Prayer for All Members Based on Pastor Jared’s Message, October 9, 2022 1 Timothy 3:1-7
Qualifications for Pastors

Introduction: The Bible gives us two offices in the church – pastors (also called elders and overseers) and deacons. This passage describes what a pastor is, who can be a pastor, and what a pastor must do.

1. Pastors Work. (3:1)

   The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

   The office of pastor is not a title but a work – a noble task. The primary work of pastors is to shepherd the people that God has entrusted to them.

   Father, please give us men who aspire to work as shepherds for Your people!

2. Pastors Have Godly Character. (3:2-3)

   ...an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

• Above reproach – man of integrity

• Husband of one wife – models purity

• Sober-minded – vigilant for the flock

• Self-controlled – decisions are sensible

• Respectable – decent in every way

• Hospitable – opens home in love
• Not a drunkard – Spirit-filled
• Gentle – firm, but a tender shepherd
• Not quarrelsome – corrects peaceably
• Not a lover of money – content, not greedy

Father, please give us men who qualify to work as shepherds for Your people!

3. Pastors Teach. (3:2)

   ...able to teach...

   A pastor must be a man of the Word who can teach sound doctrine and sound living.

   Lord, please lead our pastors to continue to study and be teachable as they continue to teach us.

4. Pastors Lead In the Home. (3:4-5)

   He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church?

   The way you can tell if a man is a good shepherd for the church is that he is a good shepherd for his own family.

5. Pastors Are Spiritually Mature. (3:6)

   He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

   Christians are not immediately able upon conversion to oversee a church.

6. Pastors Have a Good Reputation. (3:7)

   Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

   Pastors need personal holiness. A good reputation inside and outside the church is a must.

   Lord, please enable our pastors to be able to testify how You have saved them and changed them, and to live lives that bear out their testimony!