2.   Spiritual maturity in the home (v 6)  Maturity in personal character (v 7-8)  Maturity in sound doctrine (v 9) “If anyone is above reproach…”

3.   “the husband of one wife”  One-woman man (Mt 19:4-6)  “believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination”  Competent spiritual leader in home (1 Tim 3:5) Home Life

4.   Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens…” Genesis 1:26  Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18  Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. Genesis 2:24-25 A Team Effort

5.  A “Helper”  Teaching & counseling  Identifying needs  Judgment concerning lost/struggling sheep  Awareness of mood  Visiting & hospitality  Buffer against depression  “Two are better than one”

6.  Shepherding Children  Acts 20:18-35  humility, tears, & trials (v 18-19)  teaching publicly & house to house (v 20)  declare whole counsel of God (v 26-27)  admonish night and day (v 31)  with tears (31)  no ulterior motive (v 34-35)  more giving than receiving (v 35)

7. How to prepare for office of a bishop: 1.Find a good wife 2.Focus on family, not career 3.View your wife as a partner in whatever work God has you engaged in 4.Practice servant leadership in the home 5.Regular family devotionals 6.Spend one on one time with kids 7.Pray for family daily 8.Make God the center of your home

9.   Respectable  Gentle  Not quarrelsome  Not a recent convert  Well thought of by outsiders Qualities in Timothy not listed in Titus

10.   Spiritual maturity in the home (v 6)  Maturity in personal character (v 7-8)  Maturity in sound doctrine (v 9) “If anyone is above reproach…”

11.  Personal character  Negative flaws  Not arrogant (self- willed)  Not quick-tempered  Not a drunkard  Not violent  Not greedy for gain  Positive qualities  Hospitable  Lover of good  Self-controlled  Upright  Holy  Disiciplined

12.  The Beatitudes  Poor in spirit  Mourn  Meek  Hunger & thirst for righteousness  Merciful  Pure in heart  Peacemakers  Persecuted for righteousness sake

13.  Romans 12  Love genuinely  Abhor evil  Hold fast to good  Love with affection  Show honor  Do not be slothful in zeal  Be fervent  Serve the Lord  Rejoice in hope  Be patient  Be constant in prayer  Contribute to the needs of the saints  Show hospitality  Bless those who persecute you  Rejoice with those who rejoice  Weep with those who weep  Live in harmony  Do not be haughty  Associate with the lowly  Don’t be wise in your own sight  Repay no one evil for evil  Give thought to what is honorable in the sight of all  Repay no one evil for evil  Never avenge yourself  Feed/give drink to enemy

14.  Works of Flesh/Fruit of Spirit  Sexual immorality  Impurity  Sensuality  Idolatry  Sorcery  Enmity  Strife  Jealousy  Fits of anger  Rivalries  Dissentions  Envy  Drunkenness  Orgies  Love  Joy  Peace  Patience  Kindness  Goodness  Faithfulness  Gentleness  Self-control

15. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach… Titus 1:7

16.   When arbitrary issues and squabbles arise  When tough benevolence judgments made  When making an unpopular decision  When providing counsel  When correcting doctrinal error  When warning a sheep who is straying  When assigning roles to deacons, leaders, teachers, etc.  When injured sheep is looking for help The Value of a Good Name Proverbs 22:1

17.   Men of biblical understanding  “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught …”  Men of biblical conviction  “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught…”  Men of biblical obedience (v 6, 7)  Men of biblical exhortation  “so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine”  Men of biblical courage  ”so that he may be able… to rebuke those who contradict it.” Men of the Word

18.   Divorce & remarriage  Fellowship (extending, withdrawing, etc.)  Discipline (different forms)  Benevolence  Worship practices (instrumental music)  Roles of women  Qualifications of elders  Tolerating differences (Rom 14)  Moral choices (drinking, dancing, modesty, gambling, tattoos, entertainment, immigration compliance, law suits, abortion, etc.)  Holy Spirit Doctrinal Issues

19. Obey your leaders… for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Hebrews 13:17

20. How to prepare for office of a bishop: 1.Read the Bible aggressively 2.Let God’s Word cut you open (Heb 4:12) 3.Meditate, pray, confess, & repent as you read 4.Ask someone who knows you well to give an honest character evaluation 5.Go beyond handouts in Bible class 6.Stay current on doctrinal issues 7.Teach as often as possible 8.Express to elders your desire 9.Pray for help!