Titus | Week 2

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

Titus 1 · chapter mention Titus 1 · chapter mention

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

Romans 10:9

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

Ephesians 4:11–12

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.

Titus 1:5

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

Acts 14:23

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

Acts 20 · chapter mention

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

Genesis 1:26

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

Titus 2 · chapter mention

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

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

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

Titus 2 · chapter mention

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

Hebrews 13:17

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

John 15 · chapter mention

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

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.