A WHOLE MAN

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you  Titus 1:5  In this final article in our series on the Pastoral Epistles, we are going to touch on the non-negotiable truths about church leadership or government. Unfortunately, many times the church structure follows the design of man; however, God has spoken clearly through His word about what He desires His church to look like and we would do well to follow His design. We will consider two specific offices in the church, the pastor and the deacon. In both letters to Timothy and in Paul’s letter to Titus, we find instructions on the qualifications of a pastor/bishop/overseer/elder. This does not imply that man has usurped control over the church from God. Truly the church is ruled by Christ, but God has ordained it to be led by the elders. While we most often think of God’s word being challenged on matters of social justice, sexuali...

Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus  2 Timothy 1:13  The story is told of a T.V. repairman who didn’t like to think about his job when he came home. As a result, he never bothered to properly install the T.V. antenna on the top of his house or fix it when one arm broke in a windstorm. One day a new family moved in next door, and the owner went up on his roof to install an antenna. Knowing that his neighbor was a T.V. repairman, he put his up exactly the same way and turned his antenna to face in the same direction as his neighbor’s. Then, after studying his neighbor’s antenna for a while, he reached up and broke one arm off his new antenna! As disciples, we teach by example, whether we intend to or not! And while this may apply in greater measure for those who are in leadership positions, it applies universally to all people because we are all teaching. In writing his second letter, Pau...

20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.  1 Timothy 6:20-21  First Timothy is the first of three Pastoral Epistles which also include Paul’s second letter to Timothy and one to Titus. The main purpose of the Pastoral Letters is to address areas of pastoral oversight and while these letters are of great relevance for pastors, it does not mean that they do not possess any wisdom or instruction for all believers. These letters contain shared concerns for things such as: rebuking false doctrines and holding firm sound teaching (1 Tim. 1:8–11; 2 Tim. 1:13–14; Titus 2:1), exhortations for godly living in being an example to the flock (1 Tim. 1:3–7; 2:8–10; 2 Tim. 1:3–12; 2:14–19; Titus 3:1–11), and matters of church polity (1 Tim. 3:1–15; 2 Tim. 2:22–26; Titus 1:5–9). While there are many other shared concerns in the pastoral...