Introduction

• Probably every congregation has some members that are weak or lacking in confidence in their salvation.

Confidence in your salvation

• Acts 2:38 – Peter answered the question about what must do to be saved.
• Romans 1:16 – The gospel is God’s power to salvation.
• John 3:16
• Everything you can think of with relation to confidence in salvation relates to Acts 2:38 and Romans 1:16.

Scriptures that should give us confidence

• I John 1:7
• Galatians 2:20
• I Corinthians 9:27
• Ephesians 2:10
• I Timothy 5:22
• Jude 1:21
• II Corinthians 5;17
• II Corinthians 13:5
• Romans 3:13-14

Other considerations

• II Timothy 2:15 – We can’t have confidence if we don’t spend time studying.
• II Peter 1:5-7
• Make sure you pray for forgiveness of sins and pray that you can walk in the gospel.
• II Timothy 4:8

Elder qualifications, part 2 (continued)

• “above reproach as God’s steward”
  • Titus 1:7
• “not self-willed” (arrogant)
  • Titus 1:7
  • I Peter 5:3
• “not quick-tempered” (not soon angry)
  • Titus 1:7
  • Mark 3:5
  • Ephesians 4:6
• “not addicted to wine” (not a drunkard, not given to wine)
  • I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7
• “loving what is good”
  • Titus 1:8
• “just” (upright)
  • Titus 1:8
  • Able to be fair and objective.
• “devout” (holy)
  • Titus 1:8
• “self-controlled” (disciplined, temperate)
  • Titus 1:8

I Timothy 3 (continued)

• I Timothy 3:8-13 – “Deacons likewise …”
  • The word behind “deacon” or “servant,” but deacons are servants with special roles within the church.
  • Deacons must also match the qualifications laid out for elders.
  • I Timothy 3:11 – The most natural reading seems to be referring to deacons’ wives.

Introduction

• I Timothy 3:1-7

Review

• We are seeking a balanced approach to this topic.

“Manages his own household well”

• I Timothy 3:4-5
• Dignity or reverence here could be referring to either the father or the children.
• Titus 1:6
  • Does faithful here mean that the children are faithful to the earthly father or that they are Christians?
  • The word behind it (pistos) can be translated either “believers” of “faithful.” Context is key to determining the precise meaning.
  • Faithful to their earthly father:
    • Strengths:
      • Context seems to favor the more specific contrast.
      • Harmony: If I Timothy 3:4-5 is a parallel.
    • Weaknesses
      • The number of translations going with “believe” is greater.
      • Is I Timothy 3:4-5 an exact parallel, or supplemental information?
• What about children who are grown and gone?
  • What about Proverbs 22:6?
    • Proverbs are general truths that have exceptions.
• Must a man have a plurality of children?
  • Does the plural include the singular?
  • I Timothy 5:4
  • Matthew 22:24
  • Genesis 21:7 – The plural includes the singular here.

“holding fast the faithful word”

• Titus 1:9
• An elder must be able to refute error.

“not pugnacious” (violent, striker, bully)

• I Timothy 3:3; Titus 1:7
• Elders shouldn’t be itching for a fight.

“gentle” (patient)

• I Timothy 3:3
• Contrast I Peter 2:18

“peaceable” (not contentious, not quarrelsome)

• I Timothy 3:3; Titus 3:2

“free from the love of money” (not covetous)

• I Timothy 3:3

“not fond of sordid gain” (not greedy for gain, not greedy of filthy lucre)

• Titus 1:7

“not a new convert” (novice, recent convert)

• I Timothy 3:6

“good reputation with those outside” (well thought of by outsiders)

• I Timothy 3:7

Part 1: The roots of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 1:1-3:6), continued

The unfolding and consequences of apostasy (Judges 2:6-3:6), continued

Joshua’s death and the coming apostasy (Judges 2:6-10)

• There are ancient monuments and reliefs that reference Israel in the land of Canaan in roughly 1400 B.C.

The recurring pattern of Israel’s apostasy, God’s grace, and God’s anger (Judges 2:11-23)

• Deuteronomy 12:29-32 – Baal was a storm God.
• God told them clearly that worshiping idols was abhorrent to Him.
• Judges 2:19 – Israel’s downward spiral. When they relapsed, they did even worse than before.

The testing of Israel (Judges 3:1-6)

• Judges 3:5-6 – Israel fails to remove the Canaanites.

Part 2: The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 3:7-16:31)

Othniel (Judges 3:7-11)

• Othniel was either the younger brother or nephew of Caleb and was married to Caleb’s daughter.

Ehud (Judges 3:12-30)

• Ehud was left-handed, or “restricted in the right hand” as the Hebrew says literally.
• Eglon’s name means, “little calf.”

Shamgar (Judges 3:31)

• Shamgar is mentioned again in Judges 5:6, but not much is known about him.
• An ox goad is not normally a particularly lethal instrument.

Takeaways

• The pattern in Judges – described in Judges 2 and oft-repeated throughout the book – demonstrates God’s steadfast love. He listens to the cries of his oppressed people and arranges for their deliverance.
• God responds in like manner today to those who cry out for his help out of sincere repentance. He has sent the perfect judge-deliverer, Jesus, to save us from the bondage of sin (Romans 5:6-8).

Introduction

• Acts 20:17, 28
• I Thessalonians 5:12-13
• I Timothy 3:1

Why study this?

• To help our current elders be motivated in their work.
• To help other men prepare for this work.
• To help the rest of us appreciate their work.
• To differentiate between tradition and God’s word.

Overseeing souls

• Acts 20:28-32
• I Thessalonians 5:12
• I Timothy 3:4-5
• Hebrews 13:17 – Elders are keeping watch over souls!
• Acts 11:27-30 – This is the only passage in the New Testament talking about elders handling money.
• James 5:14-16 – Is this physical or spiritual illness?

Wielding the sword of the Spirit

• Titus 1:9-14 – Elders use the Bible in both positive and negative ways.
• Acts 20:32
• I Timothy 5:17-18 – It is authorized to pay elders for their work.
• Elders must be able to use scripture appropriately.

Developing their character

• I Peter 5:1-4
• Ezekiel 34:1-6, 10
• Acts 20:30
• I Thessalonians 5:12
• Titus 1:9, 13
• Men need to be developing their character so they can take on this role.