2. BLESSED SINGLENESS I WILL HONOR GOD BY EMBRACING MY IDENITY IN HIM, AND MAKE USE OF MY OPPORTUNE TIME BY GIVING MY UNDIVIDED DEVOTION TO HIM BY SERVING.

3. QUALIFICATIONS OF ELDERS AND DEACONS 1 TIM 3:1-13

4. QUOTE Members of a congregation’s board of elders are not assistant pastors. They assist their Pastor… Through the senior pastor, elders establish a caring link with each person on the professional staff, whether assistant pastor, Director of Christian Education, Evangelism… But even more important, elders facilitate and strengthen the working relationship of the church staff. (Victor Constien, The Caring Elder, p. 10)

5. ACTS 14:23 (HCSB) 23 When they had appointed elders in every church and prayed with fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

6. 1 TIMOTHY 1:3 (HCSB) 3 As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine

7. 1 TIMOTHY 3:14-15 (HCSB) 14 I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. 15 But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to act in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

8. THE DESIRE TO BE OVERSEERS 1 TIMOTHY 3:1

9. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 (HCSB) 1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

10. ACTS 20:17, 28 (HCSB) 17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church. 28 Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock that the Holy Spirit has appointed you to as overseers, to shepherd the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood.

11. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 (HCSB) 1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

12. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 (HCSB) 1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

13. 1 TIMOTHY 3:1 (HCSB) 1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

14. QUOTE The true spiritual leader is concerned infinitely more with the service he can render God and his fellowmen than with the benefits and pleasures he can extract from life. He aims to put more into life than he takes out of it.. (J. Oswald Chambers, Spiritual Leadership, p. 20)

15. THE DESCRIPTION OF LEADERS 1 TIMOTHY 3:2-12

16. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach,

17. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,

18. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled,

19. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,

20. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable,

21. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable,

22. 1 TIMOTHY 3:2 (HCSB) 2 An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher,

23. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3 (HCSB) 3 not addicted to wine,

24. Proverbs 20:1 (HCSB) 1 Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler, and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

25. Romans 14:21 (HCSB) 21 It is a noble thing not to eat meat, or drink wine, or do anything that makes your brother stumble.

26. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3 (HCSB) 3 not addicted to wine, not a bully

27. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3 (HCSB) 3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle,

28. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3 (HCSB) 3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome,

29. 1 TIMOTHY 3:3 (HCSB) 3 not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy —

30. 1 TIMOTHY 6:9 (HCSB) 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction.

31. 1 TIMOTHY 3:4 (HCSB) 4 one who manages his own household competently, having his children under control with all dignity.

32. 1 TIMOTHY 3:6 (HCSB) 6 He must not be a new convert,

33. 1 TIMOTHY 3:7 (HCSB) 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders,

34. 1 Timothy 3:12 (HCSB) 12 Deacons must be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households competently.

35. COLOSSIANS 1:28 (HCSB) 28 We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

36. PSALM 143:2 (HCSB) 2 Do not bring Your servant into judgment, for no one alive is righteous in Your sight.

37. THE DANGER OF ELDERSHIP 1 TIMOTHY 3:1, 6, 7

38. 1 TIM 3:1 (HCSB) 1 This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.”

39. JEREMIAH 45:5a (HCSB) “But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking!”

40. 1 TIMOTHY 3:6 (HCSB) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil.

41. 1 TIMOTHY 3:7 (HCSB) 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.

42. THE DIVIDEND OF SERVICE 1 TIMOTHY 3:13

43. 1 TIMOTHY 3:13 (HCSB) 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

44. MATTHEW 23:12 (HCSB) “ 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

45. 1 TIMOTHY 3:13 (HCSB) 13 For those who have served well as deacons acquire a good standing for themselves, and great boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.

46. THE DESIGNATION OF ELDERS

47. QUALIFICATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS THE DESIRE TO BE AN OVERSEER THE DESCRIPTION OF A LEADER THE DANGER OF ELDERSHIP THE DIVIDEND OF SERVICE The DESIGNATION OF ELDERS

48. QUALIFICATION OF ELDERS AND DEACONS I will submit myself to Christ so that I may grow spiritually and be of service to Him and others.