Setting Things Right

Titus 1:5 NIV

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Intro: Choose Trellis with the Mature Plant in Mind ,Place Trellis Away from Fences and Walls, Know Your Pruning Group, Have a Plan, Beware of Diseases, Help the Clematis Grab the Trellis - Without support, the vine will bend and flop over, possibly causing fatal damage to the stems. Tips for Choosing the Right Clematis Trellis (empressofdirt.net)

Titus 1:5–7 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,

Church in Order through Elders Titus 1:5 & 7a

Elder/Overseer-

1 Tim 3:1 “1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” Elder, Overseer pastor, shepherd are all used to describe the same church office. The differences in word usage actually help us to understand what an elder/pastor/shepherd/overseer is supposed to do.

This role has many names

Elder - Presbuteros πρεσβυτέρους Position of leadership

- Think of the rich history of the elders of the people in Hebrew history

Overseer - Episkopos ἐπισκόπους Oversee, Superintend, Govern Keeping Watch

Pastor/Shepherd - Poimaino ποιμένας Care for, tend as a shepherd

Teacher - didaskalos - διδασκάλους Teach, Proclaim, Rebuke

Position, Responsibility, Heart & Voice - Prophet Priest & Kingly functions

1 Timothy 3:1 ESV

1 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.

1 Peter 5:1–2 ESV

1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;

Acts 20:28 ESV

28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Acts 20:17–32 ESV

17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him. 18 And when they came to him, he said to them: “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, 19 serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews; 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Ephesians 4:10–16 ESV

10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Think again of the trellis analogy - The way God has structured the leadership of the church is to be a sort of trellis by which the rest of the body grows and develops and is equippedto use its gifts for the fruit that it porvides.

Interesting

This role is God’s Stewardship

To be found faithful vs 7 the overseer as God’s steward.

This role doesn’t belong to me. It belongs to the chief shepherd whom I will have to surrender it to and give an account.

This role is about Call & Appointing

vs 5a - Appoint - Called by HS Acts 20:28 “28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” recognozed by the other elders/church 1 Tim 4:14 “14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.”

This role is plural

Elders plural in Every Town/Church Acts 14:23 “23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” ;

16:4 “4 As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem.” ;

20:17 “17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.” ;

Titus 1:5 “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—” ;

James 5:14 “14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

Family Order through Husbands and Fathers Titus 1:6

Titus 1:6 ESV

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.

The Family is the elder’s first flock.

Husband of one wife

-I really believe that this has to mean a one woman type of man. This does not necessarily mean he has to be married. That is what is is literally in the original language. One woman man. Faithful in his marriage. Blameless in character and conduct in his marriage. No wandering heart away from the wife of his youth. It prohibits any kind of marital unfaithfullness

We interpret Scriptrure in light of Scripture which pushes us to the understanding that it cannot be narrowly defined as prohibitting someone who has been remmaried in general. Because the scriptures do give the allowance of remarriage in light of the death of a spouse and marriage end because of the rift of adultery. These can becaome very complicated issues. This issue of qualification needs to be understood on a case by case basis with careful and throrough examination. These things aside.

A one woman type of man that clearly sets an example for others in the church is who you ar looking for. We need to be able to point to the marriages of our elders and pastors and say to our to our entire congregation, though they are not perfect, we would love for you to pattern your marriages after these men and their wives. We never want anyone in the church to have a legitimate reason to say, Well I am pursing this unwise or sinful course of action because it was ok for my pastors or my elders to do it.

Children believers

Again we Apply the whole counsel fo God here. Bible interpretation dictates that we let scripture interpret scripture. The biblical reality is that We cannot make anyone believe by a certain formula. However the command that they be believers is still here. Some look to render this phrse faithful to help us see some of the biblical tension. The Pastor or elder should routinely and often present to them the message of the gospel. And live a life that backs up that he believes it. He has put every opportunity and reality before them. Live lives that consistently model who Christ is and what he has done. For the part that we have to play in them being believers, we as pastors and elders create an environment in our homes where our children will very naturally and actually place their trust in the same Savior that Mom and Dad have clearly trusted all along.

The home, as many of us have seen is one of the most revealing proving grounds of our real faith. Likely this word means Young children - That space between when they can trust Christ and when they are out of your house is incredibly important. you have 15 or so years/

Not open to charge of wild living or rebellion

Debauchery or insubordination - Living like the unsaved. In the sense that he has the ability to do something about it. This could be for younger or older kids. The difficult reality of trusting the wisdom of biblical and Christ oriented discipline is huge here.

If an elder or pastor has contributed to their children’s inability or decision to not submit themselves to their God ordained authority or other God ordained authorities leaves open the questions of whether or not he will be faithful to the Word of God in leading the greater flock to godly biblical submission as well.

1 Timothy 3:4–5 ESV

4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?

Life in Order through Blamelessness Titus 6a & 7a

Blamelessness defined

Blamelessness is not perfection - Blamelessness is a consistent pattern of life.

No accusations actually stick to him. As other people may hear that the things that he may be accused of doing, they should think, and be right in thinking: That doesn’t sound like him. Those accusations just don’t stick because the consstent reputation of the elder of pastor makes it clear that either there is more than one sided to this story

That is why two of the other qualifications not listed here but in 1 Tim 3 list our well though of by outsiders and respectable.

Blameless reality

Blamelessness is not perfection - Blamelessness is a consistent pattern of life That even in failure and sin, runs to the savior in repentance.

They partake of the same forgiveness, mercy, conviction, repentance and grace through Christ as the rest of the congregation. Ultimately they show their consistency in not rejecting God’s authority over his life.

Pray for your leaders that they remain blameless, That they tend to their own souls in such a way that they have a relationship with God that can handle the rigors of ministry and maintain their character. Reputation is what people see, character is what keeps reputation intact.

Pray for how they lead their families with care, love and faithfulness, Pray for their children and all the dynamics that they face.

Pray for their marriages and spouses. Ministry is tough on home life. Pray they they can pour as much inot their own home as they pour into the church.

Pray for the decisions they make in leading the body of Christ well

Titus 1:6–9 ESV

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.