Overseers and Deacons

In this sermon, we continue in our study through 1 Timothy exploring 1 Timothy 3:1-16. The Apostle Paul describes qualifications for elders and deacons. We see Paul list character traits for godly leaders as well as the mystery of godliness.

"The call to godly conduct is not a challenge to pursue a self-generated “bootstrap” godliness. Rather, it is a call to live out the dizzying realities of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ is the burning essence of godliness—its radiating nuclear core, so to speak. In his incarnation, death, and resurrection, the mystery of godliness was displayed before the universe. And by virtue of Christ’s saving grace, all those who believe in him have been united to him so that they share in his godliness. His godly record becomes ours by grace, but in the thankful response of regenerated hearts, we also begin to live out personally the godliness Christ embodied. Paul’s call to godliness is thus both gospel-generated and gospel-sustained. If you have Christ, you possess and are possessed by the very “mystery of godliness.” And you can live out this mystery!" - Kent Hughes