Leadership in the
Local Church
Qualifications of Elders (1)
“Before Appointment”
Preacher Ed | Waupaca Church of Christ
Created by EVV Keeping the Faith 2026
Divine Necessity
•God did not guess.
•Qualifications exist before appointment.
•We do not lower the bar to fill a vacancy.
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Souls Are At Stake
•Doctrine
•Discipline
•Danger
•Direction
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“It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do.”
1 Timothy 3:1
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1
Qualifications Are
Not a Wish List
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The Divine “Must”
1 Timothy 3:2
→“An overseer, then, MUST be…”
•Not “should be”
•Not “it would be nice if”
•It is a divine imperative.
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The Standard
What Churches Say
• “Mostly qualified”
• “Close enough”
• “He’ll get there”
• “We need someone now”
What Scripture Says
• MUST BE
• TESTED
• PROVEN
• NOT HASTILY
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“Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.”
1 Timothy 5:22
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Two Errors
Adding
Pharisaism
Binding where God has not bound.
Subtracting
Liberalism
Loosing where God has bound.
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2
Two Texts
One Standard
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Complementary Texts
1 Timothy 3
Verses 1–7
Titus 1
Verses 5–9
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“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”
Titus 1:5
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Timothy Emphasis
Ephesus (Established Church)
•Stability
•Restraint
•Reputation
•Carefulness with Outsiders
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Titus Emphasis
Crete (Difficult Culture)
•Blamelessness
•Order in the Home
•Doctrinal Backbone
•Refuting Rebels
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“…holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”
Titus 1:9
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3
Before A Man Can
Be Appointed
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Non-Negotiables
✓He is an Elder (Mature)
✓He is Male
✓He Desires the Work
✓He is Already Qualified
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Word Study
πρεσβύτερος
(Presbyteros)
Mature • Respected • Seasoned
“His life carries credibility.”
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WARNING
The church is not appointing a potential project.
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B
He Must Be Male
God’s Order
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The Text is Clear
→“If any MAN…” (1 Tim 3:1)
→“An overseer MUST BE…”
→“Husband of one wife…”
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Role Distinction
≠
Value Difference
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“But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”
1 Timothy 2:12
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C
He Must Desire
The Work
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The Nature of Desire
Unclean Desire
• Ego / Status
• Control
• Pressure
• Legacy
Clean Desire
• Protect the Flock
• Hold the Truth
• Serve Christ
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“…nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.”
1 Peter 5:3
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4
Specified Qualities
(Part 1)
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Not A Novice
1 Timothy 3:6
•Literally: “Newly Planted”
•Danger: Conceit / Pride
•It takes time to prove roots.
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Able To Teach
•Exhort in sound doctrine
•Refute those who contradict
•Silence false teachers
•This is not optional.
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Discussion
1. Why is “must” non-negotiable?
2. Difference between a wish list and a standard?
3. What is the danger of “potential projects”?
4. What does “Presbyteros” imply about life?
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Assignment
→Read 1 Tim 3 & Titus 1 Daily
→Pray for current/future leaders
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Do not gamble with leadership.
Honor the Standard.
Preacher Ed