Growing Through 1 Timothy

Here's an old joke for you:

• Do you know why ministers' children misbehave?
• Because they spend most of their time with the children of elders and deacons.

Over the last two months, I've talked to some elders representing three different churches. Each conversation had one thing in common: They were frustrated with one or more ministers on the paid staff of their respective congregations.

Most church of Christ elders long for their minister/paid staff to be like Timothy:

Do not neglect the spiritual gift you received through the prophecy spoken over you when the elders of the church laid their hands on you.--1 Timothy 4:14

We all want the church's minister to live up to his or her potential! But let me get straight to the point. If leaders want their ministers to be like Timothy, then those same leaders should try to be like Paul. At Lake Christian Church, our elders and deacons sign a letter of intent that simply states that they are committed to a Pauline pattern of leadership:

• Model to the People
• They intend to lead by example just as Paul modeled the kind of ministry he desired in others--2 Timothy 3:10
• Mainstay to the Paid Staff
• They intend to establish a partnership with their ministers, looking out for their interests as well as providing tangible guidelines--1 Timothy 1:2
• Mentor to Potential Leaders
• They intend to be connected to other men in the church in order to influence and inspire them--2 Timothy 2:2

In Eugene Peterson's Message, he offered this insight from 2 Chronicles 10:7--

If you will be a servant to this people, be considerate of their needs and respond with compassion, work things out with them, they'll end up doing anything for you.

Would you like to serve with a minister who would "do anything for you"? Then be considerate of his or her needs. Consistently make positive assumptions about them so you'll respond with compassion. Remember, Jesus worked things out with Peter. Barnabas worked things out with Paul. And Paul worked things out with Timothy.

So, who's your Timothy?