INTRODUCTION

There is a dye need for leadership in the world today both in the business
world and in the church.

 The circular world seem to be struggling with genuine leaders, they

might be leaders that we can tolerate to some extent/they have skills but
have no morals.
 The church is really battling with leadership/they have some morals but
are lacking in skills.
 Both the circular world and the church have leaders that are qualified to
some extent. Maybe if we can combine or bring together the good that
the world leadership has (skills) and the good that the church has
(morals), we can come out with something better required of us by God.
 Lets look at what God has to say about leadership. He speaks about
leaders in the church, which I believe would qualify anywhere.
The bible speaks of Elders and Deacons.

Elders
Meaning: -
Elder – Presbuteros = Older person, Senior.
It appears 66 times in the New Testament.
Synonym – Bishop /episkopos = an overseer, a superintendent, guardian
Epi – over
Skopos – to look, watch, to oversee.
It appears 5 times in the NT.
This little difference between Bishop and Elder is that the former is an elder
given the responsibility of over looking the whole work even other
elders/SET-MAN.
These are real leaders as far as God is concerned.

The Qualification of and Elder/leader

Grouped into 4 major categories.

1. Spiritual qualification – check on spiritual life.
2. Character qualification – check personal and secular life
3. Domestic qualification – check married life, husband, wife, children and
home life and neighbours.
4. Ministry qualifications – functional life in the church & work skills.
1. SPIRITUAL LIFE/QUALIFICATION

The following qualification should not even be mentioned because they are
obvious.

(a) Must be born again - John 3: 1-5

(b) Obey the word to baptism - Acts 2: 37-47
(c) Baptized with the Holy Spirit Eph 5: 18
(d) Called into the ministry by the Holy Spirit Acts 20: 28

2. CHARACTER QUALIFICATION

(a) Must be blameless (I Timothy 3: 2, Titus 1: 6)

 Man of integrity, irreproachable.

 Must be an example to the flock of God or people he leads.
 To be above reproof, rebuke or reprimand Gal 2: 11, Phil 2: 14,15, II
Peter 3: 14.
 He will be blamed but must not be found guilty Matt 27: 12, 24.

(b) Good behavior (I Timothy 3: 2)

 Modest
 Orderly – organised in his life and the way he dresses.
 Discipline – Time-wise, if he planned something, he must stick to his
decision.
 Respectable life style
 Honorable
 Dignified
 Well behaved I Timothy 3 15

Adam Clarke – orderly, decent, grave (having a serious and dignified

qualities, or low pitched in sound), and correct in whole appearance, carriage
and conduct.
(c) Vigilant (I Timothy 3: 2)

 Wide awake – be informed, know what is going on around you.

 Through Traveling (exposure),
o Paul’s travels exposed him to many things which enabled him
to write more than half of the New Testament.
 2 Corinthians 11:26-33
 Through Reading
o Paul was a reader.
 II Timothy 4: 13
o Paul instructs young Timothy to read.
 I Timothy 4: 13
 Watchful – Like a watchman in Ezekiel 3: 17 – 21.
 Be ready to correct those that are wrong.
 Always be ready to answer those who ask you about your faith,
o 1 Peter 3:15
o 2 Timothy 3:15-17
o 2 Timothy 2:15
 Not careless – Don’t be careless about your information; know with
whom to share what information.
 Have a way of approach in presenting any case, because if not so it can
be detrimental to you.
 “You are allowed to remain silent; whatever you say may be used
against you in court.”
 Not sleepy- you have to be wide-awake as a leader.
 If you cannot read, then you cannot lead.
o Readers are Leaders
 Never depend on hearsay or assumptions as a leader,
o 2 Timothy 2:16
 Always get the firsthand information, 2 Samuel 18:19,28-30
 Not indifferent
 Be a thoughtful person.

(d) Temperate (Titus 1: 8)

Denotes keeping oneself in hand.

Self – control – not to be loose, in appetites and affections.
Disciplined
Able to govern oneself in all respect, in passion
  Have brakes as a leader.
In Gal 5: 23, is mentioned as a fruit of the Spirit
1 Cor. 9: 25, control yourself like an athlete preparing for a competition.
Don’t be a bondage to yourself, or desires of the flesh.

(e) Sober Titus 1: 8; I Timothy 3: 2

Prudent
Have a sound mind, Mark 5:15, 2 timothy 1:7
A sound mind is a stable, healthy mind.
sophronismos denotes careful, rational, sensible thinking
Having a sound mind requires a thought process based on the wisdom
and clarity that God imparts rather than being manipulated by fear.
To be clothed in the right mind, Titus 2:6-8
Think before you talk, James 1:19, Proverbs 10:19, 17:27
Use sound judgement

(f) Just (Titus 1: 8)

Righteous, upright, straight, exact, conscientious, impartial in all his

dealings,
Not only being in right standing before God but also doing right before God
in dealings with other people.
Right conduct.
Make objective judgement based upon principle.

(g) Holy Titus 1: 8 O.T.: - To be separated, isolated, lack of contact between

clean & unclean, sacred and common.
Means: different, set apart for His service as opposed to being carnal and
totally dedicated to God.
N.T.: - moral purity expressed in contact with the common and profane, I
Corinthians. 5: 9,10; 1 Peter 2: 9, 11-12.
Not abusing the grace of God, but believes, teaches and practices holiness of
life, without which no man can see the Lord.
Holy in thought, word, and deed.
Lover of good Titus 1: 8
Lover of good, persons, righteousness and activities Philippians 4: 8

(g) Hospitable I Timothy 3: 2, Titus 1: 8

Fond of guests and kind to people whom they receive in their house. Enjoys
the company of others, especially believers. I Timothy 5: 10,
A help to strangers, Hebrew 13: 2,
Receiving and entertaining strangers without reward, Matthew 25: 34-40

(h) Patient I Timothy 3: 3 (Emotional Intelligence)

Ability to remain calm, tolerant, forbearing, possessing quiet endurance

under stress or annoyance II Timothy 2: 24
Gentle, kind, considerate. I Thess 2: 7; 5: 14
Not brawler, soon angry, striker I Timothy 3:3, Titus 1:7
Not quarrelsome, not argumentative, one who can control his own spirit.
Cranky or irritable, does not revile or smite, hit or lash back with hand or
mouth. I Peter 2: 21-23

Will Smith story with Chris Rock at the Grammies on the 27 March 2022.

 How does one achieve the above?

o By being Emotionally Intelligent
 Definition of Emotional Intelligence

(j) Not greedy & filthy lucre not covetous I Tim 3: 3, I Timothy 3: 3, Titus
1: 7
Not after money as a hireling, thief or robber I Timothy 5; 17
Not acquiring money by dishonest means.
Free from the love of money.
Money in the ministry must not be the motivation or the major factor upon
which you base your decision Matthew 6: 33, I Timothy 6: 6 – 11

Covetous- to be controlled by unlawful desires or lusts.

Check Amplified bible - on this verse I Timothy 3: 3

(k) Not be self-willed Titus 1: 7

Given over to ones own will, not willing to surrender to another will.
Danger of self-will Isaiah 14: 12 – 14
II Peter 2: 4
Man’s free will must be surrendered to God’s good and perfect will
(Romans 12: 1,2)
Not arrogant, stubborn, self –pleasing, egocentric
Seek harmony with the will of other leaders submitted to God’s will.

(l) Not given to wine

Lit Not tarrying at wine or staying near wine and quarreling as drinks do
Titus 1: 7
Proverbs. 31: 4-6 says wine is for the perishing.
Proverbs. 23: 29 – 35 speaks of what wine does to ones life.
Ephesians 5: 18 says we should not be drunks with wine, but filled…
Not be double – tongued 1 Timothy 3: 8
Not two fold, acting two parts, saying one thing to the face and meaning
another thing behind the back.
Unwilling to stand by his word.

(m) Not be double-tongued I Timothy 3: 8

Not twofold, acting two parts, saying one thing to the face and meaning
another thing behind the back.
Unwilling to stand his word.

Not a slanderer I Timothy 3:11

G.K. Diabolis – Diabolosi – devil
English meaning – To give false report, injure another by uttering falsehood,
to defame, scandalize.

(n) Must be faithful in all things I Timothy 3: 11

Reliable – (i) What ever promised, must be done.

(ii) Able to keep secretes.

Trustworthy
Faithful in tithing – If not faithful in tithing he/she is thief (Mal 3: 8-10)
Must be a steward of God Titus 1: 7

Oikonomos – steward = Manager of a household

Manager of God’s household, a servant employed to manage the affairs of
God. 1 Cor 4: 2, Luke 12: 42, 16: 1, 3, 8
(o) Must desire this office I Timothy 3:1

Be willing to face the responsibility. Not in a manner of seeking position.

Not for gain I Peter 5:2
Not to be the boss over the people I Peter 5: 1-3 Mark 10: 42-45

3. DOMESTIC QUALIFICATION

A. Husband.

1. Be able to rule his own house well, I Timothy 3: 4

The family typifies the church
He must be a father
GR. PATER – Nourisher, protector, upholder
2. Husband of one wife. I Timothy 3: 3; Titus 1: 6.
 The literal meaning is that a leader must be have been married at
least once.
 This includes that there be no fornication.
 He must be above reproach in his relationship with
other women.
 This is a key testing ground.
 They need to regularly pray about this problem in
elders meetings.

B. Wife

1. Elders wife must be grave I Timothy 3: 8, 11;Titus 2: 2

The wife can disqualify his husband/wife from office
2. Must not be slanderous.
3. Must be sober.
4. Must be faithful in all things.

4. MINISTRY QUALIFICATION

1. Called by the Holy Spirit. (Acts 20: 17).

2. Hold fast the faithful word as he has been taught I Timothy 3: 9, Titus1:
9.
3. Able to teach I Timothy 3: 2
4. Able to exhort and convince Titus 1: 9.
5. Not a Novice I Timothy 3: 7

PROBATION OF LEADERS

I Timothy 3: 10
Probation - a process of testing or observing the character or abilities of a
person who is new to a role or job.
"for an initial period of probation your manager will closely monitor your progress"
synonyms: Trial, test or experimental period.
Timed by experiment, tested as to genuineness before using the office.

Joshua served under Moses.

The scripture referred to Joshua as Moses assistance in Exodus 24:13.
When Moses wanted someone to go with the spies, he send Joshua with
them. Numbers 13:16.
In Deuteronomy 34:9, Joshua was qualified to lead because Moses had
approved him by laying his hands on him.

Elisha served under Elijah. God had instructed Elijah to anoint Elisha, 1
Kings 19:15-17, but Elisha still had to serve probation under Elijah. 1 Kings
19:21.

Timothy served under Paul. 1 Corinthians 4:15-17

Judges 7: 4 Gideon story Ps 17: 03 II Cor. 8: 22

I Thess. 5: 21

Two kinds of qualifications

I Timothy 3: 10 – 14 = Catch the vision Hold the work

I Timothy 1: 13
II Timothy 2: 2
Know the leader’s direction

DUTIES OF ELDERS

A. Titus 1: 10 – 13 – Rebuke with

(i) Authority
(ii) Sharply
 They profess to know God verse 16, Titus 1

Rebuke the insubordinate

 Undisciplined
 Idle talkers (gossipers)
 False teachers
 Deceivers

How to know them/

(i) By looking at fruit
(ii) By discernment

B. Titus 2: 1 = Teach sound doctrine

1. Moral (good) building good characters Titus 2: 2
2. Life in and outside the church – verse 2
3. Family life – verse 2
4. Youthful life -verse 6 –9
5. Life at work place/business –verse 9,10
6. God’s word/scriptures - Christ centered message (I Timothy 6: 3)
7. Vision of the church (II Timothy 2: 2)

C. I Timothy 2: 25 – correct
D. I Timothy 4: 12 – Be an example in word applying =put the word in your
life – knowledge of the word.
 Conduct
 Love
 Spirit
 Faith (Christian life)
 Purity

E. I Timothy 4: 13 - Read/studying
1. The word
2. Testimonial books
3. Doctrinal books (let your leader check that first)
4. Academically books
5. Secular books/news papers (avoid evil information)
II Timothy 2: 15
II Timothy 3: 16, 17
F. I Timothy 4: 13 – Exhort by 1. Preaching
 Aged
  Counseling
 Cheering up people

G. I Timothy 4: 14 – Use the gift of the Spirit

II Timothy 1: 6
H. I Timothy 4: 16 – Taking heed to yourself. - Life style
- Dressing code
- Doctrine (what you teach)

I. I Timothy 2: 1-2 – Pray – All men including yourself

- Kings & all in authority
- Work of the Lord/God