SoM | Characteristics of a Leader in the Church - Lesson 1

Devotional

Day 1: Stretching Forward Like a Football Player Crossing the Goal

A leader’s desire isn’t passive—it’s the full-body stretch of a player lunging for the first down marker. This hunger to serve God isn’t about selfish ambition but a Spirit-fueled determination to advance His kingdom. Obstacles will come, but holy passion refuses to quit. True leadership starts with this inward fire, a craving to honor Christ that outlasts setbacks. What fuels you when the opposition seems unbeatable? [14:12]

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14, NKJV)

Reflection: What specific obstacle in your leadership journey tempts you to quit? How can you “stretch forward” this week to honor Christ in that area?

Day 2: The Unshakable Reputation of a Timothy

Integrity isn’t perfection—it’s consistency. Like Timothy, leaders earn trust through years of reliable choices, not fleeting moments of performance. A good reputation isn’t crafted in crisis but built daily through small acts of faithfulness. When people hear your name, do they associate it with Christlike stability? True influence grows where character and conduct align. [23:31]

“A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.” (Proverbs 22:1, ESV)

Reflection: Which relationship in your life most exposes the gap between your reputation and reality? What one step will you take to close it?

Day 3: Billy Graham’s Empty Passenger Seat

Sexual purity requires radical safeguards, not just good intentions. Like Graham refusing to ride alone with a woman, leaders build hedges against temptation long before the battle begins. Holiness isn’t about legalism—it’s valuing God’s honor above momentary comforts. What non-negotiable boundaries protect your integrity? [35:47]

“Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.” (1 Corinthians 6:18, ESV)

Reflection: What seemingly harmless habit or relationship quietly erodes your spiritual vigilance? How will you “flee” it this week?

Day 4: Sober-Minded Like a Crisis Medic

Temperate leaders keep steady hands when others panic. This clarity comes from daily communion with God, not caffeine or adrenaline. Like a medic in chaos, they diagnose issues without being infected by the frenzy around them. Does your leadership calm storms or amplify them? [45:47]

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV)

Reflection: What situation currently triggers reactive emotions in you? What scripture will you arm yourself with to respond with Christ’s steadiness?

Day 5: The Humility of a Thirty-Year Preacher Still Trembling

True sober-mindedness remembers every gift comes from God. Like Paul discarding his religious resume, mature leaders measure success by Christ’s approval, not human applause. That young preacher’s nervous prayer before his thousandth sermon? That’s the heartbeat of sustainable leadership. [50:38]

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: What achievement or skill subtly tempts you to rely on yourself rather than Christ? How will you actively redirect that pride into worship today?

Sermon Summary

Paul lays a foundation for leadership that starts with desire. “If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.” Desire is not ambition gone wild; the word reaches for a picture of someone who stretches forward to lay hold of what God has called him to do. That drive matters because obstacles are certain, and leadership needs a heart that refuses to quit, a will that energizes the team when others lose heart. From there, the lists in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 press the point that character, not charisma, carries the weight. Gifts are given, but these traits are grown. Fruit is cultivated over time, and the Spirit aims to form men and women who can be trusted.

The list itself functions like a portrait of Jesus, and “above reproach” stands like the umbrella heading. Integrity that others can vouch for, a reputation that generates “positive conversation,” and a life that cannot be credibly accused set the tone. Timothy embodies this in Acts 16; he is “well spoken of” at home and abroad, and Paul wants him because of character, not flash. That sort of credibility is tested by questions close to home: do those nearest trust him, do people seek him out, does responsibility find him without fear of letdown.

Paul’s charge, “husband of one wife,” anchors sexual holiness. In a culture soaked in compromise, leaders carry a higher standard. Married leaders keep covenant; single leaders walk in purity. Jesus raises the bar from action to intention, so the heart must be guarded. Very practical wisdom flows here: avoid the settings that inflame temptation or even look questionable, refuse alone counseling with the opposite sex, protect reputations on both sides, strengthen the inner life with Word and prayer, avoid idleness that opens doors, and seek help and accountability quickly rather than secretly nursing a snare.

Temperance and sober mindedness steady the soul. A temperate leader stays calm, cool, and collected under pressure, clear thinking and balanced. The root sense even leans toward abstaining, so nothing clouds judgment or becomes a crutch where the Holy Spirit should be relied on. Sober mindedness then shows up as humility with backbone. A leader does not think more highly of himself than he ought, yet stands in bold confidence in Christ. Paul models it by counting his best resume as loss and by remaining teachable. Proverbs calls this prudence: receiving correction, seeking knowledge, keeping perspective. In short, the Spirit forms leaders whose lives are holy altars, and the fire falls on that.

Key Takeaways

1. Burning desire fuels endurance A God-given yearning stretches forward and keeps at it when obstacles rise and resources feel thin. That inner push does not demand position; it embraces service and refuses to quit. Leaders need that steady fire to lift others when the team wants to fold. Desire becomes the frame that holds every other trait in place. [14:12]
2. Character outpaces gifting in leadership Gifts can open doors that lack the beams to hold the roof. Character carries weight in private and public, and time proves it. The Spirit grows integrity slowly so people can lean on a life, not just a microphone. A leader chosen for character can be shaped into skill; gifting without character breeds fallout. [09:04]
3. Live above reproach with reputation Credibility is communal; many voices should say the same thing about a life. Like Timothy, a leader’s name should travel ahead of him with honor, both at home and away. That kind of report grows through consistency, trustworthiness, and finishing hard assignments. Reputation becomes a shield that false accusation cannot pierce. [22:56]
4. Guard sexual holiness with wisdom Purity starts in the heart, so wise guardrails protect both call and people. Refuse situations that stir temptation or even look questionable, and invite accountability before cracks become collapse. Feed the inner life with Word and prayer, and starve idleness that prowls for weak moments. Holiness is protection, not punishment. [38:23]
5. Be temperate, sober, and humble Clear thinking under pressure is not optional; it is the job. Nothing should dull judgment or replace reliance on the Holy Spirit. Humility then anchors confidence, keeping a leader bold in Christ yet aware that everything is grace. Teachability becomes a mark of maturity, not a confession of incompetence. [48:44]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:26] - Why a course on leadership
[01:53] - Three questions for self-exam
[03:17] - Qualifications read in 1 Timothy 3
[04:47] - Qualifications read in Titus 1
[06:25] - The 20 traits summarized
[08:19] - Character over gifts; growth is process
[12:38] - Desire as first foundation
[20:40] - Above reproach defined
[22:56] - Timothy’s proven reputation
[28:28] - Faithful marriage and sexual purity
[34:37] - Guardrails for purity and perception
[45:13] - Temperate and clear thinking
[48:44] - Sober minded humility and teachability
[54:35] - Closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 Timothy 3:1-7 (ESV)
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Titus 1:5-9 (ESV)
This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Acts 16:1-3 (ESV)
Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Observation Questions

What specific traits does Paul emphasize for church leaders in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9? How do these differ from spiritual gifts?
In Acts 16:1-3, why was Timothy chosen to join Paul’s ministry team? What does his reputation reveal about the importance of character? [22:56]
According to the sermon, why is "desire" foundational for leadership, and how does it relate to endurance? [14:12]
What practical guardrails did Billy Graham implement to protect his integrity, and why were they necessary? [38:23]

Interpretation Questions

Paul prioritizes character over gifting for leadership. Why might character traits like being "above reproach" or "temperate" matter more than skills or talents in sustaining godly influence?
The sermon states, "Desire becomes the frame that holds every other trait in place." How does a God-given desire guard against burnout or compromise when obstacles arise? [18:33]
How does living "above reproach" protect both the leader and the church from accusations or division? What happens when leaders neglect this standard?
The phrase "husband of one wife" emphasizes sexual holiness. Why does Paul connect marital faithfulness (or purity for singles) to spiritual credibility? How does this counter cultural norms? [28:52]

Application Questions

What steps could you take this week to evaluate your reputation among those closest to you (family, friends, coworkers)? Who could you ask for honest feedback? [25:58]
Identify one area where temptation easily entangles you (e.g., idle time, compromising situations). What specific "guardrail" could you implement to avoid it? [34:37]
How do you cultivate a "sober-minded" humility in moments of success or pressure? What habits or relationships help you stay grounded in Christ’s sufficiency? [50:00]
The sermon warns against relying on anything other than the Holy Spirit for peace (e.g., substances, distractions). Where do you turn for comfort under stress, and how can you shift that dependence to God? [46:43]
If "desire fuels endurance," how can you reignite or sustain your passion for serving others when ministry feels draining? What practices keep your heart aligned with God’s call? [19:08]
Reflect on your closest relationships. Are there any interactions (e.g., counseling, mentorship) that could appear questionable? How might you adjust them to protect your integrity? [35:01]

Sermon Clips

51s

#GiftsNeedCharacter

“``And so gifts as many and this is a mistake that a lot of pastors make. I've seen it. A lot of pastors pick a very gifted person to be a leader, but that gifted person lacks character. And so what God what Paul is writing to Timothy is he's saying, I want you to pick men and women of character. And listen, when you can I'd rather I'll tell you this after thirty years of experience of being a pastor. I would rather take somebody that we would all look at and say, do they even have a gift at all? Are they, you know, like, are they gifted at all? But they have character because you can take somebody like that and you can work with them and shape them and disciple them, and they're gonna step into their gift. But if you got someone who's got a gift but they don't have character, then you're gonna have problems.”

64s

#CultivateChristlikeness

“So these characteristics are the result of a of a process of becoming more and more like Jesus. You are not born with these things. They must be developed. That's what goes in your blank. They must be developed. Just like the fruit of the spirit. Remember in our fruit of the spirit class, the fruit is cultivated. Gifts are given. Fruit is cultivated. It grows over time. So these are things that in my life I need to develop. I give you the definition of a process. something consciously and deliberately done as the result of a choice directed to a given purpose, course, time during which something is done before it is completed. So I am going to become a man of God or a woman of God by intentionally developing these areas of my life.”

36s

#PassionForLeadership

“So God does not choose people without passion. And so here, the very first thing is Paul says, there's Timothy, there's gonna be men and women in your church that have a desire for leadership, and that's not a wrong thing. Amen. It's not a wrong thing. There should be something inside of you. You know? There should be something inside of you. You've got a call of God in you. There should be something inside of you that says, I I desire this. I have a passion for this. I have a stirring for this in my heart.”

68s

#SoberLeadership

“You know? But why why say, well, why should a leader abstain from wine? Because you need to be clear thinking all the time. You need to be sober all the time. You need to be able to, remain constant under pressure. You know? And, God doesn't want you relying on something like that either to calm you down. You need the Holy Spirit. Amen. You know, there's there's a certain friend of mine who smokes marijuana and it it it's true. And and he and he comes to church sometimes, you know. So and he always tells me, I say, you gotta stop that. And he say and he always says to me, well, it calms my nerves, pastor. That's why I do it. It calms my nerves. And I said, that but you're relying on something other than the Holy Ghost to calm your nerves. That's the prob that's why God has a problem with it because you need to rely on him. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Whatever. Yeah. Yeah. Usually, conversation goes. You know? I think he'll still go to heaven, but he's just living the wrong way. That's not the right way to do it. So we need the Holy Spirit to help us with those things. So that's what temperate means.”

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SoM | Characteristics of a Leader in the Church - Lesson 1 | Pastor Eric Johns