Family Guy

“He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (1Tim 3:4-5).

You’ve seen it yourself. A carpenter whose own home desperately needs a visit from Ty Pennington. The mechanic who drives a beater that urgently needs a tuneup. A plumber with leaky faucets and clogged toilets at home. Some folks may think that’s okay when finding a tradesman, but Paul makes it clear that won’t fly in church leadership. “He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church” (v4-5). God is looking for great leaders in His family who are great leaders in their own families.

Paul is writing to his protege Timothy in Ephesus. The apostle has asked him to step and pastor the church he originally planted a few years back. New leadership is needed after a team of spiritual con artists have driven the congregation into a ditch (1Tim 1:3-7). At this point, it appears Tim’s flying solo in church leadership. His mentor gives him a punch list of qualities to look for in the position of overseer. 

That list begins with a leader who is “above reproach” (1Tim 3:2). Paul then fleshes that out with specific descriptions of an elder’s marriage, his clear mind and clear eyes, his avoidance of addictive substances and activities, his cool head in crazy times, and his inability to be distracted by dollars. Here in verses 4-5, the apostle describes in detail what a man of integrity looks like on the home front. If things aren’t running smoothly back at his house, you can’t expect him to lead well in God’s house.

Paul pulls no punches right out of the chute. “He must manage his own household well” (v4). The word “manage” is the Greek verb proistemi, which literally means to place before or to set over something. It conveys putting yourself in a responsibility of leadership, guidance, and care. An elder devotes himself to guard and provide protective accountability to life back home. To paraphrase the folks at UnderArmour, an elder must protect this house.

The term shows up a handful of times in the New Testament and gives us a better idea of what Paul’s talking about. And just about every time it’s all about passion, commitment, loyalty, and devotion. Every person who follows Jesus must “devote (Gr. proistemi) themselves to good works” (Titus 3:8, 14). When running down a list of the recipients of spiritual gifts, the apostle says “the one who leads (Gr. proistemi), with zeal” (Rom 12:8). 

Even for the best pastor, elder, and overseer, the church NEVER takes priority over the family. Ever. At no point in the Bible does God ever ask a leader to sacrifice his family on the altar of the church. Your wife and kids are ALWAYS your number one ministry. Keep the home fires burning but make sure it never becomes a dumpster fire. If and when your marriage and family are spinning wildly out of control, it’s time for counseling not elder meetings.  

But don’t think this is only limited to his wife and kids. John MacArthur believes these verses are talking about everything connected with things at home. An overseer must good husband and dad, but SO much more. Is he fully involved in the family finances. Does he expect his wife to bear the full brunt of running the household by herself while he plays golf or watches SportsCenter? Does he have a clue of what’s going on with the kids at school? An elder must not be a sitcom dad who’s the clueless punchline of every joke. Peter Griffin from “Family Guy” is NOT elder material. 

While it’s certainly not limited to his kids, it certainly includes them. An overseer be a good dad “with all dignity keeping his children submissive” (v4). Let’s be clear what this is NOT. Paul is not describing a dictator who’s kids cower every time they hear the garage door opening when he comes home from work. A leader in the church leads his own children with “dignity (Gr. semnotes)” (v4). This describes the characteristic of a thing or person which entitles to reverence and respect. In other words, has he earned the admiration and respect of his children? 

An elder’s kids should be “submissive” (v4) but only because they want to be. This is a willing obedience to a loving and attentive father. He’s not a doormat. He knows when to say “no” firmly and fairly. A great dad understands that there are many times when denying something from his children is really what’s best for them. Good practice for leading a local church, don’t you think? Are you starting to get the connection between leading at home and leading at church?

Paul follows up the first statement with a question. “For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?” (v5). The Greek grammar here expects a negative answer. In other words, the response is obvious. Just as a husband and father is accountable for his marriage and family, an overseer is accountable for the church. No leadership at home equals no leadership at church.

An elder is to provide “care for God’s church” (v5). The language here gives us a bit more insight into the job description. “Care” is the Greek verb epimeleomai, which literally means to provide attentive care over someone or something. It’s to look after, be greatly concerned about, be in charge of, and provide whatever is needed. It carries the idea of diligent concern and responsibility. 

The only other time we see this term used in the entire Bible is when Jesus is telling the story of the Good Samaritan. When hero of the parable drops off the injured man for care at the local bed and breakfast, he tells the innkeeper, “Take care (Gr. epimeleomai) of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back” (Lk 10:34). Give him what he needs. Watch over him closely. Money is no object. His recovery is priority one.

Paul says the best audition for a potential leader in the church is to make a surprise home visit. How are things running back at the house? Does he support and love his wife as a servant leader? Do his own kids respect him? Is he detached as a husband and dad? Is he a cruel dictator? This will give you an important glimpse into his leadership style in the church. God is looking for great leaders in His family who are great leaders in their own families.

That's the Ticket!

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Ps 100:4).

The Super Bowl. The Final Four. The Olympics. A great concert. These are tough tickets. Demand is high. Supply is low. And scalpers have a field day. But those are nothing compared to entering the presence of Almighty God. You may have a fat wallet but big bucks won’t get you into see the Lord. There’s no one to bribe, no “I know a guy,” no Stub Hub to make it happen.

The songwriter behind the 100th Psalm tips us off to the secret way in. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise! Give thanks to Him; bless His name!” (Ps 100:4). If you want access to our holy God, leave your cash at home. The key to entering His presence is an attitude of gratitude. Thankfulness is the ticket!

The psalmist paints a picture of the temple in Jerusalem. It was THE place you went to worship the God of Israel in Israel. The temple sat on the top of plateau in the heart of the city. You literally had to go up to get to God. Once on the temple mount, you had to use one of the eight gates to get in. That’s where you “enter His gates with thanksgiving” (v4). After that you walked through a series of courts or plazas, getting closer and closer to God’s presence as you go. At this point, you’re rolling through “His courts with praise” (v4). 

But you’re not getting past the turnstiles without your price of admission. What you need isn’t a ticket in your hand but an attitude in your heart and and word in your mouth. It’s an expression of sincere “thanksgiving” (v4). The psalmist uses the Hebrew word towdah, which describes a specific kind of song of thankfulness and praise by the entire worship team or choir. This tune is a confession of God’s amazing grace in the face of our own horrific sinfulness. Thankfulness isn’t the only way we praise God but a VERY important way we praise Him!

This isn’t just a generic gratitude and an unexpressed warm fuzzy feeling. This term emphasizes our shocking sin and just how incredibly undeserving we are for all that He’s done at the same time expressing God’s overwhelming and overflowing love and grace to us. It’s a combo confession of our badness and His goodness. 

You do know you’re sinful, right? Talking about sin may not be politically correct but it is biblically correct. Everyone who’s ever walked the planet has fallen short of God’s perfect standard (Rom 3:10-12, 23). If that’s not bad enough, we’re rebels and terrorists against God’s kingdom (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). 

You do know the Lord’s good, right? Despite our civil war against the throne of God, Jesus goes to battle and defeats our sin for us (Rom 5:8). He does for us what we could never do for ourselves. He lived the perfect life we failed to live. He died the death for our sin and rebellion we should have died. He rose to new life we don’t deserve. Yeah, we have EVERY reason to be thankful!

Thanksgiving isn’t something the Pilgrims and Native Americans cooked up back in 1621. God made it a regular part of worship for His chosen people (Lev 7:12-15; 22:29). Repentance and gratitude is meant to be expressed so everyone can hear it. King David wrote a hit song about he loves “proclaiming thanksgiving (Heb. towdah) aloud, and telling all Your wondrous deeds” (Ps 26:7). Did you catch that? Thankfulness proclaimed. Gratitude never goes unsaid. Say it loud. Say it proud.

We see this combo expression of repentance and thanksgiving throughout the OT. At the resettlement of Jerusalem, Ezra told Jewish men to get rid of their pagan girlfriends as part of their confession of sin and worship of God (Ez 10:11). A few years later, the people openly repented of their sin and praised their God when they celebrated the rebuilding of the city walls (Neh 12:27, 31, 38, 40). 

We celebrate Thanksgiving annually by eating a meal. Ever heard of someone celebrating it who WAS the meal? From the guts of the a fish, Jonah sang, “But I with a voice of thanksgiving (Heb. towdah) will sacrifice to You” (Jnh 2:9). The fugitive prophet openly repented of his rebellion and thanked God for His goodness. Can you imagine what was going through that fish’s brain when it heard that coming from its belly? No wonder it barfed Jonah up on the beach! He not only had the ticket out of the fish’s mouth but into God’s presence.

So the kind of thanksgiving the psalmist is calling for here is two-part praise. Step one, admit your sin. Confess your crime. Say it. Out loud. Step two, tell God how amazing He is. Praise Him. Say it. Out loud. Check out the Message’s take on this verse. “Enter with the password: ‘Thank You!’ Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank Him. Worship Him.” (v4 The Message). Thanksgiving is the password. When it comes to entering God’s presence, that’s the golden ticket!

Dazzled by Dollars

“not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1Tim 3:3)

Crack open a fisherman’s tackle box and you’ll see the shiny lures. Silvery spoons. Sparkly spinners. You see, certain fish are so excited when they see such razzle dazzle that they’ll chomp down without at first sight. Let’s face it, some folks are the same way. Dangle some cash in front of them and they’ll take the bait every time. 

Paul tells Timothy these are exactly the kind of leaders Jesus is NOT looking for. An overseer is “not a lover of money” (v3). You can’t be all about the God and His people and all about Benjamins at the same time. Sadly too many con artists see the local church not as a shimmering city on a hill but a shiny source of quick cash. 

The apostle writes to Tim with specific instructions to get the Ephesian church back on track. A posse of spiritual hucksters have done major damage to the congregation (1Tim 1:3-7). With knuckleheads like Hymenaeus and Alexander now out of the picture (1Tim 1:20), there’s a leadership void. Paul tells Pastor Tim to find men he calls overseers. These are godly men with spotless reps (1Tim 3:1-7). Among the list of qualities they must have, these leaders must love God and people and use money, not the other way around. 

Paul drops one Greek word, aphilarguros, which the ESV translates “not a lover of money” (v3). It describes someone who’s not greedy, not money hungry on one hand while also being liberal and generous with their resources on the other. The term is actually a compound word. It literally means “not (a-) loving (-phil-) silver or shiny things (-arguros).” An overseer can’t be a lover of shiny things.  There’s too much at stake. He must remember that what God offers through His Son is much more valuable than an earthly treasure chest. An elder can’t be dazzled by dollars.

The writer of Hebrews uses the same word as he cautions every believer. “Keep your life free from the love of money (Gr. aphilarguros), and be content with what you have, for He has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Heb 13:8). This is a clear and present danger for all leaders. Paul tells Titus how elders can’t be “greedy for gain” (Titus 1:7). Likewise, a deacons is “not a lover of money” (1Tim 3:8). Paul’s good buddy Peter instructs that an elder must “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” (1Pet 5:2). A leader in the church must have their priorities in order. Love God. Love people. Use money to do it.

The man from Tarsus didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk. Paul reminded the Ephesian elders how he “coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel” (Acts 20:33). His goal was to give away the free gift of the Gospel totally free of charge (1Cor 9:18). The apostle went out of his way in order to keep from being a financial drain on the Corinthian church (2Cor 11:9). When his team rolled into Thessalonica, they clearly weren’t in it for the cash (1Th 2:5). Paul went above and beyond. He didn’t want anyone to accuse him of having the gift of a profit.

This isn’t limited to just apostles, pastors, elders, overseers, and deacons. Jesus makes it clear in His most talked sermon, “You cannot serve both God and money” (Mt 6:24). His good friend John warns, “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1Jn 2:15). If you’re scoring at home, “things in the world” would include cold, hard cash. And then there’s probably the most famous and most misquoted verse on greed in the entire Bible. “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1Tim 6:10). It DOESN’T say money is the cause of evil, but the LOVE of money. 

So don’t make the mistake of thinking money itself is wicked. Being rich doesn’t mean you’re headed to hell. There are a lot of godly rich folks throughout the Bible. Folks like Abraham, Job, David, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea all had sweet portfolios and all loved God. As we said before, the important thing is use money to love people not vice versa. 

Avoiding greedy leaders is important for Ephesian church specifically and every other local church in general. Looking to make a fast buck in ministry is a sure sign of a religious con artist. Paul tells Titus, “They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain, what they ought not to teach” (Titus 1:11). These spiritual hucksters “in their greed they will exploit you with false words” (2Pet 2:3). Jesus’ kid brother Jude warns how they “abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error” and become prophets for profit (Jude 11). False teachers love shiny things. Things like cold, hard cash.

An overseer can’t be lured by money. He’s not a guy who can be tempted by straight cash, homey. These leaders know God dropped a price far beyond big bucks to pay our ransom, “not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ” (1Pet 1:18-19). An elder can’t be dazzled by dollars.

Road House

“not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (1Tim 3:3) 

I admit it. I like “Road House.” If you’re not familiar with this classic piece of American cinema, shame on you. The late Patrick Swayze plays Dalton, a cooler that Sam Elliot brings in to clean up his biker bar called the Double Deuce. He regularly goes all Billy Jack on the drunken patrons of this rather dubious establishment. 

How nasty is this motion picture honky tonk? Dalton says it has “too many 40-year-old adolescents, felons, power drinkers, and trustees of modern chemistry.” In other words, it’s not the place Paul would have Timothy go looking for overseer candidates in the Ephesian church. Dalton’s list is pretty much the opposite of the apostle’s. “Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (v3). “Road House” might be a motion picture guilty pleasure, but we can cross it off the list of places to visit when looking for leaders in the church.

Maybe just maybe there is a parallel between the Double Deuce and the church in Ephesus. A gang of false teachers came in and started stirring up trouble. Paul has already tossed the despicable duo of Hymenaeus and Alexander out the front door (1Tim 1:20). I’m NOT saying the apostle brings his boy Tim like some first century bouncer (but then again, maybe that’s exactly what’s going down). We do know that Paul’s on the road to Macedonia and has put his protege in the position of Ephesian pastor. His job is simple. Take out the trash (1Tim 1:3-7) and find new godly leaders (1Tim 3:1-13).

Paul calls these leaders “overseers” (1Tim 3:1). They’re to watch over and watch out for God’s people. Here in verse 3, the man from Tarsus makes it very clear that any dude with a rep for being drunk and violent is NOT a candidate for the position. He previously points out a church leader must be “sober-minded, self-controlled” (1Tim 3:2). In other words, an elder needs a clear head and clear eyes to care and guide the followers of Jesus. You can’t be buzzed behind the wheel of God’s church.

So why does Paul seem to repeat himself and tell Tim to eliminate a man who is a drunk? Did he forget what he just wrote about sobriety? Nah, don’t think so. You see, the following phrase works together. “Not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome” (v3). The word “drunkard” is the Greek word paroinos. It literally means someone who is always “near (par-) wine (-oinos).” 

We’re not talking about your buddy the wine snob. You know the guy. He’s always bragging about dropping a couple of hundred bucks on some rare bottle of pinot noir. Really get your nose in there. Can’t you smell the mixture of coffee beans and dirty sweat socks?!? As frustrating as this fella may be, that’s NOT who Paul’s describing. But I digress.

He is talking about a heavy drinker, one who tends to be quarrelsome because they drink too much. As a matter of fact, some translations actually render this as “no brawler” (v3 ASV, ERV) or “not quickly moved to wrath” (v3 BBE). Several Bible scholars and commentaries connect the dots between bars and barroom brawls. Robertson says this is what happens when somebody sits by his wine too long. The Pulpit Commentary makes the point that the word is “common in classical Greek, in the sense of ‘quarrelsome over wine.’” The Three Musketeers of Jameison-Fausset-Brown agree this means “not indulging in the brawling, violent conduct towards others, which proceeds from being given to wine.” Albert Barnes says this is all about being drunk and violent.

Paul links two more “nots” as qualities which eliminate someone from being an overseer. “Not violent” and “not quarrelsome” (v3). The first word here (Gr. plektes) literally means a puncher or striker. A bully with a hair trigger. Someone who’s not just seen his fair share of fights but started most of them. They’re already a hothead. Pour a little liquid courage down their throat and you’ve got trouble in river city. Not exactly the kind of knucklehead setting the tone for your local congregation. Our leaders should have a firm grasp on Scripture, not a tire iron or bike chain.

The other “not” is “not quarrelsome” (v3). A lot of translations turn the Greek word amachos into “peaceable,” but it’s really more than that. The original language here literally means “without battle.” Does it mean someone who is looking to avoid a fight? No question. But it also carries the idea of a dude with whom nobody fights because they are unbeatable. They rarely have to rumble because they’re invincible. They’re not like a hockey thug skating all over the ice looking for a “dance partner.” He may not start it but it can finish it. But an overseer is to be someone strong enough NOT to fight.

Instead a church leader must be “gentle” (v3). We’re talking patient and fair. Paul drops this very same word (Gr. epieikes) over in his letter to Philippi. “Let your reasonableness (Gr. epieikes) be evident to everyone” (Phil 4:5). So this idea of being gentle isn’t limit to just church leaders. Every follower of Jesus is “to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle (Gr. epieikes), and to show perfect courtesy toward all people” (Titus 3:2). It’s also a key indicator of heavenly wisdom which “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle (Gr. epieikes), open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17). And we’re called not just to be nice to those who are nice to use but “gentle (Gr. epieikes) also to the unjust” (1Pet 2:18).

Dalton may have been just the right guy to straighten things out down at the Double Deuce. But he’s not exactly overseer material according to the Apostle Paul. The Road House isn’t the kind of joint where you’ll find someone who’s “not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money” (v3).

When Life Spins Out of Control

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1Tim 3:2).

Suddenly and without warning, your life feels like you’re in the cockpit of a fighter jet that’s lost power and tumbling out of the blue. The sky’s a blur. Nothing you try works. Lunch is headed back north. You’re in a dizzying death spiral headed straight toward the cold, hard earth. 

You don’t have to be a test pilot to know the feeling. It happens when you lose your job, lose your health, or lose a loved one. When life is spinning wildly out of control, what do you need the most? Maybe it’s not so much what but who. That’s just the time you need a godly leader to grab onto. Paul tells Timothy these are just the kind of folks who need to be leading the local church. They need to be “respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (v2). In other words, overseers must have their lives under control, have their front doors open, and be ready to provide critical instruction at just the right time.

Maybe you think dudes like Paul and Tim don’t know squat about an out of control life. Well, just pump your brakes and think again. As a matter of fact, the situation that led to this very letter we call 1 Timothy is just that. A team of spiritual con artists have infiltrated the Ephesian church and sent believers reeling wildly (1Tim 1:3-7). The apostle needs to get the church back to flying straight and level. There’s just one problem. He’s not there. He’s in Macedonia. So Paul calls on his spiritual son Tim to pastor the Ephesian church. Priority one: Find godly leaders focused on Jesus who will provide stability.

These men called overseers provide much needed vision for any local congregation. The apostle then gives Tim a list of qualities each leader must have (1Tim 3:2-7). At the top of the list, they must be “above reproach” (v2). Not just scandal-free but scandal-proof. Every item that follows is just a specific expression of what it means to lead a blameless life. A totally devoted one-lady’s man and 100% husband with clear head and clear eyes (v2). All great leadership traits especially when your church is hurtling out of the sky.

Paul continues and says to be on the look out for leaders who are “respectable” (v2). He uses the Greek word kosmios, which describes someone who’s well-behaved, orderly, modest, disciplined, honorable, or sensible. It literally means “well-arranged.” The term in the original language comes from the word kosmos, which describes how our Creator God has precisely hung every planet, star, moon, and comet exactly where He wants it to be in His universe and continues to watch over it.

This means an overseer does things in order and with a plan. There’s a point and purpose to what he does. His life isn’t in chaos. Let’s face it, if they can’t get their own lives straightened out, how in the world can they do the same in the church?

There’s no greater One with a plan than God Himself. Everything He does is for a reason. Wouldn’t you agree His plan for our salvation was a good idea? The Son of God had a purpose during His 33 years on the planet. He was completely focused on His mission of Calvary (Lk 9:51). He came to serve, seek, and save (Mt 20:28; Lk 19:10). Jesus is the God-Man with the plan. A plan to save you and me.

An elder should also be “hospitable” (v2). The word here (Gr. philoxenos) literally means  “loving (philo-) strangers (-xenos).” Remember Blanche DuBois from “A Streetcar Named Desire”? She knew all about folks who were hospitable. Blanche always relied on the kindness of strangers. It’s one thing to be nice to people you already know. It’s another to put yourself out there for those you don’t. Paul tells Titus to look for the same trait in elders (Titus 1:8).

Leaders must set the bar in hospitality. Opening your home to others allows them to take an up close and personal look at your life and spiritual character. But is there’s another important aspect to this. Their open hearts lead to an open home, especially for those in trouble. When you’re life is spiraling out of control, you need a place of peace. Shelter from the storm. Jesus calls every follower be that safe place for those in trouble (Rom 12:13; 1Pet 4:9). Hey, you never know when you might be inviting angels over for dinner (Heb 13:2). Amazing stuff happened when folks like Matthew (Mt 9:10-13), Mary and Martha (Lk 10:38-40), and Zaccheus (Lk 19:1-10) invited Christ over to their place.

Once again, there’s no one greater host than our gracious God. Just like we get our home ready for guests, He prepped paradise for Adam and Eve (Gen 1:1-25). The Creator then told our first parents they had access to absolutely everything in Eden, except for one tree and that’s another story altogether (Gen 1:26-31; 2:15-17). God personally invited Abram come live in “the land that I will show you” where He would bless his sandals off (Gen 12:1-3). Almighty God broke His people out of Egyptian slavery so they could enjoy rest in His Promised Land (Ex 6:4). They certainly didn’t deserve His overwhelming hospitality either (Ps 106:6-8; Ezek 20:8-9).

The New Testament is all about God throwing open His kingdom to non-Jews. Jesus brought supernatural peace not just to God’s chosen people but those on the outside looking in (Eph 2:17). Christ didn’t just invite us in, He made us members of the family (Eph 2:19)! Even now, our resurrected Savior is getting eternity ready for you and me (Jn 14:2-3). When we get there, He’s inviting us to the greatest party the universe has ever seen (Rev 19:9)! Jesus is all about hospitality and providing a place of peace and rest.

Meanwhile back in 1 Timothy, Paul writes that an overseer must not only have his life in order as well as warm and welcoming but also “able to teach” (v2). The word here (Gr. didaktikos) doesn’t just mean someone who wants to teach. He’s talking about a person who possesses the skills to teach. Remember, it was a team of unqualified false teachers that ignited this Ephesian dumpster fire in the first place (1Tim 1:3-7).

God’s Spirit gives some folks the teaching gift (Rom 12:7; 1Cor 12:28). Those gifted as teachers must work on honing their skills and abilities as ones “rightly handling the word of truth” (2Tim 2:15). Jesus’ kid brother warns fellow teachers “that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” (James 3:1). God provides pastors and elders as teachers to remind people of His truth in the middle of the storm. When storm surge of life makes landfall, we loose sight of who Jesus is and what He’s done. That’s when godly teachers should be at their best. Their instruction in God’s Word prepare us for the next time it happens. And there will be a next time!

Jesus is the greatest and most creative teacher who ever lived. He specialized in illustrations and analogies called parables. His lessons left his listeners’ jaws on the ground “for He was teaching them as One who had authority” (Mt 7:28-29). Even His enemies like Nicodemus could see it (Jn 3:2). While He was the greatest teacher, Jesus was SO much more than that! Over and over again, Christ taught that He is the ultimate Hero of history. He’s the Savior promised throughout Scripture (Jn 5:39). He’s the One His Dad had always promised to send (Lk 24:47). And Jesus calls you and me to be teachers too (Mt 28:19).

Christ calls overseers to be “respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (v2) because His followers need their leaders to be. They must have their life under control if they hope to bring the church under control. They must have open hearts, open homes, and open lives. They must be gifted and skilled in teaching God’s Word. These are the folks Jesus has positioned among us to look to when life spins out of control. Just to be clear, it’s not “if” but “when.” In “Let It Be,” the Beatles sang about where to turn when we find ourselves in times of trouble. Simon and Garfunkel walked “The Bridge over Troubled Water.” For the follower of Jesus, our pastors and elders are there to remind us of our Savior who is Rock of our salvation (Ps 18:2; 62:6)!

The Designated Driver

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1Tim 3:2).

You’ve read the warning label. “Don’t operate heavy machinery or drive after taking this medication.” It’s a bad idea to get behind the controls of a bulldozer after swigging down a dose of NyQuil. None of us should climb into the cockpit of an F-22 Raptor fighter jet after a wine tasting. And you certainly don’t want your cruise ship captain high at the helm.

Seriously, you need a clear head and clear eyes when you’re behind the wheel of any vehicle. That’s particularly important for those serving and guiding God’s church. The Apostle Paul tells his protege Timothy that it’s critical for these leaders to be “sober-minded” (v2). As an overseer, you can’t be buzzed or distracted. There’s too much at stake. You need focus. You need to be aware of what’s going on. You need clear eyes and a clear head to be the designated driver for the congregation.

Apparently somebody has been driving the Ephesian church under the influence of something other than the Holy Spirit. Paul has sent Tim to be the new pastor after a crew of spiritual con artists hijack believers and driven God’s people into a ditch (1Tim 1:3-7). The apostle has already taken the keys away from two guys named Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim 1:20). 

As a result, there’s a vacuum in the Ephesian leadership. Paul gives his spiritual son a list of character traits for godly leaders (1Tim 3:1-7). The big idea is that “an overseer must be above reproach” (v2). Everything else in this list are just specific ways in which a leader should be blameless. In his marriage. In his family. In his career. In his ministry. New leaders are needed. But they must have integrity in every area of their lives. A jerk at work will be a jerk at church.

Are you wondering just what an overseer is? A quick check of the New Testament tells us these are also called pastors and elders. In other words, these are the men Jesus taps to direct His local church. They serve our Savior and His followers. They go where He guides. Scripture calls them overseers because they need great vision. They look to the horizon toward the destination. They look out for trouble along the way. They look out for the health and well-being of the other believers who are making the trip. You see, you need clear eyes and a clear head to be a designated driver.

That’s why Paul makes it clear that these leaders must be “sober-minded, self-controlled” (v2). The first word in the original language is nephalios, which literally means holding no wine. Needless to say, you don’t want someone in the driver’s seat of the church with glass of Merlot in the cup holder. It may be 5 o’clock somewhere, but not when you’re responsible for care and direction of God’s people. 

Is the apostle calling for a zero-tolerance policy toward booze? There are some churches and denominations who believe this calls for pastors, elders, and overseers to avoid drinking any alcohol. While that may not be a bad idea, you might find it difficult to use the Bible to back that up. Jesus’ very first miracle was to keep the party going by turning water into wine at a wedding reception (Jn 2:6-11). Our Savior apparently liked a good glass of Cab (Mt 11:19). He made it a central point of the Last Supper and looks forward to the day when He can enjoy a bottle with us one day soon (Lk 22:15-20). Even Paul goes so far as to tell Tim to regularly take a swig of wine for health reasons (1Tim 5:23). 

The apostle pairs this quality up with an overseer being “self-controlled” (v2). He uses the Greek term sophron. This paints the picture of someone who is sensible and has a sound and healthy mind. It emphasizes the ability to curb desires and impulses. The word carries the idea of being safe. While leaders must be creative and think outside the box, they’re head isn’t filled with wild ideas. They’re not looking to take dangerous chances.

Youtube is filled with folks who have no self-control. You know the videos I’m talking about. It usually involves a guy riding some sort of vehicle and a ramp. You get bonus knucklehead points for including fireworks or explosives. Someone with self-control rarely utters words like, “Hey y’all, watch this!” or “Somebody hold my beer!”  We don’t need clips on the internet of someone driving the church of Jesus into the ditch on purpose. We need overseers who are “self-controlled” (v2). After all, it is clear evidence that God’s Spirit is producing fruit in the life of every believer (Gal 5:22-23).

As we said earlier, someone who is “self-controlled” is able to restrain their passions and emotions. We should be in control of our desires and impulses. Or as the fans of “Seinfeld” like to say, the master of my domain. The big idea for the followers of Jesus: don’t let ANYTHING control you other than His Spirit (Eph 5:18)! For some of us that means total abstinence. Don’t allow anything other than Christ to be the driving force in your life, ESPECIALLY when you’re looking out for the welfare of others.

An elder must be totally focused on what he’s doing. He’s ready to resist temptation and distraction. Think of a dad behind the wheel of the minivan on a family vacation. Nobody should have to tell him to keep his eyes on the road and not text and drive. He’s not looking to catch air and trade sheet metal like Mad Max flying down Fury Road. It’s not just about him. He’s watching out for his wife and kids with him. There’s too much at stake. In the same way, an overseer must be keenly aware of what’s going on. He can’t be a distracted driver when he’s the designated driver.

So how do we as followers of Jesus apply this truth? First of all, this list of qualifications for leadership in the local church isn’t just describing a handful of rockstar believers. Paul is painting a picture of what a mature follower of Jesus looks like. We should all be headed in this direction. Each one of us needs to stay focused on Christ. Stephen Covey says, “Keeping the main thing the main thing is the main thing.” In case you forgot, following Jesus is our main thing! If you’re easily distracted and a “brightest light in the room” kinda guy like me, this is a very big deal. I constantly need to be…look, a squirrel! See what I mean?

That also means we must resist the temptation to continually try to get the attention of our pastors, elders, and overseers every time something happens in our lives. Again, let’s go back to the analogy of the family vacation. We can’t keep tapping dad on the shoulder each time we see something cool on the latest Pixar movie in the DVD player. I’m NOT saying we shouldn’t keep them in the loop on prayer requests and praises. But they’re eyes need to be on the road and not lost in the weeds. This is one of the big reasons we need to be in Gospel community in small groups. They’re your go-to folks. They’re your 911 call. 

If Jesus has called you into the position of overseer in His church, you certainly don’t want to get behind the wheel under the influence of anything other than Him. At the most basic level, know the substances and activities that can be trouble for you. Maybe it’s alcohol. Maybe it’s something else. Never forget the enemy constantly looks to take you down by getting your eyes off the road (Jn 10:10; 1Pet 5:8). 

Just like a jumbo jet has a full crew in the cockpit, an overseer shouldn’t be flying solo when leading the local church. Some people call this leadership by a plurality of elders. All throughout the book of Acts, you see a teams of elders guiding and leading local congregations (Acts 11:30; 14:23; 15:2-6, 22-23; 16:4; 21:28). Churches in Philippi (Phil 1:1) and Ephesus (Acts 20:17, 28; 1Tim 5:17) had multiple elders. Paul tells Titus to appoint several elders in each local church (Titus 1:5). Jesus’ kid brother instructs us to give the leadership team a heads up when we’re sick (James 5:14). While the lead pastor should be first among equals and the tip of the spear, he doesn’t lead alone. You need a team of overseers holding each other accountable and making sure no one gets distracted.

Elder must learn to keep their emotions and passions in check. We tend to make our worst decisions when we’re the most emotional. Andy Stanley points out our emotions make it almost impossible to see straight, think straight, and decide straight. We’re NOT saying leaders should be some sort of dispassionate Mr. Spock. As a matter of fact, you’re in a position of leadership specifically BECAUSE you have a burning passion for the Gospel and God’s church. Just be very careful you don’t make a rash decisions out of an emotional reaction.

You don’t want to be at the helm of a oil tanker when you’re tanked. Don’t operate a backhoe when you’re blitzed. And it’s never a good idea to race at Daytona when you’re distracted. In the same way, overseers in Jesus’ church must be “sober-minded, self-controlled” (v2). There’s too much at stake when you are His designated drivers.

The 100% Husband

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1Tim 3:2).

Back in the ‘90s, Tim Meadows created the incredibly sleazy “Ladies Man” for Saturday Night Live. As creepy Leon Phelps, he would give his callers the most disgusting dating advice. A few things are clear about this sleaze bag. One, he wasn’t looking for anything close to a lady. Two, he was far from being a real man. Third, he was one of the least funny reoccurring characters on the show. 

On the bright side, he does provide us with the ultimate BAD example when it comes to a man’s faithfulness to his wife. And that’s exactly the kind of dude Paul describes a leader to be. An overseer is to be “the husband of one wife” (v2). Or as several translations tell us, a “one woman man.” Leon Phelps need not apply. Instead of the “Ladies Man,” he’s one lady’s man. A totally devoted, fully faithful, 100% husband.

So what does a bad SNL character have to do with a first century church in Asia Minor? So glad you asked. A few years before writing this letter to his protege Timothy, the Apostle Paul planted a church in the port city of Ephesus during his third tour of the Mediterranean Rim. Things apparently go very well for a while with the message of Jesus transforming lives all throughout the region. 

But after Paul left town something happened. Something bad happened. A team of spiritual con artists weaseled their way into the church and have derailed folks from following Jesus. With the apostle on the road in Macedonia, he sends his spiritual son Tim to pastor the Ephesian church (1Tim 1:1-3). His assignment is pretty simple. First, finish cleaning up the hot mess left by the false teachers (1Tim 1:3-7). Second, remind folks of God’s waterfall of grace (1Tim 1:8-17). Third, put godly servant leaders in place to fill the void left by the hucksters (1Tim 3:1-13). 

Paul tells Tim the kind of leaders Jesus is looking for. He doesn’t give him a list of qualifications, degrees, certifications, or work experience. You won’t see anything like this on Monster.com. It’s not a job description. Instead the apostle instructs Tim to look for qualities and character. He’s looking for fully devoted followers of Jesus who are worth following. The entire list starts off with integrity. “An overseer mush be above reproach” (v2). All that follows is simply what it looks like for a leader to be blameless in every other part of his life.

It’s interesting that the first specific trait Paul lists has seemingly nothing to do with church leadership. He’s not looking for three years experience. He’s not demanding a seminary degree. He’s not requiring a career in business as a upper level manager, CEO, or chairman of the board. They might be nice, but that takes a backseat to being “the husband of one wife” (v2). An overseer must be completely faithful in his most important human relationship. If he’s not totally devoted to her, can he really be trusted to lead the Bride of Christ?

Digging a little deeper into the original Greek reveals a few interesting and important points. “The husband of one wife” (v2) we see in the ESV literally reads “one woman man.” “One” (Gr. heis, mia, hen) describes the one and only, the single one, a particular one. An elder is to have one and only one lady in his life. He’s one lady’s man. A 100% husband.

Since polygamy really wasn’t a problem back in the Greco-Roman world, Paul’s not describing someone from the reality show “Sister Wives.” This is a man who has a single romantic relationship with one specific woman. In other words, he may be married but he doesn’t have someone on the side. You do know that’s wrong, right? To hop in the sack with someone before your married is called fornication. Messing around with anyone but your spouse is adultery. Just want to make sure we’re all on the same page here.

Having a singular and devoted relationship also means we need to be careful with our friendships with the other sex. As followers of Jesus, men are to see woman as their treasured sisters, not targets. Men also need to be on high alert when it comes to sharing our hurts and hopes with women friends. Part of being a “one woman man” means you don’t have a so-called “work wife.” Stop chatting online with old girlfriends on Facebook. And yeah, you need to trash that Tinder account. Stop trying to swing like Tiger Woods (and I'm NOT talking about on the golf course!) Be a one lady’s man. A 100% husband.

The rest of the original language in this phrase, “woman” (Gr. gune, gunaikos) and “man” (Gr. aner, andros) emphasize gender and maturity. Why is that important? Because this really has zip, zilch, zero to say about divorce and everything to do with moral and sexual purity. There are a lot of churches and denominations who take “the husband of one wife” (v2) to mean an elder or overseer can’t be divorced. The only problem with that is the rest of this list is all about character qualities and integrity, not marital status. 

Now, let’s be VERY clear. Any man who’s been through the Big D needs to incredibly repentant and thoroughly examined before being asked to lead in the local church. It’s clear God hates divorce because of the damage it does ripping apart the “one flesh” He’s brought together (Gen 2:24; Mal 3:16 ; Mt 19:4-9). But the healing power of His grace is more than enough for those who know the incredible pain of divorce. Paul is NOT saying overseers can’t be divorced, but we need to be very cautious when a candidate has a failed marriage in their rearview mirror. Not just for the sake of the church but for person.

On the flip side, this does NOT mean church leaders must be married. It’s not a box that must be checked. The author of this very letter to Timothy was single guy (1Cor 7:8-9). This is about taking the covenant of marriage very seriously. Paul puts this kind of faithfulness at the top of his “an overseer must be above reproach” (v2) list because it’s the one every man is most prone to break. Don’t look at me like that, dude. You know deep down it’s true.

Paul can’t emphasize strongly enough that an overseer, elder, or pastor is a faithful husband. He must be fully devoted to the woman God has placed in his life. There’s no one on the side. Certainly not physically. Not even emotionally. A godly married man has one intimate friendship. A couple of versions reflect this idea in their paraphrases. “He must be faithful to his wife” (v2, NLT). “A leader must be…committed to his wife” (v2 The Message). Full devoted. Totally faithful. A one lady’s man. A 100% husband. 

It should come as no shock that Jesus gives us the perfect picture of what that looks like. But Christ was never married, you say. The Rabbi/Carpenter never hooked up with any lady during His 33 years on the earth because He already had a bride. His church. He was and is fully devoted to her. Paul tells the men of Ephesus that Jesus is our example of the perfect Husband (Eph 5:25-33). He loves her completely. He loves her sacrificially. He is the ultimate woman Man. Full devoted. Totally faithful. The one lady’s Man. The 100% Husband.

Untouchable

“Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach” (1Tim 3:2).

Imagine yourself leading a search committee. You’re given the assignment to assemble the next team of dynamic leaders for your organization. Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you. The eternal destiny of everyone who ever lives hangs on your choice. So, no pressure. Well, that’s exactly the situation in which Timothy finds himself. 

The good news is that his spiritual mentor is the Apostle Paul (1Tim 1:1). The bad news is that he’s not here (1Tim 1:2). And the church he’s pastoring is a hot mess. Spiritual posers have weaseled their way into the Ephesian church and distracted everyone from the main thing of following Jesus. Paul tells Tim to shut them up and kick them out (1Tim 1:3-7). The apostle has already given the boot to the despicable duo of Hymenaeus and Alexander (1Tim 1:20). 

The result of this purge has apparently left a void in the leadership of the church. It’s now up to Tim to recognize and assemble a team of overseers who will follow Christ and provide examples for the other believers in Ephesus. Fortunately for Pastor Tim, Paul sent him a very important set of guidelines for the search committee to use. No, it’s not a list of required degrees or work experience. It is certainly not a detailed job description. Ignore resumes and cover letters. The apostle gives us a list of essential character qualities. Look for character. At the top is integrity. “Therefore an overseer must be above reproach” (v2). A church leader isn’t just scandal-free, he’s scandal-proof.

Paul sets the bar high for overseers in 1 Timothy 3:2-7. But each of the required traits in these verses are just various ways to elaborate on what it means to be above reproach. In his marriage. In his family. In his work. In his church. In his finances. In his relationships. There’s no barrier between what happens at church, home, work, and play. That’s what it means to have integrity. You’re the same person everywhere you go. You can’t be a jerk at work and a saint on Sunday. Doesn’t work that way. A jerk is a jerk no matter the day of the week.

The apostle calls this particular church leader an “overseer” (v2). The word in the original language (Gr. episkopos) means just that. It describes someone with vision who looks to the horizon, looks out for the best for God’s people, and looks for danger. In the previous verse, Paul tells his boy Tim how overseers must have a burning passion for Jesus’ church and the welfare of God’s people. The New Testament uses the terms overseer, elder, and pastor interchangeably (Acts 20:17, 28; Titus 1:5, 7; 1Pet 2:25; 5:1-4). An overseer is an elder. An elder is a pastor. A pastor is an overseer. And no matter what you call them, they must be blameless.

These leaders “must be above reproach” (v2). Paul drops the Greek word anepilemptos, which literally means something or someone that can’t be held, seized, or grabbed. When you apply that idea to a person’s character, it describes how they are blameless, above criticism, without fault. Some scholars believe this was actually a first century wrestling term. Think of a grappler who didn’t leave any opening for his opponent. He had no weaknesses for an easy takedown or hold. In the same way, an overseer is untouchable. In the words of the great philosopher and theologian M.C. Hammer, “Can’t touch this!” I’m pretty sure there’s no biblical requirement for a church leader to wear Hammer pants, but that would be pretty sweet.

On one hand, you can’t get any charges to stick to an overseer. For years, the feds tried to take down Mafia boss John Gotti. Three times, they charged this godfather and three  times he got off. Because nobody could make the charges stick, Gotti earned the nickname of the Teflon Don. Well, the fourth time was the charm for the FBI. Gotti’s non-stick coating wore off and he went to the joint for good. 

Just to make sure you’re paying attention, that’s NOT the kind of person your church should choose for a leader. It’s so much more than the failing to make the accusations stick. We’re not talking about all the charges being dropped and no indictments being handed down. The idea here is for an overseer to be unaccuseable (is that even a word?). Not only has no one accused him of anything, there’s no scandal lurking in the closet. He has nothing to hide. A background check won’t turn up anything. A “60 Minutes” expose’ of his life would actually be pretty boring. He’s not just scandal-free, he’s scandal-proof. Overseers are untouchable. 

A couple of things Paul is NOT saying. First of all, blameless does NOT mean sinless. There’s only one Person who fits that description to ever walk on this planet. An overseer is a sinner just like the rest of us. It’s not IF he sins but WHEN he sins. When he sins, he’s quick to confess and quick to repent. Blameless does NOT mean sinless.

Second, it doesn’t mean folks won’t cook up crazy charges against a church leader. Don’t believe me? Need I remind you of the frame job the Pharisees pulled on the Rabbi/Carpenter from Galilee? And the author of this very letter spent more than his fair share locked up in the joint under false charges. But that shouldn’t keep the followers of Jesus to throw in the towel on integrity. 

One of the biggest reasons for a leader to avoid scandal is because of the outrageous message they proclaim. They may be scandal-free and scandal-proof but they proclaim a scandalous message. Peter Gomes calls it the “Scandalous Gospel.” Jesus offers God’s love, forgiveness, and acceptance to anyone and everyone who place their trust in Him. God’s grace is absurd. Ridiculous. Promiscuous. Irrational. Unfair. What makes the Good News so shocking is that we can do nothing to earn it (Eph 2:8-9). God doesn’t save good people. He transforms His enemies into heirs. His descending, one-way love is scandalous.

At this point, you may be wiping the beads of sweat off your brow. Whew! Leave leadership to the really serious believers. I’m glad I’m just a garden variety follower of Jesus. Not so fast, my friend. Remember, we’re not talking about sinlessness. Remember, the dude who wrote this letter to Tim was terrorist who tortured and murdered Christians before the resurrected Christ turned his life upside down.

But every follower of Jesus is to be “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world” (Phil 2:15). Paul’s buddy Pete says we’re all to “Be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless, and blameless” (2Pet 3:14 NASB). If keeping score, the blameless aren’t limited to our leaders. Every single one of us.

Before you start freaking out, you need to know this was God’s plan for us from the very beginning. Actually BEFORE the beginning! God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (Eph 1:4). As a result, Jesus came to our rescue “in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach” to His Dad (Col 1:22). When it’s all said and done, our Savior has the power “to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless” to His Father (Jude 24).

Blameless believers. Blameless leaders. Scandal-free. Scandal-proof. Untouchable. All thanks to a scandalous Gospel.

Periscopes, Microscopes, Telescopes, and Episcopes

“This saying is trustworthy: if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1Tim 3:1).

Submarines have periscopes. Labs have microscopes. Observatories have telescopes. Churches have episcopes. Episcopes? What in the world is an episcope anyway? So very glad you asked. The handy dandy episcope is essential to the guidance, care, and direction of any group of Jesus followers. But the episcope isn’t so much a what but a who. You may know them by another name. Some folks call them bishops. Others know them as elders or pastors. Paul likes to use the term overseers. They are reaching out and looking out for the local church.

Let’s back up a bit to see why the apostle would be talking about overseers in the first place. He’s writing to his spiritual son Timothy who’s now serving as the pastor of the growing church in Ephesus (1Tim 1:1-2). This is the same church Paul personally planted in the big port city on the west coast of what we know as Turkey (Acts 19). Fast forward a few years and the apostle is now on divine assignment on the other side of the Aegean Sea in Macedonia. He’s left Pastor Tim to continue cleaning up the mess that a team of false teachers have made (1Tim 1:3-7).

There’s a need to put leaders in place called overseers. This would lead you to believe these spiritual hucksters had risen to a level of leadership before Paul and Tim tossed them out the front door (1Tim 1:20). Pastor Tim is probably flying solo at this point. He needs help. The Ephesian church needs new leaders. Good leaders. Godly leaders. Leaders who reach out. Leaders with a passion. Leaders with vision. The church needs overseers.

This isn’t just an isolated first century issue. Every body of believers today needs overseers. Every congregation today needs episcopes. Your church does and so does mine. We’ll see in this verse that they should be people willing to stretch themselves for others. They should have a burning passion for the local church and believe it’s God’s hope for the world. They should have vision, perspective, constantly on the lookout for trouble, and setting the course for future. Solomon writes that without vision people are in a world of hurt (okay, that’s take on Proverbs 29:18, but you get the idea!). Without godly overseers devoted to following Jesus, our churches grind to a halt and slowly die.

Paul clearly wants his buddy Tim to pay VERY close attention to what he’s about to say. “This saying is trustworthy” (v1). This is the apostle’s way of shining a spotlight on what’s coming next. It’s a drumroll to get your attention for the big reveal. He does something similar two other times in this letter (1Tim 1:15; 4:9), once more in the sequel (2Tim 2:11), and yet one more time when writing to to Titus (Titus 3:8). It literally reads “a faithful word.” You can trust what you’re about to read. What he’s about to say about overseers, you take it to the bank. Count on it.

And what’s the big idea? “If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (v1). First of all, don’t miss the fact that it’s okay to have a desire to lead. Somewhere along the way we’ve gotten it into our heads that aspiring to a leadership position in the local church is a big red flag. Alarms go off. Warning lights flash. Paul says just the opposite. When somebody wants to step up, that’s a good thing. It actually might be the first indication they’re just the one for the job. Or as the Message paraphrases it, “If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good!” (v1 The Message).

Let’s zoom in on the word the ESV translates as “aspires” (v1). This is the Greek verb oregomai. No, we’re not talking about someone who’s good at folding paper into a swan. This term describes stretching yourself out in order to grab hold of something. Reaching after something with incredible desire. Striving to attain a goal. It’s used negatively for a greedy cash grab (1Tim 6:10). The writer of Hebrews says the heroes of the Old Testament strained to grab Heaven and bring it to earth (Heb 11:16).

Picture a wide receiver laying out for pass. A first baseman stretching for a throw. That’s the kind of effort Paul sees someone giving who wants to be an overseer. What does it look like when someone is giving it everything they’ve got to grow as a leader? Do they push themselves in serving? You can’t be a servant leader until you learn what it means to serve. Are they willing to learn to lead by following? Great leaders are always great followers. Do they study leadership in Scripture? Do they dig into stuff written by great leaders like John Maxwell, Jim Collins, and Seth Godin? Do they push themselves? Do they stretch themselves? That’s the kind of effort you see when someone extends themselves as a leader.

Specifically, Paul is talking about “the office of overseer” (v1). This is actually just one Greek word: episkope. See where we the whole periscope/microscope/telescope thing? You see what I did there? It’s a compound word which literally describes someone who has “over (epi-) sight (-skope).” This is actually the position and responsibility of oversight. Ancient literature uses it when talking about public officials in the city of Rhodes. After Judas Iscariot broke bad, Peter announced, “Let another take his office (Gr. episkope)” (Acts 1:20).

So just what kind of person do you think would fill the office of an overseer? You get three guesses and your first two don’t count. Yup, that’s right…an overseer!! In the very next verse, we see that the position of overseer (Gr. episkope) is occupied by an overseer (Gr. episkopos). It’s where we get the term episcopal. Some Bible versions translate this as bishop (KJV, NRS, NKJV, BBE). You wanna know something crazy? The Episcopal Church has bishops. That kinda makes my head hurt.

As you have probably already figured out, the emphasis here for the local church leader is on vision. An overseer sets direction and points to the horizon. He keeps his eyes peeled for trouble. He watches over the church, both as a group and as individuals. When Paul called a quick meeting of the Ephesian elders when he was swinging through, he told them, “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers Gr. episkopos), to care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood” (Acts 20:28). Overseers must be on high alert. 

Depending on your denomination or church tradition, there are a lot of terms that get thrown around when it comes to church leadership. A study of New Testament tips us off to the fact that overseer (Gr. episkopos), elder (Gr. presbuteros), and pastor (Gr. poimen) are almost interchangeable titles. Paul assembles the Ephesian “elders” (Gr. presbuteros) (Acts 20:17) and then calls them “overseers” (Gr. episkopos) (Acts 20:28). He instructs Titus to appoint “elders” (Gr. presbuteros) (Titus 1:5) and then calls these same dudes “overseers” (Gr. episkopos) (Titus 1:7). Confused yet?

Paul’s buddy Peter writes about Jesus as the “Shepherd (Gr. poimen) and Overseer (Gr. episkopos) of your souls” (1Pet 2:25). Pete goes on to encourages “elders” (Gr. presbuteros) to “shepherd the flock of God” because when the Chief Shepherd (Gr. poimen) appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory” (1Pet 5:1, 2-4). The big idea: an overseer is an elder, an elder is a pastor, a pastor is an overseer. No matter the title, the responsibility is the same. Watching over and watching out for God’s people in the context of the local church. 

The apostle goes on to say that anybody who’s stretching himself to be an overseer, “he desires a noble task” (v1). Earlier he “aspires,” now he “desires.” Two different words. Two subtle differences. Earlier we saw the idea of reaching out as an outward action. “Desires” is the Greek verb epithumeo, which describes an inward desire of longing for something. It means to be on fire for something. It’s a burning passion to do something of eternal significance. 

An overseer is fired up for “a noble task” (v1). A word for word translation here is quite simply “a good work.” Don’t miss the point. There’s work involved. Important work involved. Eternal work involved. An overseer is ready to roll up his sleeves and get his hands dirty. Don’t fool yourself into thinking this is a cush job. You’re not settling into some kind of leadership La-Z-Boy. It’s work. Good work. 

So how do you and I apply this? What do we do with it? For most of us, we should be good followers of those God has placed as servant leaders over us. We need to remember they are watching out for our church. Let’s pray for them. Let’s encourage them. Second, each one of us needs to remember that we’re all leaders. We all exercise influence over others. Let’s grow and stretch ourselves to be godly and effective leaders. Finally, there are some of you who aspire to lead and have a passion for the local church. Don’t be afraid to let your overseers know. It’s your job to raise your hand. It’s their job to see if your qualified. 

Sailors need periscopes to see above the surface. Scientists use microscopes to peer into a tiny world. Astronomers look into telescopes for a glimpse into deep space. Churches need episcopes known as overseers to watch out and watch over God’s flock.