To Be a Lay Leader

Love for One Another Godly Love Among Believers Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)    Sharing Love 1 Timothy 3:8-13 New International Version 8 In the same way, deacons[a] are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons. 11 In the same way, the women[b] are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything. 12 A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus. For Reflection Though it may be somewhat unclear what the Deacon's function was, it is clear that they carried an important responsibility to carry the Gospel into the communities and to the church members.  In doing so, Deacons should mirror Aristotle's notion of a "Good Man," a person whose credibility and moral character are above reproach. Today we judge the credibility of our lay leaders in a similar way. We ask, "How competent and how trustworthy are those who represent the Gospel?" Perhaps the most important question is, "Does our leader have our best interest as his first interest?" The standard that makes the most sense to me is, "Does the fruit of one's labor exhibit the love of God?" Pray Pray so that you will build a strong cloak of protection that resists false prophets.  Pray, study, and participate in the church's nurture so that you can be more trustworthy, fair, competent, and exhibit the love of Christ consistently. Forward to a friend