Godly Examples Needed

Service Notes

Olivia Young is with us today.

Possibly Chase say the tongue twister.

Greg will read passage.

Special night tonight / baptisms, Joy Wahl update, VBI Preview

Bible Reading Introduction

Ask Olivia to come and speak some Pidgeon for us.

Continue in the book of Titus

Greg and Grace are with this morning. Want you to know this couple. Greg is in the process of being ordained of this church.

Revelation 7:9 “9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”

Passage has great relevance to us all. It is one that I know lays heavy upon Greg’s life.

Greg read passage.

Titus 1:1–9 (KJV)

Paul, a servant of God, and 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 Saviour;

To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.

For this cause left I 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 selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;

But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Sermon Introduction

Note: If you are a guest today you may wonder why this is the chosen topic. As we go verse-by-verse through the Bible, God sets out the topics for us. This is what He has for us today.

Before I jump into this let me say. I love this topic. I love being a pastor. Remember calling basketball coach at a youth camp. I told him I wanted to be a youth evangelist. He said “son I have no doubt you will be a pastor someday.” Made brochures for different vocations. This is all I have ever wanted to do with my life. You allow me. Thank you.

Story of the soldier on Guam.

He was discovered in the jungles of Guam on 24 January 1972, almost 28 years after U.S. forces had regained control of the island in 1944.

"It is with much embarrassment that I return," he said upon his return to Japan in March 1972. The remark quickly became a popular saying in Japan.

It will not be with embarrassment that Titus returns

Titus is involved in a spiritual battle.

Crete is the birthplace of many false gods, most prominent was Zeus.

Cretians valued all the things we are told to oppose. Reminds me of the story Peace Child (New Guinea) where the people cheered for Judas as they heard the story of Jesus..

Paul was already telling Titus where to head after this big assignment. Titus 3:12–13“When I shall send Artemas unto thee, or Tychicus, be diligent to come unto me to Nicopolis: for I have determined there to winter. Bring Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey diligently, that nothing be wanting unto them.”

When the NT ends we see Titus headed to Dalmatia, which is near modern day Croatia.

Much work to be done before he moves on.

Reminder of Titus’s Background

Powerful Testimony / Review of Galatians

They were preaching another gospel. One of works.,

Paul brought Titus as proof that God was saving gentiles.

Big responsibilities - letter to Corinthians / Titus was the letter carrier - bearer of bad news - checks on offering

Delivered a strong letter from Paul to the church of Corinth but returns with good news. 2 Corinthians 7:6 “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;”

Titus is sent to receive an offering that was promised. But the Corinthians didn’t follow through on their commitments so Titus has to go back. 2 Corinthians 12:18“I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?”

Titus us proven. He is not a novice.

Growing ministry - faithful with little / every town make sure every town has a Bible preaching church

Set things in order that are wanting.

Ordain elders in every city.

Titus will give his life to this work.

This is said of Timothy but I expect the same could have been said of Titus. Philippians 2:19–20 “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.”

Titus addresses the leadership vacuum in the churches of Crete.

Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I 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:”

Fighting against the godless culture by helping establish godly leadership among the churches.

Leadership vacuum.

Godless of culture led to a breakdown of the home.

Question young men in every culture as “What does it mean to be a man around here?”

Take note of where these men will come from.

Do not check out on me. This is not just a sermon to Greg today. As men like Greg will be involved in your spiritual formation. You, as the church have been mightily used in his spiritual growth.

Look out there among you is very clear in Acts 6. Acts 6:3 “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”

The church would not know these things about the men, if the men had not be actively serving among them.

The Word of God, faithfully learned and applied will produce men with these characteristics.

These are not lists that far out of reach, but a list for everyone of us.

The qualification for the men who will serve the tables shows us that the work of the Lord should be done by godly people.

Kids looks up at the table to see how you treat the widows or looks at the pulpit to hear the sermon he should see a godly example.

Transitional Statement: Notice that in the first line of defense against a godless culture we need godly men leading in our homes and among the church.

There is a great need in our nation for godly leadership in our churches.

In our country

Each year in the US there are nearly 3,000 Bible believing churches that open, with 4,500 closing.

There is a great need for “church revitalization”

Almost every month we receive a call from a church asking for help.

Let us never be on an episode of Hoaders: Church Edition

More discouraging than the fact 3,000 close is the fact that many more should probably close

Around the world

Many places around the world do not have a church

We are blessed with options.

Most of the world does not.

This is not just a conversation for missions conference or a conversation for our missionaries to have alone

Realization of the need and beauty of a local church.

Churches should be

Accessible / a church alive is worth the drive, much of the world does not drive

Active in reaching the lost / churches are joined together for a purpose

Hold us accountable / we help one another in the process of sanctification and the work of the ministry

Titus is a great manual for church planters.

Prepare pastors

Peculiar people

Profitable practices

Set things in order and ordain elders

Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I 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:”

Set in order:

Things to address they have been started and need things to start.

The organization of the Cretan church was unfinished due to the brevity of Paul’s visit. / this was Paul’s M.O.

Helping churches to resist false gospels and grow toward health is a long, slow work that requires patience. It is not a work accomplished through grand or easy solutions.

Yet, despite what often feels like a lack of banner headlines, I think it is the most important work in the world today. Not only are unhealthy churches damaging to the believers gathered in them, they also hinder the spread of the true gospel to the unreached peoples in the world.

But the lives we are investing in — the young men who are growing in their understanding of sound doctrine — are the tools in the hands of the Lord to accomplish his work for his glory. - Josh Hutchens in Malawi

Four labels for one office

Titus 1:5–7 “For this cause left I 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 selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”

Elders. Counselor: mature believer

Bishop - overseer

Pastor - shepherd Ephesians 4:11–12“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

Each label seen in some passaages 1 Peter 5:1–2“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God (Pastor) which is among you, taking the oversight thereof (Bishop), not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

Stewards

“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God;..”

Ownership is Gods. Stewardship is ours. This is His church.

There are times I may serve and it may go unnoticed by you, but it is unto the Lord.

There are times that you may not be cared for as you need and I will answer to God for that as well.

What is the purpose of pastors?

Discipleship Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I 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:”

Paul sees Pastor’s as necessary for the spiritual well being of the church. They’re there for the welfare of the church.

Paul had evangelized; people had embraced Christ, they had responded to the gospel, but there's no discipleship structure.

The local church was Jesus’ design for the place for discipleship.

Titus, here's the first thing we need to do. We want to promote godliness in these churches, we want to grow people in grace, want to see people mature, see people discipled. Set things in order!

This week we will place a new order for more Foundations Booklets. Foundations doesn’t encapsulated all that we do in discipleship but it is a wonderful resource and one God has blessed.

Example Titus 1:6–8“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 selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre; But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate;”

Church is always tempted to be like the world that it is in.

Example with our children. Strong statement found 1 Timothy 3:4–5“One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)”

Example in our marriages. This can be understood as a “one woman man.” There should be no doubt I am fully committed to my wife. This is more about my affections than my status.

This does not seem to prevent a single man from pastoring. Pastor at 1st Baptist ATL is single.

Questions about divorce and remarriage would be addressed in in the first statement (be blameless), more so than here.

Example given in our appetites. We are given a list of 5 vices to avoid. [Looking for a fuller treatment of these areas I recommend sermons at GTY - in our 13 weeks in Titus I do not want to make them mainly about the qualifications of a pastor]

What in the world does it mean to be “above reproach”? It certainly doesn't mean to be sinlessly perfected, or there would be no pastors.. It means to be not open to a justified attack or criticism in terms of the Christian life, and particularly in these areas that Paul lists.

Not selfwilled - this is the opposing position of a servant

Not soon angry - anger demonstrates the matters of the heart. We often use kindness as leverage. It is in our anger and frustration we say who is most important to us.

Not given to wine - I have many things to say about the dangers of alcohol. I have read to avoid drunkenness but I have also first first hand how when we give ourselves to alcohol we are taking away from those around us

No striker - this is a person looking for a fight. It doesn’t have to be physical. This is a person who is unnecessarily contentious.

Not given to filthy lucre - this include more than money. It is a person in the work for personal gain. In it for the benefits.

Example given in our affections.

Lover of hospitality - this is more than fellowship. This is caring for the stranger.

Lover of good men - this would include being a lover of all things good. There should be a sincere excitement for the work of the Lord done by other ministers and churches

Sober - this is not limited to alcohol. This is how we should view decisions and people. We should approach situations with the appropriate gravity. / not coming up here dressed like a Ken Doll to start our new sermon series

Just - This only happens we we want to please God more than people. Only the fear of God can keep us from the fear of man and being partial in judgment.

Holy - seperated. We are to be in the world but distinct and separate.

Temperate - showing moderation or self-restraint.

Preaching truth and confronting error. Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

The nature of preaching. Difference in preaching and a Ted Talk is authority not volume.

We are to fight and protect doctrine at all costs.

We do so by teaching people to rejoice in it more than we do in debating with people about the truth.

We are to go about this work with great zeal. Titus 1:13 “This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;”

We all have aspects of our calling and vocation that are challenging but necessary to be found faithful. This is one for pastors.

Before we ordain men from this church we should expect that they not only know the Gospel is, but also what it is not.

Paul says, ‘Timothy, by placing godly shepherds, leaders like this in the congregation, it is my desire to see the whole congregation cultivated in Christian growth, in a love for one another, in expression of Christian morality, Christ-likeness, and in a love for the truth of God's word. That's what pastors are for.’ - Duncan

Conclusion

Set in order. How? Provide godly examples that contrast this godless culture. For what cause? Titus 2:10 “Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Are you concerned with the direction of our culture?

Well, be in God’s Word and get involved in God’s work and set a good example for the next generation.

The reason that these are required of the pastors is because this is what Paul wants to see the whole congregation looking like!

Get alone with God and this list. Ask God to show you where there needs to be growth.

Pray for the pastors of the church.

It's one of the most humbling things in the world to be a pastor when these passages are read.

Thank you for not expecting perfection but also thank you for having Biblical expectations for our lives.

Have a good knowledge of what you should expect in the leadership of a church

Through life’s decision many of you will not finish your race here. You may move.

Lemar and Natasha found a bearded pastor named Trent. Not biblical qualifications but good ones.

Be involved in the develop of godly leaders in our church for the next generation, for other churches, and the world.

There are young people who aspire to serve as pastors and missionaries. You are part of God’s plan for their development.

[Not eager to say this but know I should] Consider if God might have your family serve in a church to help revitalize it.

As we move toward a time of response for Believers, we move to what is my favorite moment in any sermon.

This is where I will speak to those who have yet to believe in Jesus Christ.

It is our desire as a church that our lives would “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

Adorn: “It literally means to take precious jewels and arrange them so as to show their true beauty.”

In one sense the gospel doesn’t need adornment. At the same time, we can show the beauty of the gospel by the way we live.

The Gospel is beautiful and true. It has huge implications upon our life and death.