Paul's Epistles – Titus – Part 2:
Appointing Elders who love what is good
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith
Church | www.PS127.org
| www.TruthDigest.org
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SERMON INTRODUCTION
Unlike some of the other epistles attributed
cautiously to Paul, nearly all agree that without a doubt, Titus is most
definitely Paul’s workmanship.
Some thought that because of its strong emphasis on
“works”, Paul did not write it. (1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 8, 14 ),
however Titus 3:5 gives the answer to that objection, “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because
of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the
Holy Spirit,”
It is clear Paul is pressing the issue of works, not
for salvation sake, but in an effort to promote “godliness” which comes from
knowledge of the Truth, a godliness which “produces” works naturally as its
fruits.
Galatians 5:22-23 “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no
law.”
This letter was written approximately the same time,
and more than likely the same place as I Timothy.
PREVIOUSLY
Introduction to Titus
TODAY’S SERMON
Appointing Elders who love what is good
Titus 1:2-9 (65 AD, written between I Timothy and II
Timothy)
The
reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left
unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 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. 7 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. 8 Rather,
he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled,
upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must
hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can
encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
The overall message of this
epistle to the church is;
God’s ideal for the
Christian Church and Christian Workers
I. THE REASON I LEFT
YOU IN CRETE
a. Paul
was in Crete with Titus preaching the gospel for a period of time
i. Paul
then left to attend to other matters leaving Titus to establish and build
churches in Crete’
b. Paul
trusted Titus to continue the mission after he departed
i. Paul
instructed Titus to appoint Elders in every city
ii. In other words, establish a church in each town its own Pastor
c. The
meaning of Elder
i. Elder,
Bishop, Shepherd, Overseer, Presbyter, Pastor are all interchangeable words and
simply refer to the Pastor of a local church
ii. Churches can have multiple Elders serving on a board, but there is
usually a single Pastor in charge of leading the church with the board of
Elders serving as Spiritual leadership and for guidance.
II.
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ELDERSHIP IN A CHURCH
a. The qualifications for
Elders is listed in a few different places in scripture
i. Titus 1:5-9; I Timothy 3:1-7; I Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:28
ii. Various references to different aspects of Eldership qualifications and
examples as well as explanations of duties are also found in many various
places in scripture as well.
III.
SO WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR ELDERS
a. Their desire and calling to
Eldership is from the Holy Spirit
i. Acts 20:28; I Timothy 3:1; I Peter 5:2
b. Moral and Spiritual
character requirements
i. Desire
is not enough, sometimes desire is a false desire or the result of a dominating
personality, who wants to rule over people.
ii. So to protect the church from false desire and unfit men, the Holy
Spirit gives us practical objective qualifications for testing the desires and
qualifications of candidates.
c. The test
i. A GOOD REPUTATION
1. Above reproach - I Timothy
3:2; Titus 1:6
2. Respectable - I Timothy 3:2
3. Well thought of by others - I
Timothy 3:7
ILLUSTRATION
The wall of China is 1,500 miles long and 15-30 feet high, costing the
government of China a lot of money, equivalent to 1,359 BILLION dollars of
today’s money.
Yet, that wall was breached 3 times because guards accepted bribes.
The Chinese government invested billions in the construction of the
Great Wall, but failed to test the moral character of guards, making the wall
worthless.
ii. FAMILY LIFE: MARITAL AND SEXUAL LIFE
1. The husband of one wife - I
Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:6
2. No polygamists, adulterers, fornicators
a. One wife only
b. No cheating on spouse with married people
c. No cheating on spouse with unmarried people
3. This is a “key” test in a sexually immoral world
4. God demands His shepherds be men above reproach in their marriage and sexual
life
iii. FAMILY LIFE: CHILDREN
1. He must manage his own household well - I Timothy 3:4
2. His children are raised believers and not open to the charge of
debauchery or insubordination
3. His children are well behaved and obedient with “all dignity” - I Timothy 3:4-5
4. Meaning, they obey him out of respect and love, not because they were
beaten, belittled, or abused into submission
5. Children are a test of a man’s leadership, no father is perfect, but a
Christian father who is an Elder must be above reproach as a father in the eyes
of the community.
6. Despite normal family issues and problems, he should consistently show
that he is a concerned and involved father.
7. No child is perfect either, but we keep them subordinate in “all
dignity” and in a respectful manor.
iv. PERSONAL LIFE: SELF-CONTROL
1. Sober minded - I Timothy 3:2
2. Self-controlled - Titus 1:8
3. Not greedy for gain - Titus
1:7
4. Not quick tempered - Titus
1:7
5. Not quarrelsome - I Timothy
3:3
6. Not a drunk - I Timothy 3:3
7. Disciplined - Titus 1:8
8. Self-Controlled is a FRUIT of the Holy Spirit, i.e. evidence of His
presence - Galatians 5:22-23
9. Proverbs 25:28 “Like a city whose walls are broken
through is a person who lacks self-control.”
10. The biggest wall in China will fail to protect you if you lack in moral
character, and if you are a leader in church, like a guard at the great Wall,
your lack or morality can put the entire city (church) at risk of attack.
11. Self-control is a good test in many ways and is needed today in many
areas;
a. Alcohol
b. Abuse of Authority
c. Anger
d. Money
e. Quarrelsome
f. Balanced Judgment
v. RELATIONAL SKILLS WITH PEOPLE
1. Gentle - I Timothy 3:3
2. Upright - Titus 1:8
3. Not quick tempered - Titus
1:7
4. Not quarrelsome - 1 Timothy
3:3
5. Not arrogant (prideful, conceited, self-willed, self-pleasing) Titus 1:7
6. i.e. “I think”, “I believe”, “I feel”...
vi. HOSPITABLE AND LOVING
1. Hospitable - I Timothy 3:2;
Titus 1:8
2. A lover of good - Titus 1:8
3. Inviting people into your home, and being a person who does kind deeds
for others, helpful, generous to needy brothers and sisters.
4. John 13:34.35 “A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so
you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if
you love one another.”
vii. SPIRITUAL MATURITY
1. I Timothy 3:6, not a new
convert or he may become conceited and fall into condemnation of the devil.
2. According to the scriptures, an elder needs to be saved for a period of
time and have the opportunity to acquire a good reputation among people.
3. Be an example to the flock - I
Peter 5:3
viii. He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be
able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also rebuke those who contradict
it. Titus 1:9
ix. Able to teach and define aspects of faith - I Timothy 3:3
CONCLUSION
– LET THEM BE TESTED FIRST
Then let them serve.
- I Timothy 3:10
The sins of some men
are obvious, going out before them for all to see, while others may not appear
until later. I Timothy 5:24-25
Paul also warns of
“hasty” appointments. Without the testing and qualifications the Holy Spirit
tells us to look for, hastily appointing a leader puts the entire church at
risk.
Next week we will see Paul’s instruction to
the Elders on rebuking those who fail to do good.
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