A Firm Foundation
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Titus 1:5-9
The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. An elder must be blameless: the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless: not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
A firm foundation
"In order to have a healthy church you need to have healthy leadership."
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will set aside the intelligence of the intelligent. Where is the one who is wise? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the debater of this age? Hasn’t God made the world’s wisdom foolish? For since, in God’s wisdom, the world did not know God through wisdom, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of what is preached.
; the word is foolishness to the natural need the Spirit to interpret.
the word is foolishness to the natural need the Spirit to interpret.
"If the people become accustomed to making their biblical and doctrinal judgments about what is true and right and beautiful based on the declarations of a man rather than based on what they see in Scripture, these folks will — as says — be blown off course by the various winds of doctrines that blow in our culture." - John Piper
fight!
5 The mission:
Set right what was left undone and appoint elders in every town
what was left undone?
Build the Church
Build the Church
The church is not a building but an organized group of ppl called out for a mission. A people for a purpose.
Leadership
Leadership
Overseer, elder, pastor all three words used to describe same position.
I exhort the elders among you as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory about to be revealed: Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed for money but eagerly; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
; . overseer and shepherd are used interchangeably, poimenas is translated both as shepherd and pastor, same word.
And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,
. overseer and shepherd are used interchangeably, poimenas is translated both as shepherd and pastor, same word.
Overseer and shepherd are used interchangeably, poimenas is translated both as shepherd and pastor, same word.
differentiates between elder and deacon in , giving character requirements for both.
This saying is trustworthy: “If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble work.” An overseer, therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy. He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
Elder is given weight of authority to serve focusing on doctrine and teaching.
"Headship is the power to serve, not dominate. The power to mobilize all that God has put within those being led so that they may become all God I tends them to be." Sam Storms
" Jesus was no less a leader of the disciples when he was washing their feet than when he was giving them the great commission - John Piper
“Headship is the opportunity to lead. If Jesus is our example of biblical leadership, it will help to take note of how he led his disciples.
Jesus led by teaching his disciples
If they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home, since it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
by setting an example for them (),
by setting an example for them
For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
),
by spending time with them
When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and recognized that they had been with Jesus.
).
Jesus also led by delegating authority to his disciples ; ; ; Matthew 28:19-20
After this, the Lord appointed 70 others, and He sent them ahead of Him in pairs to every town and place where He Himself was about to go. He told them: “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. Now go; I’m sending you out like lambs among wolves. Don’t carry a money-bag, traveling bag, or sandals; don’t greet anyone along the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they offer, for the worker is worthy of his wages. Don’t be moving from house to house. When you enter any town, and they welcome you, eat the things set before you. Heal the sick who are there, and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near you.’ When you enter any town, and they don’t welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘We are wiping off as a witness against you even the dust of your town that clings to our feet. Know this for certain: The kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.
“Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes! But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will go down to Hades! Whoever listens to you listens to Me. Whoever rejects you rejects Me. And whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
The Seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a lightning flash. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing will ever harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Sam Storms
Sam Storms
; believers act towards leaders
How do believers act towards leaders
Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you,
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world.
You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world. Therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Anyone who knows God listens to us; anyone who is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Ephesians 5
believers act towards leaders
giving thanks always for everything
to God the Father
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
believers act towards leaders biblical principle of obeying God first. If must choose between God and leaders, God is to be obeyed.
believers act towards leaders
biblical principle of obeying God first. If must choose between God and leaders, God is to be obeyed.
biblical principle of obeying God first. If must choose between God and leaders, God is to be obeyed.
Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than people.
Deacons are given authority to serve tangible needs
In the same way, deacons are to be worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.
In the same way, the women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.
A deacon must be faithful to his wife and must manage his children and his household well. Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.
1 timothy 3:5
example in . Elders could not both fulfill their role of prayer and teaching and meet tangible needs, so they appointed others for service.
old testament mentions of women serving in the tabernacle/temple
He made the bronze basin and its stand from the bronze mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
exodus 38:8
Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
1 samuel 2:22
Female prophet. Male headship but also female ministerial leadership in the temple serving and prophesying.
So the priest Hilkiah, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to the prophetess Huldah, wife of Shallum son of Tikvah, son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District. They spoke with her.
She said to them, “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Say to the man who sent you to me, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, fulfilling all the words of the book that the king of Judah has read, because they have abandoned me and burned incense to other gods in order to anger me with all the work of their hands. My wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.’ Say this to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the Lord: ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: As for the words that you heard, because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I myself have heard’—this is the Lord’s declaration. ‘Therefore, I will indeed gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I am bringing on this place.’ ”
Then they reported to the king.
2 kings 22:14-20 Female prophet. Male headship but also female ministerial leadership in the temple serving and prophesying.
Character
Character
6 anenkletos this is a common greek word for without stain, without charge or proof of wrongdoing. There should be no evidence against him of current wrongdoing. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a past, consider Paul for example. But currently of good reputation. Not a new convert, stable in his faith so as to be a good example inside and outside the church.
He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the Devil. Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.
1 Timothy 3:
At home/intimate relationships
husband of one wife - in greek is literally one woman man. so faithful to one woman. Not polygamous. What does a faithful husband look like.
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word. He did this to present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or anything like that, but holy and blameless. In the same way, husbands are to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hates his own flesh but provides and cares for it, just as Christ does for the church, since we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This mystery is profound, but I am talking about Christ and the church. To sum up, each one of you is to love his wife as himself, and the wife is to respect her husband.
what does a faithful husband look like.
Headship - “In scripture is other oriented. One exercises headship only in so far as one imitates Christ." Sam Storms
leaders like husband must imitate Christ.
faithful children, so be a good leader. Both faithful servant as well as someone who is effective in leading people. Exemplifies the example of Christ. Does not necessarily have to be a husband or father of biological children. Consider Paul, not married and no children but look at his relationship to Titus. True son in the faith.
7-8 overseer of God’s household. Leaders of the church.
stress of being blamless repeats this from verse 6. blameless in both contexts faithfulness in relationships in verse 6 and blameless in character here in 7-9.
In public
who he isn’t:
who he is: faith changes our character
doesn’t just do what is good but loves what is good. heart condition not begrudging obedience, joy filled intimacy with God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
Blameless
Knowledge
Knowledge
not just knowledge of the text, but right interpretation of the text.
9 doctrine matters.
What he knows:
Truth and faith leads to godliness and God gives us real life examples. God knows we need a visual aid, an example/goal to strive for.
The gospel lived out in our words and actions is intended to infect the atmosphere with the knowledge of God. "But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of him in every place. For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing."
verse 1 knowledge of truth leads to godliness.
Gods word instructs us.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Fear God and obey His commands.
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is: fear God and keep His commands, because this is for all humanity. For God will bring every act to judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.