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Also see Phil's article to keep on track with a related message.

Recognizing they are worthy and should serve is often one of the hardest things for genuinely Godly disciples to do when called on to lead. All throughout Scripture, when a great follower of God is called on to lead, there is an immediate response about his or her unworthiness — too old, too young, not worthy, they won't listen, I can't speak well, I've been a sinner ... Some of this can be simple excuse making. However, when confronted with the daunting task of leading God's people, anyone deserving of leadership is going to be humbled and feel unworthy of the responsibility

None of us is sinless. Jesus is the only leader God has given His people who was sinless. Every other leader we choose or God sends will have flaws. Recognizing these flaws, these weaknesses and vulnerabilities is crucial to a leader. This is also probably why God wanted a plurality (more than one) of elders or shepherds or overseers (these same to be used as interchangeable terms for shepherding leaders in the early church, along with the term bishop) for each congregation.

So when we look at the character qualities needed of these leaders in Crete and Ephesus (Titus 1 and 1 Timothy 3) as well as the style of a shepherding leader (Psalm 23; John 10; 1 Peter 5:1-4), we can disqualify almost anyone if we focus on one weakness or in a certain period of a person's life. At the same time, we don't want to ignore clear character defects or spiritual immaturity of a potentially great leader. No wonder the early believers took time for prayer and fasting before recognizing and ordaining these leaders to serve in God's church.

We need to pray that God will raise up leaders who have grown toward maturity in their character, spirituality, family leadership, and respectable living in the church and also in the community. Sometimes, that even means recognizing that we are not completely arrived at the maturity that we desire in ourselves or our leaders, but part of real maturity is recognizing we are not there yet and pressing on (Philippians 3:7-17).

See also the Life Questions related to these principles for further thought and discussion.