Rev. David Holwick F 1 Timothy - Clean Up the Church, #6
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
February 7, 2010
1 Timothy 3:1-7
MORALS CLAUSE
I. The most expensive portion of a contract.
A. An example from a corporate management firm:
"Accenture takes very seriously its business ethics, corporate
governance and transparency of operations.
Our board of directors authorized the creation of our Ethics
and Compliance program.
Led by our general counsel, the program is designed to:
# Foster the highest ethical standards amongst Accenture
personnel.
# Be effective in preventing, detecting and appropriately
reporting and addressing any allegation of misconduct and
violations of law by Accenture personnel."
I doubt any of you have ever used Accenture.
But all of you know its chief spokesman - Tiger Woods.
They used to pay him $20 million a year.
Not any more. They fired him because he violated his contract's
morals clause.
Most of his other sponsors did the same thing.
It is hard to feel too sorry for a man who went from making
billions to only making millions.
But all of us are judged by the moral choices we make in life.
Our choices don't just reflect on us.
They also reflect on the organizations we belong to.
#36124
B. The church does it a little differently.
1) When I was hired by this church, I remember signing a
one-page statement that I would be the pastor.
a) The term of service was open-ended.
b) There was no morals clause.
1> There didn't need to be one.
2> It's found in the Bible, in 1 Timothy 3.
2) Respected leadership is a key to reaching the world.
a) Paul knew it, lived it, and expected it in others.
b) Do we expect what God expects?
II. Local church leadership in the first century.
A. The early church began with apostles.
1) In time, they added elders.
a) The concept of elders began in the Old Testament.
b) Not really a created position, but grew from family and
clan relationships.
c) In Acts 4:5, elders are associated with the Jews
who were political and religious leaders in Israel.
2) In Acts 11:30 and 15:2, Christian elders first appear.
a) James, the brother of Jesus, appears to be one.
B. Soon after this, a variety of leadership positions appear.
1) Paul lists multiple positions in churches.
a) Each was a "gift" from God.
b) Teachers, evangelists, pastors, etc. Eph 4:11
2) Leadership was shared.
a) There was not necessarily a single leader.
b) As a matter of fact, every Christian had a position
in the early church.
1> Everyone was expected to contribute something in a
worship service. 1 Cor 14:26
2> But it was not a free-for-all.
A> God made humans to need structure in relationships.
B> Some positions had more authority, such as
overseers.
C. The position of overseer.
1) Overseers were the same thing as elders.
a) Acts 20:17,28. Paul sends for the elders, and calls
them overseers.
1> Note that a single church had several overseers.
b) Titus 1:6-7. Elder and overseer are the same person.
1> Archaeologists have even found a tombstone from the
second century that uses both titles for the same
person.
c) Philippians 1:1 mentions overseers and deacons.
1> Nothing is said of elders, so they must be same
as overseers.
2> There were two normal positions of leadership in
the early church: overseers and deacons.
2) Later in church history, overseers were called bishops.
a) It is a different translation of the same word.
1> They became leaders over large geographic areas.
2> Patriarchs and popes evolved from overseers.
b) In the New Testament, overseer is often used in
conjunction with shepherd imagery.
1> The Latin word for shepherd is "pastor."
2> So today's passage is really about the position
that I hold in this church.
A> "Pastor" is what I prefer to be called.
B> "Reverend" or "Your holiness" is acceptable
but a little too stiff.
C> Local Catholics all seem to call me "Father."
3) Paul is very concerned that qualified people fill this
important position.
a) It was an area where the false teachers could be
singled out.
b) For the most part, their character betrayed their
phoniness.
III. Qualifications of character for pastors.
A. Above reproach and respectable. 3:2
1) Reputation was a major concern of Paul's.
a) And not just among Christians.
b) He wanted the church's leaders to be respected by
outsiders -- by pagans.
2) Most of the qualities listed in this passage are observable
rather than inner qualities you would have to guess at.
B. Temperate, self-controlled and not given to drunkenness.
1) A disciplined life was expected of all early Christians.
2) It also made them stand out from the non-Christians.
a) Romans and Greek got drunk all the time.
b) Temperance was not considered a leadership requirement
by the outside world.
c) But Christians had a higher standard.
3) Temperance and self-control are not limited to alcohol.
a) No lust or desire should get the upper hand.
C. Not violent but gentle, and not quarrelsome.
1) We know from 1 Timothy that the false teachers loved
controversy and conflict.
2) Some Christians relish this - but they shouldn't.
a) The advice in Proverbs should be on the tongue of
every pastor: "A gentle answer turns away wrath."
b) Good church leaders promote peace.
D. Lot a lover of money.
1) Paul will go into more detail on money in chapter 6.
2) It has always been a Christian teaching that spiritual
things are more important than material things.
a) God knows we need material stuff, but we are supposed
to seek God's kingdom before anything else.
b) The false teachers used their ministry as a
money-making racket.
1> (Unfortunately, some still do.)
IV. Qualifications of domestic life for pastors.
A. Husband of but one wife.
1) Several interpretations have been applied here.
a) It could be forbidding polygamy.
1> I used to take it this way.
2> But polygamy was rare in the first century,
and Paul applies similar language to women.
b) Some say it forbids remarriage under any circumstances
for church leaders, even after death.
c) Other say it would forbid divorced leaders.
1> This used to be the norm in America.
2> Sadly, lately the divorce rate for pastors is not
that much different than the general population.
2) At any rate, monogamous and faithful leaders are expected
by Paul.
B. They must manage their own family well.
1) Paul puts a special emphasis on having obedient children.
a) From personal experience, I find they are much more
obedient when they are 1,500 miles away.
b) Your family certainly reflects the values you have in
everyday life.
2) If you cannot manage your home, you can't manage a church.
V. Qualifications of calling for pastors.
A. Hospitable.
1) This virtue was held very high by early Christians.
2) Many traveled far and wide to spread the good news, and
they looked forward to other believers putting them up.
3) I depend on my wife for this. Her new ministry is inviting
people over for dinner. Your turn will come!
B. Able to teach.
1) Teaching is a major part of pastoral ministry.
a) Sermons have a strong teaching component.
b) So do Bible studies.
2) Good teaching keeps people's interest, but more importantly
it conveys the truths of the Bible.
C. Not a recent convert.
1) Leadership is not a door prize for the first one in.
a) Elevation to leadership too soon could go to his head.
2) Christian leaders should have some maturity in the faith.
D. Good reputation with outsiders (i.e., pagans).
1) Pauls list begins and ends with reputation.
2) If you lose your reputation, the devil gets a victory,
which the Christian church has seen so many times.
VI. What this means to you.
A. Most of you will never be a pastor.
1) You may be counting your blessings right now.
2) But perhaps one of you will take this path some day.
a) It could be a young person in the back.
b) It could even be someone who is middle-aged, but
thinking of changing their career to God's service.
3) But even if you never become a pastor, you will work with
them, hopefully for the rest of your life.
B. Have high expectations.
1) It is far more than just preaching a decent sermon.
2) Pastors represent all of you, and Jesus too.
3) But they are human, and need God's grace just like you.
An email I received from a pastor ten days ago:
I am 50 years old and having pastored for 20 years and
served as an evangelist.
I am trying to get started again after failing God and
miraculously being restored (Joel 2:25)....
My desire now more than ever is to serve the Lord and
fulfill the call that He placed upon my life many years
ago.
I need some miracles right now!
I was with the Assemblies of God for many years but when
my first wife left one night while I was preaching.
She later divorced me and that association became history.
I am just a Jesus believer and feel privileged to be able
to preach the word after failing Him so miserably.
=========================================================================
SOURCE FOR ILLUSTRATION USED IN THIS SERMON:
#36124 "Morals Clause," by David Holwick, adapted from the online blog
"Tiger Woods and the Morals Clause," by Alan Caruba,
December 14, 2009. <http://factsnotfantasy.blogspot.com/2009/~
12/by-alan-caruba-accenture-takes-very.html>
This and 35,000 others are part of the Kerux database that can be
downloaded, absolutely free, at http://www.holwick.com/database.html
=========================================================================
