Q: When you were a kid, how did you treat your babysitters? Did you ever get in trouble with your parents when they got home? What did that look like?

Background

This is an open letter written by Paul, the founder of the church in Ephesus, to Timothy, the youngish leader that Paul is publicly endorsing.

Paul’s impetus in writing this letter is that the teaching in the church has gone sideways. The church was sliding toward Gnosticism, which believed, simply put, that everything in this world was evil and could not be redeemed. So, emotions were evil, both happy and sad emotions. The feeling of love was evil. Everything done in the body was evil. Only your spirit was good.

This also means that, although the Gnostics looked down on emotions and their own bodies, they also didn’t seem to attach any moral value to whatever they did in their body. So, they could live lives of true debauchery and still think that their soul was holy and pure. They would drink like fish and sleep with whatever moved, then come to church on weekends and lift their head high as an example of virtue.

Paul is looking to put a stop to this. That is why he lists the qualifications for leadership in the church. He lists the qualifications for elders and deacons. We don’t use these designations in our church so let me define them the way they were used in the Ephesus church. Elders were the decision makers in church and functioned as the board that decided the spiritual direction for the church. The Deacons were the leaders entrusted with the day to day details of running the church. This included the upkeep of the facilities and caring for the widows and orphans.

The basic difference between overseer and deacons is that overseer should have already proved themselves through their service as deacons. The church in Ephesus is now about a decade old and those who serve as elders should have proven their ability to lead through their service.

Paul starts by introducing the concept:

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach….” | 1 Timothy 3:1-2a

Paul says that being an overseer (or serving in any capacity) is noble. It is something everyone should aspire to do. But, only those above reproach are qualified. This is not the first qualification, but the overall idea that Paul lays out in the detail that the church in Ephesus needs.

Read the rest of 1 Timothy 3.

Look at the List of Qualifications

Faithful to one wife:
Lets overlook the paternal language in deference to the conversation in chapter 2. This is not a statement about divorce or singleness, but a statement about being married to one woman and being faithful to her in every way. This should be seen not only in keeping your marriage bed sacred, but also in where one allows their mind to go or where you go on the internet. A leaders spouse should feel safe and secure in his/her marriage.

Temporate, Self-controlled, Respectable, Gentle, Not Given to Drunkenness, Not Quarrelsome:
This is about the temperament of the qualifications of a leader. It is all about one bringing in control at all times. A leader is someone that you can always count. A leader should be the same person and you should be able to rely on him/her to be consistent in his/her lifestyle and demeanor.

Hospitable:
This literally means to invite strangers into their home for the evening, feeding travelers dinner and finding a place for them to sleep. The motels of the day did not have a good reputation. If a fellow believer was traveling though your town a leader is expected to the kind of person to open up his/her home to those in need.

Able to Teach:
A leader should understand the Christian faith and be able to eloquently articulate the teachings and foundations.

Not a Lover of Money:
It truly speaks of the motivation for relationships. People who love money use people to get more money. People who love people understand money as a means to an end and not the end itself.

Good Leader of His/Her Family:
Paul spells it out. If you cannot lead your own family how can you be expected to lead a church? Likewise, spouse should also be honorable in his/her actions as to not soil the good reputation of the church leader.

Good Reputation Outside the Church:
If your church leaders are not respected by those outside the faith, how can your church draw in new people to the faith? Paul goes on to say that the whole purpose of church is to proclaim Jesus as Savior. If the church cannot do that, the church is DOA.

Rubber, Meet Road

Q: Paul is speaking to the qualifications of leaders. Can these been seen as the goal of every Christian or just those who wish to lead?

Q: There are all kinds of service positions in our church, from picking up litter to teaching on the weekends. At what level do you think the qualifications of deacon or elder should be applied? (This question requires some knowledge of the structure of our church. For instance, being a greeter one weekend a month is lead by a Weekly Lead for the greeters. The Weekly Lead is led by the leader of the First Contact Group. The First Contact Group is a part of the Outreach Fractal with an associated church board position. The Lead Pastor has oversight over all of it. At what point on this leadership tree should the “above reproach” description be applied to the qualification to lead in that role?)

Q: When taking an honest look at this list, how many people within our church body qualify for leadership? Is there a plethora as to fill all the leadership positions, or is there a shortage?

Q: What should our church’s leadership development process look like?

Q: Of all of these qualifications, which one or two have you made personal progress toward in your own life?

Don’t Forget!

Pray for each other and the leadership of our church. Also pray for our civic and national leaders as well.

At the end of Chapter 2 in 1 Timothy 2:8-15, Paul addresses issues with both men and women, albeit the length for the women is much longer!

Going in today, we must remember that this Christian Church is planted in a port city of Greece. The Christian movement is an extension of the Jewish religion. Therefore, we have a great mixture of cultures going on here. Many of the Christians in this church were Jews raised far outside Jerusalem. They were as Greek as they were Jewish. The Greeks in the church were learning this whole thing from the ground up.

Paul, the person who planted the church and is still leading the leaders, is both a Jew of great merit and a Roman citizen. He had plenty of expertise in this kind of situation where cultures are clashing and how that can affect the way ministry is done.

Read 1 Timothy 2:8
Paul addresses the quarreling that is going on it the church. The men need to use their hands for prayer and not fighting.

Read 1 Timothy 2:9-13
Paul addresses some issues going on within this worship community that apply specifically to the women.

In many ways, Paul should be seen as a supporter of the feminist movement in antiquity. It may not look like it now, but Paul speaks out for the rights of women everywhere and seeks that respect be granted for all women in the church throughout his writings.

Women 2000 years ago were treated as special and protected, but women did not have rights of their own. They were, indeed, helpless by themselves. They were not granted the right in either Greek of Jewish cultures to learn scripture, rhetoric or public speaking. That doesn’t mean that no women were educated, but the vast majority simply were not.

To add to the mess, in Greek culture, a married woman was there to bring legitimate children into world for proper heirs, and to take care of the house finances and lead the hired staff. One side of the house was her domain. The other side of the house is where the husband would live, along with as many courtesans as he could hire. And, yes, it was just as rude as it sounds.

Jewish culture was in much better shape. At least, Jewish men married one woman at a time. They had the good decency to trade up by divorce, not simply moving someone younger into the house.

Paul advocated for men to do as Solomon suggested, “delight in the wife of your youth.”

Women’s Dress: In both Greek and Jewish cultures, it is appropriate for women to dress up for their husbands, but not to be noticed by other women’s husbands! Braiding gold into your hair or wearing pearls was a way to attract attention that simply didn’t need to be attracted. in our parlance today, we may say that it inappropriate for woman to wear clear heels, plunging neck lines and band-aides for skirts!

Requiring women to “learn in quietness and full submission” is advocating that the women should be allowed to learn just as the men do, as long as they learn the same way the men do! This really is a bold attack on his own current culture.

Paul does not permit women to teach men. Few could anyway. The did not learn traditional teaching techniques, did not learn to read, did not learn to argue, did not memorize the Holy Scriptures. It would be difficult for a woman to teach all men anyway – they were at such a learning disadvantage according to cultural standards.

The thing is that 2000 years ago, some women did rise to be teachers. it was indeed few and far between, but there were some women who did.

With regards to 1 Timothy 2:13-14, most scholars at a a loss of how to take this. Did Paul mean to exclude all women forever from leadership, or just form teaching, or from all places of authority (like being president).

Read verse 15.
2000 years ago, women would pray to their gods for safety though child birth. It was a big deal because women died all the time during childbirth. It is likely Paul is addressing this need in a woman’s life and suggests that women “continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.”

Discussion:

Q: Do you think Paul meant to exclude women from leadership in the church in every culture? Or is there room in our enlightened society for women in these leadership positions? What do you base your answer on?

Q: Most Evangelical churches ordain women as pastors and fully qualified teachers of scripture. How many female pastors do you know? Why are there so few women preachers?

Q: Why don’t the men get upset that Paul uses stereotypes to say that all men are argue too much?

A Note From Your Pastor:
I believe that Paul was accurate when he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28) I also believe that Paul was not placing a lower value on women in general. I also believe that men and women are different (shocking, I know!). I personally see no reason, whether this scripture or any other, to restrict leadership in the church to be a male-only club. The being said, I also believe that there are precious few women preachers because it is not a natural gifting most women posess. The lack of women preachers has nothing do with value, but with gifting.

Take Prayer Requests!

Also, Lent can be a time of service for you. Find a way during Lent to serve people that cannot give back to you. In that way, you are identifying with the mission of Jesus.

So, when does the Lenten Fast end?
Glad you asked! It depends upon how you observe the fast. Many traditions break the fast on Sundays. The thought is that every Sunday celebrates the Resurrection. So, the 40 days runs to sundown on Maundy Thursday. Other traditions that observe a continual 40 day fast end at Palm Sunday.

Maundy Thursday Service

Good Friday Service

Easter Worship Services

Christians have been observing Lent for over a thousand years. Although popularly associated with the Catholic Church and other high church traditions, Lent is also a great opportunity for spiritual growth that many Protestants miss out on. The 40 days of Lent are patterned after Jesus’ 40 days of prayer and fasting in the desert (before he began his earthly ministry).

Through this season of Lent, we have the opportunity to do three things. First, Lent gives us time for Sober Reflection. Where are you at in your relationship with God? Second, through Lent we are encouraged to take a 40-day time of Self-Examination. Are there areas of your life that you need to surrender to the Lordship of Christ? Finally, Lent can be a powerful time of Spiritual Redirection. Are you heading in the right direction spiritually, or do you need to step back and allow God to redirect your spiritual path towards Himself?

Lent is a season of mourning marked by fasting and a renewed dedication to prayer. Through fasting, we have the opportunity to “give something up in order to focus more on God.” Traditionally, some would fast a meal during this time period. Some would observe Lent by dedicating themselves to a sacrificial prayer life. Still others would find ways to give to others though service. Today, observing Lent can take many forms. Some will fast something that is a stronghold in your life, such as soda pop or TV. Over the next 40 days, whenever these people find themselves “craving” that thing, let it be a reminder to you to instead, pray and focus your attention upon God.

These 40 days are surrounded by two ceremonial observances – Ash Wednesday to Maundy Thursday. Maundy Thursday represents the day that Jesus ate the Passover Feast with His disciples (the first communion). Some traditions have decided that since Sunday is a day that we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that we should not continue the mourning fast on Sundays. In those traditions, the fast ends on Easter to make up for the six days.

So, considering observing Lent this year? You can do so in your own way. Traditionally, you can give up a meal, either everyday, once a week or even completely fast one whole day a week. Or, you can find something you enjoy every day, like coffee, and give that up. Your little sacrifice will remind you of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice on the cross. You can take up a family Bible Study for six weeks or pull weeds at a neighbors house. However you observe Lent, I know the season will be focus your attention and make this Easter special.

Want more information? Check out Season of Lent.

Q: As a kid, did you ever pray crazy prayers? Did any of your crazy prayers come to fruition?

Q: Have you ever prayed for the president’s health?

Into the Scripture

Read 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Does it seem strange that Paul would issue such a large decree that we should pray for “kings and all those in authority”? Paul even goes on to say that we do so to bring about peaceful lives and that it pleases God. He finishes up the passage telling us that he is not lying.

It is a bit strange. No part in particular, but the pieces don’t fit together. Almost like we stepped into someone else’s conversation, right?

Well, perhaps we did. This letter is directed at a guy named Timothy, but it was an open letter meant to be read out loud to Timothy’s local church. Timothy was in Ephesus, a large port town in Greece and part fo the Roman Empire, like Israel. Ephesus also had the distinction of being a Roman City. Among other things, it meant that the city was a Roman governmental city and that the people who lived there were Roman citizens (most of the conquered people groups were not Romans, but merely subjects of Rome).

2000 years ago in the Roman Empire, the fastest growing religion was worshiping the emperor as a god. Those who wanted to curry favor with the emperor would worship and sacrifice to him, like they may do with any number of other gods. In fact, it was required of all conquered territories to add the goddess Roma to the list of local gods as well as the spirit of the emperor.

But, Israel, and the small subset within Judaism that followed the teachings of Jesus, believed in only one God to the exclusion of all others. Rome made an exception to the “Worship Casear” rule. As long as they prayed and made sacrifices for the health of the emperor, then they would be seen as compliant and good subjects of the empire.

Being seen as good citizens of the empire would certainly go a long way living in peace and harmony. But, would that also lead its way to spreading the good news of Jesus? Well, it is hard to talk to someone about eternity if you are also in conflict in the here and now!

Q: Do you think that Paul was telling Timothy to “stay in compliance with Roman law so you will be seen as a good citizens” or “Pray that your government leaders find Jesus so they will serve God along side you”? (Hint: there is no specific right answer, but a good conversation to have if you know the background.)

Q: What should our responsibility be for the evangelism of local, state and federal governments?

Q: How else can this wisdom be applied today?

Rubber Meets Road

Q: Who/what is on your prayer list now? Do you have a list?

Q: If this group had a shared prayer list, what would be on it?

Opener

Q: Who has the most speeding tickets?

About the Scripture

Q: What are Paul’s credentials? What gives him the authority one the false teachers?
Q: Why is Paul such a good witness to people new to faith? How do you feel about talking about your past when you share your faith?
Q: What do you know about Timothy and his relationship with Paul?

Rubber, Meet Road

Q: What was your life like before you knew Christ?
Q: Put verse 1:15 into your own words.
Q: Should our respond to those who act in “ignorance and unbelief” (v.13) be different from those who “have shipwrecked their faith” (v.19)? Why? How so?

Wrap up in prayer.