1 Tim 5:17-21
You may have picked up on the various words used for church leaders in 1 Timothy: overseers/bishops (1 Tim. 3:1) and elders (1 Tim. 5:17). You might also note the phrase “direct the affairs” in this same verse; standing behind these three words is a single Greek word associated with stewardship or household management (see also 1 Tim. 3:4, 5). All of these terms are used to describe the same group that God has placed over each local church. This Sunday, we’ll discuss (a) how/why elders who exercise authority well should be respected and (b) the process Paul outlines when rebuking them is necessary.
Why would this sermon be of interest to you? Well, because we live in a world where people at the top sometimes take advantage of their power and, if caught, often escape accountability by using money or other resources. (How often have you heard about churches doing the same thing on the news?) We also live in a world in which judgments are made largely based on appearance or some sort of connection. This passage reminds us that, with God, there is no favoritism when it comes to rebuke or anything else for that matter. If that’s true, what are the implications for how we view ourselves and others? Where do we allow what people think to influence what we do?
Listen to the sermon: