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1 Timothy teaches sound doctrine, godly leadership, public worship, and faithful conduct in the household of God.
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Bryan Schneider
November 1, 2024
1 Timothy 3:8-13
This sermon on 1 Timothy 3:8-13 examines the character and role of deacons, emphasizing integrity, humility, and faith. Deacons are called to serve with godly character, holding fast to the Gospel and modeling Christlike love in their actions. Their service strengthens the church and glorifies God.
Bryan Schneider
August 4, 2023
1 Timothy 3:1
1 Timothy 3:1 shows us that elders are to be shepherds and servants who are called to do hard work. The work of an elder is sacrificial work. It is the hard job of protecting Christ's sheep from their enemies, both inside and outside the Church. An elder is called to labor in prayer, taking God's people to the Chief Shepherd and entrusting them to His care. There is also the work of feeding. Sheep depend on their shepherd for their food, so we should look for a man who is already on a diet of the Word and shares the living water with others. We need to beware of false shepherds and look to the Lord Jesus as our true Shepherd. Sadly, some "pastors" would rather line their own pockets instead of doing the hard work to serve God's people. When looking for an elder, we need to look for a man who imitates Jesus in His earthly ministry. Even in His tiredness, Jesus still worked and served and loved the people. It took physical, spiritual, and emotional work. He worked out the plan of salvation for His sheep. We need to look for a man who does not desire to work for his own glory, but for the good of God's sheep, as an under-shepherd of Jesus.
Bryan Schneider
July 28, 2023
1 Timothy 3:1-7
It's a good thing if a man desires to serve the Church as an elder, but what is this desire? It has to be something deeper than just thinking it would be a neat office to fill. It has to be something that the Lord has deeply rooted in the man's heart. When looking for a man to serve as an elder, we need to look for someone who shows a spirit of humility. Is he humble enough to listen, especially to God? Is he humble enough to serve? Even Jesus came to earth to serve others, not Himself. We need to look for someone who cares practically for others and helps them grow. A potential elder also needs to be humble enough to pray and be rebuked by God's Word. We need to look for a man who is marked by wisdom – knowing what to do and how to do it. A wise shepherd knows how and when to lead the sheep spiritually. A wise man values others' opinions and will seek out answers to questions that he may not know. A wise man knows when and when not to fight. If a man is desiring to serve as an elder, what is he desiring right now? What is his goal for himself and his family? Is his focus on Jesus and His Kingdom? You'll never find a perfect elder, but he should be a man who hungers and thirsts after righteousness and knows that this can only be satisfied in Jesus. He needs to be a man who is desiring the right things.
Bryan Schneider
July 21, 2023
1 Timothy 3:1-7
Those who wish to be first must be servant of all. An elder is to be a shepherd of the people of God. When looking for a man to be an elder, we should search for a man whose voice is like that of Christ. He needs to care for the lambs in Jesus' flock. An elder must not lord it over God's people. He must set a good example and have the right motivations. He should be eager to serve and do good for others. We need to look for a man who will protect with foresight, and a man who will lead our souls to living waters. We need a man who knows where in the Scriptures to direct us when we need to find green pastures. In short, when electing an elder, we need to look for a man who strives to be like Jesus Christ.