Who Should Be An Elder?

1 Timothy 3:1-7

Immanuel – 9/28/25

In chapter 2 we saw Paul zoom out to a universal scale. Though Timothy is dealing with some very specific conditions in Ephesus, he cannot lose the big picture. Paul wants the church to pray for all people and all rulers because God wants to save all; for Christ gave his life as a ransom for all and is Mediator of all.

          Don’t miss how critical this is! God is using the church to accomplish his global purposes. Through prayer and proclamation, God works through the church to roll back the curse and advance his kingdom of heaven. So we pray for all people, and we courageously tell everyone about Jesus Christ – crucified, risen, and reigning!

          So let us not waste our lives on trivialities or drivel it away chasing passing pleasures. Don’t let this world lull you to sleep! Each one of us, even today, are called – like Timothy – to wage the good warfare.

          The enemy is arrayed against us. Satan hates the church. His demonic hordes want nothing more than to see the church distracted, divided, and destroyed. This is why Paul concerns himself so deeply with building a church that is healthy and strong and missional and running hard after Christ.

          As we saw last week, a healthy church like that will have men who concern themselves with holiness and prayer; and women who are hungry for the Word and eager to do good works. It is a beautiful picture of men and women who are serious disciples of Jesus, worshipping in harmony together, submitting themselves to the teachings of Scripture – as they are delivered by the elders.

          If God is using the church for his world reconciling, curse defeating, Christ exalting purposes, then how important is it for the church to have rock solid leadership? It is urgently, critically important! All the more so for the Ephesian church with heretics inserting themselves as leaders.

          Timothy had been working with Paul for about a decade. He certainly understood what Paul expected of a leader. So what we see today is not a comprehensive list of qualifications and giftings. Rather is it a highlight reel serving to remind Timothy of the most important qualities for elders.

          Elder Defined

          But before I get into our passage, and the qualifications of elders, let me spend some time defining elder.

          In this passage Paul uses the word overseer instead of elder. Later in the letter he will switch to elder. For all intents and purposes, elder and overseer mean the same thing. In the 1^st century, elder was a term more familiar to Christians with a Jewish background. Overseer makes more sense with Greek and Roman Christians. Additionally, in the New Testament, the words pastor and shepherd means the same as elder or overseer.

At Immanuel, as in many Baptist churches, when you use the word pastor, you think about me: the full-time staff member doing most of the preaching. But biblically all the elders are pastors, all the pastors are elders, and together we are all the overseers and shepherds of this local church.

Four things are important to understand about elders.

First, as we saw in last week’s passage, this role is reserved for qualified men. If that is a new idea for you, I encourage you to listen to last week’s sermon. Even still, notice how every pronoun in today’s passage is masculine. That will change when Paul discusses deacons in the very next section.

          Second, elders are the spiritual overseers of the church, given the priority of praying for the church and ministering the word. When Peter and the Apostles were asked to also run a ministry feeding widows, Peter responded with:

It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables…But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.

                                                                   -Acts 6:2,4

          The church then appointed seven men to serve as deacons and care for the widows. We will learn about deacons next week. But it was imminently important for the main leaders of the church to pray for the church and to minister the word. Ministry of the word certainly means teaching and preaching; but it also means counseling, correcting, rebuking, discipling and more.

Third, elders are appointed by the local church in which they serve. Meaning, people in the church recognize when a man is qualified and gifted to lead, and that he truly loves the church. The church members then have a responsibility to pray for those men, train them if needed, and then appoint them as their elders. And though this is not directly stated in the New Testament, all over we find indication that the local church is responsible to appoint qualified and gifted men to the office of elder.

Fourth, God is the one who makes elders. Many years before Paul wrote 1 Timothy, he said this to the Ephesian elders:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

                                                                             -Acts 20:28

Many verses testify to this: God the Spirit is the supernatural elder-maker. For it is the Spirit working in the heart of a man to qualify him, it is the Spirit who dispenses gifts like the abilities to teach and lead, it is the Spirit who places a calling upon a man that cannot be shaken.

I remember the exact moment when the Spirit placed that calling upon my life. It was like being struck by an unseen lightning bolt. Even still, I repressed that calling for a year; not wanting to act out of selfish desires, not seeing a viable way for it to happen, doubting it all as fanciful thinking. But the calling upon me became monolithic and I could no longer deny it. So Meg and I prayed and fasted together and through a variety of means, God confirmed that calling upon my life over and over again.

This was not something I conjured up. This was not even something I was pursuing – I was working in an entirely different career. God did this to me, and though I tried to repress it, he did not let me. He called me. It might look different for other elders and pastors, but it is God who places this calling upon a man’s life. And if a man is not called by God to shepherd a church, he should never become an elder.

Let me bring these four points together. The Spirit of God transforms a sinful man into a spiritual leader – an elder. The church recognizes the work of the Spirit in that man, raises him up, and officially appoints him to the office of elder. As an elder he will pray for the church and minister the word to them.

Ambassador Training – Four Fields – Leaders

Definition. Elder/Pastor/Overseer/Shepherd: the men God and the church have entrusted to exercise spiritual oversight in the church.

Read vs 1

The saying is trustworthy – you can count on this. Men, I want you to hear this loud and clear, it is noble to aspire to be an elder. It is a godly ambition to desire that one day you would shepherd a local church. Brothers, the work is worthy, the need is ever urgent, and the calling is high. You are noble to aspire to become an elder.

But aspirations are not enough. Qualifications and giftings are mandatory.

          Read vs 2-3

Paul lists seven qualifications for men aspiring to be elders, followed by four disqualifications. Let’s take them one at a time.

1. Above Reproach. This does not mean the elder is without sin. Nor does it mean he will never face reproach, even Christ was reproached on the cross. Rather, Paul means the elder’s character needs to be of the highest caliber. He must be a man of integrity, the same on the outside as he is on the inside. People will find it very hard to say anything about him. An elder is above reproach.

2. The Husband of One Wife. The man must not be a polygamist, nor polyamorous, nor a husband to a husband, nor adulterous. We should remember that a number of years earlier, Paul wrote these words to the Ephesian Church.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

                                                                   -Ephesians 5:25

An elder is faithful to his wife, totally dedicated to her and her alone. He does not neglect her, but cares for her. He devotes himself to her flourishing with self-sacrificial love. His care for his wife should be so obvious the church recognizes it.

(Parenthesis)

Paul is not saying that elders need to be married. Paul is not married. But he is saying that if a man is married, he is to have one wife which he deeply loves. If a man is not married, like Paul, then he should remain celibate.

An elder, if married, is the husband of one wife.

(Close Parenthesis)

3. Sober-Minded. An elder is not trivial or impulsive. He is not easily distracted. He is not indecisive. He does not need constant affirmation. A qualified elder understands the weight he has been given to carry, and he bears it with appropriate solemnity. He understand the afflictions of his flock, the crooked nature of his generation, and is painfully aware of Satan’s constant assault. He thinks critically, delights in the council of other elders, looks to the Lord, and confidently leads the sheep through tumult, trial, and triumph. An elder is sober-minded.

4. Self-Controlled. Elders are in control of their own appetites. He has subdued his behaviors, cravings, and impulses. He is not prone to big emotional swings or outbursts. He doesn’t say whatever comes into his mind, but his words are measured. An elder is self-controlled.

5. Respectable. An elder is admirable and honorable. People find it relatively easy to respect them. You know this is true when people go to him with their questions, or even problems. This does not come from a man carefully managing his reputation, but from a man that is genuine and authentic, living like Christ, caring for the flock. An elder is respectable.

6. Hospitable. An elder eagerly opens his house to others. He enjoys guests at his table. And this is not merely about people that are easy to host, but all people: strangers (Hebrews 13:2), the needy (Matthew 25:34-39), the outcasts (Luke 14:13), and so on. And if that man has no house, then he is warm and welcoming to all, scorning no one because of race, religion, or rumor. An elder is hospitable.

7. Able to Teach. The other six qualifications are character traits. This is the only listed aptitude. Actually, in a variety of places, teaching is listed as a spiritual gift. Though I do not believe an elder needs to possess the spiritual gift of teaching, I am convinced he needs to possess a deep understanding of the Scriptures, born out of his diligent studies, and be able to competently explain biblical truths, aptly apply them to a host of real-world situations.

Every other qualification is listed here is commanded of all Christians in the New Testament. Every Christian is to be above reproach, husband of one wife (if applicable), sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, and hospitable. Only the elder must have an aptitude for teaching.

And this makes sense.  The revelation of God has come to us in written form. Jesus was a teacher, and both taught the Scriptures and breathed out Scripture. Those he called to shepherd his flock, to care for his bride, to oversee the church, must do it through the teaching and application of Scripture. Indeed, theses are the words of life! Where else can we go, and by why other source can we lead?

Now the four disqualifications for men aspiring to be elders.

1. Not a Drunkard. A man who loses himself in the bottom of a bottle has no business leading a church. A man who can only cope with the anxieties and pressures of the world while he rides a buzz, is not a man qualified to lead. An elder cannot be a drunk.

          2. Not Violent but Gentle. As we saw last week, angry men are not even qualified to pray. How can violent men lead a church? And yet so many pulpits and elder boards are filled with bullies and abusers. They are disqualified.

          Elders are to be gentle, like our gentle and lowly Savior (Matthew 11:29). A gentle leader is not easily steamrolled, nor are they incompetent yes men. Like Jesus, like Paul, they are patient and kind, evenhanded and measured, with steely convictions and abounding grace. Elders are not violent, but gentle.

          3. Not quarrelsome. The speculations and vain discussions spun by false teachers in Ephesus surely erupted in quarrels. What foolishness! How can you lead people if you are constantly bickering and arguing with them. An argumentative person, a person attempting to dominate with words, a contrarian, these people are exhausting. If a man always has to be right, he is not fit to be an elder. An elder is not quarrelsome.

          4. Not a Lover of Money. How many greedy pastors have disqualified themselves? A pastor who loves money, or loves the things money buys, is gross. An elder pursuing luxury, or obsessed with his accounts, or is a stingy scrooge, these men are disqualified. A man who is generous, selfless, helping and serving others: this is a man of quality. An elder must not be a lover of money.

          Read vs 4-5

If a man aspires to be an elder, he needs to demonstrate he manages his household well. He has a handle on his finances, he maintains his property, he provides for the needs of his family and leads them with wisdom.

His wife loves and respects him. His children submit to him. Submissive children has a twofold meaning. First, it means he speaks and they listen. They are not wild children, but obedient. Second, they submit to his teaching, and his teaching is most fundamentally rooted in Scripture. While they live under his roof, they are trained in the ways of God.

But he does not subject his wife and children to heavy handedness. He is not an autocrat, with a family more afraid than affectionate. No! A man of God serves his family, leads by example, is clear and consistent with his expectations, is willing to ask for forgiveness, is quick to forgive, and leads with all gentleness and humility and wisdom. He is dignified. It is a joy for his wife to take his side; and his children listen to their strong father who adores them.

If he cannot manage his household and love his family like this, then how can he manage the household of God, filled with a multitude of families? A man with a flourishing family is a man capable of cultivating more.

Read vs 6

I’ve seen so many brand new Christians enter the faith full of fire and passion and immediately think God is calling them into the ministry. Though that may be true for some, for many it is an emotional flare-up. Either way, no matter how gifted they are, no matter how dynamically they speak, no matter how many people they lead to faith, they are not to become elders…yet.

The new believer needs to learn the grind of the Christian life, the monotony of plodding along in the faith, the weight of trial, the hurt of failure. Otherwise, with only success shortly following conversion, they may think all this success is due to their own abilities. And pride comes before the fall. How Satan ascended in pride, only to be cast down to eat dirt, condemned to an everlasting fire. Putting a new convert into a position of power is deadly for a proud heart.

Perhaps he is called into the ministry. Let his road be long and slow. Timothy was a recent convert when Paul met him, and Paul quickly took him into ministry. But Paul discipled him, slowly building him up. This appointment in Ephesus is Timothy’s first pastorate, as far as we know – about a decade after they Paul took him under his wing.

Read vs 7

This intentionally corresponds to an elder being above reproach in verse 2. Paul bookends his qualifications of elders with reputation, this time expanding it to outsiders – Paul’s way of talking about non-Christians. If a man aspires to be an elder his neighbors should think well of him, his coworkers, the people in the community.

Both inside and outside the church, an elder is to a respectable man. Why? The actions of an elder, for good or ill, represent Christ and his church.

How much damage has the church suffered because unqualified men were put in positions of leadership? How much damage has been caused by men who disqualified themselves with moral failings? How many have left the church because they have been hurt by its leaders? How many will never enter a church at all, because of the ugliness of its leaders?

How important it is for the elders of the church to be men with outstanding reputations. Again, this comes from a man that is genuine and authentic, living like Christ, and caring for the flock.

The office of overseer is a high calling. Shepherding the flock, exercising spiritual authority, laboring in prayer, teaching and applying the Scriptures; it is a high calling indeed. It’s why James writes,

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.                -James 3:1

          And yet, Paul still says, If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Brothers, it is a good think to aspire to shepherd the church, but your aspirations are not enough. And if you feel you are not currently qualified, how might you grow in faith and practice? I can tell you three places to start: on your knees, in the word, and serving the church.

          Being an elders is a heavy responsibility, but it is such a joy. Watching someone grow in their faith, understand something new about Christ, taking steps of obedience, serving the needs of church, I cannot tell you what a blessing these things are. God uses elders to mature the church, that the church would minister to the world, that the world would be reconciled unto God.

          Elders deal in eternal matters, shepherding the everlasting souls of the flock. Presidents and politicians deal only with the temporary. I believe Christ has given a greater honor to elders than he gives to heads of state – even if the world would laugh at that statement.

          Know: The Spirit of God makes qualified elders. The church appoints qualified elders. Qualified elders are a blessing to the church.

          Believe: If Christ has blessed you with qualified elders, trust them and follow them.

          Do: Encourage men who God seems to be raising up. When the time comes, appoint men who are qualified, not merely men you like. Pray for your elders.

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.    -Hebrews 13:17