Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:35 — 29.2MB)
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | TuneIn | RSS
We’re talking together this morning about qualifications for a leader. This is an important part of the life of a church. Our nation just went through an election to choose a leader for our country. The church is not like that!
Jesus said that his kingdom is not of this world. It is a holy process… It should be a peaceful process because the members of the church are surrendered to the Lord and to His will. It is a brotherly process because there is “body thinking.” We are all part of the body, and we all have work to do.
May God’s will be done. May Christian charity rule in our hearts and in our church.
We know that the church is not perfect, it has its flaws and its weaknesses. We can be confident that God is with us, that He is working and that He cares about this church very much.
The men that are available to be chosen are not perfect either. They have different personalities and gifts, even levels of maturity. None of your current ministers would claim to be perfect either!
We do seek a brother with qualities and the kind of heart soil that grows spiritual fruit. That God is working in their heart and producing fruit. As we look through the brothers in our congregation let us be praying, and review these qualifications, and praying that there would be one or several that would stand out to be chosen for this work.
Acts 6:1-7 – The whole church was involved. The leaders were leading out, but the congregation was involved as well. The congregation was not just there as spectators.
1 Timothy 3:1-13 – We’re not looking at anything new here. We’ve heard these things before, heard sermons about them before, etc. We are simply reviewing this morning.
We are looking for a Spirit filled brother. What does a Spirit filled person look like? He seeks the Kingdom first. He loves God, and wants to love Him more and more. God has the highest place in his life. He has a living and genuine relationship with Christ. He knows what it is to walk with Jesus. He isn’t just going through the motions.
James 3 – We are looking for a wise brother. This isn’t referring to how smart he is, whether he graduated with top honors from school or not, he may not have the best or first answer for everything. He knows and follows the way of God with right and pure motives. A wisdom that comes from time with God. He is guided by Christlike motives and attitudes.
We are looking for a man whose home is in good order. There is a parallel between family and church management. Is it a godly household? What is family life like? What are family relationships like? This doesn’t mean that there aren’t disruptions, occasional issues, etc, but it does mean that the father is aware and addresses those kinds of issues.
We are looking for a brother who has made friends of mammon. He uses money and material things in a way that is honoring to God and is a blessing to you and to others. What we do with our resources beyond providing for our necessities is what Jesus is referring to. We should use our material possessions to serve others.
Philippians 2 – We are looking for a brother who is a servant leader. Jesus came with a different attitude towards leadership than the leaders of his day. We don’t read about “leader” Moses, you read about the “servant” Moses. Humble, not looking for power or position. Serving the flock. The shepherd is approachable. The sheep feel comfortable approaching him. Jesus said that the good shepherd is willing to lay down his life for the sheep.
God was in the work there in Jerusalem. It was a healthy church. A church that God was working in and working through.