Shaun Lewis
cslewises@hotmail.com
(309) 682-1536
www.bethanycentral.org
The Metrics for an Excellent Minister
If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of
the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’
tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our
hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an
example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public
reading of Scripture, to preaching and teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic
message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your
life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
– 1 Timothy 4:6-16.

Introduction
- Excellence in the ministry is typically judged wrongly. More often than not it is based on the popularity of the
Elder, the sensationalism of his sermons, the size of his church, or the number of degrees he possesses.
- “A minister may fill his pews, his communion roll, the mouths of the public, but what that minister is on his
knees in secret before God Almighty, that he is and no more.” – John Owen.
- Ex: Daniel: In captivity he faithfully prayed three times a day for 70 years(Dan. 6:10, 9:2).
- Ex: Noah: Preached for 120 years(2 Pet. 2:5) and no one repented.
- Noah saw no fruit, but his life was commendable by God’s standards(Heb. 11:39).

The Metrics (4:6-14)
- He Protects His Flock (4:6a,b)
- Pointing...out = “Remind” or “Suggest.” Does not mean forcefully commanding, but gentle persuasion.
- These things... Refers back to 4:1-5 where Paul mentions demonic or unbiblical doctrines.
- Basically, Timothy is to remind them so they are not blown... by every wind of teaching(Eph. 4:14).
- Pointing out is a verb. It must be done purposefully or it is not being done at all.
- Those in a Position of Spiritual Leadership are to be Watchmen (Ezek. 3:17-21).
- City watchmen did not sleep on the job or forget what to watch, because they were trained and
understood the importance of their duty. They knew the severity of the consequences too.
- Paul’s Example (Acts. 20:29-32, Rom. 15:15, 1 Cor. 4:14, Col. 1:28, 2:8)
- He warned of error, but never gave a discourse on the details of those errors.
- He focused on building a strong foundation in which Christians could stand firm against any error.
- Application: How firm is your foundation? Do you waver when error arises or stand firm?
- He Nourishes Himself Continually (4:6c)
- Ex: William Tyndale. In prison he asked the governor for, “...a warmer cap, a candle, a piece of cloth to
patch my leggings... But above all, I beseech and entreat your clemency to be urgent with the Procureur that
he may kindly permit me to have my Hebrew Bible, Hebrew Grammar and Hebrew Dictionary, that I may
spend time with that in study.”
- Richard Baxter once said, “Study hard, for the well is deep, and our brains are shallow.”
- Those in a Position of Spiritual Leadership must Know the Word
- If 2 Tim. 3:16-17 is true, a leader more than anyone else must be immersed in the Word.
- He cannot be approved before God if he cannot rightly divide Scripture (2 Tim. 2:15).
- Ex: Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Owen, Jonathan Edwards – All were pastor/theologians.
- The Results of Malnourishment: The Church Today
- We look for administrators, counselors, and communicators – not men who are spiritually nourished.
- The result has been weak teaching, doctrinal confusion, lack of conviction, dead orthodoxy, etc.
- Application: The reason we neglect to find spiritually nourished teachers is because we are not spiritually
nourished ourselves. Understand the necessity of the Word (Joshua 1:8).
- He Avoids Worthless Arguments (4:7a)
- Worldly Fables Fit only for Old Women (NAS)
- This phrase was derived from the fact that women typically received far less education than men.
- As a result, it was commonly used to describe an argument lacking credibility or appealing only to
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
http://www.bethanycentral.org/contact/lists.asp
Shaun Lewis
cslewises@hotmail.com
(309) 682-1536
www.bethanycentral.org
uneducated and rather ignorant people. Such arguments would not even be heard by the educated.
- Ex: The existence of “Q”, A “spiritual” resurrection of Christ, and Theistic Evolution. Though argued
by scholars, none are fit for the man of God to immerse himself in.
- Paul’s Example: An Understanding of the Preciousness of the Mind.
- Paul urges Timothy to remind of the Truth rather than entertain quarrels (2 Tim. 2:14).
- Paul urges the Philippians to fill their minds with what is good (Phil. 4:8).
- Application: It does not take much to warp the mind, so be very careful what teachings you expose it to.
- He Disciplines His Life (4:7b-9)
- Train = “Gymnastics.” Implies the strenuous, disciplined, and self-sacrificing training undergone by athletes.
- Ex: Mike Singletary, Ernest Hemmingway, Winston Churchill, Leonardo da Vinci. Extreme Discipline.
- “We will never get anywhere in life without discipline, be it in the arts, business, athletics, or
academics. This is doubly so in spiritual matters.” – R. Kent Hughes.
- If the world trains so hard to receive what is perishing, how much more should we train for what is
eternal? (1 Cor. 9:24-27). This is the trustworthy saying.
- The pursuit is Godliness, not success, a good reputation, fame, or popularity.
- ...for this we labor and strive. Labor = “Strenuous toil.” Strive = “Agonize.” See also Heb. 12:1-2.
- AppIication: Is there any pursuit on earth that does not come up hollow next to the pursuit of Godliness?
- He Teaches with Authority (4:11)
- Command and teach these things...
- Does not imply suggestion making or advice giving. Command carries great weight.
- Ex: God’s stern response to Moses’ reluctance to go (Ex. 4:10-11).
- Timothy was to command his flock to be obedient to the Truth, not false teachings.
- Contemporary Preaching
- Typically entertaining, popular, and sometimes thought-provoking
- Lacks an authoritative message. This keeps it from being powerful, convicting, and transforming
- Application: Let us not diminish Scripture to entertaining sermons, but seek preaching that cuts to the heart.
- He Exemplifies Spiritual Maturity (4:12)
- “Example is the most powerful rhetoric” – Thomas Brooks, Puritan Pastor.
- The list of qualities in chapter 3 is so detailed for this very reason. That is, people will not follow
your teaching if they do not believe that you follow it.
- Essentially Paul is instructing Timothy to live such an exemplary life that no one can or will look at
Timothy with contempt saying he is too young, immature, or simply not ready for service.
- Paul’s words show the emphasis of a Godly example (1 Cor. 4:16, 11:1, Phil 3:17, 4:9, Titus 2:6-8).
- On Christ’s example Robert Coleman writes, “Knowledge was not communicated by the Master in terms of
laws and dogmas, but in the living personality of the One who walked among them.”
- Application: Practice what you preach or do not preach at all.
- He Feeds His Flock Scripture (4:13)
- Devote yourself = “Give attention.” Greek word implies preparation done in private.
- A preacher will be unable to feed his flock what he has not fed himself. He must be committed not
only to the act of teaching, but all the preparation and study that go before it.
- Ex: Jonathan Edwards would spend 13 hours a day away with God and His Word.
- Ex: John Calvin. He preached twice each Sunday and each weeknight every other week.
- A man, “does not qualify to be a preacher of the Word by making weekly sallies into the good book
to discover some peg on which to hang some scattered observations about men and affairs.” – John
Huxtable. He must prepare to rightly feed from the Word and not his own opinions.
- Application: If Scripture is the food of Salvation, learn to crave it with an insatiable desire (1 Pet. 2:1-3).
- He Fulfills His Calling (4:14)
- Not all who enter the ministry finish. Recognizing the temptation to quit, Paul exhorts Timothy to press on.
- Timothy’s struggles (2 Tim. 1:7-8, 15, 2:1, 3-6, 22)
- Timothy’s gifts were confirmed by others. He did not exercise them simply because he thought he could.
- Paul’s Example: He was faithful to his calling and finished the work the Lord called him to (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
- Application: A half fulfilled calling is no better than an unfulfilled calling. May we strive to endure.

Concluding Exhortations (4:15-16)
- Be diligent in these matters = “take pains with.” Be consumed with the work of your calling.
- Be watchful of your life and doctrine – the summation for an excellent ministry.
- The goal is salvation. Not all will be saved, but a holy life with pure doctrine will lead some to the Lord.
- A spiritual leader that watches neither may not be saved at all and his ministry will yield little to no fruit.
“…taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5
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