THE GRACIOUS MANDATE OF GOSPEL MINISTRY

Every Christian is called to gospel ministry—in the sense that we are called to salvation and service. We have freely received the Gospel and are to freely give. The Spirit has gifted every member of the church and in the context of that local church and its community are meant to exercise those gifts. It is full-time work, even if we are a factory worker, a business executive, or a waitress; there is never a time we are not on the job of serving Christ.

Having said that, it is also clear from Scripture that God sets aside certain men for church leadership. That is the focus of 1 Timothy 3:1-7.

A man must have a CALL.  He “desires the position,” not as a matter of carnal covetousness, but a sense of Divine compulsion. Paul put it this way, “For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor.9:16).  There is an inner drive he cannot escape.

A man must have good CHARACTER. The qualifications listed in 1 Tim.3 are primarily those of character. No matter how skilled a man may be in speaking and leading, if his example cannot be followed, he is not worthy to shepherd God’s flock. This is the foundation of his ministry, and unless it is solid, eventually his leadership will collapse to the ruin of many.

A man must have a level of COMPETENCE. Although this is secondary to character, it is still important. He will have shown he is competent in leadership by how he shepherds his family. The home is the laboratory where leadership is tested and proven. He will also manifest a competence in communication as well, “able to teach,” (1 Tim.3:2). Since he will feed the flock the Word of God, he must exhibit that capacity.

A man must have CONFIRMATION. His wife and children will confirm it—that he is a man of God in the family who can lead the flock. The community will confirm it—“Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside,” (1 Tim.3:7a). He must be respectable in his dealings in the world if he is to have a hearing for the Gospel and not be branded a hypocrite. The church will confirm it—as they examine his call, character, and competence, finding  a level of spiritual maturity that qualifies for laying hands on him in support of ordination.

As John Maxwell says, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”  That is true to the Word of God in the local church.