“A Call to Mature Christian Manhood”

1 Timothy 3:1-7

The Big Picture: The chief characteristic of the Christian pastor, the Christian elder, the Christian overseer is that his life constantly reflects the Christian virtues that are mandated of all Christians.

1) What a biblical elder is not

· an older Christian

· a successful businessman

· a likable guy

· a woman

2) What is a biblical elder?

That question can be answered first in terms of the office and second in terms of the man.

· The office of elder is an office designed for the leadership of the church through the teaching of the Word.

· The character of the man who qualifies to fulfill that office is described in 1Tim 3:1-7 and Titus 1:6-9.

· “An elder is simply a man of exemplary, Christ-like character who is able to lead God’s people by teaching them God’s Word in a way that profits them spiritually.” (Mark Dever and Paul Alexander, “The Deliberate Church”)

3) The character of the man who qualifies to fill the office of overseer 1 Tim. 3:1-7

· above reproach (blameless)

· faithful to his wife

· temperate, self-controlled, respectable

· hospitable

· able to teach

· not given to drunkenness

· not violent but gentle,

· not quarrelsome

· not a lover of money

· he must manage his own family well

· he must not be a recent convert

· he must have a good reputation with non-Christians