Welcome. Second service is our sermon and our Bible teaching through First Timothy, and we're going through this epistle, verse by verse. And today our text will be chapter three and verses 1 through 13. You can turn there if you're not there already. And for those of you that are here,

I'll ask you to stand if you're able. If not, that's the right where you're seated.

You can follow along as I read. The Apostle Paul is writing to Timothy, a young pastor.

He's in Ephesus. And he says, verse one, here is a trustworthy saying.

Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

Now, the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife,

temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, verse three, not violent but gentle,

not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him and must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.

And then we're told parenthetically in verse 5, if anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?

He must, verse 6, not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil.

He must also have a good reputation with outsiders

so that he will not fall into disgrace

and into the devil's trap.

In the same way, verse 8, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere,

not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be

tested, and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. In the same way, verse 11, the women are to be worthy of respect,

this is interesting, not malicious talkers, but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

A deacon must be faithful to his wife

and must manage his children and his household well.

Those, verse 13, who have served well,

gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Let's pray if you would join with me. We'll ask God's blessing on our understanding.

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