Expounds on the qualifications for church leadership, specifically overseers (bishops/elders) and deacons, as outlined in 1 Timothy chapter 3. It emphasizes that these roles are not merely positions of honor but require diligent work, blameless character, and a commitment to serving the congregation. The message details the attributes of overseers, such as being vigilant, sober, hospitable, and apt to teach, while also highlighting the dangers of laziness, greed, and lording over the flock. For deacons, the sermon stresses their role as servants of the church, exemplified by figures like Stephen and Philip, and touches upon the importance of their wives' character and the mutual service within Christian marriage.
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There are many forks in our country, and some of these have become very popular. I would like to introduce our speaker tonight by borrowing the framework of a verse in your Bible, and now abideth, Henry, Gerald, and Stan, these three. But the greatest of these is Stan. Really, he ought to be forgiven, didn't he? He ought to be forgiven. The third chapter... This is a...
One boy. One boy. and to teach, not given to wine, not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre, but patient, not a baller, not covetous, one that rulers well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity, or If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God? Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, lest he fall into reproach of the snare of the devil. Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, and let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a deacon being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husband of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
For they that have used the office of the deacon will purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. But if I carry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy, you will notice my English correct pronunciation. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
May the Lord just add his blessing to the reading of his own precious word. Hardly necessary having read the third chapter to remind you of that which I have been suggesting is the reason for the writing of this wonderful letter, that we may know how to behave ourselves in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. This evening we find ourselves in no difficulty whatsoever in seeing that here is a chapter that deals, first of all, with overseers, bishops, elders.
Here is a chapter that deals with deacons. And if you would have the King James Version, there was. If you would like Mr. Darby, then indeed the women. And then as you go down this chapter, we see it dealing not only with overfears and demons, but then you go down the chapter and you see it dealing with the head of the church in the most classic of all Christian thought, as he dares to remind us that God is manifest in flesh, justified in spirit, seen of angels, preached on to the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up into glory.
There is one sure thing that I'm going to find it very difficult tonight to deal with the whole of the third chapter of One Timothy. Especially when some of you have said, Mr. Board, I wish you wouldn't speak so fast. Well, however do you expect me to get through the chapter unless I speak fast. But nevertheless, I would do my best. You will notice that in this very first verse of this very wonderful chapter, we have brought before an aspiration. May I repeat that? We have brought before an aspiration.
This is a true saying. If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. I think that it's important for us to remember that the Apostle is writing to young Timothy. He is speaking of churches that Timothy will be laboring in, and he is reminding Timothy that there is an office in the church, an office which indeed is an office to be desired. This is why I'm glad there are so many young men and women in this service tonight. If I have learned anything from the school of experience, I've learned this, that if there is one class of folk in the assembly of God's folk who are always being criticized, it is those who are overseers, elders, vicious, the same world.
And I'm glad you, young folk are here, because I want to say this to you. I trust, if nothing's more, tonight you may have in your heart developed a desire that if the Lord should tarry, One day you yourself will step into the place of those that will have gone on before you, to carry the responsibility, to fight the good fight in that particular area that God has called certain to. I also pass a word about this old English word, Bishop. I'm not quite sure why it is used so frequently in our modern translations.
for every scholar acknowledges that the court is not of an Episcopalian, whether it be Anglican or Methodist bishops. I need scarcely remind you that such bishops, there is one over many churches. As far as the New Testament bishop is concerned, it is not one bishop over many churches, but many church or many bishops in one church. You remember when the apostle writes to the church in Philippi? He dares to say this, to all the saints that are in Philippi, with the bishop, plural, and deacon. So it wasn't one bishop over many churches, it was many bishops in one church.
And I think it's important to remember that. But here is an aspiration. He who desires the office of the bishops, desireth a good work. Now, would you notice that? You see, I have found this, my brethren, sisters, and I think you would agree with me, that there are many folks who love to have the office of the bishop, but they don't want the work of the bishop. Now, he that desireth the office of a bishop desireth not a good office, but a good work. So let's remember right at the beginning, the Spirit of God is saying to us that those who are elders in the assemblies of God's post are worker.
My old friend Bill Patterson used to say, and many of you heard him say it, that there are three sorts of people. There are worker. There are jerkers. There are shirkers. And how true that is. There are those that are workers in the assemblies of God's post. There are those that are jerkers. You know, they work well while the conference is on, but a week after they forget all they've heard, and they go back into apathy again. And then there are those that are jerkers that always pass it on to others. But the first mark of a bishop is this.
An elder, he is a worker. It is a work, a real work. the work of an elder. Then if you will notice in this verse that there is an aspiration, you will also notice there is an attribute, or there are attributes of a bishop. For you will notice that verse two says that he must be blameless. I'm so glad it doesn't say blameless, else there would never be any. But it does say blameless. and my brother may I suggest this and my sister may I suggest it to you for if there is one thing necessary today it is that we as members of a local church shall pray shall pray for the elders of the church let us pray then that those who indeed God has raised up amongst us by his spirit may be those who are blameless I often find that there are problems and difficulties come, and elders have to face them, and they would never have to face them if we as the church remembered
those elders more frequently than we do. Then you will notice that they are called not only to be blameless, but they are called to be those who are the husbands of one wife. Now, this, of course, is most important. Maybe not in your land, maybe not in my land. But I believe it would do you good if after this service you spent some little time with dear brother Bath and his wife. And ask them the meaning of this work. They who have labored so long amongst those where polygamy is still practiced. Never let us forget that Timothy was to work in areas where polygamy was a real thing.
and men had more than one wife. Yet here is the mark. Paul is not saying, let me stop this as forever, Paul is not saying that a man who's never married can never be an elder. He's not saying that. What he's saying is that an elder must be blameless. And in an area where there are those who have practiced polygamy, he shall be the husband of one wife. One wife. He goes further and he dares to remind us that he must be blameless, the husband of one's wife, vigilant. And how important that is. Why, if there is one thing that is necessary of a man who will lead an assembly of a sister who will take her stand among the women in the church of God, it is this, that they shall be men and women who keep on going for God.
Not only will they be those who are vigilant, in as much as they are continually watching over the church but they will be vigilant in watching over the things of their own life that will mar their labor for the Lord then you notice that he dares to remind us that an elder shall be not only vigilant but sober given to hospitality and asked to teach now in the light of what we have been considering in the afternoon after the training of a missionary I think it's good that this shall be emphasized that an elder shall be apt to teach now would you please notice something it does not say apt to preach it says apt to teach now if my experience has gone for anything it teaches me this that quite frequently the best preachers in assemblies are not the best elders.
But after he was, because they're so good at preaching, of a Lord's day they are invited to occupy platforms in so many other places. And I sometimes have gone to preach at an assembly, and when I've gone, a brother has offered me his hand, has shaken my hand and said, Brother Stan, we're sorry none of the elders are here, they're all out preaching. Now my Bible does not say an elder must be apt to preach, but apt to teach. But I believe that teaching is most important. And I have learned that there is more teaching done in a home after a service.
And I want to say this to you. I am so glad that I'm not an elder. I am so glad that I'm not an elder. I don't know whether my shoulders even would be big enough to bear the responsibility. I believe that we need to pray for elders in assemblies more than ever we prayed for them before. When I was first converted and I came amongst the group of Christians and I'm still amongst, it was comparatively easy for the elders of the church to do pastoral work. You see, in my assembly, there was only one brother who had a car. So we all walked to the meeting.
After the meeting, we walked home. And as we walk over the hill or down the hill, for our chapel is situated on the side of a hill, one of the elders would walk with us. And as we walk down the road, he'd say to us, now what did you think of brother so-and-so and how he put it this morning? Or maybe we'd taken part, and he'd say, you know, it was quite interesting what you said, but, you know that lovely little word, but, but how easy it was for elders then to do pastoral work. How difficult it is to death. You know, you all roll up in your cars. Whoop. I mean, it would be different if they roll forward. But there it is.
But you all roll up in your car. And as soon as the fellowship's over, you're back home. And tell me this. Is it not difficult for elders to do any counseling? Is it not difficult for them to teach? There are young Christians who come from godless hope. And the parents in those homes are not always happy about someone they don't know coming round to the home to speak to their children. You know, I'm glad I'm not an elder. When church that I came amongst God spoke thirty years and more ago, I tell you this, it was comparatively easy, but not so today. Or how we need to pray one for another for those in our fellowship who are apt to teach.
But then would you notice something more, that if, first of all, we have an aspiration desiring the office, if we have then the attributes, then there are the attitudes of a bishop. He dares to say in verse four, one that ruleeth well his own home, ruling well his own house. And then he says this, that if he can't rule his own house, How can he take care of the church? Now, I know that later in this very same epistle, the apostle dares to remind in verse seventeen of chapter five that there is the sense of ruling.
Let the elders rule well. But let us remember that the rule of the assembly is the rule of taking care. That's the attitude. the rule of taking care. Yesterday was it not or was it the day before, but yesterday, dear Brother Andrew, was reminding us about some young folks who were leaning out of the window. Now he ruled about it, didn't he? He said these things must not be so. But he did not rule with a big stick. He ruled because he had care for the children. He didn't want them to hurt themselves. and in the assemblies of God's folk, let me say this, brethren, sisters, oh, I come across some assembly where maybe elders do not rule as well as they should.
But this I do know, this I am confident of, that if we knew all the circumstances, sometimes we would not be so good. This came home to me, very fortunately, the week before I left England. Some ten years ago, We call commence in Curvy, the new town outside of Liverpool, the assembly. I put the tent up there and laboured for many weeks, and the outcome was an assembly was started. And I went back, the Sunday before I left to come here, and I left on the Wednesday, that Sunday, I was away in Curvy and Liverpool, speaking of their tenth anniversary. They built a lovely chapel, and when we went, there was no one there, and now there's a fellowship of about a hundred and twenty, remembering the Lord of a Lord's Day morning.
God has honored that word. But you know, two or three young folk came to me and they said, Mr. Ford, we want to have a talk with you. I said, well, let's walk down the road and we walk down the road. And they told me of a certain happening in the assembly. And they said, and you know, our elders are doing nothing about it. The previous evening I had sat in with the elders. This very case they were talking about the elders discussed with me and they said brother Ford we come to the conclusion that what we have done about this matter and they had dealt with it and they had dealt with it very rightfully and very firmly but what we've done we're not telling anyone because they were elders they didn't stand up and say what had been done there were families there was a wife whose heart would have been broken there were children yet some of these young folks certainly they're not doing anything about it if only you knew because elders are real elders who care for the flock often things that they do when they gather together you
will never know anything about it and better that you don't not only for your good but sometimes for the good of the person that's had to be disciplined let's remember that and let's pray then would you notice not only an attitude that they might take care but would you notice the associates of the elders I am not talking of the associates in the assembly but verse seven says that they must have a good report of them that are without they are closer than known in the district they have neighbors and friends and these neighbors and friends are well why they report well of the elders in the palace I think this is most important.
I believe if godless men sometimes find fault with those that love the Savior, we need to be very careful before we judge, because quite often the godless will take an opportunity of saying that which is evil. But when it is going to bore that there is that which is wrong, and no answer can be given, I suggest that that elder would do well, do well. if he reprains of seeking to rule in the church. I wonder if you would turn with me, please, into one piece of thought. I do want us to continue our course, but I do think these things are important.
I don't think that they don't matter. I believe there's need of an understanding of the work of an elder. And one piece of thought, if we may, and those first four verses I'm going to suggest three things to you. I'm going to suggest, first of all, that Peter tells us of the threefold danger to an elder. And then he tells us of the threefold direction to an elder. And then he tells us of the threefold diadem that can be the elder. First of all, he tells us of the threefold danger of an elder.
And the first danger is a very simple one in verse two. It's a love of laziness. I repeat that. I think that's important. It's a love of laziness. Why, Peter says, feed the flock of God, which is among you, not of constraint, but willingly. Our brother was trained so ably to us as he's been leading us through that second of Philippians. How essential it is that we shall realize there are works to be done in the Church of God. The visiting takes time. The care takes time. And one of the greatest dangers to an elder and an assembly is the danger of laziness.
If you feel that God, the Spirit, has called you to be an elder, If your assembly has expected you as such, I dare suggest my brother, I dare suggest it with all the love of my heart that we've not only defeated the flock of God, but you and I have to do it not of constraint, but willingly, willingly do it, continually working for the Lord. I suggest to you that the next danger is not the love of laziness, but the love of Lucca. Verse two says, not for filthy Luther, but of a ready mind. We do not do the work of God for what we get out of it.
If that be our motive, then the assembly of God's folk will be so desperately poor. But an elder is one who does not do it for filthy Luther's sake. Please, I don't want to say very much about professional preachers. I don't want to say very much about this. I want you to understand this. Whoever you may be, if you love Jesus Christ, you are my brother. You are my sister and I love you. But I need carefully remind you that in Christendom, not necessarily the church, but in Christendom, we are filled with men and women who are seeking to take a rule in a so-called church and they're doing it just for filthy Luca.
This should not be so. Now, please, I speak so, I speak so firmly about this. It is my privilege, as some of you know, it has been my honor and desperate responsibility to lead the Bible readings in the University of Cambridge. During the month of March, when I'm home in England, I spend every day going from one college to another. We go into a manual the first day. We go on to Trinity. We go to Trinity Hall. We go to Ease and Christ and Jesus. and write to the colleges that make up the university's name. And once a week I always lead a Bible reading with the theological students, the Theos of the university. Now please, many of them, most of them are not even friends.
Most of them never even intend to be saved or ever intend to do any theological work. Most of them go to get a theological degree because it's the best degree to get in Hebrew and Greek. And if they want to turn to Hebrew and Greek as their study, then a theological degree out of the University of Cambridge, a second to none degree in any university in the world, it will mark them. And as I speak to those men once a week, I find the most appalling question. I hear the most appalling thing of man, many who are going to be perpetual creatures. for the sake of filthy lucre.
But I dare say this to you, those things, or even the slightest suggestion of it, should never, never be among them. Never among them. I suggest to you that the third danger to an elder is not the love of laziness or the love of lucre, it is the love of lording. Verse three, neither be lords over God's heritage but being entombed to the flock. It's not lording it over God's heritage. Why bless God in guiding the flock and caring for the flock and shepherding the flock here's one of the dangers sometimes we're apt to think that we are elders in the meeting then would you notice not only the threefold danger but the threefold direction he says heed the flock of God and heed it fearlessly not of constraint not of constraint not by fear or favor is that meaning then he reminds us not only fearlessly but freely not considering payment for it to and then faithfully as encampment to
the flock. These aren't a direction for those that are else. Then would you notice the threefold diadem. I want to remind you, brethren and sisters, that if you and I will have a crown, we'll have it because we've won it. That's why. That's why. The Bible dares to tell us revelations to a crown of light for faithfulness. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of light. Oh, what a wonder to have such a crown to cast before his feet, not the crown of eternal life. The crown of life cast into his feet and say, Lord, I've won it as I was an elder in that fellowship away, blunder, wherever I be.
But I only won it because you enabled me to do your work. If you notice not only the crown of righteousness, oh, I'm sorry, the crown of life, the crown of life for those that are faithful but the crown of righteousness for the fighting ones not now the faithful ones but the fighting ones do you remember when paul comes to the close of his journey in that great fourth chapter of two timothy he says i fought a good fight i kept the faith henceforth they have laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the law of the righteous judge shall give me in that day and not for me only to all those who love his appearance. Here it is, the crown of righteousness for those who can say, I fought a good fight.
Then would you notice a crown of glory for feeding. In these very birthdays in Peter, Peter says, And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory. Oh, to be there, to cast them at his feet, to say, Lord, there's I, so art worthy. May I repeat myself, may I suggest to both of you that are elders, may I suggest there must be, there must be a threefold danger considered, there must be a threefold direction considered, there must be a threefold diadem considered. God give us the grace to move and work for his name and his law.
But then we come from verse eight to thirteen to keep us. And I would like to say just a few things about deacons. I would like to remind you of the appointing of deacons in the Acts. Was it not our brother, Mr. McKenzie, who reminded us of the sixth chapter of Acts? When those were chosen, those men who were of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and of witness, and they were chosen to be servants of the church. And remember, the word deacon is just the servant of the church. Now I wonder if I may please say this to you. There has arisen, hasn't there, the idea that a deacon is just a man who waits on tables, just a man whose responsibility is maybe for the handwritten of the gospel hall, maybe for the material need of the saints.
But it is interesting, isn't it, that the two men who left the biggest march among those that were chosen as deacons, as far as we know, never waited on tables at all. Stephen, Philip, not Philip, the apostle, Philip, the deacons. Isn't it remarkable that Stephen became the greatest creature? And I want to say something to you young men who do a little preaching. If you want the ideal sermon, I tell you what to do, go and read Stephen's great sermon before the Sanhedrin Council. The Apostle Paul couldn't preach as good as that. It's the greatest of sermon.
And yet he was a teacher. A servant of the church. Is it remarkable that this man who went down to Samaria, who made the whole city joyful, you know I like to meet men who make folk happy don't you there are too many folk who make folk miserable well he had this testimony Philip he made the city happy they were glad they rejoiced and what a preacher he goes down to Samaria and all the whole city gathered around him they clamored to hear him a Jesus a servant of the church and here we see something in the sixth chapter of Acts of their appointments I haven't really time to talk about that which was said of them as honest reports full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom I haven't really time but I wonder if we could go a little further and I wonder if we could take not only of their appointments but I wonder if we could take indeed of their abilities now there are abilities the ability because they were of honest reports I believe the twelfth chapter of Rowlands is very real when it says, not
bloatful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. And I tried to emphasize this when I was speaking a little concerning the training of a missionary. By the way, by the way, I went to Mr. McKenzie before the meeting. I was a little disturbed, please. And I would like to hear in the bigger meeting to clear it up. You have all gathered that I'm not a Bible college man. Now you've gathered that. But I want you to understand this, that with all my heart, and then a little bit more of something else added on to it, I believe in the autonomy of the local church.
I believe that the risen Christ walked between seven individual candlesticks, not a seven-branched one. There was no link between any candlestick and the other candlestick. The only link was that Christ was in the middle. They were shining, and their purpose was to shine their light so everyone could see Christ. I believe in the autonomy of the local church. And tomorrow afternoon, I've asked Mr. McKenzie, the pastor were concerning some who do not always see eyes wide with me. God bless them. I wish they would. But they do not always have. but who feel that maybe a Bible college training would be useful.
And there are many brethren that feel that. So during the study tomorrow afternoon, I've asked Mr. McKenzie, would you answer that question more, Mr. McKenzie, sir? So you've got a whole night to think about it. But let me emphasize it. I wanted to put that in because I apologize if we gave the impression, if we gave the impression that others who don't trust me lie to I with the things I see are wrong. God bless them. I think they're lovely Christians. Their ability. But then would you notice something of their wives? The wives of leaders.
Now, there are those who have felt, as Mr. Javi has translated it, women, not wives. You will notice the words that are in italics, of course, in our authorised version. But nevertheless, there are those that have thought that what's being spoken of here, not the wives of deacons, but deaconesses in the church. Mr. Moody's man, what was he saying, Mr. Williams? Is that it? He's got the translation of the Bible, the Moody translation. Williams, he trans... No, he doesn't translate it. He interprets it. And there's a difference between translation and interpretation. He interprets it, deaconesses. I only know this, that this is the qualification. I believe the word was. I could quote to you the greatest of sorrows are going to be a host of ours well I won't go any further but there are men who all translated this word why it says that you ought to be grave not slanderous sober hateful at all things and my dear sister I am glad praise God I am I am glad that there are thousands of sisters just like that just like that you know I have a favorite wedding sermon.
Do you have a favorite wedding sermon? What sermon do they when you were married? Oh, no, you better not tell me now. You tell me afterwards. You know, I think wedding sermons are most important. But my favorite wedding sermon, I get the couple up the front, you know, you're going to ask them, wilt thou? And they say, I wilt, dust thou, and I dust, and all the rest of the things. But I get them up, and then I open my Bible, and I read the fifth mentions in the Bible... of Aquila and Priscilla. Have you noticed something? Three times they're called Aquila and Priscilla and three times they're called Priscilla and Aquila. Three times he puts the man's name first, three times he puts the woman's name first.
Because do you know what I believe about a Christian marriage? I believe they're one in serving the Lord. I'm not my wife's boss. she's not mine I believe this is important I believe that spirituality real spirituality is seen when a man and his wife together serve the faith I believe that a man's position is given to us in the scripture but I don't believe a woman's position is less than a man do you If you do, how do you explain the eleventh of Corinthians?
It not only tells us that the man is the head of the woman, but that God is the head of Christ. Are you telling me that God is greater than Christ? I say it becomes a theological problem when some of you brethren start talking. I only know this, that sisters, I thank God for the spiritual discipline. I believe there are many of them. where sisters have taken their choir, proper place in the assembly, but they're the power of God. You all know, don't you? You notice I've taken the glasses off to look at the watch. The time's gone, really.
But most of you know my favorite song, the hundred and forty-four songs. Another great church song, where it speaks as a young man being plumped, grown up in their youth. I mean, there's a lovely description. A young man is a slum grown up in there. You know, the sort of thing when you blow, they wither. Slum. And then it speaks of the sisters, and it says, and let your daughters be as cornerstones polished after the servilitude of a palace. Do you know when I get to heaven, I'm going to have a word with old David? I am. If I was writing about the men in the assembly and the women, I'd say the men, they're cornerstones. Oh, you know, stones.