9.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• Jesus Christ gives leaders to his church, so that they will lead his church in his name.
• Every church needs two types of leaders:
  - overseers (or “elders”) and
  - deacons.
• Leadership is a privilege, because it is a good way of serving.
• When the church chooses leaders, they must choose people who:
  - are devoted to God,
  - lead their own families well, and
  - know the Word of God well.
• The great task of a church leader is to take care of God’s church.

9.2 – 1 Timothy 3:1–13←⤒🔗

^3:1 This saying is trustworthy: 'If someone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a good work.'

^3:2 The overseer then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

^3:3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money.

^3:4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity.

^3:5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God?

^3:6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact.

^3:7 And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil’s trap.

^3:8 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not two-faced, not given to excessive drinking, not greedy for gain,

^3:9 holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

^3:10 And these also must be tested first and then let them serve as deacons if they are found blameless.

^3:11 Likewise also their wives must be dignified, not slanderous, temperate, faithful in every respect.

^3:12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife and good managers of their children and their own households.

^3:13 For those who have served well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

© NET Bible

9.3 The Church’s leaders←⤒🔗

If the church is a body, then Jesus Christ is the head of the body. In other words: Jesus Christ is the Great Leader of his church.

But how does Jesus lead his church? He uses people. He gives leaders to his church, so that they will lead his church in his name.

The first leaders of the church in the New Testament were the apostles. They were the first people who had to tell the world about Jesus Christ. Through their work, churches were being started in many places. These churches needed to have leaders, because the apostles could not always be there with them.

In our passage, Paul is speaking about two types of leaders that the churches need:

• overseers (verses 1–7)
• deacons (verses 8–12)

An overseer (or an elder) must make sure that the people in the church know and obey the Word of God. A preacher is also a type of overseer. Timothy is an example of an overseer who was also a preacher.

A deacon must help the people in the church to serve each other, through their money and other gifts that God gave them. Deacons should make sure that the church takes care of those members who are poor, sick, or suffering. Deacons must also look for ways in which the church can help the community.

Every church needs good overseers and deacons. Through them, Jesus Christ leads his church. In 1 Timothy 3:1–13 we see:

• the privilege of leadership;
• what is needed for leadership; and
• the great task of a leader.

9.4 The privilege of leadership←⤒🔗

Our passage begins and ends with the privilege of leadership. First, Paul says that the task of an overseer is “a noble task” (verse 1). This means that it is something good and valuable.

And at the end of the passage, Paul says that God will reward a deacon who has served well. Such a deacon will have “an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus” (verse 13). This means that a good deacon has a good position in the church, and he can be sure that God is with him to help him.

Why is it a privilege to be a church leader? It is not because leadership makes you important. It is because leadership is a good way of serving. Overseers and deacons must be examples to the church of how we should serve each other.

A true church leader will not use the church. He will rather suffer for the church. A true leader has the same Spirit as Jesus Christ. Remember the words of Jesus to his apostles: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:44-45).

9.5 What is needed for leadership←⤒🔗

Not anyone can be a church leader. When the church chooses leaders, they must choose men who:

• are devoted to God;
• lead their own families well; and
• know the Word of God well.

Devotion to God←↰⤒🔗

Overseers and deacons have different tasks. But overseers and deacons must have the same devotion to God. They must serve God in every part of their life. It must be clear to everyone (even to unbelievers) that these men love God (verses 7-8).

Family life←↰⤒🔗

An overseer or a deacon must be “the husband of one wife” (verses 2, 12). He must also be a good father who disciplines his own children (verses 4, 12). Remember: the church is like a family. That is why Paul asks, “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?” (verse 5).

Knowledge of God’s Word←↰⤒🔗

A church leader must have a good knowledge of the gospel and the Bible. He must not believe strange things. He must hold on to the right teachings. That is why it is important that someone will not become an overseer or a deacon too soon (verses 6, 10). He must first be a Christian for a while, so that he can grow in his faith.

An overseer must also be “able to teach” (verse 2). He must be able to explain the Word of God clearly to people.

9.6 The great task of a leader←⤒🔗

Let us look again at verse 5: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?”

In this verse, we see that the great task of a church leader is to take care of God’s church. Church leaders must love the church. They must know what is going on in church members’ lives. They must pray for church members. They must visit church members at their homes (Acts 20:20, 28). They must also know the church members’ gifts (see Lesson 4).

If a church leader does these things, then church members will be able to: 

• serve each other better,
• overcome sin and temptation, and
• grow in their own faith.

In this way, the body of Christ will be built up (Ephesians 4:11-16)!

Let us always pray to God, to give such leaders to his church! Let us also pray for the leaders who are already serving in our churches. And if you are a church leader, always ask the Holy Spirit to help you with your great task.