Session 1: Pursue Holiness in the Pastorate

Session 1: Pursue Holiness in the Church Leadership

Titus 1

Opening Comments in Nepali

Name, Occupation, We are happy to be here.

I am learning Nepali.

Opening Prayer in Nepali

Background on Titus

This is 1 of 3 New Testament letters that are referred to as “Pastoral Epistles”. Paul wrote two letters to his close friend and co-worker Timothy, and here you have Paul’s letter to a man named Titus.

What do we know about Titus, the person?

Titus is not mentioned by name in the book of Acts, but from other areas of the NT we know that Titus worker closely with Paul.

Titus with Paul at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15, Galatians 2)

Based on Paul’s words here in the greeting, it is possible that Paul may have even led Titus to faith in Christ since he refers to him as “my true child in a common faith” (v.4).

Like Luke, Titus was a Gentile, and due to his many mentions in 2 Corinthians, it is believed that Titus served with Paul on both his second and third missionary journeys.

Titus was Paul’s fellow brother (2 Cor 2.13), partner & fellow worker in the gospel (2 Cor 8.23).

What do we know about Titus, the letter?

Firstly, the setting of the letter is the island of Crete, which is one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea. The island sits off the coast of modern day Greece and Turkey.

From Acts 27, We know that Paul visited Crete briefly on his voyage to Rome after appealing to Caesar (Acts

Paul retuned to Crete at some point for ministry and left Titus there to continue the work. Much like Paul did with Timothy, urging him to remain in Ephesus while Paul traveled into Macedonia (1 Tim 1.3), Paul leaves Titus in Crete to do a much similar work.

When it comes to Planning and Evaluation in Ministry, what does the Lord have for us in this pastoral letter?

Titus 1: Pursue Holiness in the Pastorate

Like Titus, we have been tasked with establishing Christ-like leaders in our churches. Such an endeavor begins with personal holiness.

Titus 2: Teach Truth in Confidence

Like Titus, we must teach the same sound doctrine on which the church was founded. By the Spirit, the teaching and practice of biblical truth produces spiritual fruit and maturity in our church families. Reject the world and its desires. Live godly lives as redeemed saints who are zealous for good works as we await His return.

Titus 3: Walk Worthy of the Gospel

Like Titus, we must live with in a manner that reflects Christ instead of the world. He saved us, adopted us, and has pronounced us as heirs with his Son so that we might devote ourselves to the good works of evangelism and discipleship.

PRAYER

(TRANSLATOR Reads)

Titus 1:1–4 ESV

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

1. Remember Who We Are (v1-4)

Paul’s introduction here is full of wonderful reminders of who we are once God has regenerated our hearts and drawn us to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.

1. “a servant of God” (v1)

The term for “servant” here in the original language DOULOS.

Here the word is translated as SERVANT, but it also translated as SLAVE or BONDSERVANT across the NT.

Paul uses the same term in Romans 6 to describe our change in allegiance in Christ from obedience to sin…to… obedience to righteousness.

Romans 6:17–18 “17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

2, “for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth” (v1)

Paul labors in the proclamation of the gospel for the sake of those God has chosen, but who are not yet found in Christ.

Ephesians 1 tells us that God chose us before the foundation of the world and predestined us for adoption into His family.

Paul works tirelessly for their knowledge of the truth.

3. “which accords with godliness”

True saving faith through knowledge of the truth results in a new life of godliness.

Knowledge of the gospel should lead to godliness in our lives, meaning what we believe affects how we live.

James 1.21-23, Do no only be hearers of the Word, but do what it says.

4. “In hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”

Our eternal life in Christ has already begun, and we await the day when our Lord Jesus returns to make all things new.

In Summary

Likewise, we also are servants of God. We have been saved and chosen by God to make much of God through the proclamation of the gospel. Knowledge of this good news changes how we live in this life as we await the promised eternal life with God.

(TRANSLATOR Reads)

Titus 1:5–9 ESV

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 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. 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, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 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.

2. Establish Christ-like Leaders (v5-9)

Paul does not waste anytime here, and he tells his friend and fellow laborer in the gospel why he has left him in Crete.

To put what remained into order

The CSB translation says to “set right was was left undone”.

EXMAPLE

If something is broken or not functioning in our body, we need the help of a physician to be made well.

If something is not functioning with an electronic device or vehicle, we are in need of a skilled worker to set things right.

This was the reason Titus was left in Crete. The church there was in great need of someone to fix and repair what was broken.

The work had begun, but there was much remaining to be put into order, to be straightened out, and to be set right. Titus’ primary role was to invest in a struggling church.

How is Titus instructed to do this?

2. To establish elders in the church

The church in Crete was in great need of godly leaders.

Due to its location and importance in the sea trade, Crete was more than likely a location of mixed religious practices and views.

Without godly leaders, the church in Crete was left without direction and organization in a sea of false teaching.

Paul quickly dives into what qualifications these elders must have.

Positive vs Negative Requirements

Paul goes on to list many positive things that an elder, as God’s steward of the body of Christ, should have.

Above reproach (one who is blameless, with personal character and integrity)

This is so important that Paul repeats for his brother in Christ in v.7. We need faithful, blameless men leading our churches!

Husband of one Wife (literally a one woman man, devoted to his wife alone)

***Paul is not limiting here the widower or those never married here.***

Having Faithful Children (compare to 1 Tim3.5, managing his household well)

1 Timothy 3:5 “5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?”

Hospitable (meaning a lover of strangers, caring for those in need)

A Lover of Good (good as defined by God, reference Phil 4.8)

Philippians 4:8 “8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”

Self-Controlled (our natural passions and impulses controlled by the Word of God)

Upright (innocent or righteous)

Holy (a human attitude of reverent dependence upon God)

Disciplined

Hold Firm to Sound Doctrine (holding to the gospel as proclaimed by our Lord and the Apostles)

Rebuke False Doctrine

NEGATIVE

Not arrogant

Not quick tempered

Not a drunkard

Not violent

Not greedy for gain

APPLICATION:

Establish Christ-like leaders! Paul is giving to Titus an operation manual for setting what is broken back into order, and that begins with establishing multiple godly elders/pastors to faithfully lead.

WE as elders must reflect the very same things we are seeking in other elders.

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Qualifications of a Godly Leader (Titus 1:5–9)

Ultimately, pastors are to be examples to the church of how the gospel produces godliness

For Planning and Evaluation in Ministry:

As pastors, we must first hold ourselves as accountable to these qualifications daily! As we seek to raise of godly leaders in the church, we must not fail to live, serve, lead, and walk in accordance with these things.

In doing so, we proclaim the goodness and grace of God and show that the gospel leads to godliness.

How do we do this practically?

Put sin to death daily

Romans 6, Brothers we have died to sin, and we are set free from its power over us! Wake up daily and consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God.

Flee from former sins, new temptations, and discern what is good, holy and pure by remaining in the Word of God and making it your guide in life and leadership.

2. Fix your eyes on Christ

As we seek to be faithful pastors and leaders, we must continually fix our eyes on Christ. He is our model for faithful living. He is our model for holiness.

As the adversary seeks to distract you in ministry or destroy your ministry, look to Jesus for strength and continual victory over sin.

Hebrews 12:1–2 “1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

3. Teach the Truth of God’s Word

It means the minister of God places himself gladly and willingly, and in full submission, under the Word. He is a Word man, a Word minister, a Word-constrained and captivated slave. He will preach this Word and only this Word

David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2013), 240.

(TRANSLATOR Reads)

Titus 1:10–16 ESV

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

3. Refute False Teaching (v10-16)

The Ministry of Confrontation

Paul expands further on the responsibility to stand firmly against false teaching, specifically from those in the church.

Paul points to those from “the circumcision party” being the Judaizers. In short, these were people that taught a “Jesus + circumcision = salvation” theology.

Instead of holding to the sound doctrine of the true gospel, believers in Crete were being deceived by false teaching.

Paul tells Titus: “They must be silenced.” (v11). Why?

Such teaching was proving to be divisive in the church.

Paul Quotes a Cretan Poet

Titus 1:12–13 “12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,”

Paul lays the foundation to what Titus will be dealing with in Crete using a quote from their very own people. Then Paul confirms “This testimony is true.”

Paul exhorts these godly leaders to REBUKE THEM, only doing so so that these people who have been turned away from the truth may be found again in sound doctrine.

Problems in Galatia

Paul had previously written to Galatia where they were dealing with a similar issue.

Galatians 1, Christians in Galatia had been deceived, turning away from the true gospel that saves to another gospel (Jesus + works) that condemns.

Teaching and False Teachers that are contrary to sound doctrine will be revealed when hold them up against the Word of God (v.16). Cling to Christ and his Word in all things.

APPLICATION

Brothers, we must be faithful shepherds that protect our flock from false doctrine that will deceive and pull people away from the gospel that saved their souls.

We rebuke because we love. We do so graciously and with love while shamelessly holding to what is true based on God’s Word alone.

Brothers, we can only refute false teaching by knowing what sound, foundational, biblical teaching looks like. The Law, the Prophets, and the teaching of the Apostles point to Christ.

Our planning and evaluation as godly leaders must be Christ-centered and gospel focused from beginning to end.