If there was a DNA study done on Tri-State Fellowship, the researcher doing the analysis would write in the first sentence about discovering a central concept of shared leadership. It was there from Day One! And this heart of leadership is what attracted me to the church in the first place back in 1994, believing it represented the teaching of Scripture upon the matter, with today’s passage in 1 Timothy 3 being one of the central texts.

You really don’t read much about the idea of a big-time pastor dude leading in the New Testament church. Though Timothy was supplying certain oversight, administration, teaching and shepherding, it was more as a representative of the Apostle Paul in these early years of establishing the local church without any historic model. Everywhere in the earliest churches, we get a flavor of corporate leadership teams.

We have all been in varied group situations where we have seen some individual with a driven desire to lead and take charge, often out of motives rather self-serving and questionable in the eyes of all. But an aspiration to lead is not necessarily bad if driven by the proper motivation. And that is what Paul says in this text in verse 1 …

3:1 – Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

Paul says “you can take it to the bank” that a godly aspiration to serve in leadership is noble. The Greek verb here for “aspiring” has the literal meaning of stretching out, while the “desire” verb speaks of the passionate part. So it is sort of like saying, “You can take it to the bank that those who are stretching themselves to have a passionate desire to lead are striving to attain unto a noble task.”

We might think that this aspiration is only for a rare handful of people who become elders and pastors. And indeed, the actual number serving in this capacity is a fraction of the total body in any congregation. But the constituent elements are core values and skills that all Christians should seek to develop in serving others, whether it is ever recognized or fulfilled in the sort of service we call “the official board.”  Here are the elements of such, written in verses 2-7…

² Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, ³ not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. ⁴ He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. ⁵ (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) ⁶ He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. ⁷ He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.

Who does not want to have and aspire to have more of these qualities … holiness as a lifestyle, a good reputation with others, a dignified and controlled personality, a strong family that loves God, the ability to know and communicate the Scriptures, and a moderate lifestyle not driven by materialism?  Accomplish that, and you’re living well for the Lord. Everyone should want to stretch themselves to desire and strive for such attainments. And these characteristics should abound in those who serve as the primary spiritual leaders in a church community. The overseers, shepherds, bishops, elders – there are multiple words for the same function – have great responsibilities in a successful local church, being the primary nuts and bolts that hold it together.

The text goes on to speak of an additional, recognized set of leaders called deacons – a word that means servants, even while speaking of leadership …

⁸ In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. ⁹ They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. ¹⁰ They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

¹¹ In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

¹² A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. ¹³ Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

In any church there is no end to the need for people to serve in a whole variety of ways, often particularly around meeting essential human needs. It seems to me that this passage speaks of a recognized group of men, the qualifications not being terribly different than that for the overseers listed above.

And, I believe this passage (verse 11) speaks of the wives of these deacons. Let me say that many biblical scholars do not agree on this point (some thinking this involves another group called deaconesses), whereas agreement with my view is neither rare. So why would the wives of the second group be mentioned, but not those in the former?  I would say it is because the ministry of deacons and their wives is necessarily needful of women (working with women’s needs, providing hospitality, etc.) in a way the spiritual leadership is not so immediately demanding of the same.

So, at TSF, you might be thinking, “I’ve heard a lot about the board of elders/pastors, but not about the deacons. Who are the deacons?”  That’s a good question. The founders of the church interpreted the term deacons/servants to be occupied in our context by all of the varied people who serve faithfully in many tiers of leadership and ministry. “But Randy, that’s not what you presented above.”  And you’re correct.

My role in coming to this church was not to upset and rearrange it according to my interpretations. I do think that our documents are subject to a criticism of seeing the first group very literally and the second group very generally. There are other churches, including some in the EFCA, who take both groups generally – saying that we are to take away from the early portion a basic principle of responsible and godly leadership. Hence they have leadership councils that include both men and women.

And just as I did not come to Hagerstown to upset the order of things, neither should this writing do that!  (Μὴ γένοιτο!  … you’ll have to research that one!)  I am joyfully and cheerfully here to serve in the order of things established. We have been blessed over the years with good and godly boards of elders and staff, and we have had scores of people who were faithful servants (deaconing) throughout the church on all levels of servant leadership. It works, and we want all of you to be a part of it.

So, have high aspirations of personal discipleship and qualification to serve in high levels of leadership in the church community. That’s a good thing!

When I was a high school cross country coach with 65 runners between my boys and girls teams, comprising a wide range of talents and two buses to away meets, it involved a lot of details and rules. At the beginning of the season I wrote up a rules and procedures page and explained it clearly. Some of my rules were less stringent than other teams, whereas others were unique to our circumstances. At the end of the day, it was all about a way of doing life together in a venture that resulted in high level competition and performance success – winning races and championships! Check!

For example, my rules were very lax about practice apparel, but very strict about what was worn on the day of competition. Frankly, I didn’t care a hoot about what other coaches did and had as team parameters; I had a way of doing things that I thought was best for us, and in our world this was the way we roll!

The gospel message that created believers who gathered as the church was pretty radical stuff. It brought together Jews and Gentiles into one new body, and it honored the role and dignity of women far beyond the social norms of the day. The gospel gave people an incredible new sense of a master plan of the ages and of God’s Kingdom, elevating the believer to a position beyond anything in the material world.

So the gospel was radical enough, all by itself. As the church gathered as the community or family of faith, how should they meet? What parameters and guidelines were appropriate and acceptable? And what was the big picture of it all?

That final question was answered by understanding that the believers were witnesses to the greatest message of good news ever, and that the main idea was for this to be shared and spread throughout the world. Having a radical, social institution in the public eye that upset all of culture was not going to be helpful for the big picture. The gospel itself was radical enough. The church did not need to be seen upsetting the political structures of the day, or overturning the social constructs related to the roles of men, women, slaves, etc.

So relative to the meetings of the church for worship, instruction, prayer and all else that goes on in the public gatherings of God’s people, Paul shares with Timothy some “rules” or “guidelines” that if adhered to would bring success for the gospel message in that culture. And the culture did not need to be upset to see that happen.

Last week on Friday there were some news items shared in the afternoon that were very controversial and would have “hit the fan” more if made public on another day of the week. And in looking at all the controversial elements in today’s passage, I admit that maybe it is good for this devotional to be on a Friday!  Just kidding (I think) … but really, let’s remember to keep the main idea in mind: Paul’s suggestions for household order (rules/guidelines) for the church to publically function in the best way to see success come for the expansion of the gospel message.

2:1 – I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

I have often said that prayer is the first thing that Christians admit could make the biggest difference in life, but is the first thing that is neglected. Paul says to keep it emphasized, praying for all men, especially secular authorities. Why? Because the success of the state in keeping peace is the best thing for the success of the gospel message … that it may go forward in a context of peace.

Often times, both then and now, the civil authorities are less than stellar in their values and operation. But what is better – overthrowing them and rebelling against them, or accepting that they are terribly flawed, even while maintaining peace for the health of the gospel?  Obviously the latter. Paul backs this up by saying that God’s passion is for the salvation of all men (this does not mean that all will be, but that it is not God’s heart to see mankind perish).

If there’s not enough controversy in those verses, let’s go to the next paragraphs that talk about the roles of women in the church community …

8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Without doubt, the culture of that era was very male dominant. The gospel freed women and accorded them unprecedented status. But the progress of the gospel would not be best advanced in that culture by women stepping forward and taking over the show. Rather, it was through varieties of “good deeds” whereby women could best point to Christ and the gospel, rather than by adornments or public leadership roles.

Paul hearkens his words back to creation order and the events of the fall of man into sin and condemnation. The final verse 15 is odd sounding for sure, but what it references I believe is that women have played a role in salvation through childbearing, meaning in the coming of Christ as fully human through the virgin birth … their faith, love, holiness and propriety bearing witness to that great blessing.

Again, the passage makes best sense when understood in the bigger picture of what facilitates the advance of the gospel. This involved a sensitivity to the culture of the time, and yielding personal preferences and liberties to the greater purpose that others would come to know Christ. And there is a timeless truth and message in that theme! Let us keep the big picture in mind in all that we do, as that helps a church best thrive for Kingdom purposes. There is plenty of fulfilling work for all of us to do without demanding our varied freedoms and personal preferences to always be fulfilled just the way we  would like it.

“If he can do that, I can do it.”  Ever say that or think it?  Or how about, “I might not be the best, but I’m not as bad as she is!”

When we sense deficiencies in ourselves, there is a tendency to measure ourselves against others. Someone we may deem worse than us may give us hope that our situation is not as bad as it seems or feels.

Over the years of witnessing to people who are yet to make a faith commitment to Jesus Christ, I have seen two extremes: the person who does not think they really need to be saved since God is so loving and kind (like a fawning grandfather), or the person who does not think they can be saved because they are so bad. Frankly, of the two, I’d rather deal with the latter – the person who knows they need grace.

On a number of occasions in recent sermon series when talking about the gospel message, Chris and I have used this phrase: Your sin situation that separates you from God is worse than you think, but the grace and provision in Jesus Christ is better and greater than you could ever imagine! The Apostle Paul would shout a hearty “amen” if he heard that line!

In reflection on his past, the Apostle Paul saw himself as the worst of sinners. His situation was bad indeed! It never ceased to amaze him that God’s grace in Christ was so big as to reach down and save a mess such as he was. He writes …

1:12 – I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

So was the Apostle Paul the worst sinner? The first worst sinner? The words here indicate that, meaning the first in a line. He saw himself that way, which is the point he is making. But if not THE worst, it would not take long in the roll call of sinners to get to Paul.

Paul said that his salvation was a pattern for others to see. The word here is an interesting one that speaks of something like a form, or shape, or model figure that could be traced or copied.

I recently heard a sermon where the pastor was talking about grace, and he was mentioning that a prison chaplain told a first-hand story of how a serial killer who ate his victims had come to trust in Christ before his execution. The pastor said, “What would it be like to get to heaven and get the keys to your eternal home on the corner of Gold Street and Emerald Way, only to find out that your neighbor was this guy who was saved at the last minute?”  How creepy would that be? Should God’s grace be that big? Or is that just “over the line?”

Theologically speaking, God’s grace is big enough for that.

Trust me, believe me, God’s grace is YUGE!  But it is only applied to those who understand that they bring nothing to the deal themselves. Understand that, and you end up saying things like Paul says here, bursting out even into a doxology of praise.

The final thought in this first chapter involves Paul again finishing his opening words to Timothy with a renewed command to Timothy to be faithful and diligent, recalling to his mind the gifts in his possession that were a part of his commissioning to ministry. Others failed in this regard, as Paul mentions a couple names known to them both – men who apparently at one time seemed to be serving well, but through false teaching had seen their faith sink like a ship upon the rocks.

18 Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

Take a moment today to again express your thanks for God’s great grace in your life, while also committing yourself anew to the long road of faithfulness that is the Christian life.

We probably tend to think of our time and of our era as an age of unparalleled confusion and disparate voices about what is the truth. After all, there is every version of church and religious organization on every corner of every town with every type of shingle announcing every sort of idea as the center of the truth. Truly, there a lot of loud voices.

Yet the existence of varied and errant voices claiming connection to Christ and the gospel is not new. They were on the scene in the very first decades of the Christian church. Paul had to deal with them, along with his younger disciples and church leaders like Timothy and Titus. This was a task entrusted to Timothy as he took up residential guidance in the church community in Ephesus.

1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.

It is often said about those who teach Christian-related error, that they show up with a book in one hand (Bible) and a book in the other (some extra teaching that explains or expands upon the Word of God, often with equal authority).

The gospel message (the biblical message) is really fairly simple and basic: We are sinners (related to Adam and Eve) and can’t save ourselves in any way. We must trust God in faith – believing in the promise of a coming savior (Old Testament) or the historic work of the Savior Jesus (New Testament) who sacrificially took our place.

Paul and other early church teachers often found themselves contending against various combinations of Jewish or secular ideas that were mixed with the gospel in a way that, at the end of the day, totally perverted the gospel truth. Many times it related to genealogies – either of a Jewish background and connection, or in the case of an error called Gnosticism, sought to explain intermediate beings (called aeons) that were sorta both spiritual and physical. Yes, it’s confusing and murky, which is why Paul said it leads to “controversial speculations” and “meaningless talk.”  Imagine what these folks could have done with genealogy.com as a resource!

But wow, they sure sounded good – “what they so confidently affirm.”  False teachers do sound good; so do used car salesmen and dealers in gold and silver investing.

Along the way they also promoted some strictures that needed to be followed religiously. But the true faith is not about performing and doing (apart from the overflow of living a life of godliness and love). The true faith is not about law observance; the law (be it the Old Testament) or laws generally are for those who go in wrongful directions …

8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.

The great purpose of the Law in the Old Testament was to show a person their sin, to demonstrate how they could not ever measure up to God’s holiness. And sensing that deficiency, a person was to seek grace from God in His gracious offers of forgiveness through sacrifice – that either looked forward to the cross, or back at the historic cross event and resurrection of Christ, the final sacrifice.

Is not the gospel message a wonderful thing? Is it not great that we do not have to go through complicated hoops and rituals of secret beliefs to get to a life-saving reality? It is truly awesome to have a simple message of a gracious offer of salvation from one who paid our price, enabling our lives through faith in that truth to be changed, and for us to have a new way of looking at others and the world around us as we serve God in love. It makes one want to just say, “thank you, thank you” for this gift … which is what Paul essentially goes on to say next to Timothy.