Sunday Stillness – How to be an effective Overseer

Sunday Stillness – How to be an effective Overseer

From Free Digital Photos.net
From Free Digital Photos.net

This week’s Scripture is Titus 1:7a. Using the SIMPLE method I will once again try to see where God leads me. Of course, I start with a prayer for God to open the Scripture to me.

S – Say the passage aloud.

Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness (Titus 1:7a, NIV)

I – Identify the characters, the setting, and the circumstances surrounding this passage.

I looked up overseer and it said he was one who looked over the flock. Both Elders and Overseers need maturity and experience.

This sounds impressive. Once again the word, “blameless” is used.

I looked up the passage in The Message and “overbearing” translates as “pushy”.

M- Make a list of the thoughts, questions and ideas.

Am I overbearing? – sometimes. I get all worked up and sometimes I want something so badly I push it. There seems to be a fine line between being excited and visionary – and pushy. And my anger? Finally I think I can say that I have learned to get a handle on it.

P – Pray again for God’s guidance.

L- Life – How can I apply what I have been studying to my life?

Rethinking the overbearing and the anger issue – Ed Hird reminds me:

Rather than examine ourselves, anger always blames someone else (Restoring Health, page 36).

Ouch.

We see this in marriages, where thoughtless words are tossed out – and are then unrecoverable.

Thoughtless outbursts of anger are like toxic rain to marriages and family… A quick-tempered Christian is ‘out of control’ (Restoring Health, .ibid).

 

E – Exit the passage with a prayer for God to help you.

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me to watch my tongue and be slow to react. Thank you that we never used alcohol to try to solve our problems. May I learn to walk blameless, not be pushy or quick tempered. Instead may I look to You for the answers and please continue to grow me closer to You. In Jesus’ name. AMEN.

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Today is Sunday Stillness. Join us with your posts about how God is working in your lives.

 



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21 comments

  1. I appreciate the way you’ve used this “simple” plan to communicate some important truths we all need to glean from this passage, Janis. Being an overseer isn’t for the faint of heart! Thanks so much for hosting and I hope your 2015 is super!

    1. Beth,
      thank you – I am finding such wisdom from God by using the SIMPLE method. Now I thoroughly enjoy studying passages – even one verse at a time.
      Paul told Titus to appoint overseers or Elders – he knew how important it was to have good men leading the people. I can’t even fathom how he managed to find that many “blameless” pirates.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  2. Great working out of that verse, Janis. Leadership is a great responsibility, not to be taken lightly. My heart grieves in that I have seen far too many in such positions who ought not be so for a lack of oversight in their own hearts–let alone an application of this very verse. May the Lord make me blameless in this very thing that I may lead in and by His Spirit only.
    Joy!
    Kathy

    1. Kathy,
      I have seen groups and churches led by men and women who are not following these guidelines. God sorts it out but people always get hurt. It would have been better to follow the guidelines in the first place and avoid the heartache. I have seen churches split over these things. Yes- may we both be Spirit-led.
      Blessings,
      Janis

    1. Jason,
      That word “anger” is part of my testimony. How God took a very angry, fearful person and turned her around – really changed her.
      It is a very powerful word and one that should be preached on more often.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  3. Very good word here; it so resonated with me as I can be a bit of a bossy broad (overbearing)! LOL! I have to work on not being a leader all the time, and as Laurie said above, rather be more Spirit-led.

    I hope you are recovering quickly Janis-happy New Year !

    1. Thank you Denise. Another person like me – I want to please Jesus but my “me” gets in the way. That “pushy” from The Message spoke to me – I am pushy with my husband. Not nice. And yes how to be an effective leader without really “leading”. Jesus did it. We need to learn from Him.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  4. It takes a lot of dependence on the Holy Spirit”s help to “oversee” and not get upset and frustrated with people!

    1. Oh Elizabeth – that is so true. We certainly can’t become overseers on our own. That’s why choosing our Elders is so important. We don’t want to hurt anyone but we also want the truth to prevail.
      Blessings,
      Janis

  5. Thank you for the reminder that leaders need to be even tempered. Even as I lead my children, God wants me to show them a God-given ability to be at peace.

    By the way, so sorry to hear you are under the weather still. Unfortunately, sickness has plagued our home for the past 2 and1/2 months. 🙁 Praying for your quick recovery!

    1. Yes Kimberly. I wish that I had shown my children self-control. I didn’t but they certainly see it now as Grandma – and they are very peaceful and self-controlled themselves. So I guess they learned what not to do. lol
      May the Lord heal your family. That’s a long time to be sick. I am into my second week but I can see improvement.
      blessings,
      Janis

  6. May we be Spirit-led and yielded to control our anger, and sin not, but to be a model of temperance so that God’s love, mercy and grace flow though us to others. Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!

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