Titus 1:5-9 VBV

Introduction

Recap of last week:

Paul went into his calling as an apostle and his purpose of seeing the church of Jesus Christ flourish.

He is writing this letter Titus who has been his child in the faith.

We all know the immense value of a team and how a team that is working together, will thrive.

If you have a football team that practices together, they will accomplish a lot.

If you have a cheerleading squad that works on things as a team, then they will see many successes.

Yet, when they stop working together, bad things can happen.

Things that cause a team to stop working together: drama, jealousy, pride, laziness etc.

I experienced this as a child with some of my friends. They were what we would call a ball hog. So they would do everything in their power to make sure they scored a goal or got the ball in the basket.

When they did that we would inevitably lose because we weren’t working as a team.

Churches are the same way, God has called us to order and unity. Tonight we are going to see how the church at Crete was loosing control of their church and it was hurting them in the long run. We will also see Paul’s first solution to this.

Main Point: God desires to see churches orderly and flourishing within His design for them.

Trouble in Crete

Explanation:

English Standard Version Chapter 1

This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order,

Churches are designed to be orderly.

Philippians 2:1–2 ESV

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

God has designed the church to be one cohesive unit.

The church at Crete was not doing this. They had 2 primary downfalls.

Antinomianism: There should be no law and we can do what we want.

Legalism: Obedience and keeping the law is what gets you to heaven.

Ways that we sway from order:

Inward focus: Instead of focusing on how we can reach others we focus on ourselves, what we want, what makes us comfortable.

Churches with symptoms of sickness are likely to have declined some in worship attendance over the past five years. If they have grown, the rate of growth was slower than the growth rate of the community in which they are located. The ministries and programs for these churches tend to be shifting more and more for members of the congregation rather than those on the outside. In simple terms, the church is moving from an outward focus to an inward focus. — Thom Rainer

When we stop figuring out how to reach the lost, we are a church that has lost order.

We might look orderly, but the thing we are moving towards is unbiblical and disregards the mission of God.

Lack of unity: Divisive in the church. Disagreements lead to fights. We have to learn how to agree to disagree and still love the other person.

TBMB Annual Meeting Last Year: There were some tense moments as we talked about the future of Tennessee Baptists and while people were firm in their conviction and did not agree on everything, the tenor of love for each other was clearly evident in how they addressed.

Unity does not equal conformity. But it does mean we unite on the essentials and show loving charity in other matters.

We must strive to maintain unity in our churches.

Laziness: We stop running the race!

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

The finish line is eternity, don’t stop until then!

Sin: this will pollute and hurt our church.

This morning while I was exercising on the last rep I felt my lower back just pull a little. As you know, a little pain somewhere affects the whole body!

Application:

Contribute to the order of the church—don’t be the source of tearing the church down.

Biblical Leadership is a Necessity to Healthy Churches

Explanation:

Explanation of elders:

Elders: Pastors

Deacons: Lead Servants in the church

Things they should not be:

Not open to the charge of debauchery: overindulgence in the things of this world.

Not open to the charge of insubordination: Known for being a supporter, not a divisive person.

Not arrogant: Walks in humility.

Not quick tempered: Doesn’t quickly lose his temper.

Not a drunkard: Not out partying!

Not Violent: He’s not violent with actions or with words.

Not greedy for gain: Is not looking to build a treasure on this earth.

Things they should be

Above reproach: a charge cannot be lobbed against them.

Husband of one wife: Faithful to his wife.

His children are believers: faithful to disciple his children.

Hospitable: Kind and willing to invite people into his life. Not stand offish.

Lover of good: Wants to see people do well.

Self-Controlled: Controls himself with physical things.

Upright: Pursues honesty and righteousness.

Holy: Fights sin.

Disciplined: Isn’t wasteful with resources.

Hold firm to biblical doctrine: Convictionally driven.

Teach sound doctrine: Has the ability to teach faithfully.

Illustration:

People want their pastor to be a lot of things. But these are the things that Bible lays out. I have a lot of friends who are judged by their people in their churches on standards that are completely unbiblical.

Church member who told a pastor he needs to wear pants while he’s doing yard work at his own house because he doesn’t think a pastor should wear shorts.

We have to understand that when we hold a pastor, deacon, volunteer, church member, or anyone to an extra-biblical standard, that you are putting a weight on them that God never intended.

Concluding Thoughts:

God has called the church to order. Don’t be a source of dissension and disorder.

God has called leadership to help bring about health. Hold Christian leaders to God’s standard, not your personal standard.