Preface to Leadership Lessons from 1 and 2 Timothy
by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
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Bertram Mackennal (Australian sculptor, 1863–1931), "New Paul's
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How vital are a couple of brief letters written from a
first century apostle to a young associate? Are they actually relevant to the
twenty-first century church? Yes. You'll find them especially helpful to develop
as a leader yourself -- and train leaders in your church.
That's what 1 and 2 Timothy are all about. Timothy has been
sent to Ephesus to help set a troubled church in order. These letters are Paul's
instructions, encouragement, and exhortations to help form Timothy into the kind
of leader that can succeed.
In some ways the church at Ephesus seems to have some of
the same kinds of problems we see in our churches today. They're relevant!
First, Paul is writing to a church that is big on talk and
weak on sound Christian teaching. Recent decades have seen the number of
Christian novels and self-help books skyrocket, but at the same time has seen
"Christianity Lite" affect more and more churches. Sermons are seldom meaty. Big
on inspiration, maybe, but often lacking in the kind of meat and potatoes that
can grow solid Jesus followers. 1 and 2 Timothy use the
"teach/teacher/teaching" word group 19 times in just two brief
letters. Church leaders especially need to seek a personal renewal of their
passion for teaching the Word, as "workers that have no need to be ashamed"
(2 Timothy 2:15). Paul sees sound teaching as the irreducible core of a
healthy, vibrant church. We desperately need that today.
Second, Paul exhorts his young associate about courage in
the face of older and more dominant leaders that would oppose his reforms. Timothy,
like me and perhaps you, would rather face problem people with passivity rather
than action. To put it bluntly, he is timid in the face of opponents. Paul
exhorts him to boldness, toward being willing to suffer hardship, if
need be, in order to accomplish the task he has been assigned. Paul straightens
him up and puts some steel in his backbone. Relevant? Oh, yes!
Third, Paul writes to a situation where evangelism has been
sidetracked and de-emphasized. The church has become so embroiled in
theological speculation and controversy that they have gone soft on the
Great Commission. Paul exhorts Timothy to fulfill his ministry and do the
work of an evangelist and reminds us of the core of the gospel: "Here is a
trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners!" (1 Timothy 1:15).
Fourth, the church on Paul's heart has leadership
problems. Some of the elders have subverted the house-churches ("home
groups"), so there is a need for solid leaders on which to rebuild the
church. Over my 40 years in ministry, I've seen the desperate recruiting
methods our churches use to fill key leadership roles. Sadly, we've drafted
many people whose character flaws should have disqualified them from office,
but we've gone ahead anyway, neglecting Paul's sound advice about selecting
leaders.
Fifth, the moral standards within the church had been
compromised by the lifestyle of some of the elders and their disciples. Paul
urges Timothy to set an example of godliness among the believers. The "godliness/ungodliness"
word group is used 16 times in these two letters. We serve in churches where
the moral purity of the faith has been severely compromised by the prevailing
mores of our culture to the degree that it's hard to tell Christians from
non-Christians by observing only how they conduct themselves in the marketplace,
court a future spouse, raise families, and invest their time and money. Godly
living is vital -- but ridiculed by our world. Relevant today? Your call!
I invite you to join me on a journey through 1 and 2
Timothy. This isn't a church manual of polity and rules of governance. Rather
it constitutes an apostolic crash course for leaders and would-be leaders on
how to get our churches healthy again.
May God give us wisdom and conviction as we study so that we
may lead the church of Jesus Christ with skill and soundness through the
challenges of the twenty-first century.
Yours in Christ's service,
Dr. Ralph F. Wilson
Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Timothy
Copyright © 1985-2009 Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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