Passing the Baton: Why it’s Needed
Issue #112, August 21, 2013 Wherever I travel in the world I find that developing, equipping and releasing the next generation is a significant challenge for parents, church and business leaders. Yet handing over leadership to younger leaders is one of the greatest things servant leaders can do for the sake of the Kingdom of […]
Quality Assurance: Good Reputation with Outsiders
Issue #111, August 7, 2013 Paul ends his list of qualifications for servant leaders as he tells Timothy, “He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap” (1 Timothy 3:7). Paul’s instruction implies that the true test of our leadership capacity is […]
Quality Assurance: Not New Convert
Issue #110, July 26, 2013 Paul continues his quality checklist for Timothy by noting that the leaders chosen must “not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil” (1 Timothy 3:6). At first glance it may seem like Paul is against young leaders. However, he […]
Quality Assurance: Manages Family Well
Issue #109, July 8, 2013 Paul has already listed 11 challenging items for Timothy to consider when looking at the quality of leaders. He is near to the end of his list and shifts his attention to something obviously close to his heart. “He must manage his own family well and see that his children […]
Quality Assurance: Not Quarrelsome
Issue #107, June 3, 2013 Paul continues to raise the standard for servant leaders and continues his quality assurance checklist by telling Timothy that a godly leader must not be “quarrelsome” (1 Timothy 3:3). Quarrelsome is a habitual inclination to disagree and stir up contention. The writer of Proverbs paints a colorful picture of a […]
Quality Assurance: Not Violent but Gentle
Issue #106, May 22, 2013 Paul next turns his attention to a heart issue of great importance to all leaders, “not violent but gentle.” (1Tim 3:3) In that short phrase, Paul radically redefines what it means to lead. Most cultures honor military heroes, warriors who destroy all opposition by force and we honor those who […]
Quality Assurance: Not Given to Drunkenness
Issue #105, May 7, 2013 Paul’s list of qualifications next mentions that the leader is “not given to drunkenness” (1 Timothy 3:3). It seems obvious that Paul does not want to see leaders staggering after drinking too much alcohol. But his statement should cause even those who drink no alcohol to think more deeply about […]
Quality Assurance: Able to teach
Issue #104, April 22, 2013 Paul’s quality checklist to Timothy next calls for leaders who are “able to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Many associate this skill with only a few select individuals who are gifted and called to public speaking and teaching. But Paul is convinced that all leaders should have this ability. He agrees […]
Quality Assurance: Respectable
Issue #102, March 27, 2013 Paul’s next instruction to Timothy is to find leaders who are “respectable” (1Timothy 3:2). Being respectable is much deeper than looking good on the outside or impressing people with charisma or leadership skills. Paul recognized that followers will not long follow a leader they do not genuinely respect. He understood […]
Quality Assurance: Self-Control
Issue #101, March 13, 2013 “Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1Timothy 3:2). The fourth quality Paul lists as essential for those who desire to lead like Christ is “self-controlled.” He recognized that before seeking to exert influence over others, the […]