Observations on the Role of Church Leaders

reflections on I & II Timothy

Pray – I Tim 2:1-2

2:1-2 Pray for a) everyone,

b) ask God to help and bless them all,

c) tell God how thankful you are for each of them, &

d) pray for kings and leaders

The ABC's of Leader Character/ Attributes – I Tim 3:1-13/ 4:1-2 & 7-8

3:1 a) Anyone who desires to be a church official wants to be something worthwhile – willing

3:2,13 b) must have a good reputation

3:2,12 c) be married/ husband of only one wife/ faithful in marriage

3:2 d) self-controlled/ temperate

3:2 e) sensible/ prudent

3:2 f) well-behaved

3:2 g) friendly to strangers

3:2 h) able/ apt to teach

3:3,8 i) must not be heavy drinkers

3:3 j) must not be troublemakers/ anxious to fight

3:3 k) rather, they must be kind

3:3 l) gentle

3:3,8 m) free from the love of money

3:4,12 n) in control of their own families/ manages his own household well

3:4 o) must see that their children are obedient and always respectful

3:6 p) not new followers of the Lord

3:7 q) well-respected by people who are not followers of the Lord

3:8,11 r) serious/ dignified

3:8 s) must not be liars

3:9 t) must have a clear conscience

3:9 u) hold firmly to what God has shown us about our faith

3:10 v) proven to be beyond reproach

3:11 w) not a gossip

3:11 x) faithful in everything they do

4:1-2,7 y) not be fooled by evil spirits, teachings from demons, false claims of liars, or worldly fables

4:8 z) work hard to be truly godly/ discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness

The ABC's of Teaching – I Tim 1:5 & 18-19/ 2:4-6/ 3:16/ 4:6-16/ 5:1-3 and II Tim 1:9-10

1:5 Goals for your instruction – You must teach people to have:

a) genuine love,

b) a good conscience, &

c) true faith

4:6 d) You must also have a teachable spirit – If you follow these instructions, you will fight like a good

1:18b-19a soldier. You will be faithful and have a clear conscience.

4:7 e) don't waste time on worthless, senseless stories

4:7-8 f) work hard/ discipline yourself

4:11 g) teach and prescribe/ tell everyone to do what you say

4:12 h) don't let people make fun of you because of your age

4:12 i) set an example for others by what you say and do, as well as by your love, faith, and purity

4:13 j) keep on reading the Scriptures in public

4:13 k) give attention to exhortation/ preaching and teaching

4:14 l) use the gift you were given

4:15 m) remember these things and think about them, so everyone can see how well you are doing

4:16 n) be careful about the way you live

4:16 o) be careful about what you teach

4:16 p) persevere

5:1-3 q) be practical and sensible ... use wisdom in dealing with people

2:4-6 r) keep the message simple and repeat it often

3:16/ II Tim 1:9-10

Twelve-Step Program: Know Your Identity – I Tim 1:1 + 12-20/ 2:7/ 4:10/ 6:7

II Tim 1:1 + 11-12/ 4:17-18

II Tim 1:1/ 4:18 1. God has given you eternal life through Jesus Christ; grafted you into the family of God

I Tim 1:15 2. You used to be a sinner/ controlled by your sin nature

I Tim 1:13 3. God gave grace (unmerited mercy/ favor) to you

I Tim 1:16 4. God had mercy on you so that you could be an example for others

I Tim 4:10 5. Know that you have put your hope in the living God – who is able to save everyone

I Tim 1:12 6. Know the source of your strength and protection

II Tim 1:12/ 4:17

I Tim 1:14 7. God is kind to you ... blessed you with faith and love just like His own

I Tim 1:1 8. Know your main purpose in life – as determined/ gifted by God

II Tim 1:1

I Tim 2:7 9. Know the specifics of your calling

II Tim 1:11

I Tim 1:20 10. Know your limitations ... be willing to let God be God (& Satan to "reward" his own!)

I Tim 6:7 11. Know your limitations ... how you came into this world and what you'll leave with

I Tim 1:12 12. Know that God is willing and desirous of trusting you

II Tim 1:12

The ABC's of Leadership Development/ Discipleship – I Tim 5:21-25 and

II Tim 1:1-14/ 2:1-10/ 3:10-17/ 4:2-5

5:21 a) avoid personality-based leader selection [vs. gift-based] –

be fair with everyone, and don't have any favorites

5:22 b) don't be too quick to accept people into the service of the Lord by placing your hands on them

5:22 c) keep yourself free from sin/ stay close to God

5:23 d) stop drinking water only, take a little wine to help your stomach trouble and other illnesses

5:24 e) be cautious/ avoid judging – some men's sins are more evident than others

5:25 – some men's deeds are more evident than others

II Tim

1:2-3 f) intercede for those in your care ... really care for them

1:4-5

4:2 g) encourage them, let them know you want what's best for them, cheer them up

1:6,8, & 14

3:14 h) exhort them to be good stewards over what God has given them

1:7

2:1 i) recognize the empowering source

1:11 j) know your own calling

1:13 k) model

2:1 l) know God's character

2:2

4:2 m) teach & preach

2:3

4:5 n) persevere, stay calm, be willing to suffer

2:4 o) stay focussed

2:4 p) have a strategy

2:5-8 q) develop tactics; e.g. 1] obey rules, 2] work hard, 3] remember teaching, & 4] keep mind on Christ

2:10 r) be committed

3:10 s) be transparent

3:10 t) offer intimacy/ personal knowledge

2:13

3:11 u) don't forget that God is faithful/ sovereign

3:12 v) count the cost

3:16-17 w) use the Word

4:2 x) be ready and willing at all times

4:2 y) don't hesitate to correct people

4:2 z) be patient

The ABC's of Godly Living – I Tim 6:1-21 and II Tim 2:14-26

6:1-2 a) submit + serve

6:8-10 b) be satisfied just to have food and clothes ... do not seek to get rich

6:11 c) keep away from all evil things

II Tim 2:19 + 21

6:11 d) try your best to please God

II Tim 2:21

6:11 e) try your best to be like Him – faithful, loving, patient, dependable, and gentle/ easy to get along with

II Tim 2:22 + 24

6:12 f) fight the good fight for the faith and claim eternal life

6:14 g) promise to obey God completely and fully

6:17 h) warn against pride and trust in wealth

6:17 i) tell people to have faith in God

6:18 j) do as many good deeds as you can

II Tim 2:21

6:18 k) help as many people as you can

6:18 l) be generous, share

6:20 m) guard what God has placed in your care

6:20 n) don't pay any attention to godless, stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't;

II Tim 2:14 + 23 don't argue or listen to arguments about words

6:21 o) pray for others

II Tim

2:15 p) stay balanced, focussed on the truth

2:16-17 q) avoid loose talk/ gossip

2:18 r) recognize and steer clear of false teaching

2:21 s) purify yourself ... seek purity in all areas of life

2:22 t) run from temptation

2:22 u) always do the right thing/ what's right

2:22 v) worship with people whose hearts are pure (don't be unequally yoked)

2:24 w) don't be a trouble-maker ... be kind to everyone

2:24 x) be a good teacher

2:25 y) confront with humility

2:26 z) be an optimist, i.e. hope for the best in situations and people

Warren D. Carter

Ldr-Role

04.Mai.94