Havasu Christian Church
I Timothy 3:1-13
October 5, 2025
Series in I Timothy
“What should an Elder look like?”
INTRO: As we look in the next few weeks at the qualifications for Overseers, Deacons, and women, I want us to realize that these qualifications are something we should all aspire to.
Leadership in the Church isn’t like it is in a business, with the C.E.O. up on the 14th floor, sending down directions… In the church, leadership means exactly that. YOU LEAD! Unlike the world, If you are leading, you lead in SERVING! It’s the Lieutenant who charges ahead of his men into danger, instead of watching from the rear.
That kind of leader will have people willing to following their example!
I Timothy 3:1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.
2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,
3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money.
4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity
5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),
6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil.
7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain,
9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
10 These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.
11 Women must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things.
12 Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households.
13 For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
- What specific traits must an Overseer (Elder, Shepherd) have?
- He should be willing to do the job!
- If you have to “rope him into it, things most likely won’t come out so well.
- At times it can be a difficult job.
- People can be difficult.
- Decisions can be difficult.
- Those decisions won’t always be popular.
- Standing for what’s right can be lonely sometimes.
- He must be “above reproach.
- “No charge against him can be sustained.
Key aspects of being above reproach:
Blameless Conduct: Living in a way that prevents anyone from honestly bringing a charge or serious accusation against you.
Unquestionable Character: Demonstrating high standards of ethics and behavior that are seen as wholesome and trustworthy by others.
Reputation: Building a good name and an untarnished reputation through consistent integrity.
Preventing Discredit: Not engaging in actions that would cause others to criticize or bring discredit upon the message or community one represents.
What it does not mean:
Sinlessness: It does not mean being perfect or without sin, but rather that one's life does not provide grounds for serious and verified accusations.
A Low Bar: It is a significant qualification and not a minimal standard that any person can easily achieve.
- A one woman man… or, husband of one wife.
- You can sum this up with one word. LOYALTY!
- Is it helpful for a Elder (or a Deacon) to be married?
- Sure it is.
- You have experience with a family.
- You have a “built in backup” if you need to go into a situation where there is a woman involved.
- This helps with living a life “above reproach.”
- It’s easy to get “into the weeds” with this…
- What if his wife dies?
- What if he was divorced before he became a Christian?
- What if he’s been divorced (for scriptural reasons) after becoming a Christian?
- What if he’s never been married, but has taken care of a family?
- My personal opinion is that he should be married, or be without a wife for a biblical reason.
- Widower
- Unbelieving wife has left.
- His wife has cheated.
- An Elder must be temperate
- We would perhaps want to use the term “Stable.”
- Having good judgement.
- Vigilant in his mission.
- Feed the sheep
- Shoot the wolves. (protect the flock.)
- An Elder must be Prudent
- He has common sense.
- Book learning is VERY important, but not having the sense to apply it is bad.
- An Elder must be respectable
- Somone that is looked at with respect.
- He doesn’t do things that will cause people not to respect him.
- An Elder must be Hospitable
- An Elder is glad to entertain people in his home.
- Back then, traveling Christians.
- Today, Small groups, Bible studies, travelling Missionaries.
- The Elder is an example of hospitality.
- The Elder is able and willing to teach
- He must know enough to have something to say that’s worth hearing.
- This may be in a corporate setting… Sunday School, Bible study…
- It may also be a “one on one” setting.
- Maybe being hospitable by inviting someone to dinner, and having a conversation afterwards.
- The Elder must not be addicted to wine
- Drunkenness is not permitted for any Christian, and certainly should not be the lifestyle of an Elder.
- An Elder is not pugnacious
- He’s not easy to get angry.
- He’s not “looking for a fight.”
- An Elder is gentle.
- He is patient.
- He is kind.
- He is not someone who will be a “pushy boss!”
- An Elder must be peaceable.
- This doesn’t mean he won’t stand for what is right.
- But that he does his best to live in a way that doesn’t aggressively insist on getting his own way.
- He doesn’t insist on protecting his own rights.
- He wants peace.
- An Elder is free from the love of money.
- KJV reads “Not covetous.”
- He is content with what he has.
- He most certainly will not use his position to “line his own pockets.”
- An Elder must manage his own household well.
- The caveat here is that if he can’t take care of his own household, how will he be able to take care of the larger “Church family?”
- This includes his finances.
- His home.
- His kids.
- Someone being considered as a potential Elder cannot be a new convert
- This will lead to becoming conceited.
- “Look at me! I’m the youngest Elder ever appointed at this church!”
- When you encourage a young man to be conceited, you are NOT doing him any favors!
- You are causing his condemnation!
- Pride is a favorite tactic of Satan.
- Someone being considered as an Elder must have a good reputation with those outside the church
- If he doesn’t have this good reputation outside the Church, it is probably indicative that he is “playing Church.
- Why does an Elder need these traits?
- He is an “under-shepherd” of “The Good Shepherd,” Jesus!
- The sheep are not his sheep.
- Regardless of how much he loves them.
- Regardless of how much time he puts into them.
- No matter how much they come to depend on him.
- Since the sheep are not his sheep, the Elder follows the rules of the “Head Shepherd.”
From The New Testament Picture of the Elders of the Church: by Seth Wilson
“We do not own the Church. We do not govern it. Christ bought it with His blood, and He is absolute Head over everything pertaining to the Church. It is His body and His Kingdom. (Ephesians 1:21-23, Colossians 1:13, Colossians 1:16-18, Romans 14:17) The people who make up the body are subject to Him as a King.
No majority can ever be large enough to set aside His will on anything, or to establish any other rule over His people. Every so-called vote by any member or officer of the church must not express our right to decide or to rule. It must express the consent each of us gives to a person or policy as being what Christ wants for His church.”
- Why should I want to develop these traits?
- If they are good traits for a Christian Leader, they should be good traits for me!
- I will be more the Christian man or woman if I develop these traits in my life.
- J.W. McGarvey, a leader in the early “Restoration movement” gave the following list of categories that these traits fit into.
- Experience: Not a new convert, able to teach.
- Reputation: having a good reputation with those who aren’t part of the Church.
- Domestic: home and family relationships doing well, household run well.
- Character: Blameless, not covetous, not greedy, not self willed, not a striker, not a brawler, sober, a lover of hospitality.
- Habits: Vigilance, not given to much wine.
Conclusion: As a Christian, I am called to follow Jesus. I am called to live a Christian Life!
- As a man, I should want to be the kind of man that can be an Elder someday.
- As a woman, I should still want to live out the character and actions that an Elder is to represent to the Congregation he serves.
- How am I living my life?
