in Every

Town

AppointElders

Spiritual maturity in the home (v 6)

Maturity in personal character (v 7-8)

Maturity in sound doctrine (v 9)

“If anyone is above reproach…”

“the husband of one wife”

One-woman man (Mt 19:4-6)

“believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination” Competent spiritual leader in home (1 Tim 3:5)

Home Life

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our

likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens…” Genesis 1:26

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:24-25

A Team Effort

A “Helper”

Teaching & counseling

Identifying needs

Judgment concerning lost/struggling sheep

Awareness of mood

Visiting & hospitality

Buffer against depression

“Two are better than one”

Shepherding Children

Acts 20:18-35 humility, tears, & trials (v 18-19)

teaching publicly & house to house (v 20)

declare whole counsel of God (v 26-27)

admonish night and day (v 31)

with tears (31)

no ulterior motive (v 34-35)

more giving than receiving (v 35)

How to prepare for office of a bishop:

1. Find a good wife

2. Focus on family, not career

3. View your wife as a partner in whatever work God has you engaged in

4. Practice servant leadership in the home

5. Regular family devotionals

6. Spend one on one time with kids

7. Pray for family daily

8. Make God the center of your home

in Every

Town

AppointElders

Respectable

Gentle

Not quarrelsome

Not a recent convert

Well thought of by outsiders

Qualities in Timothy not listed in Titus

Spiritual maturity in the home (v 6)

Maturity in personal character (v 7-8)

Maturity in sound doctrine (v 9)

“If anyone is above reproach…”

Personal character

Negative flaws Not arrogant (self-

willed) Not quick-tempered Not a drunkard Not violent Not greedy for gain

Positive qualities Hospitable Lover of good Self-controlled Upright Holy Disiciplined

The Beatitudes

Poor in spirit Mourn Meek Hunger & thirst for

righteousness Merciful

Pure in heart Peacemakers Persecuted for

righteousness sake

Romans 12

Love genuinely Abhor evil Hold fast to good Love with affection Show honor Do not be slothful in zeal Be fervent Serve the Lord Rejoice in hope Be patient Be constant in prayer Contribute to the needs of the

saints Show hospitality

Bless those who persecute you Rejoice with those who rejoice Weep with those who weep Live in harmony Do not be haughty Associate with the lowly Don’t be wise in your own sight Repay no one evil for evil Give thought to what is

honorable in the sight of all Repay no one evil for evil Never avenge yourself Feed/give drink to enemy

Works of Flesh/Fruit of Spirit

Sexual immorality Impurity Sensuality Idolatry Sorcery Enmity Strife Jealousy Fits of anger Rivalries Dissentions Envy Drunkenness Orgies

Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Gentleness Self-control

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above

reproach…Titus 1:7

When arbitrary issues and squabbles arise

When tough benevolence judgments made

When making an unpopular decision

When providing counsel

When correcting doctrinal error

When warning a sheep who is straying

When assigning roles to deacons, leaders, teachers, etc.

When injured sheep is looking for help

The Value of a Good Name Proverbs 22:1

Men of biblical understanding

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught…”

Men of biblical conviction “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught…”

Men of biblical obedience (v 6, 7)

Men of biblical exhortation “so that he may be able to give instruction in sound

doctrine”

Men of biblical courage ”so that he may be able… to rebuke those who contradict

it.”

Men of the Word

Divorce & remarriage

Fellowship (extending, withdrawing, etc.)

Discipline (different forms)

Benevolence

Worship practices (instrumental music)

Roles of women

Qualifications of elders

Tolerating differences (Rom 14)

Moral choices (drinking, dancing, modesty, gambling, tattoos, entertainment, immigration compliance, law suits, abortion, etc.)

Holy Spirit

Doctrinal Issues

Obey your leaders… for they are keeping watch over your souls, as

those who will have to give an account.

Hebrews 13:17

How to prepare for office of a bishop:

1. Read the Bible aggressively

2. Let God’s Word cut you open (Heb 4:12)

3. Meditate, pray, confess, & repent as you read

4. Ask someone who knows you well to give an honest character evaluation

5. Go beyond handouts in Bible class

6. Stay current on doctrinal issues

7. Teach as often as possible

8. Express to elders your desire

9. Pray for help!