1. Welcome to the assembly of the 160th Ave. Church of Christ!
We gather Sunday at 9 a.m.(class), 10 a.m., p.m., & Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Check the bulletin for various announcements

2. God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Acts 17:24-25 NKJV)

3. Overseer Family Necessary traits Forbidden traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)
Overseer
Knowledge, Ability, Experience, Desire
1 Timothy 3; Titus 1

4. How To View These Verses
God’s plan (Acts 20:28)
A general summary of a man’s reputation and character
Some are absolute (either present or absent)
Some are relative (present in degrees)
I. Viewing the lists (1 Tim. 3; Ti. 1)
A. As coming from God This is how the Holy Spirit makes overseers (Acts 20:28), so I have to work diligently to understand the will of the Lord and be neither more general or specific than The Spirit.
B. As a general summary of an elder’s reputation and character
1. What Paul writes is not a checklist of every single “do” and “don’t,” for some things not specified are equally important, such as the fruit of the Spirit (and “not” the works of the flesh), whole armor of God, beatitudes (incl Lk. 6:24-26), abounding in (2 Pet. 1:5-7), etc---all these specifics are included in the general traits Paul wrote.
2. What Paul wrote is general and specific enough to thoroughly equip us for this good work 2 Tim. 3:16-17
C. Some items are absolutes (husband, having children, not. . .)
D. Some items are relative (present in degrees) which does not demand mastery in those areas but allows for ongoing growth as long as it is already present (able to teach, hospitable, gentle).
Family
Necessary traits
Forbidden traits
Overseer
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

5. Family The husband of one wife rules, manages his house well
as a husband
as a father
II. The family qualifications
A. the husband of one wife
1. implies a man because the nature of this work involves having authority
2. a married man
3. rules out women and unmarried men who have other vital work in God’s plan but who are appointed in many modern religious groups.
B. one who rules his own house well (proistemi = rules) manage(s) (NASB, NIV)
1. “married” is not enough---he must be faithful to his wife in that role
2. having his children in submission (hupotage) with all reverence (semnotes) [under control...dignity (NASB), children obey him...respect (NIV)]
3. having faithful (pistos) children [children who believe... (NASB), whose children believe... (NIV)]
a. faithful to God or the parents? In the NT, pistos overwhelmingly refers to someone faithful to God, [exceptions being parables or in reference to things, such as God’s word being faithful].
b. some say “But he cannot control whether or not they become Christians” yet neither can he control whether they submit with all reverence or rebel.
c. He must have faithful (believing) children, though it does not say how many.
4. not accused of dissipation (asotia) or insubordination (anupotaktos) [dissipation or rebellion (NASB), wild and disobedient (NIV)]
a. dissipation = prodigal (NKJV), loose (NASB), wild (NIV) Lk. 15:13
b. conduct typical of worldly children, avoided by Abel, Joseph, Samuel, Josiah, Daniel, Jesus in youth
5. for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?
a. in this case, God explains His purpose for this qualification
b. how he ruled his house will typically show how he will take care of the church of God
c. so if he has believing children but it is known that he did not rule his house well, he is not equipped to do this work.
Family
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

6. Necessary traits Desire Blameless (above reproach) Job 1:1 Temperate
Sober-minded (prudent, self-controlled)
Of good behavior (respectable)
Hospitable (“generous to guests” “fond of guests”)
Able to teach
Gentle Js. 3:17
III. The positive character qualifications
A. desire Many have reservations, as Moses did, but surely we must think deeper than “I just don’t want to...”
B. blameless (anepileptos) above reproach (NIV, NASB) No ongoing sin, Job 1:1
C. temperate (nephaleos) clear-minded (
D. sober-minded (sophron) prudent (NASB), self-controlled (NIV)
E. of good behavior (kosmios) respectable (NASB, NIV), dignified (
F. hospitable (philoxenos) “generous to guests” (Thayer), “fond of guests” (Strong), not limited to strangers (1 Pet. 4:9; Rom. 16:23)
G. able to teach (didaktios) implies not just having the ability but the use of the ability
H. gentle (epieikes) Js. 3:17 peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits (NKJV)
I. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (NKJV)
J. a lover of what is good (philagathos), as opposed to lover of self, money, pleasure (2 Tim. 3:2, 4)
K. just (dikaios) upright (NIV) gracious (
L. holy (hosios) devout (NASB)
M. self-controlled (egkrates) disciplined (NIV) violated by any addiction (incl nicotine, caffeine)
N. holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (NKJV)
Necessary traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

7. Necessary traits A good testimony. . .
A lover of what is good (versus 2 Tim. 3:2, 4)
Just (upright)
Holy (devout)
Self-controlled (disciplined)
Holding fast the faithful word. . .
III. The positive character qualifications
A. desire Many have reservations, as Moses did, but surely we must think deeper than “I just don’t want to...”
B. blameless (anepileptos) above reproach (NIV, NASB) No ongoing sin, Job 1:1
C. temperate (nephaleos) clear-minded (
D. sober-minded (sophron) prudent (NASB), self-controlled (NIV)
E. of good behavior (kosmios) respectable (NASB, NIV), dignified (
F. hospitable (philoxenos) “generous to guests” (Thayer), “fond of guests” (Strong), not limited to strangers (1 Pet. 4:9; Rom. 16:23)
G. able to teach (didaktios) implies not just having the ability but the use of the ability
H. gentle (epieikes) Js. 3:17 peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits (NKJV)
I. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. (NKJV)
J. a lover of what is good (philagathos), as opposed to lover of self, money, pleasure (2 Tim. 3:2, 4)
K. just (dikaios) upright (NIV) gracious (
L. holy (hosios) devout (NASB)
M. self-controlled (egkrates) disciplined (NIV) violated by any addiction (incl nicotine, caffeine)
N. holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. (NKJV)
Necessary traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

8. Forbidden traits Not given to wine (see also Eph. 5:18)
IV. The negative character qualifications
not given to wine (paroinos) not addicted to wine (NASB), not given to drunkenness (NIV) not a drunkard (
1. may an elder (or any Christian) be drunk? Eph. 5:18 how drunk may I be?
2. show BAC chart
3. PBS How much does it take to get drunk? This answer is different for everyone, because a lot of different factors are involved, like how much you weigh, how much you’ve had to drink in the past, and your gender. But most average-sized adults will feel slightly drunk after only 1 drink, and feel very drunk after 3 or more drinks. Kids and teens, because they are smaller and have less experience drinking, can feel very drunk after only one or two drinks!
4. “The AMA acknowledges that all alcohol consumption, even at low levels, has a negative impact on driver skills, perceptions, abilities, and performance. . .” and elsewhere urges that phrases such as 'drunk driving' be replaced with phrases that reflect the fact that "all alcohol use, even at low levels, impairs driving performance and poses significant health and safety risks.'' [accessed ]
5. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) position on the relationship between blood alcohol concentration and driving is that driving performance degrades after just one drink.
6. The average person is drunk after one can of beer = 5 oz of wine = 1 ½ oz of hard liquor
not violent (plektes) pugnacious (NASB)
not quarrelsome (amachos) peaceable (NASB)
not greedy for money (aischrokerdes) fond of sordid gain (NASB), pursuing dishonest gain (NIV) [omitted from 1 Timothy in NASB and NIV but present in Titus]
not covetous (aphilargiros) lit. not fond/friend of silver; free from the love of money (NASB), not a lover of money (NIV)
not a novice
not self-willed (authades) overbearing (NIV) willing to listen, consider, and respond to others in whatever way is good for them, seeking first neither to please himself or please others but God.
not quick-tempered (orgilos)
1. This is not a personality, it is a habit that must be changed before a man can lead us
2. God can renew our mind and train us to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Js. 1:19-20)
Forbidden traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

9. PBS Kids How much does it take to get drunk?
This answer is different for everyone, because a lot of different factors are involved, like how much you weigh, how much you’ve had to drink in the past, and your gender. But most average-sized adults will feel slightly drunk after only 1 drink, and feel very drunk after 3 or more drinks. Kids and teens, because they are smaller and have less experience drinking, can feel very drunk after only one or two drinks!
And do not be drunk with wine Eph. 5:18

10. And do not be drunk with wine . . . Eph. 5:18
“The AMA acknowledges that all alcohol consumption, even at low levels, has a negative impact on driver skills, perceptions, abilities, and performance. . .”
. . . "all alcohol use, even at low levels, impairs driving performance and poses significant health and safety risks.''
[accessed ]
And do not be drunk with wine Eph. 5:18

11. Forbidden traits Not given to wine Not violent (pugnacious)
Not quarrelsome (peaceable)
Not greedy for money
Not covetous (free from the love of money)
Not a novice
Not self-willed (overbearing)
Not quick-tempered Js. 1:19-20
IV. The negative character qualifications
not given to wine (paroinos) not addicted to wine (NASB), not given to drunkenness (NIV) not a drunkard (
not violent (plektes) pugnacious (NASB)
not quarrelsome (amachos) peaceable (NASB)
not greedy for money (aischrokerdes) fond of sordid gain (NASB), pursuing dishonest gain (NIV) [omitted from 1 Timothy in NASB and NIV but present in Titus]
not covetous (aphilargiros) lit. not fond/friend of silver; free from the love of money (NASB), not a lover of money (NIV)
not a novice
not self-willed (authades) overbearing (NIV) willing to listen, consider, and respond to others in whatever way is good for them, seeking first neither to please himself or please others but God.
not quick-tempered (orgilos)
1. This is not a personality, it is a habit that must be changed before a man can lead us
2. God can renew our mind and train us to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (Js. 1:19-20)
Forbidden traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)

12. Overseer Family Necessary traits Forbidden traits
Let these first be proved (1 Tim. 3:10)
Overseer
Knowledge, Ability, Experience, Desire
1 Timothy 3; Titus 1

13. Christian Hear Baptized Believe Confess Repent (faithful)
Knowledge, Ability, Experience, Desire
Romans 10:10; Acts 2:38