Titus 1:5-16 - Raise up qualified leaders, & silence false teachers

INTRODUCTION

According to scripture we read of 8 different types of leadership type roles: Apostles, bishops, prophets, deacons, elders, pastors, teachers, and evangelist

Apostles, bishops, prophets, deacons, elders, pastors, teachers, and evanglist

Apostle - someone sent that represents Jesus (including teaching, miracles, and commandments/guidance)

Bishops - oversee the body and seek to keep the body healthy

Prophets - A person of God who speaks about anything to do with God. They speak on behalf of God. (this can be anyone)

Deacons - a servant of God

Elder - an older recognized leader

Pastor - someone who makes sure the church is being taken care of (provided, and protected) (every verse but one speaks of Jesus as the pastor, only speaks of a person having the call to be a pastor)

Teacher - a person that instructs

Evangelist - someone called to spread the gospel

Titus 1:5–16 NKJV

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, and appoint elders in every city as I commanded you—if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination. For a bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain. One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, not giving heed to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn from the truth. To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

“for this reason” - Titus is set on a mission.....

Titus is called to raise up godly people in an area where there is very ungodly people:

THE PEOPLE OF CRETE

rebellious (v.10)

have meaningless words (v.10)

liars (v.10)

ruining household (v.11)

many people are teaching things they shouldn’t - for gain (v.11)

always lie (v.12)

do evil things (v.12)

lazy (v.12)

eat a lot (v.12)

speak (Jewish) fables (v.14)

giving commandments not based on the truth (v.14)

defiled mind and conscience (v.15)

Claim know God & but their actions deny God (v.16)

Abominable (v.16)

Disobedient (v.16)

Disqualified to do any good work (v.16)

Imagine trying to do such a good thing where there are terrible people...

Paul said that a prophet from Crete says the people in Crete, are evil lazy fat liars....()

& Paul agreed with it maybe when he saw the people of Crete in Acts 27.

TITUS MISSION:

shut their mouths (v.11)

rebuke them sharply (v.13)

HOW (other then just Titus confronting them himself): 1:5-9

1. set in order things lacking (v.5)

2. appoint elders /bishop (v.5-9)

*some scholars say that this texts shows us that an elder and Bishop are the same

*I believe this teaches us that out of a group of elders (plural) you will find your bishop (singular).

here we see that there is more requirement given once he mentions the Bishop.

- when speaking of finding an elder he requires 3 things:

blameless (v.6)

the husband of one wife (v.6)

have faithful children that (not anarchists or rebellious) (v.6)

3. appoint a bishop (v.7-9)

what is interesting is that...

what is interesting is that Paul lists of 16 bad things about the people of Crete, and here Paul lists 16 things good things that a Overseer should be )

- when speaking of a Bishop he requires much more!

Paul lists off 16 shameful things about the people of Crete, and Paul lists off 16 things good things that a Christian overseer should be.

I always seem to test you… but today you get to test me.

Is your Overseer for CCC High School (p. Nate): yes/no

blameless

steward of God

steward of God

not self-willed

not quick-tempered

not given to wine

not violent

not greedy for money

hospitable

love what is good

sober minded

Just or righteous

Holy

Self-controlled

Faithful to God’s Word

Been taught the Word of God (educated)

Use sound doctrine to exhort, and convict those who are contradicting the Word of God

BISHOP (v.7)

many people that have meaningless words (v.10)

many people who are liars (v.10)

many people are ruining household (v.11)

many people are teaching things they shouldn’t - for gain (v.11)

the people in Crete are known to always lie, to do evil things, be lazy, and eat a lot (v.12)