Qualification Nine — Not Violent | 1 Timothy 3:3

LINK TO FLORIDA HERE 👉🏼 https://beresolute.org/weekend/ Therefore an overseer must be... 9 not violent but gentle. — 1 Timothy 3:3 The word "violent" describes a quick-tempered man who doesn't hesitate to use power and force against others. So, in other words, we don't want leaders like this in the church. But I think this qualification is intriguing because I wonder if Paul was thinking about all the violence he endured from leaders within his own party. Listen to what he said in 2 Corinthians 11:24-25: "Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned..." Don't you wonder if Paul had this in mind when he listed this qualification? I do. Yet, let's not forget Paul was violently opposed to the Christian faith. He told us this in this letter (1 Timothy 1:13). So no one knows the effects of a violent leader in the church better than Paul. He was one. And he had been the victim of more than one. Instead, he says church leaders need to be "gentle." They should have a way about them that retrains the urge to act in violence. Not just because they are soft, mild, or tolerant but because they trust God's will in every situation. These types of men are so focused on God's will that they can respond to issues without a need to control because they know God's in control. Violence is just a tactic of a weak leader who has to exert strength to get his way. So how about you? Are you a leader who muscles your way to get your way? Or can you gently guide others to step in line with the will of a God in complete control all the time? ASK THIS: Are you more violent or gentle? DO THIS: Be the gentle leader. PRAY THIS: God, help me to see your will so I don't get in your way by exerting my will. PLAY THIS: Better Man. (Play it again.)Check out other all Vince Miller's videos and audios for small groups at: https://beresolute.org/ Get Vince's most widely read resources The Daily Devotional at: https://beresolute.org/mdd Check out more ALL IN products like the one Vince is wearing at: https://beresolute.org/product-category/all-in-hats/ ____________________________________________________________________________________ Connect with Vince socially: FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/millervince INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/vinceleemiller LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincemiller TWITTER: https://twitter.com/vinceleemiller