The Call of Leadership in the Church

Intro

Good morning church family. It is great to be back in the pulpit. I was telling my wife the other day, while I love missions month, I missed being able to preach and teach.

Today we are beginning a new series called Order in the Church. I believe that God is wanting to put His church into order. Not just this local body, but the church. It is in Paul’s letter to Titus that we can understand and apply order in the church and in our lives.

I want to share with you about the Call of Leadership in the Church.

As you look around we can see that our church is growing in numbers. But God is not concerned so much with numerical growth and He is with spiritual growth.

Ephesians 4:15–16 NASB95

15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

As Christians, as followers of Christ, we are called to grow in our walk with Jesus. Just like a child that grows from an infant to an adult. An infant doesn’t stay an infant. When properly loved and cared for an infant will turn into a healthy adult.

Part of my responsibility as your pastor, is to teach and preach messages that challenges us to go deeper into our walk with Jesus. While we are all at different stages in our walk with God - some just beginning and some you have been at this for awhile - we are not called to remain in the place where we are.

Paul addressing the church at Corinth said:

1 Corinthians 3:2–3 NASB95

2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, 3 for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men?

This must have been an on going issue amongst believers because the writer in Hebrews echo’s Pauls words.

Hebrews 5:12 NASB95

12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.

1 Peter 2:1–3 NLT

1 So get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech. 2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment, 3 now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Even though we all grow at different rates, we are called to the fullness of Christ!

Titus lays for us the foundation for this growth. This spiritual growth is important, especially as the Lord adds to our church numerically.

Foundation of Faith

The first thing Paul does is lays out the foundation of our faith.

Titus 1:1–3 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives. 2 This truth gives them confidence that they have eternal life, which God—who does not lie—promised them before the world began. 3 And now at just the right time he has revealed this message, which we announce to everyone. It is by the command of God our Savior that I have been entrusted with this work for him.

Our faith and knowledge must be rooted in truth.

Think about a tree. It thrives not just because of the sunlight and rain, but because its roots dig deep into the soil, seeking nutrients. Similarly, our faith must be nourished by the truth of God's Word. In John 8:31-32, Jesus reminds us that knowing the truth sets us free. Like a healthy tree, our faith should be deeply rooted, allowing us to withstand life's storms!

It is the truth that leads us to godliness. There are too many Christians today who are not living godly, but godless lifestyles.

Jesus said,

Matthew 7:15–20 NASB95

15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.

Notice Jesus said people will know who belong to Him by their fruit not their gifts. I heard a pastor say this week that he would prefer you have the fruit of the spirit rather than the gifts!

You prophecy, but you are mean.

You speak in tongues but gossip in English.

There is no joy in your life.

There is no peace.

No love.

I have experienced this. Had a lady in another church far away filled with the Holy Spirit, prayed in tongues, but hated my kids.

Church I desire the gifts of the Spirit to manifest, but there has to be FRUIT!

1 Corinthians 13:1 NASB95

1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

We are just making noise church if we do not allow our roots to grow deep into Christ and live godly lifestyles that produce fruit.

Titus 1:1 NLT

1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

It is in truth that we build on. Jesus is that truth. His Word is that truth. I want to remind you as believers and to those that lead ministries in this church body that we have a calling to uphold and model a Christ like attitude in His wisdom and truth in all areas of life.

If we build on anything else, it will fail.

When Carly and I first got married I was cooking dinner while Carly was at work. It was BBQ something. I used Open Pit BBQ sauce because that is what I grew up on.

The sauce looked really runny and so I wanted to thicken it up. I looked around and found some flour. So I dumped some in. Dumped a little more. And a little more. It looked funny so I thought I would add a little more.

Carly came home and asked me what I was making and she looked at the sauce. She asked me what I put in there and I told her flour to thicken it up. It was a hot mess. Needless to say we ordered out or something.

I didn’t have proper instructions nor did I have a recipe to follow. Just like that dinner needed a recipe, our faith needs a solid recipe…rooted in truth.

When we neglect God’s Word, we risk creating something unappetizing in our lives that doesn’t resemble anything godly.

Everything we do church must be built on the truth of God’s Word. Nothing more, nothing less.

Qualifications of Leadership

Paul continues in his letter to Titus by explaining why he left him in Crete and then goes into the qualifications of leadership.

Titus 1:5 NASB95

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you,

Paul wrote to Titus to instruct him on organizing and strengthening the church in Crete. His primary purposes were to appoint qualified church leaders, combat false teaching, and encourage believers to live godly lives based on sound doctrine.

The churches in Crete were struggling in their faith. They were acting more like the world around them than followers of Christ.

False teachings

Moral compass was off

Lack of strong leadership

Many were influenced by Jewish legalists and others who promoted ungodly behavior.

Church, any leader who promotes ungodly behavior isn’t a leader for Jesus. We live in a culture that heavily promotes ungodly behavior.

Paul wrote to Titus to set things in order, appoint qualified elders, and teach believers to live in a way that reflects sound doctrine and godly character.

I want to speak to the leadership of the church for a moment and those who are feeling God call them to a leadership position.

Holding a position of leadership comes with responsibility. When I say leadership, I am speaking to those who help govern, shepherd, teach, and guard the doctrine of the church.

To those who may not hold a leadership position in the church, this does apply to you as well. You may hold a position at work or in the community. While not an official position, you may be viewed as a leader of your neighborhood or apartment complex or even at your school.

If you apply what Paul teaches to your life, it will only help you in your walk with Jesus. So don’t tune me out.

2 Timothy 3:16 NASB95

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

Paul uses the term elder in his letter to Titus. Elder simply means “those who preside over the assemblies” to bring order and stability in the church. Leadership. Those who are in a position that leads other people.

Titus 1:6–9 NASB95

6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, 9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Let’s break it down.

Titus 1:6 NASB95

6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.

A. Above Reproach

What this means is that no one can honestly bring a charge or accusation against you. If someone did accuse of something no one would believe it because you are above reproach.

Being a leader of any movement of God, you become a target of the enemy. I have learned over the years that if I live above reproach, then when the accuser comes, I need not worry nor even try to make a case for myself. I have learned that God will fight that battle and I need to only sit back and allow my Father to defend me. If I am not guilty, then I have nothing to worry about. God has never failed me in this.

In 1 Timothy 3:2, Paul emphasizes the importance of being above reproach for leaders in the church. Imagine a glass ship in a stormy sea. If there are cracks in the glass, the ship is vulnerable. Likewise, if leaders in the church have cracks in their character, they become susceptible to falling into sin. To lead, we must strive for integrity and model Christ-like behavior, ensuring our lives reflect the truth of the Gospel, making us strong vessels for His service.

B. Lead You Families Well

If you are married, you must be faithful to your spouse and your children should not be rebellious. Paul is not saying your kids should be perfect, but it should be evident that you as the parent run the household and not the child.

1 Timothy 3:5 NASB95

5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

Paul continues with the qualifications.

Titus 1:7 NASB95

7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,

What Paul is saying that a leader must:

C. Display Integrity

Having integrity as a leader is vital in the house of God.

Proverbs 11:3 NASB95

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.

Being honest and having strong moral principles built upon the Word of God will help you guide those you are leading. Either you are leading people towards God or away from God.

Integrity is being the same person whether you are in front of the people you lead or you are by yourself.

Imagine if you were out with me and found a wallet on the side of the road filled with $500 cash along with an ID of the person it belongs too. You would turn it in including the money.

Now imagine if you were by yourself. A person of integrity would still turn it in…with all the cash.

As leaders of God’s church, if we have no integrity, the church would face spiritual, moral, and leadership collapse.

Without integrity, leaders will twist God’s Word for personal gain, the church would lose its influence, corruption and division would overtake the church, and most of all, God’s judgement would come.

Throughout Scripture, God judges corrupt leaders and churches that abandon integrity.

Matthew 23:27–28 NASB95

27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

I love how Paul follows the example of Jesus. Jesus never just leaves people with what they shouldn’t do, but He speaks of what they should do. Paul continues with what leaders should be known for.

Titus 1:8 NASB95

8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,

If I were to sum up all these words into two words it would be:

D. Godly Character

Leaders are to display godly character. As Paul opened this letter “teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.

A leader is to be known by these godly traits:

Hospitable - Always welcoming of guests. Never judging someone by their appearance, religion, sexual orientation, political views, ect.

Matthew 25:35–40 NASB95

35 ‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; 36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? 38 ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39 ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Loving what is good

Sensible

Just

Devout

Self-controlled (Fruit of the Spirit)

Galatians 5:22–23 NASB95

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Finally, Paul says that leaders in the church are to be:

Titus 1:9 NASB95

9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Leaders are not to only have integrity of person, but also display:

E. Doctrinal Integrity

Doctrinal integrity refers to the commitment to and adherence to sound, biblical teaching.

We are living in a time where doctrinal integrity has gone out the window.

2 Timothy 4:3–4 NASB95

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.

Doctrinal integrity involves the following four key elements:

1. Faithfulness to Scripture

Ensuring that all beliefs, teachings, and practices align with the Bible’s truth, without distortion or misinterpretation.

As leaders we are called to rightly divide the Scriptures. It’s not about my opinion, but what God is saying.

2 Timothy 2:15 NASB95

15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

2. Consistency

Upholding a consistent message that reflects the entire counsel of God’s Word, rather than selectively emphasizing certain scriptures.

No cherry picking Scriptures to fit the narrative of today’s culture. Too many do this in order to justify their sin. Too many do this to fit the political narrative and to support their ideologies. We just seen this play out at the Presidents prayer service in just 15 min. It was the enemy in the Garden of Eden who took what God said and twisted it to fit the his narrative. Leaders, may it not be so!

3. Ability to Defend Truth

Being able to explain, teach, and defend sound doctrine, as well as refute false teachings or heresies that contradict biblical truth. Leaders, we must be students of the Word of God and know what it says. There is nothing wrong with not knowing something. If you don’t know it, own it and then go study it. Don’t just pass it off to the next person. You study it. You know it. You defend it!

1 Peter 3:15 NASB95

15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;

4. Living the Truth

Not just teaching the truth but also living according to the principles taught in Scripture, reflecting integrity in both doctrine and life.

James 1:22–25 NASB95

22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

In essence, doctrinal integrity means staying true to biblical truth in teaching, defending, and living out the Word of God. It’s foundational for the health of the church and the your walk with God.

Closing

As we conclude today’s message, I want to remind each of us—whether you are in a leadership role or not—that the calling to live a life of integrity, both personally and doctrinally, is a responsibility we all share.

The church is not simply a building, but a community of believers who are called to represent Christ in every area of life.

As leaders, we must model godliness and truth, but all of us must also be rooted in the Word of God, holding fast to His truth and living it out daily.

Let us seek to grow in our relationship with Christ, deepen our understanding of His Word, and reflect His character in all we do.

May we build the church on a foundation that will never fail, rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

Let us pray for the strength to be people of integrity, to live godly lives, and to fulfill the calling God has placed on each of us.

If you are a leader in this church where you teach/shepherd or help govern our church, would you stand this morning.

Church, let’s pray over our leadership today. If someone is near you that is standing, surround them and pray for them.