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Titus. 1:5-9. Not Made of Sugar Candy. Or Appointing Godly Leaders. Leadership Quotes. “Challenging times call forth great leaders.” Abigail Adams “We haven’t journeyed this far because we’re made of sugar candy.” Winston Churchill. Titus’ Task: appoint elders v. 6.
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Titus 1:5-9 Not Made of Sugar Candy Or Appointing Godly Leaders
Leadership Quotes • “Challenging times call forth great leaders.” Abigail Adams • “We haven’t journeyed this far because we’re made of sugar candy.” Winston Churchill 2
Titus’ Task: appoint elders v. 6 • Acts 14:23:“Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.” • Acts 16:4:“As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.” • Acts 11: 29-30; Acts 15:22; Acts 20:17: 3
4 Key Words • Elder. presbuteros, from which we get Presbyterian. (Acts 20:17; 1 Timothy 5:17; 1 Peter 5:1) • Overseer. episkopos, from which we get Episcopal. (Acts 20:28; 1 Timothy 3:1; Titus 1:7; 1 Peter 5:2) • Pastor. poimen means, “to shepherd,” (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:13; 1 Peter 5:2) • Deacon. Diakonos - literally means "servant." (Acts 6:1-7). I Timothy 3; 8-13 distinguishes this from elder. 4
What Does an Elder Do? • Model Christian maturity - 1 Peter 5:3:“Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” • Shepherd the sheep. 1 Peter 5:2:“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care…” • Feed the flock. 1 Timothy 5:17: “The Elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.” • Refute the rebellious. Titus 1:9: “…Encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” • Manage church matters. 1 Timothy 3:5: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of the church of God?” • Intercede for the ill. James 5:14: “Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.” 5
Family Qualifications √ • Blameless - This word is also translated as “above reproach.” The Greek word means “without blame” and has to do with “unquestioned integrity.” • Husband of but one wife - “a one-woman man.” • A man whose children believe -An elder must be above reproach in marriage and in his parenting. 6
Family of God Qualifications • Entrusted with God’s work - entrusted with the spiritual nourishment and growth of the family of God. • Not overbearing - “Must not be bossy.” • Not quick-tempered - Proverbs 29:22; 14:29 • Not given to drunkenness √ 7
Qualifications (cont). • Not violent - not be a “striker” or a “fighter” • Not pursuing dishonest gain - must not be involved in dishonest practices for selfish purposes • Hospitable - literally means, “stranger-loving” Romans 12:13 • A lover of good -love those things that are worthy 8
Qualifications (cont.) • Self-controlled - not live in bondage to the desires, passions and appetites of the flesh • Upright - The idea here is that an overseer is to be fair and just • Holy - progressively growing in holiness • Disciplined - one who is able to say “no” to that which is wrong • Committed to the message -cleaving or adhering to something as if glued to it √ 9
Summary • Elders…“needs two voices, one for gathering the sheep and the other for driving away wolves and thieves” John Calvin • Elders must love the Word, must cling to the Word, must know the Word. No wavering, no doubting, no compromising. √ 10