1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder,t he desires an honorable position.” ---------------------------------------------
It is interesting we are reading this today because it was just last Sunday that I came to the realization that I would really love to be an elder some day. I know that is a long time from now...but as I mentioned in the last post, I would really love to pray over people and be someone who helps run the church. It is a HUGE responsibility...and an elder must live by example. This chapter really carves out the path that I need to follow in order to get there one day. It is an honorable position and something that shouldn't be handed to just anyone according to the scriptures. I just pray that God will lead me down the right path so that some day I might be able to serve him and others through a position of leadership such as an elder, To God be the glory!
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world,, taken up in glory.
ReplyDeleteThis is the glorious mystery: that a holy, righteous God would humble Himself to enter into a fallen, sinful world and bear His holy wrath upon sin for us. This is the glorious mystery: that a blameless, sinless man would become the savior for a world full of depraved god-haters. The Gospel defies understanding and when we realize that, we will humbly kneel before the throne of Christ and present our lives as living sacrifices.
We deserved nothing and yet have been given everything in Jesus Christ! Let us rejoice and give our entire lives in pursuit of the one, who is worthy, whose name is above every other name!
2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife.* He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach.
ReplyDeleteThis verse prescribes the model citizen of the early church. It still applies to how many churches "judge" candidates for elder and pastoral positions because theses traits are important for church leaders. All followers of Christ should be striving to bring glory to God through living lives like this. Jesus is the Qur'an was great it for nothing else the in depth teaching of the bible.
All is Good in Allah
1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.
ReplyDeleteAn overseer is a postion of leadership in the local church. We should not only fellowship with a local body of believers, but we should desire to be a part of the leadership of that body. Not just attend church, but be a part of a church.
7 "He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap."
ReplyDeletePaul spends most of this chapter talking about deacons and the qualities we should look for in their selection. I think of all the qualities, the one presented in this verse is one of the more important ones. We are constantly on display for non-Christians to see and we should always be above reproach in our relationships with them and fellow Christians. The effectiveness of our witness and testimony is directly correlated to God's message through us reaching their ears. People's ears will be more receptive if they respect us....
-DA
5 "If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?
ReplyDeletePaul asks a very interesting question. By the previous statements earlier in the chapter, a similar question can be asked about all the qualities an elder should be. Also, I don't think that we should apply these standards to just elders and deacons, but all men of Christ. We should all be respectable, self-controlled, not give in to drunkenness, and all other things laid out in the chapter. For with those qualities we can take care of God's church.
14 Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.
ReplyDeleteThese are the instructions on how to run a church. I feel like the bigger theme here is that in order to be a good church you must first start by having faithful, law abiding people as members. I guess not to have a good church, but to have a church that can lead by example about who Christ is to others.
1 Timothy 3:6
ReplyDeleteHe must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.
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I think this is a good verse to dwell upon. How frequently do we become full of ourselves whenever we get a position of value? We should never take responsibility lightly, but should always approach these positions with humility: if the Lord gave us any respect, or responsibility, then we should use it for his glorification.
6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.
ReplyDeleteIn the past year, something completely new has happened in my life. A few times, the thought of entering the ministry has crossed my mind. While admittedly, I have not spent much time thinking on it, and am still very uncertain about the idea, it is still something that has not left my mind. Here, Paul has told me something incredibly important regarding this feeling: before (and if) I feel called to pursue this field, I must know God well and be firmly committed to him. Practically, this translates to me having read the Bible through at least once, probably a few times, really seeking out who God is and what he asks of us. Also, I must learn to resist sin more strongly; since I did not begin to grasp the true meaning of being a Christian until a few years ago, this verse leads me to believe I have much prayerful consideration and seeking after the Lord before I am ready to make such a decision.
[2] Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, [3] not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.
ReplyDelete(1 Timothy 3:2-3 ESV)
Walk according to the fruits of the Spirit. And the one that hit me hardest--not quarrelsome. When I must rebuke a brother, let it not be for the sake of starting a quarell but for the love of my brother.