Our Mission as a church is "Helping people find and follow Jesus” Our Vision: To be a church who worships passionately, connects in community, grows in faith, serves selflessly, and shares Jesus boldly. Big Idea: God calls His people to lead and serve with Christlike character, humble faithfulness, and gospel integrity. 1. Pursue Leadership as a Sacred Calling (vv. 1–2a) 1 This is a trustworthy saying: “If someone aspires to be an elder, he desires an honorable position.” 1 Timothy 3:1 (NLT2) Elders, pastors and overseers identify the men who are responsible to lead the church, preach and teach, help the spiritually weak, care for the church, and ordain leaders. 1 Timothy 5:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-14, 1 Peter 5:1-2 and 1 Timothy 4:4. 2. Let Character, Not Charisma, Guide the Direction of Your Leadership (vv. 2b–13) 2 So an elder must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. 3 He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. 4 He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot manage his own household, how can he take care of God’s church? 6 An elder must not be a new believer, because he might become proud, and the devil would cause him to fall. 7 Also, people outside the church must speak well of him so that he will not be disgraced and fall into the devil’s trap.8 In the same way, deacons must be well respected and have integrity. They must not be heavy drinkers or dishonest with money. 9 They must be committed to the mystery of the faith now revealed and must live with a clear conscience. 10 Before they are appointed as deacons, let them be closely examined. If they pass the test, then let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, their wives must be respected and must not slander others. They must exercise self-control and be faithful in everything they do. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife, and he must manage his children and household well. 13 Those who do well as deacons will be rewarded with respect from others and will have increased confidence in their faith in Christ Jesus. 1 Timothy 3:2-13 (NLT2) • Guard Integrity in Your Personal Life (vv. 2–3, 8–10) -Self-control -Faithfulness -Consistency • Lead with Love and Faithfulness at Home – Family First (vv. 4–5, 11–12) -Leadership begins long before the church—it begins at home. • Live with Credibility Before a Watching World (vv. 7, 10, 13) -Your witness matters—inside and outside the church. 3. Live As A Member Of God’s Household and a Guardian of the Truth (vv. 14–16) 14 I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, 15 so that if I am delayed, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16 Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ was revealed in a human body and vindicated by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and announced to the nations. He was believed in throughout the world and taken to heaven in glory. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (NLT2) What do you need to work on to be a better leader at home? I will take my next right step this week by: Lead with love and faithfulness in my home Live with integrity and humility in my workplace Serve with faithfulness and teachable spirit in my church Cornerstone Ministries I may be interested in: Administration/ IT Children Youth/Teens Meal Train/ Meals First Impressions Hospitality/Café Media & Sound Men’s Prayer & Celebration of Life Quilts Facilities Women’s Worship TALK IT OVER Leader Focus: • Review questions beforehand so you are prepared • Honor your time commitment as a group. • Keep discussion relational, not reactive • Emphasize God’s heart, not controversy • Reinforce grace, humility, and unity Purpose: To help participants understand biblical leadership and apply Christlike character to everyday life. Guide the group toward heart transformation, not self-evaluation guilt. This passage calls us upward, not inward only. Icebreaker (5 minutes) Who is someone who has influenced your faith through their character rather than their position? Key Truths to Emphasize • Leadership is a calling, not a status • Character matters more than charisma • Integrity applies to every believer • The church exists to protect and proclaim the gospel When Paul describes leadership in the church, he doesn’t begin with skills, gifting, or experience. He begins with character. Over and over, Paul reminds Timothy that leadership in God’s church is not about authority—it’s about responsibility. These qualifications are not meant to discourage believers, but to invite all of us to examine our lives. Integrity matters because leaders represent Christ. Faithfulness matters because the church belongs to God. Credibility matters because the world is watching. At the heart of this passage is a reminder that the church is God’s household and a pillar of truth. Leadership exists to protect the gospel, care for God’s people, and point others to Jesus. When Christlike character is present, the church becomes a place of trust, growth, and spiritual health. You may not hold a formal title, but you influence someone—at home, at work, or in the church. God calls every believer to lead by example, serving with humility and living with integrity. Scripture Engagement (10 minutes) Read 1 Timothy 3:1–16 together. Group Discussion (20–25 minutes) Why does Paul describe leadership as a “noble task” rather than a position of power? How does personal integrity shape a leader’s influence? Why do you think family life is included in leadership qualifications? Where do you see God growing you right now? Choose one area of influence this week (home, work, church) and intentionally practice servant leadership through encouragement, patience, or faithful service. What does it mean for the church to be “God’s household” and a “pillar of truth”? Application (10 minutes) What is one intentional step you can take this week to lead with greater integrity? Prayer: Lord, thank You for calling Your people to serve with humility and integrity. Shape my heart to reflect Your character. Help me lead faithfully—at home, at work, and in Your church. May my life point others to Jesus. Amen.