Proper 10 (July 14, 2024)

When a child asks a sibling to do something there isn’t much certainty as to the results. The sibling might simply ignore the request. However, if that same child goes to a brother or sister with “Dad said so,” it’s a very different story! Now the father’s authority is behind the child’s request.

As believers carry out gospel ministry, encouraging others to turn to Christ in repentance, people might push back. “What gives you the right?” Maybe we ask that question ourselves. “I’m far from perfect. So, what gives me the right to talk about things like sin?” This week we are given the answer to that question. “Dad said so.” When our God calls us to do ministry, he also gives us authority.

Across the centuries, prophets, apostles, pastors, and missionaries have discovered that preaching the gospel is a daunting task. It requires more than our natural gifts. Thankfully, Jesus equips those he sends. In the Gospel reading Jesus sent the Twelve out in pairs to preach in the villages of Galilee, he gave them authority for their mission. Today it is the same. Those called to speak his God’s Word still do so by the authority he gives. Equipped with the authority of Christ Jesus, the disciples went out and preached that people should repent. They didn’t hold dialogues, nor offer their own advice or opinions, or try to come to an understanding with the people they met. They preached. Delivering God’s message by proclaiming and asserting the truth that may not be popular, but it is a necessary means of delivery still today. So those first preachers went out and proclaimed, “that people should repent” (Mark 6:12).

In the OT reading from Amos, we learn that Amos didn’t choose this profession—“I was not a prophet.” He wasn’t groomed for it—“I was not the son of a prophet,” he said. The Lord took him and told him: “Go, prophesy to my people Israel” (Amos 7:15). That is great comfort for today’s ministers. When people don’t want to hear the message, we remember whose message it is and who sent us.

Today’s sermon text is our Epistle reading from Titus. Titus was a loyal companion of St. Paul. He was a Greek, who was probably with Paul at the Jerusalem Council, where it was decided Gentile converts like Titus didn’t need to be circumcised. Titus seems to have been the courier of Paul’s two letters to the Corinthians and was even Paul’s man to handle the money collected for the saints in Jerusalem that Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 8 and 9. Titus may have been with Paul during his final imprisonment in Rome. But above all, we know Titus for his mission work on the island of Crete. That’s where Paul reaches him with this letter, today’s Epistle.

When our God calls us to do ministry, he also gives us authority. In calling us to ministry, He does not tells us to share our advice or our opinion or even our values. We are sharing God’s own authoritative Word. Gospel ministry is conducted by believers but with God’s own authority behind the effort.

Authority Comes with High Demands

It could actually be that most of you here are relieved that this text was directed to a Pastor, because it’s got a lot of Law!

Paul writes to Titus:

Titus 1:5 EHV

5 The reason I left you in Crete was so that you would set in order the things that were left unfinished and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you.

Paul had given Titus the job of placing Pastors in Crete, and he gave some very demanding qualifications the pastors had to meet:

Titus 1:6–9 (EHV)

6 Such a man is to be blameless, the husband of only one wife, and to have believing children who are not open to a charge of wild living or disobedience. 7 Indeed an overseer [‘overseer,’ ‘elder,’ ‘shepherd,’ ‘bishop’—those are all New Testament words for ‘pastor’], since he is God’s steward, must be blameless, not arrogant, not quick-tempered, not a drunkard, not violent, not eager for dishonest gain. 8 Instead, he must be hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, upright, devout, and disciplined. 9 He must cling to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he will be able both to encourage people by the sound teaching and also to correct those who oppose him. That’s pretty demanding Law pastors have to live up to!

Blameless—a guy about whom nobody can say anything bad.

A healthy Christian family—one wife, faithful children.

Not arrogant, quick-tempered, but self-controlled, disciplined—a “prince of a fellow,” patient, humble.

Not a drunkard or violent. Not greedy—he can’t be in it for the money—

but hospitable—generous to share his time and his home and the few material things he has.

A lover of good, upright, holy—no bad jokes or bad movies or bad websites.

Most important, he must hold firm to the trustworthy Word, give instruction in sound doctrine, rebuke heresy; he’s got to know the Bible, study it every day, teach you—not give you answers that you like, but the right answers. And he must have the guts to say NO to everything that’s against God’s Word, regardless of the consequences.

Actually, all of these are expected of every Christian, but pastors are held to a higher standard. No thoughtless word. No blowing his cool at deacons meeting. Even failing to send a thank-you note when proper can reflect badly on the church of Christ.

Aren’t you glad this is written to pastors?!!

Actually, though, the fact God places such terribly high demands on pastors means the Law of the text also has application for you, God’s people. See again how the text begins:

Titus 1:1 (EHV)

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect people… to Titus (v. 4).

Paul writes this Law to pastors, but it’s also for your sake.

The fact is every pastor falls short of the demands God places on him. What this means, first, is that you forgive your pastor when he fails or when he’s struggling.

Second, it means that you’ll help and support him to be the pastor God wants him to be. If he is to be above reproach, certainly you do not speak badly of him. If he’s to have an exemplary family, certainly you adore and encourage his wife; you don’t put expectations on his children to be perfect angels just because they’re the pastor’s kids. If he’s not to be greedy but hospitable, this means you pay him generously, be sure to provide for all his family’s needs by helping him keep up with the cost of living, and certainly you will let them know how much you love them.

Above all: “He 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” (Titus 1:9).

As he teaches sound doctrine, certainly you’ll come to worship and Bible class and hear it.

Certainly, you’ll give him the time and money necessary for continuing education.

Certainly, you’ll repent when he shows you your sin.

Certainly, you’ll support him when he makes the tough pastoral decision nobody else likes—when he MUST say no, causing some folks are upset about that.

My goodness! It almost seems as if this text written to a pastor places more demands on you, the rest of God’s people—like, what, maybe 70 times as many demands?

Authority is For Your Benefit

Meanwhile, the Gospel of our text Paul definitely wrote to pastors: “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ . . . ; to Titus, my true child in a common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior” (vv 1, 4).

Paul, a pastor, knew that neither Titus nor Pastor Stenzel nor any other pastor could meet the demands God places on them. So, Paul assures Titus and every pastor of God’s grace and peace.

God’s grace sent Christ Jesus into the world to be every pastor’s Savior. Jesus’ death on the cross has forgiven every pastor every time he’s quick-tempered or arrogant or drawn to unholy things or tempted by material things, every time he fails as a husband or father or host. That forgiveness, taking away those sins that separate him from God, means God is at peace with him, however imperfect his service may be.

And the trustworthy word, the sound doctrine Pastor preaches—Christ crucified and raised from the dead—gives Pastor himself eternal life. That’s Paul’s sweet Gospel toTitus, to pastors.

But the Gospel of the text is also for your benefit, the elect of God.

Titus 1:1–3 (NIV84)

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect [that’s all of you} and the knowledge of the truth [that is, your knowledge of the truth] that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time, 3 and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior.

See that? Preaching, the Office of the Holy Ministry, is entrusted to pastors—Paul and Titus and Pastor Stenzel—for the sake of your faith, for the sake of your knowing the truth of God’s promise of eternal life. Paul wrote to Pastors, but it’s really all for you!

Titus 1:5 (ESV)

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders [Pastors].

The thing that remained to be put in order, that would be missing for the sake of God’s people, is pastors.

God gave you a pastor so you could see in him the love between a man and a woman, between a father and children, that pictures Christ and you, his Bride, the Church, that pictures God as Father with you, his children. So, you could see in him the good that God wills for you, the holiness he’s given you, the hospitality he extends to you to come into his heavenly home.

When Pastor preaches sound doctrine, he says, “Christ Jesus died for you!” When Pastor speaks the trustworthy Word, “I forgive you all your sins, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” yes, it is trustworthy! You are forgiven!

When the man God our Savior entrusted with the holy things baptizes you, gives you Jesus’ body and blood, you are elect, chosen of God for heaven.

That is what the Authority of the Office of the Ministry is about. St. Paul wrote to Titus and All Pastors because the Office of the Ministry Is for You, God’s People. As far as God is concerned, you—all of you, all of us, Pastor and people—are what it’s all about.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.