God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers. … The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. … Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.

An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. … Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?).

A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Ro 12:6, Ro 12:8; 1Co 12:28, 1Ti 5:17, 1Ti 3:1; Ti 1:6-7, 1Ti 3:2-5; 1Ti 3:12-13

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.