Welcome, good morning again. To you introduce myself earlier
is Kyle service lead. Pastor here.
I'm glad that you're here. You have your Bible would you
please open to Titus Chapter 1? Titus Chapter 1, we're going to
continue in the series which we began last week Titus.
The I guess the subtitle to that or the theme of this is
observing how the gospel and godliness work together.
How does the gospel produce godliness?
How does godliness inform the gospel?
How do they work hand-in-hand for the good of?
The church, the good of the world and the glory of God.
And so we'll get into those things as we roll today.
Today, what we're going to observe is the is the kind of
men that are called to lead a church, its Elders, that they
were be to be full of both the gospel and godliness.
Let's let's read together. Verses 15 through 9 chapter
1539. Sorry, not versus 15.
That would be 15. So anyway, let's read together
one. One through nine here.
This is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what
remained into order and appointed Elders in every town
as I directed you. If anyone is above reproach, the
husband of one wife and his children are believers and not
open to the charge of debauchery, or insubordination
for an overseer is God's. Steward must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogance or quick-tempered or a drunkard or
violence or greedy for gain. In but hospitable I love her of
good. Self-controlled upright, holy
and disciplined. He must hug hold firm to the
trust for the word as taut, so that he may be able to give
instruction and sound Doctrine, and also, to rebuke those who
contradict it. That is the word of the Lord,
let us pray, Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word.
We thank you, that it instructs us, that it guides us, that it
corrects us, rebukes us that a teaches us it trains us and all
matters of godliness. We might be complete in Christ.
And father, I pray that now for myself and these here's these
listeners. My dear brothers and sisters.
We've gathered today to hear from Your word Lord, we're not
here to hear my words, were here to hear your words.
Father, help us to hear them. Well, help us to hide them in
our heart that we might not sin against you.
It's in Christ's name we pray. Amen, amen.
Paul, as we discussed last week has left Titus, who is a close
companion. He's a fellow worker of the
Gospel. He's left him in Crete.
This island off the coast land or the mainland of Greece and
hearing. Verse 5.
What we see is that he's giving him to Task. 1 is to put what
remains in to order. Put what remained into order and
appoint Elders in every town. The first task mentioned, as
well as what we see in the rest of the book of Titus gives us
some context clues as to what in the world is going on, in the
churches in Crete. What is this?
Task that lays before Titus and it reveals the difficulty of it.
The difficult nature. Of it that it's not an easy
task. That it's something that is
going to require much hard work. It's going to require men who
can join in on this kind of work.
The church is in every town needs to be put into order.
Paul says, put what remain in to order their their disorderly.
This doesn't mean that they're completely dysfunction, but
dysfunctional, but there is dysfunction within the churches.
If you've ever been a part of a church that was dysfunctional a
church. Who is traded the vision of
Christ centered. Worship for others, for a
self-centered culture. A self-centered way of thinking
about the Lord, a self-centered way of thinking about the church
then, you know, something about the difficulty facing these
Christians, you know, a bit of something about what faces these
soon-to-be pastors, who will be put into the churches in every
town. You know, what's facing or
something about what's facing Titus.
I'll go ahead and give you a few things that we see.
In Titus, a few reasons. We know these churches were in
dysfunction that these churches were having some problems that
there was some sayings that needed to be put into order on
the first things we read about in Titus is that there are false
teachers, upsetting whole family's in verse 11.
It says that those false teachers must be silenced since
there's upsetting whole families by teaching, for shameful, gain.
What they ought not to teach their teaching does not Accord
with sound Doctrine. Oh, and because it does not
Accord with sound, Doctrine does not record with what God has
actually said in his word. It's upsetting whole families,
as whole families are believing, it whole families are giving
themselves over to it. Whole families are following
their corrupt leaders, are these corrupt teachers, these families
are likely questioning the faith.
It could be doubting, God's word, is they originally
received it? These families are in disarray
about what is the gospel truly and how do we believe it?
How do we follow it on top of that?
There's outside pressures of worldliness that are influencing
the church. And verse 12 of chapter 1, Paul
says that by the word of epimenides who was a prophet of
the their own This Prophet said, cretans are always Liars.
They're evil beasts lazy gluttons.
So there's an outside pressure just from the culture of Crete.
And rather than stand firm in the truth of the Gospel.
The church is retreating, the church is giving in the
churches, even joining them in their worldliness, and not
pursuing godliness through the gospel.
Which leads me to at least one final thing.
I suspect there's more but at least one more thing we see in
this book is there's an ignorance.
And then by ignorance, I just mean a lack of understanding, a
lack of knowledge about the gospel and godliness and
chapters 23, Paul goes through Great Lengths to explain how the
gospel should affect one's life that it should make them zealous
for good works because God has one for himself through the
death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
People who are to be zealous for good works.
The gospel should affect your actions.
It should change your life. It should transform.
You mind body, and soul. You go from a lover of self, a
lover of the world, to a lover of God.
God's love has changed your life.
Paul says, in chapter 3 verse 8, he said those who believe in
God, maybe teach these things so that those who believe in God,
may be careful to devote themselves to Good Works.
These things are excellent and profitable for people.
That the dangers facing the church.
Today really aren't any different though.
They might wear a different mask, we have dysfunctional
churches throughout our city. Throughout our state throughout
our nation. Throughout the world.
There are false teachers upsetting whole families.
Today, propping themselves up as pastors these teachers in Titus
receive this rebuke but he says, they are teaching for selfish.
Gain. What, not what they ought not to
teach silence them, Titus rebuke them.
There are pastors, who are building platforms throughout
evangelicalism for their own benefits.
I teach for selfish gain, what ought not to be taught.
One glaring, example of this is the so-called health, wealth and
Prosperity Gospel. The self-proclaimed pastors
teach, and many of them aren't even pastors.
They don't have churches there. Just what you might call
evangelist. But they teach that individuals
who exercise true faith in Christ will surely attain
physical material and financial prosperity. such teaching is
often side too, if you will just sow a seed of faith into my
personal Ministry fund, Then you will receive health, wealth and
prosperity. As foolish as that might seem to
you, which I pray that it does. I pray?
You know, better, it does continue to upset the faith of
many families outside worldliness is influencing the
church today, as it was in Titus, we might adapt epimenides
as quote by saying the world is full of people who are always
Liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons.
It's foolish to look to the world for answers regarding
life. Godliness.
We must be men and women who are of the truth of God, men and
women who will go to God's word, to see what it says pertaining
to life and godliness. The truth is self, but the word
of God is self attesting that it is truth.
It proves itself as you read it, from cover to cover, And what we
learn about in God's word, is that it has everything in it
pertaining to life and godliness.
You see much of the world has convinced itself of and I would
argue apart from science. So, it argues for signs that a
baby in the womb is a cluster of cells that it's not a human
life. They sell it to others who will
then believe in in fight for it as women's rights.
What about the ride of that little girl?
There are self professing Christians, who believe this
lie, we've bought into it and the same vein their self
professing. Christian men, who have bought
the LIE of critical theory which says that they can't speak up
about abortion because they aren't women.
I simply cannot fathom. Loving baby murder this much.
We see an ignorance throughout churches about the gospel and
godliness. There are many, who think that
simply by belief in God, or that Jesus died and rose.
Again, they will enter Heaven. That's be clear.
Romans 10:9. Does say that anyone who
confesses with their mouth, that Jesus is Lord, and believes in
their heart, that God raised him from the dead.
They will be saved. But you must Define belief
correctly it. In James, the Book of James, we
see that, even the demons believe and they shudder at the
name of Jesus, there's a fear of God in them, not a saving fear
of God, but a fear of God nonetheless.
So they have belief even with shuddering, which is more than
some professing Christians can say.
For themselves. That's not enough to save your
soul, belief in Christ life belief, in his death belief and
his resurrection for the Forgiveness of sins requires
followship. It requires discipleship.
It requires one to put his life where his mouth is to not simply
say on his Facebook profile. I am a Christian, but to
actually walk as a Christian, not simply Talk, The Talk Jesus
says, there will be many on the last day.
Who say to me, Lord Lord, did we not do all these things in your
name? And I will say to them Christ
says, depart from me, for, I never, new, you True.
Believers are followers of Christ.
True. Believers are recipients of
Grace of, mercy of Love, unto eternal life.
True Believers have been transformed and so you will know
them by their fruit. Christ, says, a bad tree cannot
bear. Good fruit.
Neither can a good tree bear. Bad fruit sui, are to be fruit
inspectors? When it comes to Godliness in
the gospel, Denying self. Counting or Life Is Lost for the
for Christ's sake. And to follow him, that's true
salvation. These are just a few things that
I think Titus lays out for us. For the sake of time, we need to
keep moving but there are many dangers that are looming.
Over the churches in Crete, there are many dangers, looming
outside the Church of Crete there is problems within and
without What is the answer from God for this?
What does Paul instructs Heidi's to do?
What about it? What's the solution here?
It's Godly elders. It's Godly elders.
Both in the churches and Creed and our churches today, the
solution to dysfunctional churches is Godly Elders.
The point I want to lay before you today the point of what I
think titus's what Paul is teaching us here in Titus, is
that Elders. Serve the church has pacesetters
Elder serve, the churches pastors, they are pacesetters
and pastors by Nature. Not a nature of their own in
nature, which has been recreated by Christ, but this is to be
their nature. Nonetheless, Ephesians 4:11
through 12 says this, it says, and he gave the he, there is
Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ, gave to the church, the
apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherd's, or
pastors and teachers to equip the Saints for the work of
Ministry for building up. Up the body of Christ.
The Shepherds and teachers Ministries exist, within the
context of the local church, they do not exist outside of the
context of local church, they're meant to be a gift from Christ
himself for the equipping and building up of the body of
Christ, which is the church. Both as a local expression and a
global expression. so, the first point I want to lay before you
today is this, that Elders lead the local church, Elders.
Lead the local church back to Titus 1, verse 5.
This is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what
reminded to order and appoint elders.
Now I did of appointment is to a position to an office.
Appoint, the office of Elder, appoint Elders, notice it's
plural. Also, it's not one Pastor
leading its multiple pastors leading in every town as I
directed. You Elders.
Are to lead the local church, Elders are to be ruling over the
local church Elders. In every town means Elders, in
every Church within each town, we have more churches today.
Likely to many churches. As we've already confessed that
many r's, this functional that the truth still stands, though,
that every church is to be led by Elders.
It was normal for Paul to appoint Elders, after
establishing churches and acts. 14:23 read this about Paul and
Barnabas it says. And when they had appointed
Elders for them in every church with prayer and fasting, they
committed them to the Lord, in whom they had believed.
So, Paul on his first missionary journey goes through the cities
and he appoints Elders first. He establishes churches.
And then rather go than going back to Antioch, which had been
the really simple route. He retraces his steps to go.
Check on all these churches which had been established
during his ministry. And in that return trip, Elders
are appointed the Holy Spirit had made it evident who the
elders were and he appoints them to that role.
But acts 14 and Titus 1 or not, the only places that we read
about this office of Elder in the New Testament and Acts
chapter 20, Paul meets with the elders from Ephesus.
He meets with them on the shores of Meletis and there.
We see three titles that are synonymous in the New Testament
which describe the role of Elders in the local church.
There. You see the the role of Elder,
you see the role of overseer and Shepherd which again as pastor
He addresses them as all three titles in first Timothy 3, we
see the word overseer. If anyone aspires to the office
of overseer, he desires a noble thing.
And she's very, similarly, similar as the list here in
Titus 1, which again, gives credit to what we laid out
before. You last week that tied us one
are tied us and First Timothy, we're likely written at the same
time. And first Peter five, Peter
calls himself, a fellow Elder he's riding too many churches in
the dispersion. He calls himself a fellow Elder
though. He was also an apostle.
He identified himself with these Elders as a fellow Elder.
And he addresses, the elders in the church has to whom he was
riding, he charges them to care for the flock as a Shepherd.
Again, Pastor to exercise oversight or be an overseer and
so we see here that Elders pastors overseers are synonymous
terms. Some translations might use the
word Bishop depending on what you're reading this morning in
place of overseer but those three words are synonymous.
None, the less describing one office, which is commonly called
Old Elder Elders are the lead, the local churches overseas and
pastors, or as I will emphasize today as pacesetters in
pastures. Another thing we must understand
is that Elders are men. As the worldly feminist movement
becomes more pervasive churches. Continue to embrace those
worldly ideologies through what is called.
Egalitarianism does that men and women do not have separate
roles. They can have the same roles
they were equal. And in doing.
So they're announcing the Bible's idea of
complementarianism which is that men and women are equal in value
equal in worth as created in the image of God.
As we see in Genesis 1:26 and 127, he created them in His
image and likeness he created them male and female.
But he gives them distinct roles.
Adam was to be the worker and Keeper of the garden.
Adam was to leave his family. And cling to his wife, his wife
was to be a help meet to him. So the Bible has clear thoughts
clear, understanding of the roles of masculinity and
femininity within its definitions.
This isn't a brand new thing. It's something that Paul had to
address specifically in 1st Timothy Chapter 2.
There we see in verses 11 through 14.
It says let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a
man. Rather she is to remain quiets
for, Adam was formed first, then Eve and Adam was not deceived
but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
Paul hears describing the roles of men and women in the local
church in chapter 3 which comes just a few verses later, he gets
into the roles of Elders and S, he makes it clear that the role
of Pastor and overseers rooted in the task of teaching, the
church and exercising authority over the church, which would
include men and women. And so this excludes women from
serving as Elders are serving as pastors.
This doesn't, however, exclude women from teaching women, which
will see explicitly, and I'm excited to get into in Titus
Chapter 2. It doesn't exclude, women from
teaching children as second, Timothy 15 points out there with
Timothy Timothy. Grandmother and mother who were
instrumental in his faith. So a woman is not to be silent.
Always, that's not what, that's not what Paul is saying in first
Timothy Chapter 2, he's not saying that she should never say
a word but he's saying that she's to be silent in the role
of teaching men or exercising authority.
Over men within the local church and one clarification, I think
we must make is that this likely doesn't mean that a woman could
not evangelize a man, she could not share the gospel with a man,
but it does mean that the man's disciples Should happen with
other men. Second Timothy 2 lays this out
where Paul says, what I've claimed to you entrust to
Faithful, Men Who can teach other men, Titus Chapter 2 gets
into this about how women are to be discipling women men or to
disciple men. Why, why does this matter why is
it this way? Well, God determined the order
in creation, that's why Paul lays out that God created the
man first in the female, the woman came after the Man was
created. First, the man is to
sacrificially lead, his family in matters of spirituality and
love both in the church but especially in his home, the
roles in the church mirror, the roles in the home, it's the way
God has established the Order such furthermore we see in the
scriptures of what an elder is to be in first Timothy 3 and
Titus 1 that he is to be the husband of one wife that he has
to keep his children submissive which implies the roles of
husband. And father roles that belong
only to men unless you're buying into the worldliness.
That is present today. Concerning gender.
Another office that I believe is open to Women.
Within the local church is the office of deacon.
And First Timothy 3 after the male deacons are addressed,
women deacons are addressed. It's often translated the word
wives. But that doesn't make much
sense. Because in first, Timothy 3 and
the Elder qualifications, there are no qualifications for an
Elders wife. Which is just a few verses
before it seems like a great place to make those
qualifications known. If they were such that the word
used for wives is simply the word for women it which gives my
view some validity. It's also a view that's been
practiced throughout church history by the likes of Charles,
Haddon, Spurgeon, John Calvin and further back than those.
So we're in good company. Historically to practice Church
ecclesiology the way we do that Elders are Who serve as pastors
and deacons are men and women, who serve as lead servants in
the church. However, in churches were there
Deke were deacons are the governing body, which is likely
what most of you grew up in. If you grew up in a church
around in the south The shouldn't happen.
Those deacons are functionally acting as elders and so there
should not be women present on that Deacon team until the terms
are clarified in the new office of Elder is established.
This is why many of you grew up in such churches without women
deacons and so maybe your knee-jerk reaction to my, my
thoughts on. This is - like, whoa, wait a
minute. I'm happy to talk further about
that but I don't have time in this sermon so let's keep
pressing forward. So men who aspire to the office
or the role of Elders. First Timothy 3 puts it are to
serve as Elders in the local church.
I want to lay before you today that they were to be pacesetters
and pastors there to be confirmed and affirmed by other
elders and the congregation. And that congregation should
then submit themselves to this Godly leadership.
So long as their leadership is carried out in a Godly way.
Hebrews 13:17 The rider, their ins his book of Hebrews with
several different thoughts and one of the thoughts, he lays out
as this obey your leaders and submit to them for they are
keeping watch over your souls as those who will have to give an
account, let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for
that would be of no advantage to you.
So is the office for any man, who wants to be a pastor?
No, it's not for any man. Who wants to be a pastor?
It's for men. Qualified by certain
characteristics. First, let's look at those
characteristics and taught us 1638 when we read these to us.
Again, if anyone is above reproach, he's the husband of
one wife is his children are believers and not open to the
charge of debauchery or insubordination an overseer is
God's Steward. Our as God, Steward must be
above reproach, he must not be arrogance or quick-tempered or a
drunkard. Or violent or greedy for gain.
But hospitable a lover of good. Self-controlled upright.
Holy and disciplined. As I read that list, I think I
would happily submit myself and I have, and the role in the way,
our Elder team functions submit myself to men who are like this.
It's a joyous thing to do. And these verses we see that
Elders are men who set the pace in Godly oversights, but Paul's
has Titus with choosing the right.
Kind of men, not simply any man, these men will face difficulty
from Their opponents, these men will face inside and outside
pressures. They must be the kind of men who
can face those difficulties with godliness as they oversee, the
congregation under their care, the list of qualifications has
more to do with the man's character than his giftedness.
Please understand that today. Character, and the role of
Pastor, really in the role of anything is greater than
giftedness. You see this with athletes all
the time, right? Somebody's super talented.
It's super gifted athletically, but their character stinks and
nobody wants to be on their team, nobody wants to coach
them, right? The same is true for any other
roll off, probably you work with people who are this way or
really gifted at their job. But their character states in
the church especially this should not be the case, we
should not be more gifted. Than we are possessing the
character traits of godliness. Many are gifted right?
Many pastors are gifted. They have a charismatic
personality people want to follow them.
They may be a great speaker. So you hear things like that,
man. He's such a great speaker.
A follow-up question of that lately has been.
What does that even mean? but when a pastor stands up to
preach, That the congregation or the hearers ought to say, what a
great, God, we serve not what a great speaker.
You are. Amen.
He's fun to be around. He's knowledgeable list, can go
on but not all men. Have the character for the role
of Pastor yet. Maybe they are called by God
that the Paul went through three years.
Of training. It was practicing Ministry while
I was trying, but he was training before you begin to do
Mission work in Antioch and Beyond.
That's why Paul says, in 1st Timothy 3 about Elders that he
must not be a recent convert. It cannot be a new believer.
Lest he become, puffed up and the devil sift him character,
often comes with seasoning, a man needs to walk the walk for
some length of time. He needs to have his views
challenge. He needs to get his feathers
ruffled and disagreements. He needs to face, fears and
failures. And those moments.
That's when a man's character is truly seen.
There are too many stories about pastors who started out great,
but flamed out in the end due to poor character.
So Paul begins with if anyone is these things, if he is above
reproach, which is mentioned twice, here about elders and
overseers above reproach. Does not mean he is perfect,
this is not the idea of perfection, but it's the idea of
dependence. Repentance dependence on God.
He's living as one who has humility, he's living with
awareness regarding his own sinfulness.
He's living as one who is quick to repent, quick to apologize
when the occasion arises and he causes and offense.
He's remaining above reproach through confession and
repentance. He's the husband of one wife,
this means he's devoted to his wife, especially in the care of
her spirituality. He's caring for her spiritually,
emotionally, physically, and mentally.
He's a one woman, man. Also sure, his eyes are on his
wife, only, which also implies Purity.
He's a pure man, I do not believe this means that a
previously. Divorced man cannot be an elder.
I don't think the Bible teaches that I think that Those cases
must be taken as a case-by-case scenario within a church.
The man would need to have a track record of repentance for
the divorce and a devoted love toward his wife with some
lengths and years to it. He says children and the word
here for children, implies those who are still under your care
since not children, who are out of the home but those who are
still living in your home, it says children are believers.
They're not open to the charge of DeVos debauchery or
lavishness they're not insubordinate to Authority,
they're not rebellious. Here's the deal with this.
A man cannot guarantee the salvation of his child, right?
We understand that salvation is a work of Christ.
A lot of work of God Alone. He initiates, if he completes
this work, It's can't mean that his children must be Believers
but I think what it does mean is that he must be discipling them
to be Believers again. Paul, in first Timothy 3 says
that he manages his household. Well, as he talks about the role
of his marriage and the role as a father.
So, it's discipling is children to be Believers as Deuteronomy
6, Ephesians 6, home, 78, and further, instruct father's to
do, he is committed to raising them and the discipline and
instruction of the Lord while they were under his care.
He's trusting God to save them as he works and faithfulness
that way. We see that he's God's Steward.
He'll be held accountable as a steward as an overseer of God's
people, in Elder does not have his people.
He has God's people and an elder.
Has as his Shepherd Christ, just as the members of his church
have as their Shepherd Christ. So when elder acts, then as an
Under Shepherd to the great Shepherd, he is to do what the
shepherd says. He should not lead them in any
direction that Christ was not instructed by his word, his
commitment is to Christ. His commitment that says word,
His commitment is to their good and ultimately to God's glory
alone. He is not building his own
kingdom. He's building the kingdom of
God. And so in that vein he can't he
cannot be the kind of man who is arrogance.
He can't be quit quick-tempered. He can't be a drunkard.
He can't be violent or greedy for gain.
And consequently, this is exactly how the false teachers
acted, which will see next week. He is, then to be hospitable
mean he welcomes Outsiders, unbelievers are welcome in his
presence, he doesn't just have a disdain for them.
He's welcoming them into his presence so that he might share
with them. The love of God, he's a lover of
good. He's self-control that if so
controlled here means that he cares about his future enough to
control his passions and desires now.
That's goes hand in hand. With being above reproach.
Someone does something that causes an offense to the Eldar.
He is slow to anger. He is self-controlled and he
makes sure to respond in such a way that he will not disqualify
himself from eldership. So make sense, he's
self-control. He cares about his future.
He's upright, meaning he's righteous.
He's just in his works. And his words, his decisions.
He's holy, which means he values Purity.
He values, piety, he values humble Devotion to the Lord.
And he's disciplined which is similar to self-control but it
was different in this and that it's the idea of resolutely
controlling your - desires which would then lead you to a
positive action. So you recognize you have sinful
Desires in you and so now you're taking the necessary steps to
control those and you insert positive.
God honoring God pursuing actions.
And so implicitly, not stated but understood.
He must be a mature believer. A Man simply cannot do these
things without humbling himself before.
The Lord becoming completely dependent upon God to complete
the work, which God began in him.
The Elder sees himself as the branch and not the vine.
That Christ is the vine. He is the branch and he
understands apart from that. He will bear no fruit but if he
will abide in Christ as the branch abides in the vine and so
gets its life from the vine that he will bear fruits for the
Lord. And so prove to be God's
disciple is Jesus. Lines and John chapter 15 having
seen these characteristics, we should then have a better
understanding about an Elders role.
He is to set the pace for the church and godly.
Oversights, he leads, by example, not merely by word, he
walks the walk and he talks the talk.
And if he doesn't Then he shouldn't be considered for
eldership. And if he's already an elder,
then he shouldn't be an elder in the local church, any longer.
So what this means for you, whether you're an elder or not
as members of a local church that this passage encourages you
to do, at least two things. One is to strive to have these
characteristics yourselves. Pastors should be the kind of
men who are worth following as they are following Christ as you
become the kind of men and women, the kind of boys and
girls who are walking by the spirit of God and not by your
own flesh. These qualifications for Elder
are basic traits of Christianity.
They're not for pastors, only, just listen to Galatians 5:16
which was written to the church at galatia to the men and women,
the boys and girls there who were serving the lord.
He says, but I say walk by the spirit and you will not gratify,
the desires of the flesh for the desires of the flesh, are
against the spirit and the desires of the spirit are
against the flesh. For these are opposed to each
other there to keep you from doing the things you want to do.
But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the
law. Now the works of the flesh are
evident or sexual immorality. Impurity, sensuality idolatry
sorcery, enmity, Strife, jealousy, fits of anger,
rivalries dissensions divisions Envy drunkenness orgies, and,
and things like these Paul saying, this list isn't even
complete there, more. That could be here.
He says, I warned you as I warned you before that, those
who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Again he's describing characteristics of the world
here. Those who follow the Flesh and
then he says but the fruit of the spirit is love, it's Joy,
it's peace, patience, kindness goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness self-control, against such things.
There is no law. If you'll notice the difference,
the first list is about the actions of the person.
It's not merely describing their characters, describing their
actions, but the second list is about to transform character.
The man or the woman the boy or the girl who's now in love with
the Lord Jesus. He says, those who belong to
Christ have crucified, the flesh with its passions and desires.
So again the traits laid out here for Elder are just simply
that you're observing mature men in the Lord.
Before you say, hey, let's call this man.
To become an elder candidate and potentially an elder in our
church, right? But how do you dessert?
Observe it if men and the church are not having these things as
their characteristics. For not pursuing the Lord in
such a way that it produces godliness in their life.
Then there's few men to choose from and so the pastor has his
work cut out for him. I must calm into repentance calm
into value godliness devalue, the gospel.
So as Christians men women boys and girls we need to pursue
these things. The second thing I think that it
reveals is that you should affirm future pastors who have
these characteristics Make sure that the men that are put before
you as Elder candidates. Exemplify these things.
And if you're not sure ask questions, the second thing is
holds your current pastors accountable to these things if
You observe in us the lack of these come to us.
And please pray for us, often. It would be unloving not to do
so, because pastors are going to give an account as Hebrews 13
says, for the way that they LED God's people.
So, please understand the standard of godliness here,
strive for it yourself and courage, it and others affirm
Godly aerial to elders and pray for them and one another
concerning these things. Now having seen the character of
the man, let us now. Look at his responsibilities and
verse 9 Elders are pacesetters. We just looked at now.
We're going to see that Elders. Are pastors verse 9.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught.
The he may be able to give instruction in sound Doctrine,
and also, to rebuke those who contradict it.
So, in verses 6 through 8, we see that the man's commitment to
Godliness must be present. It must be discernible
observable in his life. And now we see his commitment to
the Gospel of Jesus. He must be a Godly overseer and
a major part of his role in oversight is to be a pastor It's
to Shepherd, God's people. Paul lays out here, three
responsibilities of Elders. The first is he holds fast to
the trustworthy word is taught he holds fast to, it says he
must hold firm or hold fast to the trustworthy word as taught
That's goes hand in hand, with the idea of stewardship that we
saw earlier Church. Elders, are to Steward God's
word. No, to take what God has said.
And to give their lives to his word.
They're to live their lives and submission to it there to live
their lives and study of it there to live their lives.
In such a way that they're not adding to God's word by adding
extra commands on God's people would be one way.
We observed in scripture Pharisees were really good at
that. But they're also not to take
away from it or to know it in a way that they're sure that
they're not adding to it or taking away from it that they're
holding fast to God's word as it was taught, that means as they
received it. Now, this is even clearer today
than it would have been in first century Christianity, but
because we have a completed Canon of scripture, we have a
new testament, which has been finished.
We don't have to wonder what was taught when it says, hold fast
of the trustworthy word is taught.
We don't have to say, well, what was it?
We have it from Matthew to revelation.
We have it from Genesis to revelation.
We know what is God's word? It's written plainly for us.
It's in Black and Whites. Let the Elders of God's Church.
They must hold fast to his where they must settle themselves on
it. They must labor with the Holy
Spirit to know God's word must labor with the Holy Spirit to
live, according to God's worth both personally, especially and
pastorally. I'll add especially to that.
Also, both are extremely important. and I would argue you
cannot do this pastorally if you are not doing it personally, the
apostles in Acts 6, had a dispute arise among them.
The church is just getting going.
And there was a massive moment of Salvation and acts to after
Peters. Sermon The church has grown and
there are hellenists which were Greek Jews.
Essentially. And there are Hebrews which were
Jews. And that there's a dispute
between them. The hellenists are not being
cared for their widows are not receiving the daily portion of
food and so they're like, hey Apostles.
We've got a problem. There's no, they were basically
accusing the Jews of being favoritest of ignoring Their
widows. And so the apostles response to
this was We can't go all. We can't be the one to serve all
these tables and so they chose seven deacons to serve tables
and the apostles who were functionally, the pastor's of
the church in that time because it was so new.
They said, we must do this so that we can devote ourselves to
prayer and the ministry of the word, there was a role that
Elders must observe. This doesn't mean I never serve,
physically doesn't mean any of that.
That's not what they were saying, or not saying, we're way
up here. It just means the A first
importance is not whether or not someone eats bread.
The matter of first importance is whether or not they eat God's
word, they have it, they know it.
And they're following you when the world begins to demand that
church has, softened their language concerning sin,
masculinity femininity, holding this hell, Grace forgiveness.
Mercy gathering on Sundays marriage, gender.
And love. Church Elders, are the kind of
men who stand up and say not on my watch.
But hold fast to the trustworthy word is taught.
Even if it costs them their job or their life for their security
or trusting in Christ alone. They're bound to him, they're
slaves to him as we saw Paul say last week.
I pray with the changing with the way the cultures and
hyperdrive and its transformation right now.
I pray that God grants me the courage. and the conviction to
hold fast to his word as long as I am pastoring, as long as I'm a
Believer, even, and the same for whoever goes after me and
pastoring this church, and the pastor's after them, But it's on
the elders. Now, in this church to establish
that sort of culture here, and it's on the members of this
church to make sure that kind of culture is established here.
So, we must understand these things, we must give ourselves
to these things. The second thing we see about an
Elders that he must be able to give instruction in sound
Doctrine. This means he's a kind of expert
in God's word and I don't mean that he knows it 100% that
there's nothing more for him to learn.
That's not what I'm saying, but that he knows God's word.
Well enough to teach sound Doctrine and part of being able
to teach some doctrines able to recognize false Doctrine.
This has in mind more than teaching though, teaching would
be Jasper. Did a great job of this this
morning. He taught us the attributes of
God and Sunday school, and he said but God is love and he even
got to what makes teaching teaching is what is our response
to this? These truth that we've learned
this morning is that we worship God.
That's what a pastor does. It would be wrong to say, God is
love and then to never explained to The Listener, what that means
for their life, that would just be mere transformation of facts.
That's not helpful for the Christian Life.
So the pastor must urge his listeners to turn away from
their sin, which, which makes them unable to love God to turn
to God by faith that they might know his love.
The pastor says God loved the world enough to send his own son
to die, for your sins, to be the propitiation for your sins, the
payments for your sins to take on himself.
What was your debt? So that whoever believes in,
Jesus Christ will be saved. They will have eternal life.
They will not perish. Pastors are men who hold fast to
the word of God, who given instruction in sound Doctrine.
And that instruction is persuasive in nature.
It's an active pleading with the listener to turn from the world
and turn to God. Instruction is supported by a
call to action. It's not simply.
Here is the truth of God's word. It's here is what God's word
says. And here is a right response to
hearing God's word repentance and faith.
Men and women boys and girls. What this means is as long as
the Elders of the church are teaching sound Doctrine.
You were wise to listen to it. You're wise to hear it and to
Bear the fruit of obedience. If it's God's word, they teach,
then your obedience is not to those elders, but to God
himself, This is what I'm trying to teach to my own children.
Obeying mommy and daddy is good and right.
The Lord says to do that. And because the Lord says to do
that, if you obey me, As I'm teaching, you correct, things.
Then you're really your obedience is to God, and that's
a matter of first importance. The same is true for the
congregation. Finally, we see that he must be
able to rebuke those who contradict sound Doctrine, the
Elder must not, let unsound Doctrine, upset individuals or
whole families. He must be on the lookout for
false teachers and teachings. The things that his congregation
may be prone to. And then he with laser focus
with gentleness and with conviction and boldness is able
to rebuke the teachers and the teachings, the call them to
repentance if they believe such. the idea of rebuke here in Titus
is that of argumentation, which is not the Facebook version of
argumentation, It's debating. Its reasoning with its talking
out things. It's an attempt to convince the
person of their false teachings or to convince a person of their
false beliefs from false. Teachers.
The pastor is the shine a light on faulty Doctrine, he's to
expose it as it is all for the purpose of helping, someone find
the gloriously life-giving doctrine of God as God as
revealed in his word, you see the elders.
Not interested in propping himself up as the, sole faithful
teacher. That's, that's not what.
Laughter. He's saying there are people out
there who believing things that are upsetting whole families and
their teaching as good, what is really meant for their own
greed. Rebuked them.
Why? Because there's a life-giving
transforming gospel that exists and we need to get that into the
hearts of men and women. And so an elder sees that as his
conviction, he commits himself to it.
If I ever stand up here and I say something like I'd I declare
you'll say this with me. I declare that you are Healthy
and Wealthy and strong. In Jesus name, please.
Instruct one of the deacons with tasers to take me out.
Tell me you're like wait is that a thing?
Tasers deacons act foolish and find out.
It's all I know to tell you. Jonathan Edwards was a Puritan
Pastor in colonial America, in the early 1700s.
He was a really kind of a leader of the Great Awakening.
But many of you read his sinners in the hands of an Angry God and
we're told in high school how terrible that service least.
That's how I remember it. It's a bit of an unfair
treatment of Jonathan Edwards, but he has this thing to say
about pastors. He says there are two ways of
representing and recommending True, Religion, and virtue to
the world, which God had made has made use of.
He said, the one is by Doctrine and precept.
The other is, by instance, and example, This is what I'm laying
before you as pastors, Elders should be pastors and
pacesetters. They are to know the doctrines
and precepts of God and teach those things.
Well, But they ought to be examples.
Of that belief in their godliness.
Brothers and Sisters. Jesus Christ is the head of the
church. Not me, not Alan Garrett, not
Jasper, Jack. We have a couple of Elder
candidates right now who just begun their candidacy process.
James Jones, we introduced them at the last members meeting
James Jones and Steve Atkinson. We are not the head of this
church Christ is the head of this church.
I've joked recently. Looking back to when I was hired
which my first Sunday will be seven years ago next month or
next week. Sorry, thank you.
That's one happy person appreciate it.
But I've made the comment that I wouldn't hire me now.
But I praise God. That he went us together in this
way. And I thank you for your
kindness toward me. And they seven years.
I've failed you multiple times the ones that really hurt are
the ones I filled that are no longer here.
Those are the ones that keep me up at night.
But my comfort is that Christ is the only perfect, man.
He is our example, he goes before us.
And he calls us his own by his own blood.
He equips Us by his spirit, for the work of eldering.
It's his church and we're humble slaves and service to him.
Being an elder requires mileage and that's why I say I wouldn't
have hired myself. Then I had to 0 mileage on me.
I was just getting drove off the lot.
I was eliminate times. Being an elder requires years of
faithful service to God. It requires fruit from it and
requires knowledge of God's word.
It requires the ability to teach others what God's word says and
does it say requires a commitment to counsel others?
According to God's work. It requires courage and more.
It's not for the weak at heart. It's not for the new Christian.
It's not for the people Pleasers.
Man, if I messed up in that area from Tom and Gore time and time
again, even though it is for men who will lead the local church
as a steward is for men who will set themselves on Pace for
godliness and then become pacesetters for others.
It's for men who will oversee with a submission to the lord.
It's for men who will Pastor others by teaching God's word
and rebuking those who contradicted.
It's for men who are pacesetters and pastures.
Brothers and sisters, I beg of you this morning to store these
truths in your heart. So that you may pursue this kind
of Godly character alongside your brothers and sisters here
today. That all of us together can say
we've been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and
we're moving onward. Toward maturity and him, hide
these roots in your heart. So that you may be able to
protect the role of Elder at this church by holding Elders to
the biblical standard. And also by affirming, men who
meet the standards. Hide the truth in your heart
that you might pray for your elders.
Pray for your Elder candidates, according to this list of
qualifications and responsibilities.
Have I asked you to pray for us. Please, pray for us.
If I end with these, these two groups of people, Believers my
brothers and sisters here today. And what way is God speaking to
your heart concerning? This passage this morning.
Is it a conviction for a new belief?
Is it the revealing of some sinfulness that needs
repentance? Is his in urging toward
spiritual maturity. Is it something else?
I encourage you to respond Faithfully to the Lord this
morning, and if you're an unbeliever in here, know this,
that Christ Jesus died for your sins.
And if you will repent of your sins, if you will place your
faith, your belief in Christ. Jesus for your salvation,
meaning you will follow him as the one who has saved you, then
you will be saved today. And I urge you, I implore you do
not wait until a future time but commit your life to Christ now.
Would you stand to your feet as we pray?
Heavenly father, I thank you. For this word today.
I thank you. Lord, for this church.
Thank you, Lord, for what we've seen today.
Lord, would you help us to believe it with all our heart.
Would you help us to follow you and godliness?
UPS, the value sound Doctrine, has to turn away to be aware of.
Have an eye looking for false teaching false beliefs, father,
help us today as we're asking, we are desperately dependent on
you as as members of your body together.
Lord, would you let this be a place where Godly Elders lead?
Protect us father from ungodly Elders now and in our future.
Keep Us Safe. Lord, grant to us, men who have
a conviction of being an Under Shepherd of Christ.
That these are your people not his people that this is your
kingdom not his kingdom. It's your word, not his word.
Father, would you help us all to Aspire?
The traits of godliness that we see here and so the book of
Titus just over and again, make so playing for us to see.
At the fruit of the Gospel is godliness.
Help us to be Godly men and women Godly boys and girls as we
pursue you. Lord, if there's anyone in here
who is an unbeliever father, would you grant to them
salvation now Would you save them from their sins?
Would you give them a conviction weighs heavy on them?
A burden, which they have to unload at the foot of the cross?
They would Place their faith in Christ and be saved.
Begin living a new life. Father, we love you.
We thank you for your son Jesus Christ.
We thank you for your Holy Spirit, which resides in its now
and helps us to live for you. We ask all these things in the
name of your son. Jesus, hang them.