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Character: A Biblical Examination for Aspiring Shepherds

Discover the biblical qualifications and character traits needed to prepare oneself for the role of an elder in the church.

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Character: A Biblical Examination for Aspiring Shepherds

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  1. ASPIRING TO THE ASPIRING TO THE ASPIRING TO THE SHEPHERD'S WORK SHEPHERD'S WORK SHEPHERD'S WORK A Biblical Examination Of How One Might Prepare Himself For The Eldership

  2. Character The Prospective Shepherd • If men are going to be the people of God, character is an issue • God is a moral, spiritual Being Jn 4:24 • Man is also moral, spiritual Gen 2:7 Eccl 3:11 12:7 • Character is especially important re: those who would lead His people cp. Ex 18:21

  3. Character The Prospective Shepherd • As it relates to him personally… Not greedy for money Sober-minded Of good behavior Not covetous Not self-willed Gentle Just Not given to wine Temperate Holy

  4. Character The Prospective Shepherd • Two areas where the Biblical qualifications address the shepherd & his character: • How he presents himself • How he interacts with others • With those outside his family and with his own immediate family 4

  5. Character The Prospective Shepherd • Two areas where the Biblical qualifications address the shepherd & his character: • How he presents himself • How he interacts with others • With those outside his family and with his own immediatefamily 4 To be discussed later

  6. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Blameless 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6, 7 • Other translations read “Above reproach” or “Irreproachable” or “Give no grounds for accusations but must be above reproach” or “To be of unquestionable integrity and is irreproachable”

  7. From The Greek “That cannot be called to account, unreprovable, unaccused; not apprenhended, that cannot be laid hold of, that cannot be reprenhended; not open to censure.” Thayer, p. 44

  8. From The Greek “It is not enough for him to be not criminal; he must be one against whom it is impossible to bring any charge of wrong doing such as could stand impartial examination.” Expositor’s Greek Testament, p. 111

  9. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Blameless 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6, 7 • Not to be “blameless” in the sense that no one ever brings any charges cp. Mt 5:11 1 Pet 4:4 • The concern is that when such “charges” are levied, they won’t “stick” or be found true upon an honest examination

  10. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Blameless 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6, 7 • There is not to be any “irregular conduct” in his social contact with other people • Consider the portrayals in Lk 20:20-26 & Jn 8:46 • What if “spies” followed the prospective elder? • Could the prospective elder be convicted of sin?

  11. Character Required of all disciplesCol 1:20-23 1 Tim 6:11-14 The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Blameless 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6, 7 • But esp. the elder as “God’s steward” Titus 1:7 • Entrusted with the flock of God cp. 1 Pet 5:3

  12. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • Elders face situations that no doubt try their patience because they deal with people • Faithful shepherds remain under control, even when deeply frustrated or unfairly provoked • They cannot lash out with either words or fists

  13. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • “Not quick tempered” Titus 1:7 • Also rendered “Not soon angry” • To not be prone to anger; one not marked by a hot temper and easily provoked to anger • Consider the wise words in Prov 29:22

  14. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • “Not quarrelsome” 1 Tim 3:3 • To not be a brawler; to be uncontentious; to abstain from fighting • Do not confuse with “contending for truth” Jude 3 • Taught elsewhere in the N.T. 2 Tim 2:24 Titus 3:2

  15. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • “Not pugnacious” 1 Tim 3:3 Titus 1:7 • Also rendered “No striker” or “Not violent” • One who is not a bruiser or one “ready with a blow” • The use of force to achieve results cp. Rev 8:12 [root word]

  16. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • This is not to be confused with anger over sin • One can be angry & still not sin Eph 4:26 • Jesus certainly did this Mk 3:5 11:15-18 Jn 2:13-17 • Yet, He was not a crazed maniac or lunatic, creating havoc and upheaval with brute force

  17. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament • Obviously, this relates to self-control • The young often show themselves to be very impulsive, impetuous…even out-of-control • The older usually have learned to master their temperament to stay in control of situations

  18. Character Required of all disciplesGal 5:23 2 Pet 1:6 The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • One having a controlled temperament

  19. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Hospitable 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:8 • Compound word lit. “a friend to (of) strangers” • One who shows an “open hearth” – a common practice in the first century cp. 2 Jn 10 • This demonstrates his willingness to share what he has for the sake of others

  20. Character Required of all disciplesRom 12:13 Heb 13:2 1 Pet 4:9 The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Hospitable 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:8 Obviously, this requirement is where his wife would be a tremendous help to him

  21. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Loving what is good Titus 1:8 • KJV has “men” but that is not the real idea • Lit. “A lover of that which is good” • One who “loves goodness” will encourage it in others, seek to have it found into his own life

  22. Character Required of all disciplesRom 12:9b cp. Phil 4:8 3 Jn 11 The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Loving what is good Titus 1:8

  23. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Of good reputation w/unbelievers 1 Tim 3:7 • Even how he is viewed by those who are not members of the Lord’s body is important

  24. From The Greek “A testifying; what one testifies – a testimony; …in an ethical sense, of testimony concerning one’s character.” Thayer, p. 391

  25. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Of good reputation w/unbelievers 1 Tim 3:7 • Even how he is viewed by those who are not members of the Lord’s body is important • Other places in the N.T. where this word “testimony” or “report” is found Mk 14:55-56, 59

  26. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Of good reputation w/unbelievers 1 Tim 3:7 • Why would it matter how he is thought of by those who are not even disciples of the Lord, or who are not even under his oversight? • Because of potential damage to the cause of the Lord cp. Rom 2:21-24

  27. Character The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Of good reputation w/unbelievers 1 Tim 3:7 • Why would it matter how he is thought of by those who are not even disciples of the Lord, or who are not even under his oversight? • Because of the “reproach of the devil” and the chance it gives him to “ensnare” others

  28. Character Required of all disciples1 Pet 2:11-17 1 Thess 4:11-12 The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with non-family • Of good reputation w/unbelievers 1 Tim 3:7

  29. The Prospective Shepherd • Having established where we find such a man, we now must examine him personally • Areas where Divine revelation provides information that addresses who he should be • His characterÙ does he possess the “moral fiber” necessary to serve?

  30. The Prospective Shepherd • Having established where we find such a man, we now must examine him personally • Areas where Divine revelation provides information that addresses who he should be • His familyÙ do his domestic successes or failures either qualify or disqualify him?

  31. Where Do Elders Come From? • Elders come from disciples of the Lord who are mature men withfamilies • However, what is under consideration is the type of family man he is • A man’s family life has been the “proving ground” wherein he has demonstrated his aptitude to serve as an overseer

  32. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The way this requirement is worded is significant • The Holy Spirit could have said… “The bishop must be married” Ù this would have allowed a polygamist to serve

  33. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The way this requirement is worded is significant • The Holy Spirit could have said… “The bishop must not be a polygamist” Ù this would have allowed a single man to serve

  34. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The way this requirement is worded is significant • The Holy Spirit could have said… “The bishop must have been married only one time” Ù this would forbid polygamy, but would not require a present marriage

  35. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The way this requirement is worded is significant • The Holy Spirit did say… “The bishop must be the husband of one wife” Ù this requires a present marriage and also forbids the sin of polygamy

  36. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The issue is not simply that the bishop must be a married man • The real issue is what kind of husband he is since the Holy Spirit requires him to be married to serve as a bishop

  37. Family The Prospective Shepherd • The shepherd interacting with his family • Husband of one wife 1 Tim 3:2 Titus 1:6 • The bishop is one who is committed to the one he has chosen for a wife, and abides by the Lord’s teachings on marriage cp. Gen 2:18-24 Job 31:1 Mal 2:14, 16 Mt 19:3-9 Eph 5:25-31 1 Pet 3:7

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