Daily Devotional Details

Date

Topics

The overseer must be… able to teach… Deacons… must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 1 Timothy 3:2, 8-9 (NIV)

This does not mean that all elders should be preachers. It does mean that the elders must grasp the truth and be able to apply it to their own lives and to the lives of others.

This is doctrinal competence, and it is important because the church is the pillar of the truth (3:15). The pillar holds up the roof. That’s what we are to do with the truth. We lift up the truth so everyone can see it.

Paul says that elders must grasp true doctrine so that they are able to refute false doctrine, and watch their own life and doctrine closely. So, a man who does not think that doctrine is important, or does not think it is for him, should not be an elder or a pastor.

It is the special calling of elders and pastors to make sure that the Word of Christ is central in the church. The word of Christ must dwell in them richly (Col. 3:16). If you want to maximize your usefulness to Christ, deepen your grasp of the great doctrines of the Christian faith.

Have you ever said or thought something like this: “I’m not interested in doctrine”? If so, would you reconsider your stance? If you continue in it, you are severely limiting your own usefulness to Christ.