Setting Churches in Order: Qualities of Elders

Devotional

Day 1: Assurance Rooted in God’s Fatherhood

The gospel anchors believers not in fleeting emotions but in the unshakable reality of being God’s children. When life’s storms hit—whether relational fractures, cultural pressures, or personal failures—this identity holds firm. Earthly fathers may disappoint, but God’s fatherhood remains perfect, marked by mercy and steadfast love. To live assured is to let this truth recalibrate every fear and doubt. Confidence grows not by mustering strength but by resting in the Father who names and keeps His own. [48:13]

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12, ESV)

Reflection: Where do you most struggle to live as God’s assured child? How might embracing His fatherhood reshape your response to today’s challenges?

Day 2: Branches Bearing Fruit Through the Vine

Fruitfulness flows not from striving but abiding. Like a branch drawing life from the vine, believers thrive only as they remain connected to Christ. Timid hearts fear inadequacy; confident ones risk self-reliance. Both forget that apart from Jesus, even “success” is empty. True impact comes when ordinary people lean into His extraordinary power, letting His life flow through their obedience. [55:44]

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, ESV)

Reflection: What task or relationship feels overwhelming? How might abiding in Christ, rather than relying on your strength, change your approach?

Day 3: Setting Broken Bones in a Broken World

Spiritual gaps—like a misaligned bone—demand intentional correction. Churches and believers often tolerate dysfunction: half-hearted worship, unaddressed sin, or doctrinal confusion. Paul charges Titus to “set things straight,” not through harshness but through truth applied with grace. This work begins by letting God’s Word diagnose and reset our own misalignments before helping others. [59:43]

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained in order.” (Titus 1:5, ESV)

Reflection: What “misaligned” area in your life needs God’s corrective touch? How can you cooperate with His reshaping today?

Day 4: Above Reproach in a Compromising Culture

Elders model what all believers pursue: lives so saturated with Christ that accusations crumble. “Above reproach” isn’t perfection but consistent growth in integrity, self-control, and love. In a world that excuses greed, anger, and immorality, the church must embody a better way—not to impress others but to reflect the God who transforms us. [01:06:57]

“An overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward… hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.” (Titus 1:7–8, ESV)

Reflection: Which character trait in Titus 1:7–8 do you most need to cultivate? What practical step will you take this week toward growth?

Day 5: Sound Doctrine as Soul Surgery

Truth isn’t abstract—it pierces lies and heals hearts. Elders must “hold firm” to Scripture not to win arguments but to skillfully operate on souls. Sound doctrine dismantles pride, comforts the broken, and redirects wanderers. Every believer needs this dual work: receiving correction and offering it with humility, knowing God’s Word alone brings lasting change. [01:23:34]

“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.” (Titus 1:9, ESV)

Reflection: What lie have you believed recently? How can you replace it with a specific truth from Scripture today?

Sermon Summary

Paul moves from assurance to business because the Holy Spirit has a reason for that jump. The opening of Titus wants followers of Jesus to have confidence in their relationship with God, and that assurance is not a side issue. Assurance matters because God has things for every follower of Jesus to do. The timid person needs to know that Christ can bear fruit through weak branches, and the confident person needs to know that apart from Christ, bravado produces nothing.

John 15 gives the big reality under the whole assignment. Christ is the vine, his people are the branches, and spiritual fruit comes only from abiding in him. Paul’s urgency in Titus does not push people into self-powered activity. Paul’s urgency points people toward God’s work done with God’s strength.

Titus 1:5 names the assignment: Titus must put what remained in order and appoint elders in every town. The phrase “put what remained in order” carries the picture of a broken bone that needs to be set straight. The churches in Crete had gaps, and God’s truth needed to grip the control center of their lives so that the transforming work of the gospel could keep happening. The same kind of gaps exist in any local church, because God’s people still need doctrine to shape life.

Paul’s answer to those gaps includes elders. A local church rises and falls with its leadership, not because leaders are impressive, but because God uses leaders to help fill spiritual gaps. Verses 6 through 9 give the kind of men needed: committed men, men of character, and men of conviction. These traits are not rare traits for a few special people. These traits are the shape God means to develop in every follower of Jesus, with elders standing a step ahead as examples.

Paul first looks at the home. An elder must be above reproach, faithful in marriage and sexual integrity, and committed in parenting children who are faithful, respectful, and not marked by debauchery or insubordination. Paul next looks at character, rejecting arrogance, quick temper, drunkenness, violence, and greed. Paul then names the positive shape: hospitality, love for good, self-control, uprightness, holiness, and discipline.

Verse 9 moves to conviction. Elders must cling to the trustworthy word as taught, because sound doctrine gives life, sustains life, and transforms life. God’s truth must instruct what is true and rebuke the lies that get in the way. Paul gives Titus a big job, and God gives the church elders who help set broken bones straight.

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Key Takeaways

1. Assurance makes courage sane [55:24] John 15 keeps confidence from becoming self-confidence. Christ names himself the vine and his people the branches, which means fruitfulness is real but never independent. Timid followers are not disqualified by weakness, and confident followers are not qualified by personality. Assurance becomes sane courage because Christ is the source, not the branch. [55:24]
2. Broken bones need setting straight [58:56] Titus 1:5 uses language that sounds like setting a broken bone back into place. Spiritual gaps are not minor cosmetic problems, because crooked places affect the whole body. God’s truth does not merely inform the mind, but grips the heart, the control center of life. Gospel transformation often feels like repair because God is putting what remains in order. [58:56]
3. Elders are examples before evaluators [01:04:27] Paul’s qualifications do give a way to evaluate leaders, but they also show the direction of every disciple’s growth. Elders are not meant to be a different species of Christian. Elders are meant to be billboards of what God is forming in his people. Their lives blaze a trail so others can see the shape of faithful following. [64:27]
4. Character rejects respectable corruption [01:16:51] Paul names sins that can hide inside gifted leadership: arrogance, quick temper, greed, and uncontrolled appetites. These traits are dangerous because they can still look strong, decisive, or successful from a distance. God’s steward must not be a control freak, a lover of money, or a man ruled by impulse. The church needs strength under control, not strength out of control. [76:51]
5. Sound doctrine gives actual life [01:23:18] Doctrine is not a boring label for old ideas. Sound doctrine is God’s truth entering life and igniting the needed transformation. Elders must cling to the trustworthy word because loose hands cannot steady anyone else. Instruction and rebuke both belong to love when lies are keeping souls crooked.

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Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[41:27] - Prayer for Kingdom Reign
[48:58] - Turning to Titus 1
[50:26] - Why Paul Gets Down to Business
[52:44] - Assurance and the Challenge of Good Works
[55:24] - Apart From Christ, Nothing
[58:27] - Titus’s Two Part Assignment
[59:43] - Setting Broken Bones Straight
[61:52] - Why Leadership Matters
[63:33] - Elders as Examples
[65:38] - Committed Men at Home
[75:23] - Men of Character
[81:36] - Men of Conviction
[85:30] - Elders Who Help Fill Gaps

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Titus 1:5-9 (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, 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.

John 15:5 (ESV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Observation questions

According to Titus 1:5-9, what three categories of traits are required for elders (committed, character, conviction)?
How does the sermon describe the phrase “put what remained in order” in Titus 1:5 using the analogy of a broken bone? [58:56]
What does John 15:5 teach about the relationship between assurance and fruitfulness in a believer’s life?
What negative traits in Titus 1:7-8 are contrasted with the positive traits of hospitality, self-control, and holiness?

Interpretation questions

Why might Paul emphasize an elder’s home life (marriage, parenting) as a qualification for leadership? How does this reflect God’s priorities for all believers? [11:47]
The sermon compares spiritual gaps in the church to a broken bone needing setting. What does this analogy reveal about the seriousness of addressing sin or doctrinal confusion in a community? [58:56]
How does the call for elders to “hold firm to the trustworthy word” (Titus 1:9) connect to the idea that sound doctrine “gives actual life” as mentioned in the sermon? [01:23:18]
Why does Jesus’ metaphor of the vine and branches in John 15:5 challenge both timid and overly self-reliant believers?

Application questions

In what areas of your life do you struggle to “abide in Christ” (John 15:5) instead of relying on self-effort or fear? What practical step could help you depend on Him this week?
The sermon mentions “spiritual gaps” in our lives that need repair. What is one area where you sense God might be calling you to “set things straight” with His truth? [01:00:27]
Titus 1:8 lists traits like self-control, uprightness, and discipline. Which of these do you find most challenging to cultivate? How could you intentionally grow in this area with others’ support?
How can you encourage leaders in your church who model “strength under control” rather than arrogance or impulsivity? [01:16:51]
The sermon warns against “respectable corruption” like greed or quick tempers. Are there socially acceptable habits in your life that might hinder your witness? How can you address them?
Sound doctrine is meant to “rebuke the lies that get in the way” of transformation. What lie about God, yourself, or others do you need to confront with biblical truth today? [01:24:37]

Sermon Clips

66s

“``Which means if you're timid, you're a timid follower of Jesus, please be assured of your relationship. Please realize how important that assurance is because here's the deal, you might think you can't do it. And in one sense, that's true. On your own you can't do it. But the amazing truth is, because of Jesus, you're united to him. He's the vine, you're the branch. You can do it. Do you hear that? Do you realize that? You can be timid and God still does significant things through you. Now those of you that are confident, you also need to be very assured of your relationship with God. Because the confidence to do the things God is asking you to do, don't come because you have bravado and you're impressed by yourself. Because apart from Jesus, you're gonna do nothing. So we need to be assured how much we need him.”

69s

“So in essence, the connection between assurance and getting down to business is this. Being assured means we can be confident in God. Another way to say that would be to say that you were captivated by God's awesomeness to the level that you realize. You know what? God can do spiritually significant things through you. Like you begin to realize that truth. Because here's the deal. Paul has a big job for Titus. And since it's Father's Day, let me just make it clear. Dads, God has a big job for you. And the truth is God has a big job for every follower of Jesus. And the assurance of our relationship with God is an incredible gift to us to be able to do that job. Because it reminds us, it's not me doing this, it's me doing this with Jesus. And that's huge.”

72s

“Well a key piece to those gaps getting addressed is really the second part of the assignment, right? Verse five went on to say, appoint elders. So that's part two of the assignment. Set things straight and appoint elders. Here's a sobering truth. For all of us, a local church rises and falls with its leadership. Folks, if spiritual gaps are gonna be filled in our church and in our lives, it will require leadership. There must be leadership. the rest of this series is gonna talk a whole lot more about the gaps and the things that remain that need to be put in order. The rest of the series is gonna do that. But the passage today really is the only time where Paul is gonna zoom in and say, here's what the elders look like. In essence, here are the elders we need to address those gaps. Here's the leadership we need. So from now on it's gonna all be about the gaps. Today it's about the leaders to help us fill those gaps.”

62s

“They say why is that needed? Well, we continue to read verse nine, we can see Paul says so that elders can teach others in sound doctrine. You know, the funny thing is when you use the word doctrine sometimes people are like, oh boy, this is gonna be a boring lecture about some concept that somebody wrote about like a really long time ago and I don't really care. I just wanna know how to do life. Well folks, let me tell you something about sound doctrine. Sound doctrine is what gives us life. It is what sustains our lives and it is what transforms our lives. If we are gonna follow Jesus, we need the truths of God, the doctrine of God to come into our lives and that starts with instruction And we're looking for elders who are called to do that. That's actually how God designed things.”

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