For The Sake of God’s Elect, Appoint Elders

5 of 7 on life in the Father's house. Next week we'll be on the office of deacons and also because

Sunday school we'll be looking at 1 Timothy 3 quite a bit. I wanted to broaden it so today

our sermon text will come from Titus chapter 1. Please turn to Titus chapter 1.

Titus 1 · chapter mention Titus 1 · chapter mention

1 and 2 Timothy and Titus are the pastoral epistles. They're letters giving instructions

on pastors and elders. So the author of this letter is Paul and he's writing to Titus but he's really

writing to the entire congregation. This congregation, it's really a series of congregations

throughout the island and the Greek islands, the Mediterranean. The name of this island is Crete.

That's the context of this. As I read it, remember we're reading God's very own word to you, his people.

We believe that it is inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, and sufficient. If you believe that when

we're done reading the scripture, I'll say this is the word of the Lord. We'll respond with thanks be to

God. Titus 1, we'll start at verse 1, we'll go all the way through verse 9.

Paul, a servant of God, an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect

and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God that

cannot lie promised before the world began, but hath in due times manifested his word through

preaching which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Verse 4,

to Titus, mine own son, after the common faith, grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the

Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the

things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee. If any be blameless,

the husband of one wife, having faithful children, not accused of riot or unruly, for a bishop must be

blameless as the steward of God, not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker,

not even filthy lucre, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate,

holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, and he may be able by sound doctrine both

to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God. Indeed, you may be seated. The Bible says that the grass withers and the flower fades,

but the word of the Lord endures forever. Would you pray with me?

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Amen.

Man, let's pray.

chief shepherd of our souls.

We pray that you will minister to us

for your glory, Lord.

May you be glorified in this little congregation.

Amen.

Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ,

the Bible calls every congregation

to appoint elders.

I need to confess that after one year

of being part of this church plant

alongside each one of you,

maybe it's true that the sermon titles

are starting to reflect my personal desires.

Take a look at your bulletin.

What's the sermon title?

Well, it comes from verses one and five.

This is what I'm asking.

For the sake of God's elect,

appoint elders.

When you think of an elder,

I mean, that topic for most of us,

it does bring up different emotions

and not all of them are good.

Is that true for you?

God's word says a lot

about how he orders the church.

And what we're called to as a church.

But yet we enter it trembling, you know.

The fool storms in

where angels dare to tread.

And that's exactly what we have with the church.

When you think of an elder,

the type of person you would want to appoint,

it's probably a different image

as our ideal,

as the type of elders God has actually used

throughout all of the New Testament

and all of church history.

Let me give you just one example.

reflecting back on his late teenage years,

this eventual elder in the 1700s

who had been a sailor

and eventually a sea captain,

he wrote this.

At that time in my life,

I was capable of anything.

I had not the least fear of God before my eyes,

nor, so far as I remember,

the least sensibility of conscience.

That's a scary 19-year-old.

And that describes every one of us

until the Lord saves us

and gives us a new nature

and conforms us into Christ's likeness.

The name of this eventual elder and pastor

was John Newton.

And his story got darker

before God redeemed him.

John Newton worked as a sailor

and his ship then was going to Sierra Leone,

which I believe is on the west coast of Africa.

And so you know triangular trade in the 1700s.

This was his lot in life.

It's what he started to do for work.

And when he became a sea captain,

the ship he was in charge of,

it was a slave trading ship.

Well, the part of his story that's less known

is that before he became the captain of that ship,

he had already been working in Sierra Leone

because he was an indentured servant,

basically a slave himself.

So John Newton was a slave in Africa,

then eventually was able to break away,

get onto this ship,

and he became this captain

that was taking slaves

to go work for people in forced labor.

God saved this man.

God saved John Newton.

Not only did God save him,

God showed him the depths of his sin

and God grew him in his faith.

And then God matured him into godliness.

So the righteousness of Christ

was growing into him more and more.

But John Newton never lost that sensitivity

of how far God had saved him.

You know John Newton because he's the pastor

who also wrote many hymns.

The most famous is Amazing Grace.

Amazing Grace.

How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.

And as a Christian, he would reflect back

and he described slave trade as abominable.

And he worked alongside William Wilberforce

in English Parliament

to abolish slavery in England quick and first.

So he was on the forefront of that

because he knew the depth

from which God had saved him and redeemed him.

The pattern we see in the New Testament

with the elders and apostles

and then throughout church history,

that's why biographies are so encouraging

is that every single one

will be the first to say,

I am the worst of sinners.

Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me.

They'll be the first ones to say that.

And that's the phrase I want you to latch on to.

Why does God do that?

Why does God grow his church

and serve his church using wretches that he saved?

And the answer is in verse one.

God uses elders

for the sake of the faith of God's elect.

So I'm going to use just your auditory

as you're listening.

Okay, I'm going to use seven times that phrase

for the sake of God's elect.

And these are seven pleas I see from the text.

You can listen for them.

So first, what does Paul tell the church

and also Titus is the need for elders?

Do we even need elders?

Can't we just have this gathering

like we imagine maybe Acts 2

where a bunch of Christians,

thousands of Christians just show up

and they just worship God

in whatever way they want.

In spirit and in truth.

Just why even be organized

in a church with elders?

Well, on one hand, it's true.

God does not need elders.

It's not God who needs elders, right?

God does not need a wretch that he's saved

to speak gospel truth.

God can speak through a donkey.

In fact, he has done that.

Remember Balaam's donkey in the Old Testament?

Would it be so much better?

Pick your favorite preacher, Alistair Begg,

or whoever you...

It would be better to hear God

directly through the donkey than any man.

It would be.

God does not need elders.

Who is it that needs elders,

according to Scripture?

Because Paul is having to write this letter.

Peter, apparently there is insubordination

and rioting in these islands of Crete.

Apparently there is much disorder.

We're going to see there are empty talkers

that are coming in

and they're deceiving many.

And Titus has been undermined.

Nobody cares really what Titus thinks.

It's going to have to have something in your hand

from someone we all do respect, Paul.

And you bring this letter

and then we can see if we can even talk with you, Titus.

So there's a need right now in Crete.

There's no order.

There's division.

And who should we listen to, Titus

or these empty talkers over here?

They're confused.

So I agree with John Calvin

that this little epistle

was more for the congregation

than it was for Titus.

He says,

do what you already know I told you to do.

That's why I left you.

Have this letter in hand

to do those very things now.

He says in verse 5,

appoint elders in every town.

Well, God gives elders.

Look at verse 1.

It's for the sake of the faith of God's elect

and your knowledge of the truth.

It's the same pattern

that Paul is describing for himself.

Why was Paul an apostle?

First of all,

so that they can know the truth.

Secondly,

so that they can grow

in the knowledge of Christ.

And then thirdly,

they can accord with godliness.

It works its way out.

And for that same reason,

God will use elders

to carry on that pattern of growth

within his church.

We see the connection then,

okay,

as the word of God

is preached and ministered,

look at what happens in verse 2.

You grow in your hope

of eternal life.

The role of the elders

is to minister

to the people of God

the promises of God

through preaching.

God is truth.

There's no lying in God.

And the promises

that God has gave

since before the ages began,

all of the Bible

is the gospel.

You need to have the gospel

through all of the Bible

ministered to God's people.

He's manifested

his gospel truth

at the proper time,

we're told in verse 3,

through preaching.

Many think they're being creative

and being wiser than God

by trying to organize

Socratic discussions

or maybe theater and drama,

because those are way more effective,

way more stimulating

than preaching.

And on one hand,

I agree.

However,

God is the most wise.

It's somehow,

it's mysterious,

but God,

through elders,

ministering the gospel promises

from all of the Bible

through the word of God

to a congregation,

that's how God works

the hope of eternal life.

That's how God establishes

his people

in the faith

of knowing God

and that knowledge of God

conforming in godliness.

So that's,

biblically,

the reason for

that apostolic ministry

from Paul

to Titus

to elders

to the congregation.

It's the same continuous purpose

that God has.

I'll point out

that in verse 5,

he says,

to appoint,

the next word is elders.

Every time that word

is used in the New Testament,

it's used in the plural.

There's always an S

at the end of it.

Our constitution

that we're proposing,

it says,

the responsibility

of every elder,

so there's a plurality here,

all of them,

every elder

has the same responsibility,

and that's to exercise

biblical authority.

Each elder

will give

an account

to Christ

for the souls

entrusted

to their care.

Therefore,

our proposed constitution

says,

decisions shall be reached

with prayerful consideration

and a spirit

of humility

with each elder

regarding one another

before himself.

You see the need

for checks and balances

and plurality

and accountability.

There's so much

at stake.

It's the faith

of the elect

that is at stake.

That faithful ministry,

it's for the good

of God's people.

Paul says,

it's the very ones

that Christ purchased

with his own

precious blood.

And this is why

Christians,

as we gather,

we become a body,

we become a congregation.

And this congregation

is organized.

God has said a lot

in his word

in all the New Testament

to organize his church.

We shouldn't be

having to guess

or it should never

turn into power struggles.

It should be

spirit of humility

and submission

searching his word

and organizing ourselves,

reforming ourselves

as a church

more and more and more

according to the word

of God.

We defer to one another.

We listen to one another.

We are seeking to,

with the spirit of unity,

listen to the congregation.

In our Constitution,

there are so many

opportunities

and expectations

where the congregation

is responsible

for voting

and giving assent

or pausing,

pumping the brakes.

All of that is because

these are wretches

that God has saved

and he's ordered

his church this way

because it pleases him.

So I agree with

another pastor

from the 1800s,

Charles Bridges.

He says,

the gospel does not

shut us up

in our own private interests

as if we had no love

for our neighbor.

But everything done

in the name of Christ

and his local congregation

is because the gospel

grows our love

for the neighbor,

for one another

within the body.

Well,

the first observation

is simply the pattern

that Paul sets.

It's for the sake

of the faith

of God's elect

that Paul tells Titus

to appoint elders.

And now let's also see

from these first five verses

setting up the list

of qualifications.

When you do appoint elders,

we're recognizing layers

of authority

above those elders.

So what are those?

What are the authorities

above elders

that rule over them?

Paul says in verse one,

it's Jesus Christ.

Through the ministry

of Jesus Christ,

Christ appointed apostles.

These are the ones

through whom the New Testament

revelation came.

The Holy Spirit breathed out

the epistles and letters

and the prophecies

of the New Testament.

So we have Jesus Christ,

the apostles.

Elders are to be,

if an apostle calls himself

a slave of God,

an elder is to be a slave,

much more so.

They've been entrusted

in verse three

with the command of God,

our Savior.

So it's the command of Christ

given through his word

that rules over the elders

as well.

And you're growing

in the people

a knowledge of the truth.

So the elders

are under the truth

and who has a knowledge

of the truth?

It's the congregation

and it's manifested

in God's word

through preaching.

So there's so much

that is over the elders.

The elders are under

God's word.

They're under the congregation

that's growing

in the knowledge of God.

They are under

Jesus Christ himself

and under the

apostolic authority.

In other words,

when an elder

is no longer

aligning with

the green pastures

of the truth

that God has made

really clear

through his word,

they've gone over here

away from the green pastures

where there's wolves

and thistles

and cactus.

They are no longer

under the authorities.

They have no authority.

I know some of you

have been

in churches like that

where it seems like

someone standing up here

is way out of line

with God's word.

The further you go away,

the less authority

you have.

In fact,

you have no authority

the minute an elder

departs from what

God has said

in his word.

And this is so important

that we understand.

So much of the hurt

and the pain

is probably because

an elder being fallen,

being a saved wretch

has done that.

So maybe the Lord

needs to heal you.

You need to confess

to the Lord,

Jesus,

I trust you.

You're the chief shepherd

of my soul.

I have a hard time

with a church

and with fallen elders

who might hurt me

that way again.

And ask for the Lord

to heal you.

There are authorities

that rule over elders.

Elders are under

God's word.

An elder can never

be self-appointed.

It's Christ

through the Holy Spirit

affirmed by the congregation

that appoints an elder.

An elder does not

self-appoint.

I'll clarify something

a bit further here

that we mentioned

in Sunday school.

In verse 5,

Paul tells Titus

to appoint elders.

And this is what

the church in the Middle Ages

and then in some cases

a magisterial model

of church government,

they still have

a role of bishop.

So they would view

Titus as a bishop.

He's in charge

of the region of Crete

and he's going to

appoint elders

in every single one

of the congregations.

We see this as,

we don't see Titus

as a bishop.

We see this being unique

to the New Testament

where God is,

he is setting the

New Covenant church

in motion.

He's breathing out

scriptures.

He's giving,

you know,

the letter to Titus.

This is part of

the New Testament.

And there are no more

apostles.

We believe that if

someone claims to be

an apostle with a

new revelation,

they're going to say

this is now scripture

as well,

that they are a false

teacher.

And that's what we

need to guard against

that.

We believe that God

has given all of

his full counsel

in his word

and that as Paul

wrote to Timothy

that the church

is fully equipped

to do every good

work that God

calls them to.

So we see here

that Titus is

having a letter

in hand from Paul

and it's to teach

the congregation

this biblical way

of appointing.

We see in Acts

that the congregation

was worshiping,

they were praying,

they were fasting.

And with the leadership

of the Holy Spirit,

they laid hands

and sent off

Paul and Barnabas

on ministry.

So how does God

appoint?

And how does Titus

appoint?

He appoints

through this

biblical process,

this pattern

that we see

of the church

gathering for prayer

and fasting

and then a laying

on of hands.

And then we read

that it was the

Holy Spirit

who appointed,

the Holy Spirit

who sent out.

The Holy Spirit

sends out,

raises up,

and appoints

through his church.

That's the biblical

pattern.

I'll highlight

from our Constitution

that elders

have a real

authority.

There are all

these layers

of authority

over elders

and therefore

all of the

authority delegated

into this one

office,

it is real

because it's not

self-claimed

authority,

it's the authority

of scriptures

for the office

of elder.

The scriptures,

according to our

Constitution,

the scriptures

designate the elders

as those who

rule in the church,

citing 1 Timothy 5.17

and Hebrews 13.17.

We see this office

as synonymous.

So the terms

shepherd and

pastor are the

same.

We see bishop

as being the

same and elder

as the same.

It's all the same

term in overseer

and ruler.

It's synonymous.

So the principle

here is even

important.

The Bible doesn't

care as much

for the church

what it's called.

It's really the

emphasis on what

that office does.

And what is the

office of elder?

It's to care

for the church

of God.

And there's more,

but I want to

emphasize it's less

about the title

or the label.

If you have

someone chasing

a title,

chasing that

position,

instead of

understanding the

work that an

elder does,

then it's a

wrong focus.

And it's most

likely a red flag.

So it's not

about title.

It's about

function within

the body.

God's people

are therefore

required to

submit to

the office of

elder when

such authority

is biblically

exercised.

The scripture

is made a lot

clear.

And when an

elder is aligned

with scripture,

seeking to

fulfill the

function that

scripture has

called upon,

then the

congregation will

respect and

honor that

office.

We see the

congregation as

being the ones

who set apart

the elders.

And therefore,

as representatives,

there is that

real authority

entrusted to that

office.

While we are a

church plant,

are we out of

order?

And in a sense,

yes.

We are needing

to appoint elders

to remain

biblical.

biblical.

It's similar to

a position that

actually most of

you are in.

I'm not a

member.

Should I be

taking the

Lord's Supper?

Well, you need

to understand that

the Lord's Supper

is for those who

belong to Christ.

You need to be

taking steps toward

membership.

You need to be

pursuing that and

moving toward that.

So I feel like

it's so important

that we be honest

and truthful about

where we are,

but where we're

heading, what we

see as the

biblical order,

what God is

calling us to.

And in terms

of accountability,

there's no decision

made for this

congregation without

the elders of

the sending church

acting on behalf.

But I am asking

you to pray that

God will raise up

elders because if

Crete could come

up with elders for

every single city

with all of their

problems, God will

do that here too.

He will do that.

So we need to be

moving toward that

biblical norm.

And my point here

that I want you to

simply see that it's

for the sake of

God's elect that

he promises he

will never leave

any congregation

without elders.

It's ultimately

Christ's responsibility

to raise up the

elders.

You know, we often

want to try to

become man-centered

and not trust in

him, but you need

to join me.

We need to trust

him.

He will do what

he has promised

and he promises he

will raise up elders

for every congregation.

He will feed his

people through those

men that he raises

up.

All right, so that's

the authority that

rules over the

elders.

Before I get to

the list of

qualifications, because

that's what the

congregation in Crete

needed to look at.

Well, how do we

know?

How do we discern

this?

How can we vote

yes or no?

Give us something

tangible to look at.

So before I even get

to that, I want to

go to the parallel

text, which is 1

Timothy 3.

You're welcome to

turn there.

1 Timothy 3.1.

Many of you, this

will be very familiar.

1 Timothy 3.1.

This is what Paul is

encouraging Timothy

with.

Timothy, as I

mentioned, he was

the pastor in Ephesus

and God is calling

him to raise up men

to whom you can

entrust the gospel,

who will be able to

provide sound teaching

and doctrine and

minister and provide

that biblical care

for the flock.

Here's what Paul

writes to Timothy

in 1 Timothy 1.3.

The saying is

trustworthy.

If anyone aspires

to the office

of overseer,

he desires

a noble task.

The reason I feel

this is important

to mention here

is because

the qualifications

is what the

congregation can

look at.

These are what

we would use

as the criteria

for the external

call.

Well, remember,

no man can appoint

himself to be

elder.

It has to be a

congregation appointing

a man and calling

a man to be their

overseer, to be one

of the elders and

shepherds.

Well, who is it

then that should

even be put forward

for consideration?

And what Paul

tells Timothy is

that if anyone

aspires to the

office of overseer,

he desires a

noble task.

Those two words,

aspire and desire,

those are less

about an external

call from a

congregation.

It's looking more

internally.

Is a man

aspiring?

They say you

aspire when you

perspire.

Is a man sweating,

serving, working,

laboring?

Is he reading?

Is he studying?

Is he growing in

doctrine?

Does he have a care

for the souls already?

Is he doing the

work?

Is he one that

others want them

to have this man

pray for me?

I just want you to

know and to

intercede on my

behalf.

The Lord says he

will hear the

prayer of his

people.

And so that's

what it looks

like to aspire.

It's to do the

work.

And if a man

desires that,

he desires a

noble task.

It's work.

It's work.

It's labor.

And it is a

desire.

It's internal.

That same

pastor I mentioned,

John Newton,

he gives three

criteria, three

criterion, I

guess, of how

you can know if

a man should be

considered for

elder.

Here's the first

one.

It's the internal

call.

John Newton

says it's a

warm and

earnest desire

to be employed

in the service

of the church.

A warm and

earnest desire.

And if you

desire that, you

desire a noble

task.

Why is that so

needed?

That there will

be an internal

aspiring and

desiring before

the church sets

you aside to do

it?

It's needed

because the

work of being

an elder, this

noble task, it

is hard and

there will be

times where you

first of all will

question yourself.

I'm a wretch.

God saved a

wretch like me?

Who am I?

Who am I to

minister God's

word?

And Satan will

be the first

one to accuse

you even more.

So why is this

needed?

Charles Bridges

said,

discouragements

properly sustained

and carefully

improved become

our most fruitful

sources of

eventual

encouragement while

love to our

work bears us

on above our

difficulties.

qualities.

That's why you

need that internal

call.

I think you

need to hear

what Charles

Spurgeon said

about this

internal call.

Even if it's

flowery Victorian

language, maybe

exaggerated, I

just want to share

an example.

I ask a pastor,

he's a Presbyterian

pastor in the

area, and I

just ask him,

what do you most

appreciate about

this congregation?

And his point

of reference was

a congregation in

a different state,

another PCA church,

that he just said

the other elders were

really like a

governing board.

He didn't feel

like any of them

necessarily had a

desire or

aspiring to do

it.

They were doing

it because they

thought they were

helping God out.

And that was the

hardest thing for

him.

But he felt like

at this congregation

God had raised

up, truly raised

up men who

aspired and

desired to care

for the flock

and to provide

that oversight.

So listen to how

Charles Spurgeon

describes this.

There must be

an irresistible,

overwhelming craving,

enraging thirst

for telling

others what

God has done

for your own

soul.

If any man

could be content

to be a newspaper

editor, a grocer,

a farmer, or doctor,

a lawyer, or senator,

or a king,

in the name of heaven

and earth,

let him go do

this instead.

For a man so

filled with God

would utterly

weary in any

pursuit but that

for which his

inmost soul

pants.

who is

aspiring?

Who is

aspiring to

do the work

of overseeing,

of caring for

the souls of

others, beginning

with your own

wife and

children if you

have a family?

In congregation,

I think it's also

important that we

all together as a

congregation be

really clear.

There's two

separate decisions,

I think biblically

and also in our

bylaws.

One is,

should these other

men become

elders?

Are they

aspiring to do

this?

Do they fit the

biblical criteria?

Then we should

appoint them.

That's one

decision.

The other

decision is,

should the

church ask a

man to not

be distracted

or entangled

in any other

worldly affairs

because the

church wants to

compensate that

man for working

fully on behalf

of the church?

Because the

Bible also says

it's more

shameful than an

unbeliever if you

can't provide for

your own family.

But those are

two separate

decisions.

The church can

decide, you

know, we

believe these

men are

biblical elders

and we want

to appoint

them.

And then the

church at the

right time can

also make that

separate decision.

Do one or more

of these elders,

do we want to

set them aside,

not let them

have to worry

about working

another day job?

But those are

two separate

decisions.

It's easy to go

in our mind to

the just, well,

full-time ministry

is the only way.

So that's the

internal call.

For the sake of

God's elect,

Christ is the

one who

personally calls.

He is the one

who stirs that

desire.

And Christ is

the one who

will provide the

means for men

who do aspire

to become elders

according to his

will for each

congregation.

All right,

well, on the

internal call,

a little bit of

context.

Now we move on to

our sermon text

again, back to

Titus chapter 1

Titus 1:6

verse 6.

And this is the

external test.

I've broken the

external test into

three parts.

So the first part

is, what is the

man's reputation

inside and outside

of the church?

This is so important

because for us to be

in biblical order,

we will need to

appoint more elders

according to God's

timing.

And we won't rush it

because it's for the

sake of the faith of

the elect.

We don't want to do

a bad job with it.

But you need to know

this.

So even if you're

thinking I'm sitting

here as, and I'm a

lady, I'm never

going to be an

elder, you need to

know the biblical

criteria.

You need to know

what God has set

before us to use

as our guide.

So the first one is

that.

What is the man's

reputation inside

and outside of the

church?

Look at what

Titus chapter 1

Titus 1:6

verse 6 says.

If anyone is above

reproach, the husband

of one wife and his

children are believers,

or other translations

faithful, and not

open to the charge of

debauchery or

insubordination.

This is a pretty

observable reputation

inside of a church, but

also in the community

where we live.

Let's break it down.

Number one, above

reproach.

Above reproach.

If a man is aspiring

to be an elder, but

there's questionable

areas of their life,

how are they going to

really be able to

fulfill all of the

functions required of

an elder, while many

areas of their life are

still at least

questionable, if not

guilty.

So I think that one's

fairly self-explanatory.

A man aspiring to be

an elder should think

about that.

If I have a choice and

I'm aware of how this

might affect other

people, I want to be

sensitive to their

needs.

I don't want to do

anything to discourage

or hamper the faith

of someone else.

I just want to be above

reproach before Christ.

And the caution is,

of course, we can

become perhaps

legalistic and trying

to add on to the

moral law.

And there's a freedom

in this, but I think

that general care for

the souls of others

and the more sensitive

brother's conscience

ought to win over your

heart.

You love the others

and you love what

Christ is calling you

to do, that you're

willing to do it,

whatever that is.

The next phrase is,

the husband of one

wife.

I think, in general,

this, I think the

best interpretation is

to say a one woman

man.

I'm not going to have

us turn to other

parts of the Bible

necessarily to open

up a full doctrine

of divorce and

remarriage and stuff

like that.

But Jesus says in

Matthew 9, verse 19,

Matthew 9:19

because the Pharisees

were abusing this.

They were divorcing

one wife, remarrying

for any reason.

It was a selfish,

proud, male-dominated

culture.

And Jesus was very

pointed to accuse

them and tell them

this is wrong.

This does not please

God.

But Jesus says,

if a man divorces

his wife, except in

the case of adultery,

then it's wrong.

But in other words,

if there's a man

whose wife was

unfaithful to him,

it's biblical grounds

for divorce, as I

would see it, and

remarriage as well.

I know some

conservative denominations

have been divided

on this.

Our Constitution,

barring from these

other Reformed

Baptist exemplars,

makes it clear that

if that man was not

guilty of adultery

and biblically

passed that test

and he remarries,

he's been faithful

to his wife,

he still fits

this criteria,

the husband of

one wife.

The next phrase

is that his

children are

believers.

So does this

mean that a

current elder,

his wife gets

pregnant and they

have a baby,

this infant is not

yet a believer,

he better step down

from office,

he's automatically

disqualified.

I think a better

understanding is,

as some have said,

that translation of

faithful,

it's a child who

outwardly,

this is an external

test,

there's no evidence

necessarily that

there's secret sin

on the part of the

elders,

what this is

guarding against.

If an elder

stands behind the

pulpit or in the

Sunday school class

or in the home

and ministers God's

word in one way,

but the family

knows the secret

sin,

the sin that's

only with the

wife or the

children,

it will show up

generally through

children's behavior.

And that's really

important for the

church to be aware

of that.

So as a

congregation,

if we see a

potential elder or

current elders,

three-year-old acting

like a three-year-old,

maybe regressing and

acting like a two-year-old,

we would still consider

that a faithful

household.

If a 13-year-old is

acting like a teenager,

that doesn't mean the

pastor is disqualified.

That's probably our best

understanding of that

phrase.

The next one is not

open to the charge of

debauchery.

Debauchery is open,

blatant sin that

brings disrepute to

Christ.

And the last one is

insubordination.

Insubordination, to

not follow the lead of

the authorities above

you already.

Remember all the

authorities above an

elder?

And so if an elder has

a different job or

different vocation or

even maybe within the

life of a church, if

that elder has a

really hard time

following the

authorities above him,

that's a red flag

because there are many

authorities over an

elder.

If you're not able to

follow, then you're not

ready to lead.

So to sum it up, the

elder is to shine as a

saved wretch.

It's all of God's work

in them.

Yet not I, but through

Christ in me, he has

redeemed me and he is

helping me to more and

more and more grow in

these areas so I can be

above reproach and not

disqualify myself by my

sin.

I want to highlight here

too that because of all

these constraints and

limitations that really

narrowed down,

the scope of what an

elder is called to do

in the life of a

church, our

constitution wisely I

think says this,

elders will not invade

the biblically defined

spheres of other

divinely ordained human

authorities and will not

command God's people

regarding matters not

specified in scripture

except to order the

house of God by the

application of his word.

Later on in Titus

Titus 3:1

chapter 3 verse 1, he's

giving instructions for

the whole congregation

that you must be

submissive to all rulers

and all authorities over

you.

So do you see though the

elder's role is really

defined, really specific.

He's not to invade the

role, biblically defined

role of a husband.

Elders are not to invade

the biblically given

authority of fathers or

civil rulers or even like

secular employers.

An elder has no right

really.

That's not their scope of

the authority.

You're trying to go on

beyond what God has said

is really clear for your

authority.

So church, for the sake

of God's elect, make

sure you never appoint an

elder before he is above

reproach in these clear

biblical categories.

The second external test is

this, how does the man

rule over himself?

So the first one is what's

his reputation in the church

and in the world.

The next one is how does

the man rule over himself?

Look at verse 7.

For an overseer as God's

steward must be above

reproach.

He must not be arrogant or

quick-tempered or a drunkard

or violent or greedy for gain

but hospitable, a lover of

good, self-controlled, upright,

holy, and disciplined.

If you're like me, you're

thinking who is worthy of

such a task?

That's what Paul said as

well.

But I think these categories

are beautifully arranged.

The first one is a temptation

toward arrogance.

Arrogance was the downfall of

Lucifer himself.

Must not be proud or arrogant.

Notice how that phrase of

arrogance in verse 7, it's

answered by the biblical virtue,

the sanctified fruit of the

spirit in verse 8.

Not arrogant, but holy.

Holy means you recognize

God is creator.

He is holy, holy, holy.

And if we approach him

through Christ, we are on

sacred ground.

We are set apart by the

blood of Christ.

That's the contrast to

arrogance.

And not arrogant, but a

lover of good, a lover of

hospitality, loving others

instead of seeking your own

gain.

The arrogant, it's first person

singular all the time.

I, me, you know.

And the call here is

hospitality, the good of

others.

Not your own interest, but

the interest of Christ's bride,

his precious church.

The next temptation is the

internal temptation toward

greed.

Greedy for gain.

But if Christ is working out

the generous love of the

cross in the heart of the

elder, this will display

itself in being upright and

being generous toward other.

The next temptation is being

quick-tempered or a drunkard

or violent.

Are those related?

Well, it's not ruling

yourself well.

Quick-tempered, a drunkard,

and violent.

It's not a sin to have

anger.

It's not a sin to feel

stress.

It's not a sin to feel

empty and despairing.

Because you, you are living

in this broken world.

What do you do with that?

But the biblical virtue is

self-control and discipline.

And so when we do have those

feelings, those challenges,

what do we do with them?

We run to the cross.

It's a reliance upon Jesus

Christ.

And it's not turning to

violence or

alcohol or some type of

chemical self-medication

and quick-tempered.

Because how are you going to

rule over the house of God

if you can't rule over your

own heart?

So our Constitution, the

proposed Constitution, has

this good language, I believe.

It says that the authority of

elders, it is conditioned by

the fact that elders are

themselves members of this

local church.

While elders are shepherds over

the flock, they are also

members of the flock.

Therefore, each individual

elder is entitled to the

same privileges, is

obligated by the same

responsibilities, and is

subject to the same

discipline as the other

members of the church.

Thus, each individual elder is

both under the oversight of

his fellow elders and is

accountable to the church as

a whole.

There's a lot of

accountability.

And the call is that Christ

will rule over your own

heart more and more and more

first.

But you still have that

oversight if you become an

officer.

You still have the

accountability, the oversight,

the shepherding care of your

own soul by the elders and the

same love and process for being

forgiven and restored by the

congregation.

I'm comforted by how this seems

to be a lifelong battle, a

lifelong reality.

John Newton at age 72.

And age 72 in the 1700s is

different than 72 now.

92 is the new 72, right?

So he wrote that such a wretch

should not only be spared and

pardoned, but reserved to the

honor of preaching by the

preaching the gospel, which he

has blasphemed and renounced.

This is wonderful indeed.

And he prayed, God, the more you

have exalted me, the more I

ought to abase myself.

So I think that over time, the

biblical elder will grow more

and more and more humble like

John Newton and see that.

And it's the cry of John the

baptizer.

The more you behold Christ for

who he is, the more you want to

say he must increase and I must

decrease.

So for the sake of God's elect,

ask God's help.

Every one of you forgot to rule

over your own hearts more and

more, that your love for Christ

will grow and that he will

restrain you.

All right, here's the third test

for the eldership that the

congregation needs to look for.

How does the man minister God's

word?

You need to be able to discern

this.

Look at verse 9.

Paul tells Titus and the whole

church that these elders, they

must hold firm to the trustworthy

word as taught so that he may be

able to give instruction in sound

doctrine and also to rebuke those

who contradict it.

Charles Bridges commented, it is not

enough that there is no poison in

the tongue.

A qualified elder's teaching must be

healing.

He must be ministering God's grace to

his hearers.

So verse 9, the elder must personally

grasp, cling to with conviction, hold

firm, the trustworthy word, the

faithful word as taught.

Before an elder can teach, he must

first be taught.

He must receive that faithful

teaching that's been entrusted to the

church.

It's estimated that Paul was

discipled by Barnabas for 13 years.

Paul, who was a scribe and a master

of the law.

13 years for the gospel doctrine to be

worked into him before he could be

turned loose to go teach.

I don't think that 13 years is a good

period for all elders in a local

congregation, but it's been an

encouragement to me that if God feels

to be working very slowly in my own

life, look at Paul, how much more God

was patient.

So that, why is this in verse 9, so that

he may be able to give instruction.

All men must desire to hold firm and give

instruction privately.

Remember those other biblically appointed

spheres of authority.

Husbands must lead your wife spiritually.

In your workplace, we must know what

God's word says for how we are to serve

like Daniel.

There wasn't a line on Daniel's job

description in fallen Babylon that he

didn't fulfill with excellence.

We need to know God's word and we need

to work that out in every sphere of

responsibility.

In fact, that is your first trying ground.

Are you shepherding?

Are you caring for?

Are you ministering God's word to your

wife, to your children if you have them?

That is one of the requirements we need

to look for as a church as well.

Then you will be able to give instruction

to God's congregation.

See, Titus was not to be a circuit preacher

going around doing all the preaching.

Titus was not to put up big screens and

simulcast his voice preaching to all these

congregations.

Every congregation was to appoint elders.

And Titus was making sure they are doing it

biblically with the authority of Christ

himself given through Paul.

Not only do you need to build up God's

congregation, you need to be shepherding

the congregation toward life of godliness.

See, it accords with godliness.

You need to have a zeal for the gospel that

works its way out in the lives of the

congregation.

That's the oversight.

That's really what everything is for.

It's not only to preach the truth, it's to

apply the truth.

It's to let God's spirit work it out in the

hearts of God's people in tough situations.

That's what you're called to do.

If God is stirring you to be an elder.

And you need to be ready to pick up the sword of

the spirit, the word of God, and fight a

defensive battle to rebuke those who contradict

it.

To ground your hope of eternal life by the

preaching of the word of God.

To refute error.

The King James says to convince gainsayers.

There will be those mocking the gospel message

every day.

In fact, Satan will be lurking within the

congregation every time the gospel is preached.

Trying to whisper doubts and lies.

So as we minister God's word, it needs to be

persuasive.

It needs to convince the believers of the

truth.

So the second test that John Newton gave is that

there must in due season appear competent,

sufficient gifts as to gifts, knowledge, and

utterance.

John Newton had said there needs to be that

warm eagerness, that desire.

But then there also, with opportunity,

if you show up for a Bible study, if we have Sunday

school, through discussions, through one-on-one

conversations, you are learning to put into words

and to be persuasive, to convince others of the

truth of the gospel.

That's how God sharpens that.

He sets up a series of opportunities for teaching and

for growing and using that gift that then becomes a

requirement that the congregation expects.

Our Constitution summarizes the five functions of an

elder this way.

Number one, it's the spiritual care of the members.

Number two, it's the preaching and teaching of God's

word, both publicly and privately, along with prayer.

Number three, it's the governing and management of the

church.

Number four, it's the formative and corrective discipline

of the church.

Number five, it's the provision of being a role model,

though fallen, and it's only through Christ.

You are to be an example to the flock, is the command.

The elders, according to our Constitution, are to be

reviewed against all this criteria every four years, and

the congregation must continually affirm that we

believe that each officeholder is fulfilling these biblical

requirements.

It's a very high bar.

And so, for the sake of God's elect, I encourage each one

of you, within the spheres that God has given you, within

your role as a son, a brother, a daughter, a wife,

a friend, grow in those graces of Christ, grow in your

knowledge of Jesus Christ in the gospel, minister sound