Proven Character for Leadership

After taking quite a hiatus from publishing notes on a series I have previously taught and that I am teaching now on Wednesday evenings at my church, I wanted to return to these posts on the biblical letter known as 1 Timothy. You can find the first several parts of the series here.

Sadly, even a mention of the topic of pastoral integrity can conjure up mental pictures of all the prominent pastors we know of who have fallen in ministry. We remember them because they were placed on a proverbial pedestal, implicitly or explicitly stating that they were men of character worth following. Pastors aren’t supposed to be superhuman, as some seem to think, but they are to be pursuing God and godly character in such a way that their progress is evident to everyone. Notice how the Apostle Paul describes Timothy’s proven character to the Philippians:

Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you. (20) For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; (21) all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (22) But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. (Philippians 2.19-22, HCSB, emphasis added)

After talking about God’s purposeful, ordered design for church gatherings and the life of the church, now in 1 Timothy 3.1-7, Paul speaks about the qualifications of those who would lead and teach the church. What types of prerequisites are placed on church leaders? The men who would oversee the church must first have done these things.

Proven Personal Integrity (1 Timothy 3.1-3)

He begins by affirming that if someone senses an ongoing deep longing to serve as an overseer (pastor), his desires are good and noble. But he must live out his stated desires by proving his character. The apostle gives a list of qualifications for serving as an overseer. The pastor must practice these qualities, he says. We won’t detail the list here, but a brief look will show Paul’s heart.

The pastor must be above reproach. He must be a one-woman man. He must have the character and integrity that anyone would expect of a pastor. But perhaps what is most striking about this list is that every trait except one is actually expected of every follower of Jesus. The only unique prerequisite listed is that he must be able to teach. In other words, every believer should pursue godliness to the degree that he or she has proven progress in character. But the pastoral overseer must not only demonstrate these traits, he must also be able to teach adequately if he is to lead a church.

Modeled Family Leadership (vv. 4-5)

In many ways, a spiritually healthy church is like a big family. And the reverse is true. In many ways, a spiritually healthy family is like a little church. This principle runs as a subtheme throughout 1 Timothy. As I mentioned in the last 1 Timothy post, when it’s done well, male leadership in the church is simply an extension of what’s taking place in the home.

As such, the home is not so much a pastor-dad’s proving ground for leadership ability as it is his primary place of ministry. He simply must be a good husband and father. He is to lead and minister (that is, serve) effectively in both the home and church, and he is disqualified from church leadership if he can’t be a servant-leader at home.

Shown Spiritual Maturity (v. 6)

New believers and those immature in their faith have not proven their character and are not ready, yet, to be an overseer or pastor. Paul’s concern is basic, and obvious: Immature believers are perhaps especially susceptible to pride, which can bring them down just like it did for Satan. So in order to serve as a leader in the church, a man must not be too new in his understanding of the gospel, or of God Himself.

Earned Public Respect (v. 7)

The final qualification that Paul mentions here is that the church leader must have a good reputation in the public eye. His integrity must begin at home, proceed into his church, and extend out into the larger community. Even if his family and church love him, if a pastor has not demonstrated a keen appreciation for how he comes across to nonbelievers or the general public, he is not fit for leadership. Paul doesn’t mince words: he says to neglect this idea is to risk falling into a trap of Satan and into disgrace. Certainly a pastor’s real evaluation comes from God and he should live for an audience of One (see 1 Corinthians 4.3-4). However, while not being driven by public opinion, a pastor should care about how he represents God in view of an outside community that is watching. If he doesn’t, he’s not qualified to lead in the first place.

God certainly cares about the character of the men who would lead His church. To ignore His requirements concerning proven character is to follow a recipe for disaster. It is out of His love that He places such requirements: for the glory of His name, the good of His church, and the hope of the larger community.

[This is part of a larger series on 1 Timothy called The Community of Truth.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 5: Plans

Somehow when we consider our finances, or education, or career plans, we have no trouble being intentional and putting a strategy in place to help us make progress. But with our families, and with our churches, too often we let things go on autopilot. When we do, we almost guarantee that we will drift in the wrong direction. If you’re not progressing, you’re automatically regressing.

With this series we have been advocating a simple approach to ensuring that we continue to move forward, specifically here with reference to our local churches. Using the Scriptures as our principled guide, we begin with an understanding of our purpose as a church. From purpose we move to values. Then vision. Then goals. With each of these areas, we move from talking about universal ideas (every church’s purposes) to a more specific identity (individual church plans).

Plans

In the last post we described an approach to goal setting that requires faith in God’s promises and character. Now with faith-filled goals to set parameters, plan now and re-plan regularly to meet the goals the Lord has helped you to set. The next logical step is to ask God to help you meet your goals by planning your church’s life.

Design a progress plan that will help direct your church in meeting your God-given goals. Again, if a vision is in place and goals have been set, this task is simply placing items on our calendars and in our budgets to make sure they happen, if God grants them. There are all kinds of ways to do this effectively, and my intent here is not to promote one particular style of developing strategic plans. However, there are a few ideas from the Scriptures that are particularly helpful.

First, pastors need to be leaders, but not blindly. They need to be faithfully diligent (see Romans 12.8), and humbly seek wise advice:

Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.
(Proverbs 15.22, HCSB)

Also, I think that plans should be important, but held loosely. We all need to shift things around on the fly, because there is no way to predict the future. So expect the unexpected. This means having a balanced understanding of God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. In the last post we looked at Proverbs 16.9, but take a look also at 16.3 (HCSB):

Commit your activities to the LORD,
and your plans will be achieved.

In other words, be faithful to make plans, but also entrust them to God, who will act according to His pleasure and our good.

There are of course some practical and perhaps obvious (but sometimes overlooked) ideas, like weekly meetings and planning as far in advance as possible. But equally important are mid-course corrections, as circumstances change. To help do this, many wise leaders schedule one or two staff (or volunteer leadership) progress getaways per year to check the status of their goals and vision (even though most folks call this type of session a “staff retreat,” that name seems counter-intuitive; one pastor calls it a “staff advance”—I prefer “progress getaway”; regardless of what you call it, do it).

I’m no expert, but I know that these strategies need to happen regardless of church size. It may seem easier to do in large churches. But these practices can and must be used anywhere. As a small church pastor, I can seek the advice and agreement of our deacon team. And we can certainly schedule time away together to plan for our church’s progress.

Purpose, values, vision, goals, plans. A general-to-specific approach that is biblical, and that will help us keep progressing toward who God has called us to be, and what God has called us to do.

[This is part 5 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 4: Goals

In writing these posts on strategic thinking for progress in our churches, it has crossed my mind more than once that there have been many, far more eloquent and astute thinkers to write about these ideas. So in adding my two cents, I’m essentially encouraging my church and any who read here that this type of intentional strategy is absolutely necessary to move us forward to where we need and want to be. There are certainly great resources available to help you think through effective goal setting.

Goals

Previously we looked at developing a godly vision. Now, with a godly vision guiding you, set realistic goals for what you pray your church will become by God’s grace and ability. This is the next logical step: Ask God to help you establish legitimate, measurable, attainable, faith-filled goals.

By legitimate I simply mean reasonable. God may choose to work miraculously on your behalf, but your mid-term goals shouldn’t bank on the miraculous. Don’t illegitimately presume upon the grace of God. Your goals should also be attainable, but that doesn’t mean without faith. In fact, without faith it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11.6), and whatever is not done from faith is sin (see Romans 14.23).

How can our goals be full of faith? On one hand, there are times when God’s vision for you will be bigger than your expectations (or goals) for yourself:

Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— (21) to Him be glory.... (Ephesians 3.20-21, HCSB)

In those cases, follow Him in full faith that He will accomplish whatever He promised, just as Abraham learned to trust through near-unbelievable circumstances (see Romans 4.18-22).

On the other hand, there are times when it is as thought God is silent on a particular concern. It is in those times when God does not give specific answers that we must obediently follow His principles, again, in faith. So in goal setting, whether God seems to give specific paths or not, He requires our faith.

Either way, think of your goals as intermediate steps to obediently fulfilling God’s longer-range vision for you, your family, or your church.

What does it look like to set clear goals? I think a couple of examples from Paul’s life are instructive. Paul had set a goal of going to Rome. He was determined to get there. He wrote to them and expressed that desire (see Romans 15.20-32). Eventually he got there, but not by taking the path he had hoped: he was taken as a prisoner. In another instance, Paul had clearly communicated his intention (goal) of going back to Corinth, but when he was unable, he wrote a brief explanation to let them know he was sincere and not fickle (see 2 Corinthians 1.15-18).

Goals are to be put in place to act as reminders of a larger direction and directive. We’re following God, who always puts our steps in order:

A man’s heart plans his way,
but the LORD determines his steps.
(Proverbs 16.9, HCSB)

In the final post, we’ll talk about plans to accomplish the goals.

[This is part 4 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 3: Vision

Can you imagine the end of your life? Most people probably don’t want to do that. But I mean it in the best possible way. Imagine that you have reached old age, and that you are satisfied and content with the way your life and ongoing legacy have turned out.

It’s what I affectionately call the rocking chair moment: You’re near the end of your life sitting in cozy chair with your favorite coffee or tea, and you’re thinking through all that God has done in and through you. Again, imagine that things turned out the way you would want them.

Can you imagine that scenario? Now ask yourself: What would have to happen in order for that life reflection to be a satisfying one? How would you have treated your spouse, or what would you have done with your single life? Your children? Your career? Your finances? Once you think through what that would look like, what would you need to do in the next 30 years in order to get there? The next 20? 10? What would you need to do now in order to get there?

Now apply that to the church. What would we need to do in our churches to get us where we would want to one day be? We would probably come up with ideas that are different than what we’re actually currently doing on a weekly basis.

We have been looking at principles for progress in the church, and have noted that making progress requires intentional and strategic action. In the previous post, I mentioned that after understanding God’s purpose for the church, every local church should agree upon mutually held values. Once values are agreed upon, it’s time to start thinking about God’s vision for your church.

Vision

With godly values in place, develop a church vision for what you pray your church will become by God’s grace and ability. The next logical step is to ask God to show you what our church can become—for His glory.

Think of your vision as God’s guiding work to make you into what He has already planned. Notice how the KJV translates Proverbs 29.18: “Where there is no vision, the people perish….” We can see that the proverb is saying that when there is no guiding, agreed-upon principle, people throw off any restraint and recklessly do whatever they want.

But there’s more. The word behind what was translated vision has the sense of revelation. In other words, we need to hear God’s desire and plans, and then build our lives around that. The second half of the verse makes that clear. Here it is in the HCSB:

Without revelation people run wild,
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.
(Proverbs 29.18)

So vision does involve dreaming up big plans, but not without the revelation and instruction of God, primarily through His Word, driving the dreaming. How do we do it? I think Paul gives us an idea of that in Philippians.

For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. (19) Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, (20) but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3.18-20, HCSB)

The answer is that we start to dream and cast a vision for our churches as citizens of heaven. I think there is an interesting play on words in verse 20 above. Certainly it is true that the Savior for whom we wait will come again from heaven. But Paul was also addressing their (and our) mindset as citizens of heaven. Our thoughts should be there. So while we wait for Him to return, through heavenly thinking it’s as though the work is already accomplished, and as though we wait from there for Him to finalize the work down here.

In other words, take a heavenly view of life now.

Outline a vision based on lasting, godly values. Ask:

• What type of church will we be?
• How will we spend our funds?
• How can God use us in the coming months…years?
• What can we be doing now to prepare ourselves for Him to work in and through us?

When we do so, we’ll be casting a lasting vision for ourselves, our families, and our churches, that is driven by His purposes and shaped by His values. Next time we’ll look at setting goals.

[This is part 3 of 5 in the series, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here are the previous posts: Part 1, Part 2.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 2: Values

It’s always fun talking to young couples just before marriage, and asking them about their value system. Most people tend to think they don’t officially have an actual system of values. But the facts are otherwise. We all have and use a value system whether we know it or not. And it affects everything else we do, so it is vital in young relationships to talk about values and establish an intentional forward-thinking strategy.

In the previous post we began talking about making intentional progress in the church, and how that must begin by understanding that our purpose comes from God through His Word, or we’re not the church at all. If we understand God’s purpose for all local churches, we can begin to see our church’s unique identity by building our church life together on strategic, stated values.

Values

Again, as with purpose, these are derived from Scripture, and it is the next logical step: to determine our mutually held values, based on God’s Word.

And as before, the Bible is clear about values that fade versus values that last:

Who is wise and has understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. (14) But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t brag and deny the truth. (15) Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. (16) For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. (17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. (18) And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. (James 3.13-18, HCSB)

To make progress in our churches, we start with knowing God’s purpose(s) and then begin to define who we are by what we value. The above paragraph from James makes it obvious that there is a profound difference between the type of wisdom we get from the world as contrasted with what we receive from heaven. Worldly advice is even described as demonic in verse 15.

Progress requires intentionality. We must be strategic by the Holy Spirit’s power. And we must therefore ask the tough questions to ensure that we are being driven by God’s Spirit. Is our church carefully navigating the demands of ministry with an eye for what God desires from us? Do we value the things He values? Or are we just floating along without any real direction?

Real change in value systems starts with individuals, and then families, and then the church together. So ask yourself: Are my values…

• Physical or spiritual?
• Temporal or eternal?
• Earthly or heavenly?

In a family, these types of questions become important in practical ways when it’s time to decide on a newer vehicle, or on how many meals you eat out, or on how to spend that extra time on Saturdays. It helps us to actually think about daily decisions that add up to a value system.

On the church level, it could just change the direction of your church.

Ultimately I have to ask myself, are my values from the world or from the Word? Next time we’ll talk about vision.

[This is part 2 of 5 in a series titled, Principles for Progress in the Church. Here is Part 1.]

Principles for Progress in the Church, Part 1: Purpose

I like to talk about progress. This blog is named for our forward walk with Jesus. But when it comes to the church, too often we think we can float along, without any real direction or effort. We like to drift. The problem is that when we drift, we automatically go backwards. The sobering truth is, if you're not progressing, you're automatically regressing. So my desire for my church is to be intentional about being healthy and growing the way God intends.

Progress in the Local Church

Over the years, I have been fascinated with how many models and approaches there are to being and doing church. I love being a student of the Bible regarding the church, and I can’t help but watch as church models come and go, even within my lifetime.

More interesting is that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I’m thankful for the idea that our methods must change while our message must not. We are here to uphold the gospel. So when it comes to being the church, it matters not only what we do, but how we do it.

There are all kinds of advice out there telling us to how be relevant and stay relevant as culture shifts. There are also plenty of advocates to teach us how to lead and maintain a healthy, growing church in the midst of changing times. Ultimately what matters are the principles that God has clearly outlined in His Word. If we desire to be His church, which He even calls His bride, our local churches’ existence will be based on His principles and driven by His purposes.

The Bible teaches basic principles regarding how to be intentional and strategic in making progress as a healthy church. In fact, plenty of church leaders use these ideas to equip their congregations, although the wording and order may vary. Today we will look at the primary consideration: our purpose in being the church.

Purpose

God’s Word has much to say about the purpose of the church. The New Testament is rich in these concepts. And the bottom line is that if we don’t understand what we are to do, and the reason why we’re doing what we do, then nothing else matters. Our churches have to be driven by what Jesus has said are His purposes for His church, or we’re not Christian communities.

Many have described these purposes or functions of the church. Some have a list of seven items, others have three, but there is general agreement on the basic functions of what the church is supposed to be about. They include evangelism, fellowship, discipleship, service, and worship. Some list prayer separately; I would maintain that prayer supports each of these purposes.

These functions of the local church are taught in the Bible, and specifically, we see them in the Great Commission, and what Jesus Himself called the Great Commandments.

Here’s the Great Commission:

The 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. (17) When they saw Him, they worshiped, but some doubted. (18) Then Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. (19) Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations [Evangelism/Missions], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit [Fellowship/Community], (20) teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you [Discipleship/Teaching]. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.16-20, HCSB, notes added)

And the Great Commandments:

And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him: (36) “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”
     (37) He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind [Worship/Exaltation]. (38) This is the greatest and most important command. (39) The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself [Service/Care]. (40) All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22.35-40, HCSB, notes added)

Again, these five basic ideas are all over the New Testament. But to miss any of them makes us an imbalanced, unhealthy church.

These functions of the church are our purpose. It’s why we are the church. Next time we’ll move forward to consider our set of values.

[This is part 1 of 5 in a series titled, Principles for Progress in the Church.]

Believers Participate in Baptism

There will always be some disagreement among Christians about what baptism really is.  Since I am new to my church, it seemed wise not to assume that everyone in our Baptist congregation has been baptized, or that everyone completely understands why we do it.  So I preached about baptism—why we do what we do with regard to this ordinance of the church.  Many have skillfully written about the necessity and purpose of baptism.  But for my own church and those who may later join the membership, and for anyone it might help, I thought I would publish the brief notes here.

For all biblical Baptists, the most important idea regarding baptism is that baptism will not and cannot save you—or bring you into fellowship with God.

The Bible is absolutely clear that fellowship with God cannot be earned, neither by baptism nor any other work.  Fellowship with God must be accepted by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone (a basic Protestant belief that is taught in the Scriptures).  The Apostle Paul, who clearly could have emphasized baptism if he had wanted to, chose instead to diminish the role of baptism in his ministry, out of the concern that someone might misunderstand either the gospel or his authoritative preaching:

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect (1 Corinthians 1.17, HCSB).

So if baptism doesn’t save us, what is it and why does it matter?  Why and how do we practice baptism, and why is it only for believers in Christ?

Baptism is an ordinance for believers in Jesus, as a picture of our faith.  Here are five quick points to describe what baptism is, and why we participate in it.

Imperative

We participate in believers’ baptism because of the imperative from Jesus.  In the Great Commission (Matthew 28.18-20), Jesus commanded that the church baptize believers.  Ultimately this imperative or command from Jesus is to the church.  He was saying that we must baptize those who come to faith in Him.  Those who don’t want to participate in baptism are causing the church not to fulfill its commission from the Lord.  Why?  As part of His commission to the church, it is a demonstration to the world that you believe in Jesus.  To avoid baptism is to deny His command, and a rejection of His imperatives equals a rejection of Him (see John 14.15).

Instruction

We participate in believers’ baptism according to the instruction of the Scriptures.  The Bible clearly instructs, even from the beginning as John the Baptizer baptized Jesus, that baptism was and is a picture of repentance and faith in Jesus and His work (see John 1.25-34).  By being baptized, Jesus validated John the Baptizer’s message of repentance and faith, although Jesus didn’t have anything to repent of.  So for all those who are baptized now, we look backwards to the picture Jesus painted for us, and as such we are saying that our repentance and faith are wrapped up in what Jesus already did for us, not through anything we could do (see Acts 19.4).  This is also why we don’t baptize infants, since they cannot yet cognitively express repentance and faith in Jesus.

Immersion

We participate in believers’ baptism by immersion for its symbolism.  Not only does the term to baptize mean to immerse, or to be dunked under water, but also there is a far greater reason why we practice baptism by immersion.  Again, we follow after the pattern of Jesus who went down into the water (see Matthew 3.16-17).  But we also do it primarily because baptism by immersion is a great picture of death, burial and resurrection.  Rather than signifying cleansing, baptism points to our death, burial and resurrection with Christ.  Spiritually speaking, we die with Him, and we are raised with Him.  In water we see a demonstration and illustration of what is taking place, but the real ministry is in our hearts (see Colossians 2.12).

Identification

We participate in believers’ baptism for its identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection.  Just as above we mentioned that immersion is a symbol of the real death and resurrection of Jesus, therefore also by identifying with Him, it means that in Christ we benefit from His accomplishments.  If Jesus conquered death, we in Christ conquer death.  If He conquered sin, we in Christ conquer sin.  If He lives a victorious life, we in Christ have a victorious life (see Romans 6.3-4; Galatians 2.20).  So because we identify with Christ in His death and His resurrection, He takes our sin off of us, and he puts on us His righteousness.  We can put off the old way of life, and put on a new, victorious one (see Galatians 3.27).

Initiation

We participate in believers’ baptism as an initiation into the church.  When someone identifies with Christ as described above, it also indicates his or her initiation into the church of God in Christ.  Even in the Great Commission, the act of baptism marks those who are baptized as members of a group—the ones who belong to Christ, His church.  Scripture also speaks of caring accountability and discipline for those included in the church, and baptism acts as a visible seal of faith, showing the members as those who identify with Jesus.  We are all spiritually baptized into one body in Christ, and water baptism reflects that spiritual baptism into Christ and His church (1 Corinthians 12.13).

Ultimately, we participate in baptism for believers because we know and love Jesus, we live for His glory, and it marks us as His.