Ira Baptist Church
August 16

      • Psalms 23.1-4NIV2011

      • Psalms 23.5-6NIV2011

  • Here is Love

      • Psalms 107.2-5NIV2011

      • Psalms 107.6-8NIV2011

  • I Will Sing the Wonderous Story
  • Christus VIctor
  • When I was a young (younger) man and seriously working toward the goal of entering the ministry, three scriptures sort of governed my thinking at all times.
    1 Timothy 3:1 ESV
    The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.
    1 Timothy 1:12 ESV
    I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service
    James 3:1 ESV
    Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
    Note about topics
    money
    Either love it or hate it
    Often when there is an issue
    dealing with public sin
    Sort of the same two factors
    In this case, it is simply where the text takes us in the flow of the study of 1 Timothy.

    The church lives by the bread of God’s Word, so those who are tasked with teaching it are tasked with a notable and serious calling.

    1 Timothy 5:17 ESV
    Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
    Elders - earlier, a general term for men older or more mature.
    Here, those who are charged with overseeing the life of the church.
    Rule - direct the affairs of the church.
    Having just outlined one particularly touchy issue in Ephesus, specifically the care of the widows in the church, Paul moves on to speak about those who are charged with overseeing this kind of ministry as well as all other ministries of the church. Earlier in chapter 3, he used the term “overseer” for the same kind of office.
    And in that passage, he went to great lengths discussing the qualifications for those men who would be appointed to that task.
    The moral and spiritual qualifications were stringent, and that is reflected here in this passage when Paul outlines really two scenarios that relate to those qualifications.
    A. When it goes well
    B. When it doesn’t go well
    When it goes well, he says, there is honor where honor is due.

    Honor where Honor is Due - vs. 17-18

    What does it mean to rule well?
    Based on the qualifications
    Leading by example
    Doing so with a Christ-like attitude
    Doing all things according to the scripture, after all, that is the main task.
    That is highlighted in the end of verse 17 here
    1 Timothy 5:17 ESV
    Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
    ruling well, then, involves overseeing every aspect of church life with an eye to the Word of God which such leaders are charged with knowing, personally following, and teaching.
    Double Honor
    Not strictly speaking of remuneration or pay here, but Paul will mention that.
    General sense
    Paul tells Timothy to, Himself, lead in making sure those who are tasked with these roles are respected, cared for, and not neglected.
    It is a recognition that while it is at once a noble task, it is also sometimes a thankless task.
    In a specific sense, he hones in “especially those who labor in preaching and teaching”
    in some specific sense, Timothy is to see to it that those who are tasked regularly with the handling of God’s Word are cared for.
    Why?
    It is Labor, or it should be.
    1 Timothy 4:13 ESV
    Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.
    a task to be devoted to, not merely in the exercise of a Sunday sermon, but a task that permeates a ministers life and interactions.
    Why do pastors get paid?
    Paul cites two scriptures
    1 Timothy 5:18 ESV
    For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”
    Deuteronomy 25:4 Matthew 10:10
    Deuteronomy 25 is a principle handed down by God which set his people off as distinct, and to show his merciful character.
    Matthew 10 is that principle coming to life in the context of ministry service.
    Paul quotes Jesus in another place, and follows up with this:
    1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV
    In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.
    In principle, a church that takes seriously the teaching of the Word of God and the Gospel shows that honor in allowing (depending on context) a pastor or pastors the opportunity to labor in that task.
    Note that a pastor is called to lead a faithful life, to manage his home and family well, and to lead and teach well from the scriptures. In practical terms, it comes down to the amount of time we have in the week.
    If a man neglects his faithfulness and his family in the service of the church, then he is no longer qualified for the task.
    In real-life principles, the provision that this church gives to me allows me to use at least some of my working time to devote to these tasks, and for that I am ever grateful.
    Objections:
    Pastors are just in it for the money
    Examples of swindlers and televangelists
    1 Peter 5:2 ESV
    shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
    Funny...
    “Lord, send us a faithful, poor minister to care for us. You do your best to keep him humble and faithful, we’ll do our best to keep him poor.”

    Discernment where Discernment is Due - vs. 19-25

    When leaders lead well, it is a blessing to the congregation and it does a congregation well to recognize that.
    However,
    Keeping with the seriousness of the task, Paul then moves to when things don’t go so well.
    When a leader is unfaithful or fails
    Dishonor God
    Mislead the congregation
    Cause others to stumble
    Produce confusion and division
    Ezekiel 34:10 ESV
    Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
    Because of the seriousness of when a leader or pastor fails,
    First… The biblical principle of an accusation must be followed.
    Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV
    “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.”
    Obvious reasons:
    False accusations
    Attempts to dismantle or discourage a church
    Attacks, like in the story of Joseph, whenever someone is faithfully carrying out the work God has given them.
    From one perspective, it could seem like an easy out if there was actually a sin with no other witnesses.
    If he is a faithful man, and is confronted with a sin, then his own admission or confession will confirm the wrongdoing.
    If not, it is in the Lord’s hands, and at the same time, we as leaders are always to keep a close watch on ourselves, holding accountable, checking in. Acts 20:28.
    1 Timothy 5:20–22 ESV
    As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

      • 1 Timothy 3:1NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 1:12NIV2011

      • James 3:1NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 5:17NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 5:17NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 4:13NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 5:18NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 9:14NIV2011

      • 1 Peter 5:2NIV2011

      • Ezekiel 34:10NIV2011

      • Deuteronomy 19:15NIV2011

      • 1 Timothy 5:20–22NIV2011

  • Yet Not I But Through Christ

      • Galatians 2.20ESV

Ira Baptist Church
1 member