Leaders in the church…  (3 points)

• 1^st – The REASON for leaders… vs. 5
  • 1^st – For this REASON I left you in Crete…
    • That you should set in ORDER (by making straight) the things that are lacking….
      • Apparently – the church in Crete were a bit chaotic – and needed more structure…
      • So Paul left Titus in Crete so he could organize the church – by establishing LEADERS!
    • God established leaders in the church – to establish order…
      • Imagine if everyone just did what they wanted to in church…
      • There was no one leading – no one directing and organizing the believers…
      • No one to establish the time to have Bible Study / no one leading the service…
      • Imagine a Sunday service were everyone was trying to share all at once…
      • There would be chaos – and ministry cannot happen effectively in chaos!
      • I Corinthians 14:33 – “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace… But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.”
    • God is a God of order – He works through structure…
      • There is a balance – we are to be open to the Spirit – we are to be flexible…
      • But we are also to be wise – we are to make plans – we are to be organized…
      • That is why God has established order in His church – Pastors / Deacons…
      • Not that we are organized by men – we look to the Word of God / Jesus to lead us…
      • But by the Grace of God leaders are appointed to lead us according to the Word!
      • Hebrews 13:17 – “Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God…”
  • 2^nd – Titus was to APPOINT Elders in every city…
    • Titus was to APPOINT Elders just as Paul had COMMANDED him…
      • COMMANDED – 16x in NT – the ONLY word translated ORDAIN – I Corinthians 7:17
      • ORDAIN – to arrange – appoint – to give order…
      • The question becomes – HOW – are men to be ordained in the church!
    • We find the best example in the book of Acts – on the first missionary journey…
      • Acts 14:23 – “[Paul]… appointed elders in every church…”
      • BUT – Paul did NOT APPOINT Elders when he first arrived in a city!
      • Too often people are just placed in a position – with disastrous results…
      • Just because there is a need – does not mean we are the ones to step up and help…
      • Just because we have certain gifts and abilities – does not mean we are qualified…
      • The question is not who has the most talent – or the best ideas…
      • The question is whom has GOD called – who has GOD anointed for a work!
      • The best ideas – the most qualified – can do nothing without the power of God…
      • The worst ideas – the least qualified – cannot fail when God is on their side!
    • Paul WAITED to APPOINT / ORDAIN leaders…
      • Only when Paul RETURNED to each city – THEN he APPOINTED Elders…
      • By waiting – it gave time for people to step up and use the gifts God had given…
      • Then Paul simply acknowledged the obvious work that God was doing in them!
      • The man with a Bible in his hands teaching the people – must be a pastor…
      • The girl who the kids LOVE to be around – must be called to minister to the kids!
      • It is about recognizing God’s work – the calling to love and minister to the people!
      • But never be in a rush – I Timothy 5:22 – “Do not lay hands on anyone hastily…”
      • It is not about appointing a leader – it is about recognizing the anointing of GOD!
    • Paul could then turn the churches over to those leaders…
      • There was NO need to worry if the churches would be successful…
      • NO need to wonder if the church would disappear once you left!
      • Because when God is the one who ORDAINS the work – He is the one who maintains it!
      • John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”

• 2^nd – The qualifications for leaders… vs. 6-9

• Introduction to the LIST…
  • A VERY similar list to the one given by Paul to Timothy – I Timothy 3:1-7
    • But here the qualifications are listed are for an ELDER – and for a BISHOP…
    • There are three words used to describe a LEADER in the church…
    • These terms are used interchangeably in the New Testament…
    • BISHOP – describes their responsibility – to lead / oversee the people…
    • PASTOR – describes their purpose – to teach and protect the people – Ephesians 4:11
    • ELDER – describes their age – experience they have earned so they can help the people!
  • If any man BE (present indicative) – this is who they are!
    • This is NOT a to do list – it is what God has DONE in us list…
    • Someone knows they ARE a leader because they see God doing these things in their life!
    • Because it is not about a position – it is about the CALLING of God on a man…
    • The passion to LOVE and FEED His people – and build them up in their walk with the Lord!
• 1^st – An Elder must be BLAMELESS… vs. 6
  • BLAMELESS – 6x in NT (3x in Titus) – does not mean perfect – but that he cannot be accused!
  • When we step out to serve the Lord – people are going to attack us…
  • So it is important that they do not give people any ammunition to work with…
  • What is ok for other people – is not acceptable for leaders– a different standard!
• 2^nd – An Elder must be the husband of one wife… vs. 6
  • HUSBAND – meaning again a pastor cannot be a woman – I Timothy 2:12
  • Some say a pastor MUST be married – he is to have one WIFE…
    • This is likely not the meaning – Paul was not married – I Corinthians 7:7
    • There are advantages for a pastor to have a wife – if she has a heart for ministry…
    • She can minister to the women and / or children within the church!
    • But I have also known men who wanted to be pastors – and their wife stopped them!
      
  • Some also say a pastor cannot be DIVORCED / remarried – ONE wife…
    • This is also likely not the meaning – the Bible gives three allowable reasons for divorce…
    • The wife has an ongoing affair – the husband is free to remarry – Matthew 19:9
    • The wife is an unbeliever / leaves – the husband may remarry – I Corinthians 7:15
    • The wife dies – the husband is then free to remarry – Romans 7:2
    • A pastor should be blameless – he should not be responsible for the divorce…
    • But even then – there is GRACE – we are not defined by our past – just Jesus!
  • The husband of ONE wife – simply means he cannot have multiple wives!
• 3^rd – An Elder must have FAITHFUL children… vs. 6
  • FAITHFUL – pistos – 67x in NT someone who has FAITH in Jesus!
    • In other words the children of leader need to be saved!
    • If a leader cannot lead his own family to Jesus – how can he lead of the church of God!
    • In many ways the family is the proving grounds for new pastors…
    • If a man does not pray with his wife and kids / read the Word to them…
    • Why would God trust you to read and pray and take care of HIS kids!
  • Kids who are NOT accused (katēgoria) of DISSIPATION or INSUBORDINATION…
    • DISSIPATION – 3x in NT – to live an abandoned life – unwilling to be saved…
    • INSUBORDINATION – 4x in NT – disobedient – completely out of control!
    • Once a man becomes a leader – he needs to keep loving his family…
    • Unfortunately – the kids of Pastors – are famous for being out of control!
    • Because the pastor spends so much time at church – he neglects his family…
    • Essentially his kids grow up without a dad – they are bitter towards God about it!
    • A leader needs to make sure that he is taking care of his FIRST ministry!

• 4^th – A Bishop must be a blameless as a STEWARD of God… vs. 7
  • STEWARD – literally a manager who oversees the finances of their employer
    • A leader must be BLAMELESS [same word] when it comes to finances!
    • If you gave me P1000 and told me to hold onto it for you…
    • But when you came back for it – I only gave you P500 – I would be a bad manager!
  • Church leaders have been given the responsibility to manage the church of God…
    • And it is VERY important they do so in a way that they are BLAMELESS!
    • The way to accomplish that is through accountability…
    • Anytime money is spent at the church – it first has to be approved by the board…
    • That way no one person can be tempted to misuse the resources of the church!
    • I Corinthians 4:2 – “A person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful!”
• 5^th – A Bishop cannot be SELF-WILLED… vs. 7
  • SELF-WILLED – 2x NT – a word that means to be self-pleasing / arrogant…
    • I know a lot of pastors who think they have the right to lead / teach…
    • They have gone through years of Bible College / Seminary – they have degrees…
    • And they somehow believe that now they are prepared to serve the Lord…
    • FOOLISHNESS – that is pride – we CANNOT earn the right to lead! 
    • The people we are trying to ministry to are no good / dirty rotten / sinners!
    • And no matter how much training / education we receive – we are not prepared…
    • Because it turns out we are ALSO no good / dirty rotten / lousy sinners!
  • The Grace of God allows us to serve IN SPITE of who we are…
    • If you see a beautiful pot – you do not congratulate the clay…
    • You look for the master sculptor who could take dirt and make it beautiful!
    • We are nothing more than the instrument God uses to reach out to His people!
    • We need to humbly remember that we are just the tools – God is the master!
    • Isaiah 64:8 – “We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.”
• 6^th – A Bishop cannot be soon ANGRY… vs. 7
  • ANGRY – only here NT – to be given to ANGER – have a short fuse!
  • A leader should not be looking for a fight – going out to pick a fight…
  • But that does not mean a leader cannot defend himself – or his family!
• 7^th – A Bishop cannot be GIVEN to wine… vs. 7

• Paul repeats this in I Timothy 3:3 – we would say being a DRUNKARD!
• Can you imagine a pastor coming to Sunday service – drunk / or with a hangover…
• The Bible does NOT say it is wrong to drink – but we CANNOT get drunk – Ephesians 5:18
• The ONE exception is for PASTORS – they CANNOT drink at all…
• Because a drunk pastor is not going to be able to teach the people!
• Because the Pastor is an example to the church – so he is not to drink ANY alcohol!

• 8^th – A Bishop cannot be VIOLENT… vs. 7
  • VIOLENT – 2x in NT – I Timothy 3:3 – looking to hit others…
  • I often get people trying to egg me into a debate on the church Facebook page…
  • They come looking for a fight – they want to get into an argument…
  • But there is nothing edifying about getting angry and yelling at others just to prove a point!
  • A leader should not be looking for a fight – going out to pick a fight!
• 9^th – A Bishop cannot be greedy for money… vs. 7
  • GREEDY FOR MONEY – 3x in NT – always in relation to church leaders
    • Not that a pastor should not be taken care of by the church…
    • As much as possible – be provided for practically by those within the church!
    • I Timothy 5:18 / Matthew 10:10 – “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
  • But a pastor should not try to get RICH…
    • Too many pastors today abuse they authority they are given in the church…
    • They use the pulpit as a means for personal gain – taking advantage of people…
    • The result is people are wary of the church – the Gospel message become tainted…
    • They are not there to love and feed the people – they come to cheat them…
    • Those pastors who take from the people – fall under the judgment of God!
    • Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. Shouldn’t shepherds feed their sheep?”
• 10^th – A Bishop must be HOSPITABLE … vs. 8
  • HOSPITABLE – 3x in NT – the word literally means to be friendly to strangers!
  • A leader should always be willing to open up his home / even to strangers…
  • Any time of the day / or night – willing to put on a pot of rice / offer cold water…
  • By doing so they show the Love of God to others – the goodness of God – John 13:35
  • So then they can tell others about the opportunity to know Jesus – Romans 2:4

• 11^th – The CHARACTER of a BISHOP… vs. 8
  • A Bishop must LOVE what is GOOD…
    • Philagathos – only here NT phileo (love) / agathos (good) …
    • Agathos emphasizes the moral goodness of something or someone…
    • Leaders should be known as those who LOVE what is morally right!
    • But this is speaking of the desire of the heart – which cannot be seen…
    • So how do you know if a LEADER has an inward LOVE of what is GOOD!
  • SOBER MINDED – 4x in NT meaning to have self-control…
    • Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions – Galatians 5:17
    • Do we choose to live for pleasure / the moment – or do we live for the Lord…
    • A pastor needs to have self-control / not ruled by his emotions or desires…
    • So he can be an example for the church on how to live for Jesus Christ!
  • JUST – to be RIGHTEOUS – focuses on the outward actions…
    • Meaning what kind of FRUIT does a leader have – do they live a JUST / RIGHTEOUS life…
    • We are to be known by our FRUIT – how we live our lives – shows our heart!
    • Luke 6:44 – “Every [person] is known by [their] own fruit.”
  • HOLY – hosios – 8x in NT – undefiled by sin / free from wickedness…
  • SELF-CONTROLED – only here NT – to have POWER over our sinful nature!
    • The leader who LOVES what is GOOD morally / internally…
    • Will be SOBER MINDED – and have self-control over their actions…
    • Causing them to live a life that is JUST – RIGTHOUES with good FRUIT…
    • The result will be they will not be HOLY – undefiled by SIN…
    • And SELF-CONTROLED with POWER over this SINFUL nature!
• 12^th – A Bishop must HOLD fast the Word… vs. 9
  • HOLD FAST – to literally CLING to the WORD of GOD – as he has been taught…
    • So that he can through SOUND (hygiainō) doctrine – HEALTHY teaching…
    • EXORT (parakaleō) those who desire to grow in Jesus – learn more about the Lord…
    • COVICT those who are OPPOSED – refuse to turn to the Lord!
  • The biggest problem in the world today – is people do not know the Word of God…
    • Hosea 4:6 – “My people are being destroyed because they do not know me. It is all your fault, you [pastors], for you yourselves refuse to know me.”
    • And the ones who should be teaching them – the leaders / pastors – do not…
    • Pastors need to teach the Word – faith comes by hearing the Word – Romans 10:17
  • Not that a pastor has to be REALLY GOOD at teaching…
    • It means the pastor takes the time to study the Word – II Timothy 2:15
    • So that he can share the truth of the Word with the church!

• 3^rd – The command to leaders… vs. 10-16
  • 1^st – There are MANY (present / indicative) FALSE TEACHERS…
• INSUBORDINATE – 4x in NT (same as vs. 6) – disobedient – completely out of control…
  • IDLE TALKERS – only here NT – literally empty or vain words (no power) …
  • DECEIVERS – only here NT – literally one who deceives the minds of others…
  • Especially those of the CIRCUMCISION – a reference to Jews who taught the LAW!

• Whose mouths must be STOPPED…
  • Because they SUBVERT (destroy) whole households with their FALSE teaching…
  • And their ONLY motive is DISHONEST GAIN – they are after the MONEY!
  • Paul quotes one of their own prophets – who spoke regarding the teachers of CRETE…
  • They are all LIARS – who only say what they need to get what they want…
  • EVIL BEASTS – who roam about seeking easy prey they can devour…
  • LAZY GLUTONS – they do NOT want to work – instead they leach off of others!
• Do not miss this – the number one way to stop a false teacher – they are after money!
  • Number one message of false teachers – give us money – Apollo Quiboloy / Iglesia ni Cristo
  • False teachers do not look to bless / help others – teach them about Jesus…
  • They do not look to bring glory to God – they only look to please themselves!
  • They will try to win you over to their cause – so they can take advantage of you!
  • Philippians 3:17-19 – “They are enemies of the Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life…”
    

We REBUKE them so they cannot continue to teach their LIES – deceiving the church!

2^nd – REBUKE the FALSE TEACHERS… vs. 14

This TESTIMONY is TRUE – referring to the MOTIVE of FALSE TEACHERS…

Therefore REBUKE (imperative) them SHARPLY – meaning quickly / without hesitation…

That they (the church) may (subjunctive) be SOUND (healthy) in their FAITH!

The responsibility of a GODLY LEADER – is to protect…

Paul wanted TITUS to train up LEADERS to STOP the FALSE TEACHERS!

When Paul visited the church in Ephesus this 3^rd missionary journey…

He met with the Elders of the church on the Island of Miletus!

Acts 20:29-31 – “I know full well that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some of you will distort the truth…”

The TRUTH is – false teachers WILL COME and try and damage the church…

They will try and steal people away from God – destroy their faith!

Do NOT give heed to Jewish fables – commandments of men…

Fables – mythos – where we get the word mythology – literally a false story…

They are the made-up stories / commandments of MEN – we would say RELIGIONS!

These things TURN people away from the TRUTH!

All RELIGIONS the ideas of men about how to GET to Heaven – or how to KNOW God…

But no man has EVER been to Heaven – or met God – so they do NOT know!

ONLY the one FROM heaven – Jesus – can tell us how to get to Heaven!

3^rd – The FRUIT of FLASE TEACHERS… vs. 15-16

To the PURE – all things are PURE…

I Timothy 4:4 – “Nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

SANCTIFIED – made HOLY – by the Word of God and PRAYER…

If we THANK God for it – we make it HOLY – because we acknowledge it comes from God…

Therefore to those who are PURE before God – EVERYTING is PURE…

Those who are DEFILED and UNBELIEVING – NOHTING is PURE…

DEFILED – to be stained – polluted – contaminated by SIN…

UNBELIEVING – those who do NOT have faith in Jesus…

As a result – even their MIND and CONSCIENCE become DEFILED!

To them NOTHING is PURE – because they CANNOT give God thanks for it!

They PROFESS (present / indicative) to KNOW God…

KNOW – eidō – (perfect) they say they have always SEE God…

But their WORKS / FRUIT – deny they KNOW him…

Being ABOMINABLE – only here NT – to have such a stench it makes you turn away…

DISOBEDIENT – unwilling (or unable) to OBEY the WORD of God…

DISQUALIFIED (adokimos) for every GOOD work – PROVEN to be FALSE!

No matter what words are said – the FRUIT of their life does not show salvation…

Therefore we need LEADERS who will REBUKE them – EXPOSE them…

We REBUKE them hoping they will turn from evil ways – and be saved…