Domestic Competency

The point: Aspiring overseers must not be indifferent to the full spectrum of systematic theology, hermeneutics, exegesis, and historical theology, as these are essential for being a safe guide in the Scriptures.

Martin asks what one would think of a man aspiring to ministry who is indifferent to systematic theology, hermeneutics, and exegesis. He then parallels this with indifference to biblical domestic competence, arguing both are equally disqualifying according to Scripture.

Who wants to be part of a church where the elders only see the church in terms of doctrinal integrity, but they don't see the necessity of moral and ethical integrity? Who wants to be in a church where elders only see the necessity of well-ordered practical concerns and have no vision for broad spiritual perspectives? No. Ordering well the life of God's people means that those in leadership view the full spectrum of the life of the church in the light of the Word of God, then are given spiritual wisdom to take the best steps to attain the holy ends of a well-ordered church, and then they have ...

13:44 - 15:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Aspiring overseers must not be indifferent to the attainment of biblical competence in the domestic sphere, as Scripture explicitly links it to fitness for church leadership.

He uses the analogy of a tyrannical elder squelching the church versus a church so free-spirited it lacks order, to illustrate the need for gracious assertiveness in leadership, mirroring the balance needed in household rule.

shades and degrees of the same thing viewed a little differently, there is nothing required in ordering the life of God's people that is not in principle simply an application in a different sphere of graces and gifts essential to ordering well one's own household. In one's household, one must learn how to exert authority without being so authoritative as to squelch and to shrivel the lives of those one is governing. And isn't that true in the church of Christ? Who wants to see a church where everyone goes around drawn in and intimidated by this overpowering tyrant of an elder? On the other ha...

16:40 - 18:08 Read in full sermon

The point: Aspiring overseers must not be indifferent to the attainment of biblical competence in the domestic sphere, as Scripture explicitly links it to fitness for church leadership.

Martin illustrates the need for discernment in discipline by comparing a child absentmindedly picking his nose with a child defiantly saying 'No.' He argues that treating both with equal vehemence indicates a failure to rule well, drawing a parallel to church leadership.

between a kid absentmindedly picking his nose and a kid who looks up at his mother and father and sticks out his lower lips and says, No? Well, you see, if you knock the tar out of a kid for absentmindedly picking his nose with equal vehemence as you do when he rears back in his hind legs and says, No, you're not ruling well your own house. You have no sense of proportion of culpability. And if you make picking the nose as culpable as rearing back and saying, No, you're not ruling well your own house.

18:08 - 18:44 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must labor with equal assiduity in acquiring tools for scriptural guidance and in becoming competent domestic heads and leaders of their families.

Extending the previous analogy, he applies it to church leadership, noting that many churches suffer from elders who cannot distinguish between minor ecclesiastical issues ('nose-picking') and blatant defiance of Christ's rule.

And many a church suffers from men who can't make the distinction between a little ecclesiastical nose-picking and blatant defiance of the rule of Christ. And they're forever whomping God's people for absentmindedly picking their noses. You see, we could draw out the parallels ad infinitum. But that's why the Apostle Paul by the Holy Ghost joined those two things.

18:44 - 19:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must labor with equal assiduity in acquiring tools for scriptural guidance and in becoming competent domestic heads and leaders of their families.

Martin recounts how people react to his insistence on domestic competence for ministry, saying it would 'empty half our pulpits.' His response is that if the Bible empties them, then let them be emptied, suggesting it could be the beginning of revival.

on a man who did not have the skills and the tools properly to exegete, expound and apply the word of God to a congregation of God's people. For both are disqualified according to the Scriptures. And when I've insisted upon this all around the world that people say to me but Pastor Martin, Brother Martin, Al if people did this if we took that seriously we'd empty half our pulpits. And my answer has been if the Bible empties them then let them be emptied.

20:38 - 21:16 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must be exemplary in their domestic lives because the family is of great importance in the advancement of the kingdom of God.

He suggests a direct relationship between a man's carnal, lordly leadership style and the absence of consistent, exemplary leadership. What men lack in grip by lifestyle, they make up with a 'tight fist' and 'carnal lordly bearing.'

Whenever anyone tries to tell you that the role and function of an elder is simply that as of wise catalytic action that's sheer nonsense but that's a great emphasis that's got a tremendous groundswell in our day. That leadership in the church of Christ is basically standing on the sidelines being the catalyst to have God's people lead themselves by their Bibles and by the Holy Spirit. No, he says shepherd the flock exercising oversight not of constraint but willingly according to the will of God nor yet for filthy lucre but of a ready mind neither as lording it over the charge allotted to you...

24:47 - 26:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must be exemplary in their domestic lives because the family is of great importance in the advancement of the kingdom of God.

Martin uses the image of not having a 'gray hair in your head or in your mustache or your beard or on your chest' to humorously emphasize that a leader's godliness and consistent patterns of maturity, not age, should earn respect.

Be an example to them that believe. Let the maturation and the consistent patterns of godliness cause people to forget your relative youth. And so see in you the patterns of godliness that they will feel it safe to follow your leadership even though you don't have a gray hair in your head or in your mustache or your beard or on your chest wherever you've got hair. Alright?

27:55 - 28:26 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must create a home atmosphere that demonstrates loving, sensitive, warm husband-wife and parent-child relationships, authoritative graciousness, and the comfort of a well-ordered home.

He compares the comfort, warmth, and sense of safety in a well-ordered home to that of a well-ordered church, arguing that pastors are called to create such a climate in their own homes.

to get into the home of someone whom you regarded as a man of God but what that experience either enhanced his credibility or detracted now if the requirement is given to hospitality now do you see why the matter of being exemplary is so vital they must see in you what loving sensitive warm husband wife relationships are they must see what loving sensitive warm parent child relationships are they must see and feel and as it were catch the atmosphere of authoritative graciousness and gracious authoritativeness they must feel the comfort as well as the warmth of a well ordered home and what next...

32:47 - 34:14 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must create a home atmosphere that demonstrates loving, sensitive, warm husband-wife and parent-child relationships, authoritative graciousness, and the comfort of a well-ordered home.

Martin shares a humbling story of a dear saint who was initially scared to visit his home, fearing that her respect for him would 'vaporize' based on past experiences with other respected men whose credibility eroded upon seeing their domestic life. Her experience in his home, however, deepened her respect.

was when one of our dearest saints who's been with us now for 24 years and what a joy it's been to see Christ formed in this dear saint over a period of 24 years deep emotional psychological scars that kept her from really knowing what she was as a woman to see God mending and healing and excising and cutting out scar tissue and doing spiritual reconstructive surgery and all the rest I shall never forget the first day she came to me and said you know Pastor Martin I was scared to death the first time you invited me into your home I said why were you scared did I intimidate you she said no just...

34:14 - 35:41 Read in full sermon

The point: Those concerned with the reign of Christ must manifest the reality and implications of that reign in the crucial area of marriage and family, especially in a generation where these institutions are breaking down.

He uses the biblical description of Cretans in Titus 1:12 as a classic example of a society with 'peculiarly aggravated manifestations of sinfulness,' arguing that such contexts demand an especially radical ethical witness from believers.

one of themselves a prophet of their own said Cretans are always liars evil beasts idle gluttons the NIV's rendering is helpful here Cretans are liars evil brutes and lazy gluttons and he says this testimony is true there was a stereotype that was accurate so don't let people say oh all stereotypes are the result of prejudice well if so then Paul was guilty of Holy Ghost inspired prejudice he's saying look Timothy you're ministering at Crete and in so doing you better be aware of the peculiarly aggravated manifestations of human sinfulness at Crete and one of their own has stated it succinctly...

37:09 - 38:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Those concerned with the reign of Christ must manifest the reality and implications of that reign in the crucial area of marriage and family, especially in a generation where these institutions are breaking down.

Martin recounts growing up on Soundview Avenue in Stamford, Connecticut, where common grace was operative, leading to stable marriages, structured homes, and a neighborhood-wide commitment to discipline and respect for authority, contrasting it with the present societal breakdown.

there was discipline there was order responsibility was taught I can remember the collective common grace on Soundview Avenue in Stanford, Connecticut where I was raised I went back there for the first time in years back a couple of years ago and of course the street has shrunk by half the size that it was I know it did it had to because I know it was double that width when I was a kid and the yard I used to have to cut I know they cut the size of that down in half that's a shocking thing someday you'll know what I'm talking about just take my word for it but I went up and down that block and ...

40:03 - 41:29 Read in full sermon

The point: Pastors must make it evident that they are committed to the standards of the Word of God in their domestic lives, especially given the peculiar circumstances of our society.

He poses a hypothetical: in a society dominated by drunkenness, could a man preach effectively if there were questions about his alcohol use? He applies this to our society, which is 'drunk with the horrible fruits of a humanistic approach to family life,' arguing for the heightened need for domestic competence.

and there was the assumption that together we're committed to teach these kids respect for authority we're committed to teach them honesty and integrity well that sounds like like I've come from another planet for some of you I know but that's the truth but that is pretty well eroded except for certain pockets of some rural places in our own country and certain pockets in some of the urban centers of our country but that's the truth but for the most part the breakdown in the family and in the home and the sanctity of marriage is well nigh universal now by way of application imagine a society w...

41:29 - 42:55 Read in full sermon