gr.: un plekten) = literally not a striker, fighter, puncher (no bullying, combative, verbally abusive, angry pushing and shoving)
A spiritual leader is a man who can control his emotions, words, and physical reactions.
There is no place in the ministry for verbally combative or physically violent men with their wives or kids or public or with tense & emotional situations with brothers & sisters in Christ.
14. “peaceable” or “not quarrelsome”-ESV 1 Tim. 3:3 – gr. – amachon) = not a troublemaker or arguer
A leader is not offensively aggressive and doesn’t insist on his rights and keeps his temper under control.
Again, we see that God’s man must be a peacemaker, not someone who likes to stir up disagreements and cause tension or being an aggressive bully.
Paul told Timothy ”and the Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged…” (2:24)
15. “free from the love of money” (1 Tim. 3:3) or “not a lover of money”-ESV (gr: aphilarguron)
In Titus 1:7 & 1 Peter 5:2, a leader is “not fond of sordid gain” or “not greedy for gain-ESV” or “not for shameful gain”-ESV (gr: me aischrokerde)
Both are compound words (a means no, phileo means love, guron is money AND in 1 Pet 5:2 aischros means shameful, and kerdos means gain)
It’s about being shamelessly greedy for material gain or profit & Jesus said you can’t “serve God and mammon”
Money is not evil, but it can be dangerous like a loaded gun (useful if properly used, but it can hurt others or yourself to use it carelessly).
A spiritual leader can’t love money or be greedy. The greedy are tempted to take advantage of people or embezzle funds & avoid a contented heart (Heb. 13:5). The acquisition of funds can’t be your driving goal. The love of money is the mark of a false teacher (1 Tim. 6:5, Titus 1:11, the Pharisees “devoured widows houses” – Mark 12:40). They were in the ministry for money & they hate accountability and controls. Spiritual leaders are contented men (Heb. 13:5) who can rejoice and enjoy God’s blessing of material provision (1 Cor. 9:11, 14, 1 Tim. 5:17), but also know that God is the one who cares for their needs.
16. “not a new convert” (1 Tim. 3:6: “lest he become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil” or ESV says, “he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of he devil”)
This expectation is protective because spiritual leaders need to be strong and mature to lead the Lord’s church. A younger convert is more prone to the lure of pride and ego associated with being lifted up in the limelight, having people look to you for spiritual direction.
The danger of this is becoming conceited & following the consequence of condemnation like the devil.
The mark of spiritual maturity is humility.
17. “not self-willed” or “not be arrogant”-ESV (gr.- un authade).
It’s literally self-pleasing or self-important. It’s about a person who stubbornly pushes their own opinion or agenda & doesn’t care about the agenda, feelings, & interests of others. It’s a person who never admits he’s wrong and just wants his own way.
They are headstrong, independent, self-assertive, unyielding, arrogant, ungracious, overbearing & NOT a team player. A leader understands they are just a servant of the Lord’s church, not an owner.
18. “not quick-tempered”-same in ESV (Titus 1:7 – gr: un orgilon) similar to being “uncontentious” or “not quarrelsome” and “not pugnacious” or “violent” – God clearly wants cool-headed, calm spirited men to lead.
Hotheads are always one spark away from blowing up. Anger is never a great shepherding tool for your wife, kids, or your brothers or sisters in Christ. Angry people tend to use their anger to intimidate or control others to get their own way.
God is “slow to anger” as our Shepherd and so must His leaders be because “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20)
19. “not under compulsion”-same in ESV (1 Peter 5:2 – “exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntary, according to the will of God”)
God’s leaders serve because they want to and the Spirit motivates them too, not because they have to. Leaders understand obedience is critical, but Jesus said, “if you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
A Spirit-driven “want to” must be constantly cultivated or you’ll find yourself getting cold toward people and your responsibilities at home and in ministry. Beware of serving because you feel the pressure of pride, failure, a demanding board or wife, a pay check, professional duty, or the admiration of the church. Paul was “compelled” by the call of God on his life (“woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” – 1 Cor. 9:16)
Yes, leadership is compelling, but it is a “voluntary” willingness that leads the way. The compulsion we ought to feel is the desire God put in our hearts, the right, good, and best “will of God”, the condition of a lost world and the needs of sheep
20. “nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge” or “not domineering over those in your charge”-ESV (I Pet. 5:3)
The word “lording” (gr. katakurieuontes) word is about domination, it’s about mastering or subduing.
Some think people only listen by intimidation. Jesus told His disciples: “you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be our servant and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave” (Mt. 20:25-27).
Leadership is not dictatorship…we are not petty tyrants running heartlessly over the needs of others. Leadership is not demanded, but earned through faithful, humble service.
3: There needs to be qualifying competency in a leader’s life (1 Tim. 3:2g, 5; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Pet. 5:1-3)
God wants His leaders to have some specific functional skills (Titus 1:9, 2:1, 1 Tm. 3:2, 5:17, 2 Pet 5:1-2, Jms 5:14-16, Eph. 4:11-15). We can see five tasks leaders are specifically called to lead out in.
1. Leads out in teaching God’s Word (1 Tim. 3:2; 2:12; 5:17; Titus 1:9; 2 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 13:7)
1 Tim 3:2 says that God’s leaders must be “able to teach”, but teach what?
Titus 1:9: “holding fast the faithful word…” in order to “exhort in sound doctrine” and “refute those who contradict”
Paul nails down the major task & skill of the pastor or leaders in the church: ”preach the Word” (2 Tim. 4:2)
What concerns God the most about communicating His Word is not style or communication technique, but the content of His Word (2 Tim. 2:15). Paul tells Titus to “hold fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching”
God’s word is “the faithful word” = it’s trustworthy because its “in accordance with the teaching” (the apostolic teaching of Paul which came from Jesus – 1 Tim. 6:3-4, 4:6). It is true (Jn 17:17), timeless (it transcends culture, trends, discoveries doesn’t need edits or updates; Jude 3), and transformational (2 Tim. 3:15-17 - It will accomplish all that we need to please God – salvation, sanctification, glorification).
2. Leads out in overseeing God’s church (1 Tim. 2:12; 3:4-5; 5:17; 1 Pet. 5:2)
God’s leaders are called to lead the church, giving general oversight of the church (1 Tim. 5:17 – “who rule well…”), “take care of the church of God” (1 Tm. 3:5), “have charge over you in the Lord…” (1 Thess. 5:12), and to be “exercising oversight” (2 Pet. 5:2 – uses the verb form of episkopos) which means to take charge over the administration of your task.
Church leaders (pastors/elders/overseers) govern the church (1 Tim. 5:17), determine church polity and policies (Acts 15:22-30), ordain pastors (1 Tim. 4:14), monitor and maintain the purity of the church (Matthew 18:15-21), and keep the church on mission (Col. 1:28-29)
3. Leads out in shepherding God’s flock: in marriage (1 Tim. 3:2b; Titus 1:6b), family (1 Tim. 3:4-5; Titus 1:6b-7a) and the church (1 Peter 5:2a, Acts 20:28; Heb. 13:17)
There’s a management expectation with the family that reveals faithfulness to God in one’s marriage & the home. The home is a training ground for Christian leaders. Paul brings up 5 basic expectations in the home that can be summarized in TWO primary categories:
1: Marital faithfulness - “a husband of one wife” (gr: mias gunaikos aner)
Paul highlights this qualification 3 times (two for elders and one for deacons) and in each list for elders, it shows up right after being “above reproach” so high on God’s list is that His leaders be faithful to their wives, if they are married (Paul wasn’t married)
The term is literally a one-womaned man OR one-wifed husband & it’s in the emphatic position to stress the importance of faithfulness. It’s someone who is devoted to his wife alone. He’s not a womanizer but is sexually pure.
What is God expecting? A devoted, faithful husband to his wife alone.
Does this disqualify single men? Not necessarily because Paul wasn’t married, and he encouraged singleness for greater effectiveness in the kingdom (1 Cor. 7) – also Timothy & Titus?
Is God forbidding polygamy? Of course, this would be an obvious implication, but that’s not his point (it’s not about being devoted to each wife you have)
What about divorce & remarriage? That depends as some will remarry as widowers & others may remarry after a biblically allowed divorce or their divorce was pre-conversion.
Consideration would need to be given to the current marriage and the continuing impact of a previous divorce on their reputation and ability to lead.
This is all about an exclusive monogamous sexually faithful commitment to his one wife & would prohibit all forms of sexual deviancy like polygamy, concubinage, homosexuality, prostitution, pornography, transgenderism or any other expressions of sexual sin & beyond include an unbiblical divorce.
2: Family faithfulness (marital faithfulness)
Timothy says, “who manages his household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” (1 Tim. 3:4-5)
Titus says, “having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion” (Titus 1:6)
Both focus on the children’s behavior as the measurement of the leader’s qualification (1 Tim. 3:5 – “but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?”). The assumption is that a leader will be married and have children, but it’s not a demand (this shoots down the Catholic celibacy requirement)
God expects faithfulness in the children’s lives (gr: tekna exwn pista: having believing children).
The question that arises is what kind of faithfulness? Does God expect leader’s children to be believers in Christ or generally faithful children?
The word “pistos” can mean either “faithful trustworthy” (in general w/out specifying the content of it) or “believing” (a follower of Christ).
Ultimately, fathers can’t control whether their children follow Christ since that is God’s sovereign choice in spite of your good example & consistent & honest attempts to be a gospel witness to your kids.
Generally speaking, if you “train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it” (not a promise, but a general maxim). If most or all your kids reject Christ, there’s probably something wrong in the home.
The qualifier is “not accused of dissipation or rebellion” which points to children whose lives have been changed from the typical Cretan culture (“dissipation” [gr: asotia = a wild, uncontrolled type of degenerate lifestyle] & “rebellion” [gr: anupotaktos = disobedient, undisciplined])
God expects submissiveness & dignity in the home (1 Tim. 3:4: “who manages his household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity” (it’s the same for deacons in 3:12)
This comes as a result of being a leader “who manages his household well”
The word “manages” (gr – proistamenon) is the word used to speak of one of the tasks of a leader in the church (I Tim. 5:17) to be done with zeal (Rom. 12:8) and worthy of the church’s respect (I Th. 5:12-13)
It means to lead or govern with a caring protection, not like a dictator or autocrat, but a servant leader like Christ (Luke 22:26)
The word “well” (gr. – kalos) conveys doing a good job as well as doing the job in the right way, which is God’s way.
The results of managing well would be “keeping his children under control with all dignity” = children are characterized by submissiveness to their respected fathers
3: Church faithfulness in shepherding the flock.
Shepherding involves guiding, guarding & growing the sheep. It includes feeding and protecting (from false teaching – Titus 1:9-11) and counseling and confrontation as needed
God wants His leaders to wisely manage & shepherd the people He has given me to influence for His kingdom, since He calls them His: “stewards” (managers/caretakers of God’s flock and our gifts), “shepherds” (feed and lead and watch and warn) and spiritual fathers (Matt. 10:24-25, I Cor. 4:14-16, Gal. 4:19)
4. Lead out in praying for God’s world (1 Tim. 2:8; James 5:14-16)
We see this in the example of the apostles in Acts 6 when the widows needed attention and the apostles delegated this to what appears to some early deacons, but they must keep the priority as the Word & prayer.
We pray personally, at home, with our family, in the church…”pray without ceasing”
We pray with God’s people one on one, in small groups, as elders/pastors, with people in need
We pray for those who request the elders to lay their hands on them (James 5:14-16)
5. Lead out in equipping God’s saints to do the work of ministry (Eph. 4:11-12)
Leaders lead, but they also pass the baton (2 Tim. 2:2) and delegate and train God’s people how to study, pray, fellowship, minister, witness, counsel, persevere in suffering, do marriage & family while trusting God.
Let’s remember that our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ is the greatest personification of a LEADER that there will ever be. He led by submitting to His heavenly Father (Jn 5:19, 36; 6:38; 7:16; 8:26, 28, 42; 10:18, 29; 12:49; 13:20; 14:10, 31; 15:9-10), serving others (Matt. 20:20-28), sacrificing (doing what no one else could do in order to provide the greatest benefit anyone could ever receive.) “He died once for all” and self-governed as the Sovereign God who does what only He can do as King of all kings and Lord of all lords.