Sermons

S.R.  John 10:11-18

I.       Experience with Successful Family Relationships

A.    Relationship with his wife

1.      Moral purity

a.       Not one who chases women or has “eyes full of adultery” (2 Pet. 2:14)

2.      “Husband of one wife” (cf. 1 Tim. 5:9)

3.      Knows how to love his wife

4.      Keeps covenants

a.       He has made a covenant before God with his wife  (Mal. 2:12 – 16)

b.      He is a promise keeper not a covenant breaker.

5.      An elder’s wife is a great asset in his work (1 Tim. 3:11) “Their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”

B.     Relationship with his children  (1 Timothy 3:4 – 5 and Titus 1:5 – 6)

1.      “Children that believe”  (Titus 1:6)

a.       The word “children” (Gk. tekna) can be understood as either singular or plural, just as in English.  (Cf. Deut. 25:5; Mt. 22:24; 1 Tim. 5:4, 10)

b.      Ex. Would all of you with children please stand?

c.       Stress is on “believe” not on the number of children.

2.      “Believing children” 

a.       Literally “faithful children.”

b.      “believe”  (cf. 1 Tim. 6:2)  “those who have believers as their masters”

c.       Some think this is not “faithful to Christ,” but “faithful to their parents.”

d.      I think that misses the point (cf. 1 Timothy 3:4 – 5)

3.       “Children” (1 Timothy 3:4 – 5) would indicate that among these are children old enough to express and demonstrate their own will.

a.       Not a wild or rebellious child  (Titus 1:6)

b.      What does the choices of a man’s adult children say about his leadership to family?

c.       A man may have some older children who are in Christ, and yet a younger one that is not yet old enough to make a commitment to serve Christ.

4.      Why this character sketch? (1 Timothy 3:4 – 5)

a.       Fathers can’t “control” the choices of their adult children.

b.      But the choices of those children have an impact on the confidence of others in regard to management of family.  (Very painful)

c.       Young men: Build and maintain healthy relationships at home first and best.

II.    Experienced Lover

A.    Lover of God (Mt. 22:37 – 38)

1.      Good lovers, are first and foremost, lovers of God

a.       Models of persistent prayer with fervent confidence in God who hears.

b.      Leaders of praise and worship to God who, with proper decorum, who demonstrate that truth about God impacts in an emotional way.

2.      Managing appetites, temper, money and.  (Self – control) [1 Tim. 3:4]

a.       Not a lover of wine  (1 Timothy 3:4)

b.       “Wine is a mocker, Strong drink is a brawler, And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” (Prov. 20:1)

c.       Note the accompanying conduct with “given to wine”.  (Pugnacious)

d.       “3943. paroinos, from G3844 and G3631; staying near wine, i.e. tippling:--given to wine.” (1 Peter 4:3; Romans 14:21; Gal. 5:13)

3.      Not a lover of money – the idol of covetousness (Col. 3:5) 

a.       Leads many away from the love of God  (Luke 8:14) choked by “riches and pleasures”

B.     Lover of the People of God  (Mt. 22:39)

1.      Good shepherds are men who love God’s people.

2.      Unlike the competitive, intimidating rams, good shepherds  “keep watch over your souls.”  (Heb. 13:17)

3.      We take our struggles to this kind of shepherd who is sensitive, “not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome.”

4.      We need shepherds who are firm, friendly and fair with every sheep.

5.      Every sheep deserves the same quality of care.

C.     Lover of People who Don’t know God

1.      Primarily, as shepherds, your work is with those who are the “flock of God among you” (1 Peter 5:2)

2.      Luke 15:4 - 6  Lost and straying sheep are a priority.

3.      Lover of Hospitality (KJV) (1 Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:8) 

a.       One who loves strangers (Gk.  philoxenos:G5382)

III. Conclusion:

A.    Look for men who are mature, experienced teachers of the Word, who have reared spiritually healthy and believing families and who are known as lovers of God and family.

B.     Be people who:  “are better served by learning to be and do what we expect our leaders to be and do.  In the final analysis, it is the Chief Shepherd to whom we look for guidance as we share this responsibility and privilege together.”

C.     It is time that each of us determine to “smell like sheep.”