June 26, 2022
Morning Service

In our study of Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we have been shown the true purpose of the commands of God; to create within us a love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith.  Following Jesus will transform us into the people God designed us to be.  Paul also defined sin for us and challenged us to “wage the good warfare.”  We are in a spiritual battle and we must stay on guard always against our enemies.  We also saw the importance of prayer in our personal lives and also within the church.  Prayer is as vital to us as the air that we breathe.  Today Paul will lay out for us the requirements for the leadership of the church as we finish chapter 2 and 3.  We, however, are going begin with the end of chapter 3 first as Paul spells out the reason for these letters he has written to Timothy, but really to us as the church. 

1Ti 3:14-16 These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; (15) but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.  (16)  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

            Peter wrote that through Jesus and the Holy Spirit we have been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness.”  Paul here sets in order “how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God.”  This begins with setting in order the leadership within Jesus’ church.  Our Heavenly Father is a God of order not of chaos.  The entire world He created has a rhythm to it that maintains order.  A good example of that is the coming and going of the seasons.  There is no doubt in any of our minds that this heat will not last and fall will come followed by winter.  Today we learn how God has designed a rhythm for His church to function and prosper in.  Paul again reaffirms the foundation the church is built on, Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension.  We are called to be a faithful church; “the pillar and ground of truth.”  Our church should operate in a rhythm that aligns with the rhythm of our Savior.   Through Paul’s teaching we are putting things within our fellowship in order.  Let’s skip back now to finish chapter 2 as we he instructs the women on how they are to “conduct themselves in the house of God.”

1Ti 2:9-15 in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, (10) but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.  (11)  Let a woman learn in silence with all submission.  (12)  And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.  (13)  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  (14)  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.  (15)  Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

            First Paul states that women should dress modestly with “propriety and moderation.”  Propriety refers to avoiding anything that would cause shame; to be discreet and modest.  Moderation refers to her dressing as to not draw attention to herself with expensive conspicuous fashions or exotic ones out of the ordinary.  He speaks specifically of hair styles and jewelry that are above the normal modest style and ones that are a cry for attention.  A woman’s true beauty is not on the outside, but it comes from her heart which is shown by her good works. I Peter 3 is also a good source in which Peter also speaks on modest dress and also teaches further on the roles of both women and men.  Some fellowships have become very legalistic in their teaching on dress, but I feel it is for each of us to determine within ourselves what is proper for us to wear.

 It also is very clearly stated here for us that a woman is not to assume a role in which she “teaches or has authority over a man” within the church.  He explains that Eve was the first deceived in the Garden and God has designed the men to be the head of the home and the leaders in the church.  Many churches today teach otherwise on this command from God in error.  It is set out for us very clearly here and we need to remember we are following not leading.  Paul encourages women in his letter to Titus 2 to be active in ministry teaching the younger women and children the ways of the Lord and we have women who are faithfully doing that.  I would love to see you ladies meet together and discuss the things that you can do within the church as a group.  We now begin chapter 3 and the requirements for the bishop, overseer, or pastor positon in the church.

1Ti 3:1-7 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.  (2)  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;  (3)  not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;  (4)  one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence  (5)  (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?);  (6)  not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.  (7)  Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

            Another title for a pastor would be a shepherd.  A shepherd does not herd his sheep pushing them to where they need to go, but leads them.  The requirements are quite clear and also ones that cannot be fulfilled upon one’s own ability; it comes only from an obedience to a calling from God. (Acts 20:28) The requirements I want to highlight are first, the pastor is a man who rules his own house well.  He must be proven on a smaller scale before being handed the responsibility of the church.  Secondly, he must be able to teach.  God will empower him with the knowledge and ability to speak with clarity and authority the Word of God as it is written; adding nothing and taking away nothing.  The other attributes should come as they would with any faithful follower of Jesus by doing not just hearing the Word.  Blameless, temperate, hospitable, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, not covetous but to be gentle and kind should be true of all followers, but modeled well by a pastor.  A pastor should not be a young man as pride can enter in quickly.  Age brings with it a certain wisdom that comes through experiencing success and failure along our journey.  God uses those events in our lives to give a clearer perspective of issues that are cloudy as a younger man.  He must also have a good reputation with the community being a light reflecting the One he follows.  The pastor is the leader of the church, but he does not do it alone.  He needs men of like passion around him that are also fully yielded to the working of the Holy Spirit in their life.  Paul now instructs us on the requirements for these men.

 1Ti 3:8-13 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, (9) holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.  (10)  But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.  (11)  Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things.  (12)  Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.  (13)  For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.

            Deacon by definition is a minister or servant within the church.  Remember as Jesus confronted the disciples as they debated who was the greatest among them?  He told them that the one who serves earns that title (Matt. 23:11) Paul affirms that in verse 13 as he states that a deacon who serves well “obtains a good standing and a boldness in the faith in Christ Jesus.”  Loving and serving others should be a part of any follower of Jesus’ DNA, but the office of deacon is specifically chosen to serve those in their church.  The requirements are quite similar to those of a pastor, with the exception of being able to teach.  These men are to be firm in their faith and display these attributes listed here in their life.  This office is not to be taken lightly either as one must be tested first before being installed.  This office is vital within the church as they are the ones who work behind the scenes doing the things that few people even know about.  They are the ones to offer council to the pastor with decisions he must make.  There are also many who serve well without the title of deacon who are willing to help at a moment’s notice and make our church better.

            Jerry established the Bride of Christ Fellowship of the Lord’s Church according to the Word and built the leadership exactly as Paul described here.  He has faithfully led us now for over 40 years and done it exceptionally well.  He continues to be our shepherd leading us as our “white haired warrior” in the faith.  He has delegated, rightly so, some of the responsibilities over to the deacons as we now do most of the teaching.  But be assured we all continue to do what we do under his authority.  He is a great example of what God can do with a man who is after His heart and has a hunger for the Word.  God has blessed him and us also because of his willingness to follow the call of Jesus upon his life.  I thank God for bringing me to this fellowship to be part of this journey.

            Our first deacons were installed in 1989 in which Steve, Sam and myself remain to this day.  A second round brought in Bill Luttrell and Dave Russel who were faithful to the Lord until they were promoted and three others who have moved away.  Recently we installed Andy, Denny, and Willie to the office of deacon and they have learned quickly and adapted well to their roles and have made us better.  You are blessed to have these Godly men leading you, serving you, and watching over you.

            We here at the Bride we are unified in that we all want to be following Jesus faithfully.  We want to display our love for Him through our obedience to His Word.  We want our church to be all that God desires it to be.  Each of us play a part in that whether you hold an office or are part of our family.  We are better together!  May God find us pleasing in all we do!