Sunday
Morning Bible Study
November 12, 2000
Introduction
1&2 Timothy, and Titus are known as the “Pastoral Epistles”. These were letters written by Paul to his
younger partners, giving them instructions on how to be a good pastor. Part of
Paul’s letter included instructions on how to choose men for leadership.
In the section we’re going to look at this morning, the leaders are called
“bishops”, or “overseers”. The Greek word Paul uses is episkopos,
where we get our word “Episcopal”. When Paul wrote to Titus (Tit. 1:5),
giving him similar instructions, he used the title “elder”. There
the Greek word was presbuteros, from which we get the word Presbyterian.
Though typically, the idea of “elder” means just that, an older person,
I want to pick up on the idea today of “maturity”.
We’re going to look at the “Marks of Maturity”. Sometimes “older” is
“better”.
Illustration
Pine Tree Barriers
A young man who was also an avid golfer found himself with a few hours to
spare one afternoon. He figured if he hurried and played very fast, he could
get in 9 holes before he had to head home. Just as he was about to tee off an
old gentleman shuffled onto the tee and asked if he could accompany the young
man as he was golfing alone. Not being able to say no, he allowed the old gent
to join him. To his surprise the old
man played fairly quickly. He didn’t hit the ball far, but plodded along
consistently and didn’t waste much time.
Finally, they reached the 9th fairway and the young man found
himself with a tough shot. There was a large pine tree right in front of
his ball - and directly between his
ball and the green. After several minutes of debating how to hit the shot the
old man finally said, “You know, when I
was your age I’d hit the ball right over that tree.” With that challenge placed
before him, the youngster swung hard, hit
the ball up, right smack into the top of the tree trunk and it thudded back on the ground not a foot from
where it had originally lay. The old
man offered one more comment, “Of course, when I was your age that pine tree was only 3 feet tall.”
:1 If a man desire the office of a
bishop, he desireth a good work.
office of a bishop – episkope
(“over” + “to see”) – investigation, inspection, visitation; oversight;
overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder; the overseer or presiding
officers of a Christian church
desire – oregomai
– to stretch one’s self out in order to touch or to grasp something, to
reach after or desire something
good – kalos
– beautiful, handsome, excellent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful,
suitable
If someone wants to be an elder, it’s not a bad thing, it’s a beautiful
thing!
work – ergon
– business, employment, that which any one is occupied; that which one
undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
desireth – epithumeo
– to turn upon a thing; to have a desire for, long for, to desire; to lust
after, covet
:2 A bishop then must be blameless,
must be – dei –
it is necessary, there is need of
bishop – episkopos
– an overseer; a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done
by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent; the
superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church
blameless – anepileptos –
that which cannot be laid hold of; not
open to censure; designating one who affords nothing upon which an adversary
might seize in order to make a charge against him.
(1 Tim 3:2 NLT) …a man whose life cannot be spoken against…
Lesson
Maturity can’t be criticized
To be honest, there isn’t a single person alive today who could qualify as
being totally “blameless”. You will
find that everyone has areas of their lives that can be criticized.
But in a mature Christian, these areas are constantly getting smaller and
smaller. Why? Because Jesus is working more and more in their life.
Illustration
Donald Grey Barnhouse (The Epistle to the Romans) writes,
The true Christian never has to give up anything (of
course I am not speaking of sins), but there are a lot of things that will give
him up. They will go one by one. There will be no grief. It will be the way
childish occupations are abandoned. I
never had to give up playing with tops and marbles. I never had to come to the place where I said, “Oh I am a big boy
now, and big boys shouldn’t play marbles. So I will make a great effort to give
up playing marbles.” It did not happen
that way. One day I was playing marbles
with a group of small boys and some older boys came by. They looked at me and said, “Hey, kid, can
you field a ball?” “Sure I can,” I replied with more vigor than
accuracy. “Well,” they said, “we are
short a fielder. Get out there and see
what you can do.” I went out and was
ready to play my head off to keep up with the older fellows. When it was my turn to bat I was ready to
swing till I burst, and to run till I dropped, and do all that I could to keep
up with the bigger company I was in.
And when the game was over and we older boys, as I then classed myself,
walked down the street past the little fellows who were playing marbles, I did
not go back to marbles. I had graduated.
I did not give up marbles, marbles gave me up.
Illustration
High in the Alps is a monument raised in honor of a faithful guide who
perished while ascending a peak to rescue a stranded tourist. Inscribed on that
memorial stone are these words: HE DIED
CLIMBING. A maturing, growing Christian should have the same kind of attitude,
right up to the end of life.
:2 the husband of one wife
one – mia –
only one, someone
wife – gune
– a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow; a wife; of
a betrothed woman
husband – aner
– with reference to sex; of a male; of a husband; of a betrothed or future
husband
We could translate the phrase, “a one woman man”, or “a one wife husband”.
I’ve seen this applied many
different ways, many of them bordering on legalism.
I’ve seen some say that a single
man cannot become an elder or a pastor.
The problem with this is the apostle Paul himself. He was not married (1Cor. 7:7-8).
I’ve heard of people who say you
can’t be an elder or a pastor if you’ve been divorced and remarried.
It probably has more to do with the
issue of polygamy, as it would have been in Paul’s day.
Lesson
A mature Christian works on his
marriage
Your marriage is supposed to be a picture of Jesus and His love for the
church. We are told:
(Eph 5:22-25 KJV) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord. {23} For the husband is the head of the wife, even
as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. {24}
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their
own husbands in every thing. {25} Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
As a leader in the church, the mature Christian sets an example that others
will follow. People are going to watch us, people are going to follow our
example.
Illustration
I came across an interesting item about President Coolidge. Once he invited some friends from Vermont to
dine at the White House. They were
worried about their table manners, so they decided to do everything their host
did. All went well until coffee was
served. Coolidge poured his into the
saucer. The guests did the same. The
President added sugar and cream. So did
the visitors. Then Coolidge leaned over
and placed his saucer on the floor for the cat.
What kind of an example are you setting with your marriage? Is it a
priority to you to work on your marriage?
What can you do to improve your marriage?
I don’t think we need to go any further than what we’ve read in
Ephesians. Wives, submit to your
husbands. Husbands, love your wives by
laying down your life for them.
:2 vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour
vigilant – nephaleos
– sober, temperate; abstaining from wine, either entirely or at least from
its immoderate use; of things free from all wine, as vessels, offerings
This thought is also repeated in
verse 3, “not given to wine” –
given to wine – paroinos
(“alongside” + “wine”) – given to wine, drunken
sober – sophron
– of a sound mind, sane, in one’s senses; curbing one’s desires and
impulses, self-controlled
good behavior – kosmios
– well arranged, seemly, modest
This is a word used to describe
“modest” clothing to be worn by women:
1Ti
2:9 In like manner also, that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel …
Lesson
A mature Christian has self control
The mature Christian has learned to say “no” to himself. He’s learned to say “no” to the right
things.
:2 given to hospitality
given to hospitality – philoxenos
(“love” + “strangers”) – hospitable, generous to guests
Lesson
A mature Christian reaches out
They welcome strangers.
(Heb 13:2 NLT) Don't forget to show hospitality to
strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without
realizing it!
Abraham and Sarah were visited by three strangers who told them they would
be having a child soon (Gen. 18). It
turned out to be the Lord and two angels.
Cleopas and a friend were on the road to Emmaus when they began to walk
with a fellow traveler. It turned out
to be Jesus.
Do you reach out, or are you waiting to be reached out to?
:2 apt to teach;
apt to teach – didaktikos –
apt and skilful in teaching
Lesson
Mature Christians know God’s Word
They may not have a “gift” of teaching, but they are able to teach because
they know the Scriptures.
:3 Not given to wine, no
striker …but patient, not a brawler
given to wine – paroinos
(“alongside” + “wine”) – given to wine, drunken
striker – plektes –
bruiser, ready for a blow; a
pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person
patient – epieikes
– seeming, suitable; equitable, fair, mild, gentle
brawler – amachos
– not to be withstood, invincible; not contentious; abstaining from
fighting
Lesson
A mature Christian is a patient
person
They aren’t going to beat you up.
Instead, they are patient with you.
Illustration
Charles Spurgeon tells the story of a pastor, Matthew Wilks, who was
appointed to test a young man who desired to become a missionary in India.
He wrote the young man and told him to call upon him at six o’clock the
next morning. The brother lived many
miles off, but he was at the house at six o’clock punctually. Mr. Wilks did not, however, enter the room
till hours after. The brother waited
wonderingly, but patiently. At last,
Mr. Wilks arrived, and addressed the candidate thus, “Well, young man, so you
want to be a missionary?” “Yes,
Sir.” “Do you love the Lord Jesus
Christ?” “Yes, Sir, I hope I do.” “And have you had any education?” “Yes, Sir, a little.” “Well, now, we’ll try you; can you spell
‘cat’?” The young man looked confused,
and hardly knew how to answer so preposterous a question. His mind evidently halted between
indignation and submission, but in a moment he replied steadily, “C, a, t,
cat.” “Very good,” said Mr. Wilks; “now,
can you spell ‘dog’?” Our young martyr
hesitated, but Mr. Wilks said in his coolest manner, “Oh, never mind; don’t be
bashful; you spelt the other word so well that I should think you will be able
to spell this: high as the attainment
is, it is not so elevated but what you might do it without blushing.” The youthful Job replied, “D, o, g,
dog.” “Well, that is right; I see you
will do in your spelling, and now for your arithmetic; how many are twice
two?” It is a wonder that Mr. Wilks did
not receive “twice two” after the fashion of muscular Christianity, but the
patient youth gave the right reply and was dismissed. Matthew Wilks at the committee meeting said, “I cordially
recommend that young man; his testimonials and character I have duly examined,
and besides that, I have given him a rare personal trial such as few could
bear. I tried his self-denial, he was
up in the morning early; I tried his temper, and I tried his humility; he can
spell ‘cat’ and ‘dog,’ and can tell that ‘twice two make four,’ and he will do
for a missionary exceedingly well.”
I don’t know of many of us who could have handled something as frustrating
and humiliating as that interview. And
though I wouldn’t recommend that we “test” people that way, it has some merits,
doesn’t it?
:3 Not given to wine, not
greedy of filthy lucre …not covetous
greedy of filthy lucre – aischrokerdes
(“filthy” + “gain”) – eager for base gain, greedy for money
covetous – aphilarguros
– not loving money, not avaricious
Lesson
A mature Christian isn’t living for
money
They have other things on their mind other than how to take advantage of
you.
:4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection
with all gravity;
house – oikos
– a house; an inhabited house, home; the inmates of a house, all the
persons forming one family, a household
well – kalos –
beautifully, finely, excellently, well; rightly, so that there shall be no room
for blame, well, truly; excellently, nobly, commendably
ruleth – proistemi – to
set or place before; to set over; to be over, to superintend, preside over; to
be a protector or guardian
subjection – hupotage
– the act of subjecting; obedience, subjection
gravity – semnotes – the
characteristic of a thing or person which entitles to reverence and respect
(NIV), dignity (NAS), majesty, sanctity; honour, purity
Lesson
A mature Christian has his family in
order
I’ve seen some people look at this as if the dad ought to be tough and
always be cracking the whip at home.
But I don’t see that being a good description of the word “well” (kalos)
here. Instead, I think this requires a
balance of love and discipline.
:5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care
of the church of God?)
care – epimeleomai
– to take care of a person or thing
Lesson
The church should be like a family
Ideally, we ought to be getting along like one big family. A healthy, happy family that is.
If you can get the knack of taking care of your family, you ought to be
able to handle taking care of the church.
Lesson
Faithfulness starts where you’re at
It’s easy to want to skip a couple of steps along the way. We can see the goal where we want to be and
feel like we can just skip the step we’re on.
Illustration
The danger at skipping steps. I’ve
learned the hard way that it pays to stop and read the instructions. We’re not too far away from Christmas, when
some of us will be spending Christmas day assembling all the new toys our kids
have received. I used to rush and just
snap pieces together to look like the pictures on the boxes, until one year I
started snapping the wrong pieces in place, and I couldn’t undo what I had done
without breaking the toy. It pays to
take the little bit of time to read the instructions and do things one step at
a time.
We might think that we can handle certain responsibilities in positions we
would like to have. But the question
first is, am I handling the responsibilities I already have? Am I demonstrating that I can be responsible
with what I’m already entrusted with?
Jesus said,
(Luke 16:10-12 NLT) "Unless you are faithful in small
matters, you won't be faithful in large ones. If you cheat even a little, you
won't be honest with greater responsibilities. {11} And if you are untrustworthy
about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? {12}
And if you are not faithful with other people's money, why should you be
trusted with money of your own?
:6 Not a novice
novice – neophutos – newly
planted; a new convert, neophyte (one
who has recently become a Christian)
Lesson
A mature Christian has stood the
test of time
Maturity takes time.
I know that some people mature faster than others, but even with “fast
growers”, maturity doesn’t happen overnight.
A mature Christian is one who has withstood the test of time.
The test isn’t whether or not you’ve withstood temptation for ten days, but
whether you’ve withstood it for ten years.
:6 lest being lifted up with pride
he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
lifted up with pride – tuphoo –
to raise a smoke, to wrap in a mist; metaph.
to make proud, puff up with pride, render insolent; to be puffed up with
haughtiness or pride; to blind with pride or conceit, to render foolish or
stupid
fall into – empipto
– to fall into; to fall among robbers; fall into one’s power
condemnation – krima
– a decree, judgments; condemnation of wrong, the decision (whether severe
or mild) which one passes on the faults of others
Lesson
A mature Christian stays humble
Paul is suggesting that when we lift up a person too quickly, they run a
greater risk of becoming arrogant and proud.
And that will lead to disaster.
A mature Christian will keep a finger on his own pride and work to keep it
in check. A mature Christian is one who
probably has had to be humbled quite a few times in order to learn to make
humility a priority.
:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he
fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
report – marturia – a
testifying; what one testifies, testimony, i.e. before a judge
good – kalos – beautiful,
handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious
reproach – oneidismos
– a reproach; from oneidizo – to
reproach, upbraid, revile
fall into – empipto
– to fall into; to fall among robbers; fall into one’s power
snare – pagis
– snare, trap, noose; of snares in which birds are entangled and caught;
implies unexpectedly, suddenly, because birds and beasts are caught unawares; a
snare, i.e. whatever brings peril, loss, destruction; of a sudden and
unexpected deadly peril; of the allurements and seductions of sin; the
allurements to sin by which the devil holds one bound; the snares of love
Lesson
A mature Christian has a good
reputation in the world
One of the truest tests of your maturity is not how you act in church, but
how you act away from church.
Sometimes we can fall into the trap of only being a “good Christian” when
we’re at church, or with other Christians.
But a mature Christian is one who does the right thing no matter who
he’s with, not because he’s trying to impress people, but because God is at
work in his life.