1 Timothy 3:1-13 (2)

·        Leaders are to have Christ-like character.  As we study the qualities of leadership note the reference to women in v11.  There is a question as to whether this refers to the wives of deacons (the context probably leans that way) or to what some call deaconesses (women who serve, such as Phoebe who was a servant of the church in Rom. 16:1).

DEACONS (v8-10)
reverent	same as "respectfully" in v4
not double-tongued	doesn’t speak with forked tongue
not given to much wine	a very literal translation
not greedy for money	"making small gains in mean ways"
holding the mystery	a grip on the Word of God
first tested	see v13 for more on this idea
WOMEN (v11)
reverent	Only term used of all 3 in chapter (v4,8)
not slanderers	From Grk term we get "diabolical"
temperate
faithful in all things
DEACONS (v12-13)
husbands of one wife	same as before
ruling children and own houses well	similar to Overseer

·        Leaders are to have a Christ-directed calling.  Christ, as the Head of the Church, was the one who gave leaders to the Church (Eph. 4:11).  The ability of anyone to serve in the body depends on the work of the Spirit who places people in the Body as He desires (1 Cor. 12:11).  The calling of leaders is critical for their faithful service.  Hard times will tempt them to walk away from their responsibilities; they need to remember that Christ has put them in that position.  How does Christ communicate His calling? 

o   Through the desires of the man, 1 Tim. 3:1.

o   Through the recognition of the church, 1 Tim. 1:18; 4:14; Acts 13:1-3.

o   Through the tried and proven character of the man, 1 Tim. 3:10,13; 5:17.

·        Leaders are to lead with Christ-filled context.  We refer to the means by which these Shepherds were to feed and care for the flock.  It was through the ministry of the Word.  Even the choice of deacons in Acts 6:1-7 served to facilitate this ministry of the word.  We noted earlier that the one skill the overseer needed was to be able to teach (1 Tim. 3:2).  As Christ’s representatives these leaders do not continue to speak new truth from Christ; they are to speak the truth once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).  Paul reinforced this to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:17-35.  Let us recognize and esteem these leaders, given to the Church, who faithfully serve His flock!