SO YOU WANT TO BE A CHRISTIAN LEADER

1 Timothy #3

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

The Church is a living organism (Christ’s Body), not an organization

(1 Timothy 3:1–7, NLT) “This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be a church leader, he desires an honorable position.” So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? A church leader must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.”

1.  Jesus is the Head of His Church

(see also Ephesians 1:19-23)

(Ephesians 1:19–23, NLT) “God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”

2.  Jesus leads through pastors, who are under-shepherds.

(see also Titus 1:5-9)

(1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Message) “And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience. Overwhelm them with appreciation and love! Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part.”

a.  Who are servants embodying Christ like character and a Christ like servant leadership model.

1. Desires an honorable position or good work
2. Above reproach, faithful to his wife, love and lead their families well, self-control, live wisely, good reputation, hospitable, able to teach, temperate, prudent…

b.  Jesus delegates the responsibility of oversight to pastors.

1. A pastor is a Disciple
2. A pastor is a Servant
3. A pastor is a Shepherd

c.  The Cross is at the heart of pastoral leadership

d.  Pastors serve all of God’s servants

e.  Pastoral leadership is Christ-centered, Spirit-led process of life transformation empowered by Christ through the Holy Spirit

f.  Pastors lead and love their congregation by serving and suffering

1. Laboring among you
2. Preaching and teaching the Bible
3. Seeing to the needs of the congregation are being met through mature believers, ie. deacons, teachers, small group leaders, children and youth leaders, etc.
   • Hospitals
   • People helping people
4. Baptizing
5. Marrying
6. Burying
7. Counseling

g.  A safeguard for pastors is they must be maturing Christians to protect them from pride.  (verse 6)

h.  Pastors must be spoken well of by those outside the church.  (verse 7)

3.  Deacons: A ministry born out of compassion

(Acts 6)

a.  Free pastors for prayer and the ministry of the Word

b.  Lovingly meet the practical needs of the vulnerable and overlooked with respect

4.  The Mystery of faith was a hidden truth of God’s plan beyond the understanding of people, but which was revealed through the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who will believe.

(1 Timothy 3:16, NLT) “Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory.”