New Heart Community Church

Series:  Doing Church God’s Way

I Timothy 5:17-25-The Care and Feeding of A Spiritual Leader

Sunday, April 13, 2008

THE PASSAGE:

1 Timothy 3:14-15/ 1 Timothy 3:1-13

I Timothy 5:17-25(NIV)

17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses. 20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.

 21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

 23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

 24The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

THE PRINCIPLES:

How to Treat a Spiritual Leader

      u When they do well – PAY THEM WELL.

               1 Timothy 5:17-18/ Leviticus 7:30-35/ 1 Corinthians 9:7-15/ Galatians 6:6/ 1 Timothy 3:3 & 1 Peter 5:2

      v When they’re criticized – GIVE THEM THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT.

               1 Timothy 5:19/ Deuteronomy 17:6-7 & 19:15-20/ Matthew 18:15-16                       

Deuteronomy 17:6-7(NIV)  

6 On the testimony of two or three witnesses a man shall be put to death, but no one shall be put to death on the testimony of only one witness. 7 The hands of the witnesses must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people. You must purge the evil from among you.

      w When they mess up – DON’T COVER UP.

                1 Timothy 5:20-21/ James 3:1/ Galatians 2:11-15

I Timothy 5:20-21(NIV)

20Those who sin are to be rebuked publicly, so that the others may take warning.  21I charge you, in the sight of God and Christ Jesus and the elect angels, to keep these instructions without partiality, and to do nothing out of favoritism.

James 3:1(NIV)

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

      x When you choose one – TAKE YOUR TIME.

                1 Timothy 5:22/ 1 Timothy 3:6 & 10

I Timothy 5:22(NIV)
 22Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.

      y When they’re human – DON’T BE SHOCKED.

               1 Timothy 5:23-25/ 1 Corinthians 12:7-11/ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 7:5-6; 4:7

I Timothy 5:23-25(NIV)

 23Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

 24The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.

THREE TAKE HOME QUESTIONS:

      u Am I GENEROUS or STINGY?

      v Do I believe THE BEST or THE WORST?

      w Is my focus on GOD or MAN?