Looking for Qualified Church Leaders Titus 1:1 16 Lesson for May 11-12, 2013 Dr. James Patterson INTRODUCTION It was early spring, and all Winslow s son would talk about was playing in his first T-Ball season. Matthew slept with his baseball glove under his pillow and dreamed of getting the game-winning hit. Father and son went down to the ball field on sign-up day and then waited impatiently for the phone call the next week that would inform them what team Matthew was on and when they would have their first practice. The first week went by, with no word from the league. During the second week, Matthew heard stories at school about the other boys who were practicing with their team, learning to hit, and generally having fun. But there was still no news about Matthew s team, and he was becoming more and more anxious. Finally, Winslow went to the ballpark to see what was going on. The officials told him that Matthew was going to be on the Mariners team, but the reason they were not practicing was because they had no coach. Everyone they had asked had turned them down. They wanted to know if he would he be interested in coaching. Now, Winslow was not a coach kind of guy. He had played ball as a kid, but hadn t really stepped on a field in decades. His hobbies were mostly indoors. But when he didn t say no right away, the officials asked if he thought he could pass a background check. No matter how desperate they were for a coach, they weren t going to take any chances with a coach of dubious character. I think I m in pretty good standing within my community, Winslow responded. He thought about his son anxiously waiting to participate, and he considered the dozen other boys, who probably were feeling the same angst. He felt in his heart that it was time for him to step up. All right, I ll do it. He didn t know how this would work out, but there was a job to do that apparently only he could fill. Post script: Amazingly, he was good at coaching. The team won 30 out of 32 games over the next two years. His son and his teammates learned the game and continued to play ball for many years to come. Winslow has many warm
feelings and memories about his unexpected coaching experience to this day, and he was so glad that he accepted the position. Today s lesson is about the Apostle Paul and his protégé, Titus, needing someone to step up and perform the work necessary to grow the Christian community on the Isle of Crete. Historical Background Information on Titus Titus was led to the Lord by Paul. He is referred to as my true child in a common faith (Titus 1:4). In a short while, he became a close and trusted associate of the apostle throughout Paul s quest to plant Christianity throughout the region of the Mediterranean Sea (see 2 Corinthians 8:23; 2 Timothy 4:10; Titus 1:4-5). Titus was mentioned frequently in Paul s letters (eight times in 2 Corinthians, twice in Galatians, once each in 2 Timothy and Titus), but his name occurs nowhere in Acts. This is a puzzling silence that some scholars have sought to explain with the hypothesis that Titus was a brother of Luke, the author of Acts. Unlike Timothy, who was half Jewish, Titus was born of gentile parents. Nothing is recorded of the circumstances surrounding Titus conversion to Christianity. He is first introduced as a companion of Paul and Barnabas on a visit to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:3). The occasion appears to have been the Jerusalem Council, about AD 50, which Paul and Barnabas attended as official delegates from the church at Antioch not long after the apostle s first missionary journey (Acts 15). At that time, the Jerusalem Council was debating the issue of whether or not all gentile converts to Christianity should be required to be circumcised. Paul decided to make a test case of Titus, a gentile Christian. The council decided in Paul s favor and against the Judaizers, and Titus was accepted by the other apostles and leaders of the Jerusalem church, without submitting to the rite of circumcision. Thus, Titus became a key figure in the liberation of the infant church from the Judaizing party. Titus probably traveled with Paul from that time on, but he is not referenced again until Paul s crisis with the church at Corinth. According to 2 Corinthians, while Paul was serving in the city of Ephesus, he received word that the Corinthian church had turned hostile toward him and had renounced his authority as an apostle. Initial attempts at reconciliation failed, so Paul sent Titus to Corinth to try to repair the breach. When Titus rejoined Paul somewhere in Macedonia, Titus brought the good news that the attitude of the Corinthians had changed and their former love and friendship with Paul were now restored (2
Corinthians 7:6-7). In view of this development, Paul sent Titus back to Corinth with a second letter (2 Corinthians), which included instructions for them to finish collecting the relief offering for the Jewish Christians of Judea (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16). In this venture, Titus was also apparently successful (Romans 15:25-26). Assuming that Paul was released after his first Roman imprisonment, it appears that Titus went with him on a mission to the island of Crete. On departing from Crete, Paul left Titus behind to help keep the new Christian movement there growing (Titus 1:5). The assignment was difficult, for the Cretans were unruly, and the struggling church was plagued by false teachers (Titus 1:10-16). His handling of the Corinthian problem some years before, however, demonstrated that Titus possessed the spiritual faith, skillful diplomacy, and loving concern required to meet the present challenge. Paul was confident that this new task was safe in his hands. Paul s letter to Titus, one of his three Pastoral Letters, was written somewhat later (around 65 A.D.) to encourage Titus in his ministry in Crete. The letter closes with Paul asking that Titus join him at Nicopolis, a town on the west coast of Greece, where he planned to spend the winter (Titus 3:12). Later, Paul sent Titus on a mission to Dalmatia, a Roman province in what is now Yugoslavia (see 2 Timothy 4:10), but eventually Titus returned to Crete, where he served as bishop until he was a very old man. LESSON PASSAGE 1 Titus 1:1 4 1 Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3 In His own time He has revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior: 4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Verse 1: Paul s 4-verse greeting is filled with rich theology, preparing the reader for the message that follows. Although the letter was addressed specifically to Titus, Paul realized the contents would be shared with the Church at large. Paul described himself as both a slave of God and as an apostle to Jesus Christ. This indicates that Paul did not have a personal agenda for anything that he did, instead, subordinating his knowledge and talents to the Lord. As an apostle, it was his task to build up the faith of God s people. The Lord had sent him out to
preach the gospel of salvation, so that God s elect would grow in their understanding and faith. Verse 2: Paul s desire was that believers would be confident in the hope of eternal life. This was not to be merely wishful thinking, but a strong expectation, based on the character of God. God promised it; therefore, we can count on it, as God does not lie. This promise of eternal life was set into motion even before the beginning of time. Verse 3: Throughout the course of history, God had been moving toward the fulfillment of His purpose. Then, in His own time, He revealed His message, the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. God entrusted the proclamation of this message to Paul a Divine assignment that Paul would not deny. Verse 4: That Paul referred to Titus as a true son in our common faith, indicates that Titus came to know the Lord through Paul. The greeting also included a blessing of grace, which is God s unmerited favor, as well as peace the complete freedom from inner turmoil, which only comes by being in a right relationship with God. LESSON PASSAGE 2 Titus 1:5 9 5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town: 6 one who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 For an overseer, as God s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it. Verse 5: Apparently, a joint evangelistic mission by Paul and Titus had resulted in a large number of new believers on the island of Crete. For an unspecified reason, Paul had left the island, leaving to Titus to finish the job of organizing the church and appointing local leaders. The primary purpose of this letter to Titus was to provide detailed advice on how Titus would accomplish these tasks. These elders were to be men of great spiritual maturity. Appointed leaders were absolutely necessary to grow the church and to perform all of the necessary tasks and duties.
Verse 6: Paul s chief concern was for the character and behavior of the church leaders. Because the elder position is so critically important, candidates should not pursue such an appointment lightly. It must be a heart-felt calling. But not all who volunteered would be chosen. Church leaders must be relatively blameless. They will not be perfect, of course, but there should be no grounds for anyone to bring a legitimate charge of unfitness against a pastor or other church representative. This is important, as followers seldom rise above the quality of their leaders, and a scandalous leader can demoralize his pastorate more quickly than just about anything. But how could Titus discern a potential leader s true character? Certainly the pastor/elder must lead a disciplined life that avoids all forms of excess and is free from rash action. He must be respectable and sensible and must demonstrate discernment. Another clear indicator was to look at his family leadership. The husband of but one wife has generated quite a bit of discussion. Does this mean that pastors, overseers, and other leaders will not be involved in a polygamous relationship (more than one wife), as the pagans often did? Or, should we interpret this verse to be a requirement that pastors should be married, but not single? Since Paul, himself, was single, this viewpoint was probably not what he was conveying. What about widowed men who have remarried? What about men who have been divorced and remarried? Divorced but not remarried? There are those who believe that if a man could not keep his own marriage together, how could he hold a congregation together? Does this mean there can be no second chance for the divorced, regardless of their age at marriage or their spiritual condition at the time? Nowadays, the majority interpretation appears to believe that Paul simply meant a pastor should be a man who currently lives in a Christ-like manner with a stable homelife. Likewise, a father who enjoys the enduring loyalty of his children shows that he is committed to helping them avoid reputations of wildness or rebellion. Such a man likely would show an equal commitment to helping God s children avoid spiritual rebellion. Conversely, if a man is disrespected in his own household and cannot control his own children, he is not a natural for the pulpit. Again, no one expects perfection, but a man cannot be one thing at home and something quite different at the church. Verse 7: Paul s seamless shift to the term, overseer, in 1:7 indicates a broad interpretation of the word, elders, which could mean pastor, minister, or
deacon. Certain characteristics are prohibited to all church leaders, no matter their title. They should never drink to excess. Pastors should always demonstrate a Christ-like gentleness of spirit, rather than being a bully or argumentative. They should not be greedy for fame or for money, as the temptation to use the office to further their own comfort or agendas would be very great. No matter how successful they become, they should not become prideful or arrogant. Verse 8: Instead, elders must reflect several positive characteristics. Hospitality skills were mentioned, because in Paul s day, traveling Christians often depended on fellow believers for a place to stay. The pastor s hospitality was vital to the survival and growth of the early church. Even today, a pastor must possess the ability to pull in outsiders, and the way he treats others affects the viability of his church. In addition, he must appreciate good people and good things, demonstrate level-headedness, and be genuinely upright, devout, and disciplined. Verse 9: The ability to effectively teach the Word of God was a major responsibility of this position. Good study habits and communication skills are implied. He must know God s Word, understand it, believe it, and live it. He must be well-spoken enough to be able to refute those who contradict the message of truth. God s people will love and follow a man who demonstrates this godly blend of sterling character, maturity, and personal devotion to the gospel. LESSON PASSAGE 3 Titus 1:10-16 10 For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism. 11 It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn t in order to get money dishonestly. 12 One of their very own prophets said, Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons. 13 This testimony is true. So, rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith 14 and may not pay attention to Jewish myths and the commands of men who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.
Verse 10: Like Timothy in Ephesus, Titus was faced with confronting and correcting the false teachings that infected the churches. Paul spoke harshly against the troublemakers, and was specifically concerned with the Jewish Christians, who insisted on bringing Jewish traditions and rituals into the Christian Church requiring circumcision, for example. Verse 11: Titus needed to be steadfast in silencing the false teachers. Left unchecked, they could lead families or even entire churches astray. Others who must be stopped had found ways to pervert Scripture for personal profit. Verses 12-14: Paul had little good to say about the people of Crete; he quoted one of their own poets as saying they were liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons (Titus 1:12). Yet, the apostle had hopes that if Titus rebuked them severely, at least some of them would become sound in the faith. Evidently, the gospel must have made quite a difference there, for even today the name of Titus is honored in many Cretan villages, churches, and monasteries. Verses 15-16: Paul taught that those who insist on trying to earn righteousness by keeping ceremonial laws are themselves defiled. In such a merit-based system, no one can ever do enough or be good enough, either in mind or conscience. Tragically, this leads to people professing to know God when they really don t know Him. Their works belie their faith; thus, they are unfit for any good work, especially the work of being a church leader. LIFE APPLICATION: How will we apply the lessons learned in today s passages? Are you currently serving the Lord in any capacity? If not, you may want to start a self-analysis. Review the expected character qualifications listed above for serving in the church. Are you relatively blameless? Is your family life stable? Are you sober, just, and responsible? If not, ask the Lord to work on you. Start making the necessary lifestyle changes that will enable you to produce fruit in your spiritual life. Start small. If you ve never led a corporate prayer before, perhaps it is time to say a blessing at the family dinner table or to voice a prayer for a friend in need. Does your Bible Study group need someone to rearrange the chairs once the class is over? Can you serve as a bus monitor for the Angels of Light? Would you be a good fit as a greeter for those entering your class? There are multiple ways to begin your life of Christian service.
In what area is your passion for service? What are your talents? What fruit do you see in your life that other people have confirmed? That is a clue for what your Spiritual Gift is. Remember, your primary ministries should be in line with your gifts and talents, but your secondary ministry is wherever you are needed at the moment stacking chairs, getting the name tags, etc. There are no insignificant ministries in the church. Nothing we do for the Lord is a waste of our time. Jesus came to serve and to give, and so should we. We all spend our time in some way: hobbies, social life, pursuing wealth or fame. None of these will have lasting significance. Christian service is the pathway to real significance. At the end of our lives, we will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well we have handled what God entrusted to us. Remember, To whom much is given, much is expected. (Luke 12:48) "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. (Luke 10:2) Heavenly Father: CLOSING PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we give thanks for all of the members of our class who are serving in a leadership or service capacity, and we lift them up in prayer. We also pray to hear Your calling for our own opportunities to serve and lead. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.