Models of Godliness

Models of Godliness - Elder Qualifications 








1Tim 4:7 train yourself to be godly 6:11 pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love... Titus1:1 apostle for faith...and experiential knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness, 2Pt 1:3  add to your faith...perseverance, godliness...not unfruitful...rich welcome

Titus 1:6  elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe & are not open to the charge of being wild & disobedient.
I Timothy 3:2-5 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife... 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone doesn't know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?)

I. BLAMELESS (Above reproach, Unindictable)
A. Is there anything in his life that has not been dealt with in a biblical manner? Could you charge him with any uncorrected wrongdoing? Is there any way in which he is not a model of godliness?
B. If so, follow the principle of Matthew 18.
C. Can he limit his natural desires to do what God desires or what is best for others?
D. Is he a model of godliness, in the sense that he is characterized by consistent experiential knowledge (application) of truth?
E. Does his behavior indicate that his actions are based upon a strong hope or expectation of eternal rewards? (Titus 1:2)

II. HUSBAND-OF ONE WIFE (One woman man)
A. Are his attentions and delights focused solely on his wife?
B. Do his interactions with other women indicate that he is a one-woman man?
C. Does his relationship with his wife indicate that he would not drift towards an actual or fantasized affair?
D .Do the observable parts of his life provide evidence that he has control of his desires?
E. Does he limit his desires, for the benefit of his wife?

III. BELIEVING CHILDREN (Passing on the faith)
A. Has he passed on his faith to his children (and others)?
B. Is his relationship with Jesus such that it is attractive to others?
C. Is he free from hypocrisy so that he's the same at church and at home?

IV. BEHAVING CHILDREN (Passing on the lifestyle)
A. Has he passed on the sound-minded control of his emotions and desires to his children?
B. Do his children (disciples) demonstrate the ability to limit their desires for a higher objective (wild = not saving)?
C. Has he passed on the lifestyle of submission to authority? Or are his children rebellious?
D. Do his children obey him with God-fearing respect?
E. Do his children honor their parents?

V. MANAGING FAMILY WELL
A. Does his family exhibit the Biblical pattern for families (Eph 5-6; Col 3) Is it a model for others?
B. Does his wife respond to his leadership with respect and submission?
C. Is he disciplining and training his children to fear the Lord?
D. Would you want the church to be like his family life?
E. Does he take the initiative in solving family difficulties or does he let things smolder until things explode?
F. Is his home in such an order that it can be used as a base for ministry?

Titus 1:7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless--not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. I Timothy -3:3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.

VI. STEWARD/ENTRUSTED WITH GOD'S WORK
A. If you were God. would you hire him and entrust him with your property or business?   B. Why or why not?

VII. NOT OVERBEARING (Self-willed, Self-pleasing)
A. Does he insist on having his own way?
B. Does he patiently persuade or force his opinion on others?
C. Is he open to new ideas?
D. Does he nit-pick the little things under the guise of being right?
E. Does he make decisions based on what's right or what pleases him? F. Is he sensitive to what is in another's best interest as well as their feelings and preferences?

IX. NOT QUICK-TEMPERED
A. Can he endure injustice and ill-treatment?
B. Does he insist on being right?
C. Does he have to tell you what he thinks or can he control his anger?
D. In the face of sheer stupidity can he channel his outrage constructively?
E. Does irritation quickly flare up into anger?

X. NOT BESIDE WINE (Escapism)
A. Does he avoid or escape his responsibilities through procrastination?
B. Does he comfort himself or alter his experience or reality through alcohol, food, TV, travel, computer games or other forms of amusement?
C. Can he face and do the unpleasant?
D. Does he avoid and run away from failure or overcome and learn from it?

XI. NOT VIOLENT (Hasty in striking an opponent)
A. When wronged, does he lash out or seek to get even or get revenge?
B. Can he attack a position without attacking the person?
C. Has he freed himself from unrighteous anger, hate or hostility?
D. Can he disagree without being disagreeable?
E. Would you call him a peacemaker who can reconcile relationships?
F. Does he seek to understand another's position and the reasoning (or lack thereof) behind it before attacking the position?

XII. NOT PURSUING DISHONEST GAIN
A. Is he free from the love of money? Is he a workaholic?
B. Would he compromise a principle to add to his principal?
C. Does he live within a budget?
D. Does he tithe, recognizing God's ownership of all he has?
E. Will he compromise (not forsake) the truth so others will like him?
F. Does he base his estimate of himself and others on their income?
G. Does he place his job ahead of his family or spiritual responsibilities, or does he neglect spiritual service for work?

Titus 1:8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined 
I Timothy 3:2 temperate self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach

XIII. HOSPITABLE (Lover of strangers)
A. Does he seek out strangers and visitors and make them feel welcome?
B. Can he develop a relationship with a stranger to the point where he can discern & help accomplish God's purposes for that person?
C. Does he use his home as a base for ministering to other's needs?
D. Is he growing in his circle of acquaintances and friendships?
Rom 12:13 Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality  Heb 13:2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained strangers without knowing it. 1Pt 4:9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

XIV. LOVER OF GOOD
A. Is he attracted toward what is good?
B. What good works have you seen demonstrated in his life?
C. Does he have a disdain for what is not good?
2Tim 3:2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive. disobedient to their parents, ungrateful unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God--5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 7 always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth.

XV. SOUND MENDED (Self-controlled)
A. Does he govern his life by principles and objectives or by natural drives, appetites, and lusts. (i.e., sex or security)?
B. Is it obvious that he limits what he could be doing in order to do what God wants?
C. Can he explain the thinking behind his actions or does he just go with the flow?
D. Does his mind control his feelings and actions or does he react and then rationalize?
E. Does he think before he acts, making decisions based on accurate information?
F. Does he have grasp of the big picture so that he knows when he has enough information to make a decision that pleases God?
Mk 5:15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind,- and they were afraid. (see also 2 Cor 5:13)  Ac 26:25 "I am not insane, most excellent Festus, ' Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. Rm 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you.- Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 2Tim 1 7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. Titus 2:2 each the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. Titus 2:5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands so that no one will malign the word of God. 12 It teaches us to say "No " to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age,

XVI. JUST (Upright)
A. Has he taught himself to automatically know what is right and just and fair in the common circumstances of life (through steeping his values in Proverbs)?
B. Does he exhibit justice and fairness in dealing even with his opponents?
C. Does he operate according to God's standards and principles in all spheres of his life'?
D. Does he make decisions based on God's perspectives and values?

XVII. HOLY
A. Does he know or seek out what God wants or desires when faced with a decision?
B. Could you say that he does what Jesus would do in any given situation?
C. Would he be known as devout or pious?
D. Does he exhibit a concern for pleasing God?
E. Is he a model of personal holiness?
F. Do his speech and values indicate that he is in the world but not of the world?
G. Doss he care more about what God thinks than what others think?
Eph 4:22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. I Thess 2:10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.
I Tim 2:8 1 want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.
Heb 7:26 Such a high priest meets our need-one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens.

XVIII. DISCIPLINED (Power under control)
A. Does his will control his life so that he does what God wants even when his emotions and past experiences point in another direction?
B. Is there evidence that he can make or break a habit?
C. Does he consistently practice the disciplines of the Christian life: devotional time, Scripture memory, Bible study, and prayer?
D. Is self-control evident in his eating, exercise, and speech habits?
E. Can he inhibit or exhibit a desire at will?
F. Is it obvious that he is in training for the prize?
G. Is he controlling his life or are others or circumstances ruling it?
Ac 24:25 As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said 'That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you. "
1Co 7:9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to bum.
1Co 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last,- but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Gal 5.-22 But the fruit of the Spirit is ..self-control.
2Pe 1:5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge, and to knowledge, self-control, and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness

I Timothy 3:2 ...able to teach…   Titus 1:9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. 10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

XIX. ABLE TO TEACH

A. KNOWING THE WORD
1. Can he accurately represent what God has said?
2. Is he a diligent student of the Word of God?
3 . Is he on a path which over the course of a lifetime will lead to mastery of the Truth?
4. Is he mining fresh truth or recycling platitudes?
5. Does he know the whole counsel of God, or just ride hobbyhorses?
6. Does he emphasize what God emphasizes?

B. APPLYING THE WORD

1. IN EXAMPLE
a. Is his lifestyle such that he has credibility?
b. Does he practice what he preaches (model godliness)?
c. Is he an embodiment of sound doctrine? (hold firmly to the message)?

2. IN TEACHING
a. Is he able to limit his preferences and overcome obstacles to communicate so others understand?
b. Is his teaching geared to knowledge or obedience?

3. IN ENCOURAGING (calling alongside)
a. Does his teaching provide Biblical motivation for obedience?
b. Does he encourage others with the word (sound doctrine) or what they want to hear (pious platitudes)?
c. Does he encourage others in the Lord or build dependence on himself or other temporal props?

4. IN REPROVING
a. Does he love people enough to confront unbiblical thinking/actions even when he knows he won't be liked or
accepted (and may even be misunderstood and slandered)?
b. Is he more concerned about his reputation with God than with what others think of him?
c. Are his arguments based upon the Scriptures or his preferences?
d. Does he exhibit gentleness and long-suffering in his rebuking?
e. Does he bring things to light (reproof) before rebuke?
f. Does he allow time for repentance?
g. Does he follow up rebuke with encouragement if there's repentance or with initiating church discipline (Mt 18) if not?
h. Is his goal restoration or condemnation?

I Timothy 3:1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task.

XX. ASPIRE/DESIRE
A. Does he seek to be used by God in leading/serving others or does he act like he's doing God and others a favor?
B. Does he approach serving as worshipful service or a holy hobby?

I Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

XXI. MATURE/HUMBLE
A. Has he had time to develop mature fruit of the Spirit in his life?
B. Is he prone to conceit or does he have a proper view of himself'.?
C. Has he eagerly sought service in the shadows as well as in the spotlight?

I Timothy 3:7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

XXII GOOD REPUTATION
A. Does he present the same picture at work or at home as he does at church?
B. Are his business practices above reproach?
C. Does his non-church life draw others to church and Christ?
D. Can he handle responsibility without it going to his head?
E. Would his boss fill out a recommendation form for him?

1Tim 3:8 Deacons. likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain.

XXIII. RESPECTABLE
A. Is he worthy of respect due to his accomplishments and competence?
B. Has he done anything to undermine his respect?

XXIV. SINCERE (Not slanderers)
A. Does he keep his promises?

XXV. TEMPERATE
A. Can he restrain and control his appetites and desires?
B. See under "Escapism", "Sound-minded", and "Self-control".

XVI. NOT GREEDY FOR A QUICK BUCK
A. See under "Not Pursuing Dishonest Gain".

XXVII. KNOW THE TRUTH & APPLY THE TRUTH  A. See under "Able to Teach".

I Timothy 3. 1 0 They must first be tested, and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

XXVIII. TESTED
A. Has he demonstrated faithfulness in other "unofficial" tasks'?

XXIX. BLAMELESS See above #I.
ITim 3:11 Same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers, but temperate & trustworthy in everything.

XXX. WIFE WASHERS (Eph 5)
A. Has he been a stimulus to his wife's Christlikeness by both example and word?
B. Has he helped her grow in her obedience to the word and service?
C. Does his wife exhibit order and respectability'?
D. Is his wife known for her gracious edifying speech rather than indiscreet gossip or critical talk?
E. Can his wife be trusted with a secret or a responsibility?

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

Are all believers models of godliness?  Is godliness automatic or do we have to do something to achieve it? How do you get it?
Why the emphasis on family? How does a woman reflect on her husband? What can you tell about a person from their spouse>
What is “spiritual leadership”? Is it important? Should all men strive to become elders?  Should all believers strive to become godly?
What can you do to increase your GQ (godliness quotient) and that of those around you? Are you a model of godliness?