Living Out Christian Leadership with Integrity
Summary
In today's exploration of the book of Titus, we delved into the qualities and responsibilities of church leaders, emphasizing the importance of being above reproach. This doesn't mean perfection but rather living in a way that avoids socially unacceptable behaviors. We discussed the significance of self-control, especially in leadership, where quick tempers can lead to poor decisions. The essence of Christian leadership is to represent Christ, often requiring us to tolerate certain things for His sake, even when we have the right to retaliate. This is a call to embody the principle of turning the other cheek, trusting that God's justice is superior to our own.
We also examined the dangers of greed and the misconception that godliness equates to material gain. True Christian living is marked by generosity and hospitality, not by seeking personal gain. This extends to how we handle resources and relationships, ensuring that our actions reflect the gospel's integrity. The sermon highlighted the need for leaders to hold firm to sound doctrine, resisting the temptation to alter biblical truths to fit personal or cultural changes. This steadfastness is crucial for providing clear, biblical instruction and rebuking false teachings.
Furthermore, we addressed the issue of insubordination and empty talkers within the church, particularly those who spread false doctrines for personal gain. Such individuals must be confronted and corrected to maintain the purity and unity of the church. The importance of works as evidence of faith was underscored, reminding us that our actions should align with our professed beliefs. This alignment is essential for the credibility of our witness and the health of the church community.
Finally, we reflected on the broader implications of our faith, recognizing that our actions impact not only our immediate community but also the larger mission of God's kingdom. Our commitment to living out the gospel authentically is vital for the next generation, who are keenly aware of inconsistencies and demand integrity in our witness.
Key Takeaways:
- Living Above Reproach: Being above reproach means living in a way that avoids socially unacceptable behaviors, not achieving perfection. It requires self-control and humility, especially in leadership, where quick tempers can lead to poor decisions. Representing Christ often means tolerating certain things for His sake, even when we have the right to retaliate. [07:31]
- The Danger of Greed: True Christian living is marked by generosity and hospitality, not by seeking personal gain. Greed distorts the gospel's message, and leaders must resist the temptation to equate godliness with material wealth. Our actions should reflect the integrity of the gospel, prioritizing the well-being of others over personal gain. [11:55]
- Holding Firm to Sound Doctrine: Leaders must hold firm to biblical truths, resisting the temptation to alter them to fit personal or cultural changes. This steadfastness is crucial for providing clear, biblical instruction and rebuking false teachings. Our theology should remain consistent, even when personal circumstances challenge our beliefs. [24:39]
- Confronting False Teachings: Insubordination and empty talkers within the church must be confronted and corrected to maintain the purity and unity of the church. This requires courage and wisdom, as addressing false teachings is essential for preserving the integrity of the gospel and protecting the church community. [38:05]
- The Importance of Works: Our actions should align with our professed beliefs, as works are evidence of faith. This alignment is crucial for the credibility of our witness and the health of the church community. The next generation demands integrity in our witness, and our commitment to living out the gospel authentically is vital for the mission of God's kingdom. [46:29]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:27] - Opening Prayer
[02:21] - Introduction to Inductive Bible Study
[04:09] - Qualifications of Elders
[05:13] - Living Above Reproach
[07:31] - Self-Control and Leadership
[09:02] - Turning the Other Cheek
[11:22] - The Danger of Greed
[12:43] - Generosity and Hospitality
[15:03] - The Call to Be Hospitable
[17:10] - Sacrifice in Christian Living
[19:40] - Pursuing Peace Over Gain
[23:13] - Holding Firm to Sound Doctrine
[25:27] - The Role of Rebuke
[31:43] - The Place of Shame in Preventing Evil
[38:05] - Confronting False Teachings
[46:29] - The Importance of Works
[50:46] - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Titus 1:5-16
- 1 Timothy 6:3-10
- Matthew 5:38-42
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Observation Questions:
1. What are the qualifications for elders as outlined in Titus 1:5-9, and why is being "above reproach" emphasized twice? [04:09]
2. How does the sermon describe the concept of "turning the other cheek," and what does it mean in the context of Christian leadership? [09:02]
3. What examples of greed and its dangers are mentioned in the sermon, and how do they relate to the integrity of the gospel? [11:55]
4. According to the sermon, what role does sound doctrine play in maintaining the unity and purity of the church? [24:39]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the requirement for elders to be "above reproach" reflect on the expectations for all believers in their daily lives? [05:13]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that self-control is crucial for leaders, and how does this apply to everyday situations for believers? [07:31]
3. How does the sermon interpret the relationship between godliness and material gain, and what implications does this have for modern Christian living? [11:22]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of confronting false teachings, and how should this be approached within the church community? [38:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a situation where you had the right to retaliate but chose not to. How did this decision impact your witness for Christ? [09:02]
2. Identify an area in your life where self-control is challenging. What steps can you take to improve in this area, especially in leadership roles? [07:31]
3. Consider your current financial habits. How can you ensure that your approach to money reflects generosity and hospitality rather than greed? [11:55]
4. Think about a time when you were tempted to alter biblical truths to fit personal or cultural changes. How can you hold firm to sound doctrine in such situations? [24:39]
5. Have you ever encountered false teachings within your church or community? How did you respond, and what can you do to address such issues in the future? [38:05]
6. Reflect on your actions and how they align with your professed beliefs. What changes can you make to ensure your works are a true reflection of your faith? [46:29]
7. How can you actively contribute to the unity and purity of your church community, especially when faced with insubordination or empty talkers? [38:05]
Devotional
Day 1: Living Above Reproach
Living above reproach is not about achieving perfection but about embodying self-control and humility. It involves making conscious choices to avoid behaviors that could be deemed socially unacceptable, especially for those in leadership positions. Leaders are called to represent Christ, which often means tolerating certain things for His sake, even when they have the right to retaliate. This principle of turning the other cheek is a testament to trusting in God's superior justice. [07:31]
Titus 1:7-8 (ESV): "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, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you felt wronged. How can you practice self-control and humility in your response, trusting in God's justice instead of seeking retaliation?
Day 2: The Danger of Greed
True Christian living is characterized by generosity and hospitality, not by the pursuit of personal gain. Greed can distort the message of the gospel, leading individuals to equate godliness with material wealth. Leaders, in particular, must resist this temptation and ensure that their actions reflect the integrity of the gospel. Prioritizing the well-being of others over personal gain is a testament to living out the gospel authentically. [11:55]
1 Timothy 6:9-10 (ESV): "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils."
Reflection: Consider your current financial priorities. How can you shift your focus from personal gain to generosity and hospitality in your daily life?
Day 3: Holding Firm to Sound Doctrine
Leaders are called to hold firm to biblical truths, resisting the temptation to alter them to fit personal or cultural changes. This steadfastness is crucial for providing clear, biblical instruction and rebuking false teachings. Consistency in theology is essential, even when personal circumstances challenge one's beliefs. By maintaining sound doctrine, leaders can guide their communities with integrity and clarity. [24:39]
2 Timothy 4:2-3 (ESV): "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions."
Reflection: Reflect on a belief you hold that has been challenged by cultural or personal circumstances. How can you reaffirm your commitment to sound doctrine in this area?
Day 4: Confronting False Teachings
Insubordination and empty talkers within the church must be confronted and corrected to maintain the purity and unity of the church. This requires courage and wisdom, as addressing false teachings is essential for preserving the integrity of the gospel and protecting the church community. Leaders must be vigilant in identifying and correcting these issues to ensure the church remains a beacon of truth. [38:05]
Titus 1:10-11 (ESV): "For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach."
Reflection: Identify a situation where you encountered false teachings or misleading information. How can you approach this situation with courage and wisdom to uphold the truth?
Day 5: The Importance of Works
Our actions should align with our professed beliefs, as works are evidence of faith. This alignment is crucial for the credibility of our witness and the health of the church community. The next generation demands integrity in our witness, and our commitment to living out the gospel authentically is vital for the mission of God's kingdom. By ensuring that our actions reflect our faith, we can inspire others and contribute to the growth of God's kingdom. [46:29]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Think about an area of your life where your actions may not fully align with your beliefs. What specific steps can you take today to bring your actions in line with your faith?
Quotes
"Now above reproach doesn't mean perfect, but what it does mean is that with the things that are considered to be socially unacceptable, you're not going to be doing those things. He says he must not be arrogant. He mustn't think that he's better than everybody else. Because when knowledge abounds, the Bible says knowledge puffs up, charity edifies. So what happens is if you start knowing certain things, if you're not careful, you start thinking you're better than everybody else, right? Or quick-tempered. Does anybody know why being quick-tempered is important? Because when you're leading God's people, some people are going to wind you up." [00:05:32] (45 seconds)
"This is one of the things I keep, it's in my heart, and I will keep saying it. I'll keep saying it. You get to a point in Christ Jesus, you are going to have to tolerate certain things because of him. You would have the right to be annoyed. You will have a right to retaliate, but you are not going to do it. You are not going to do it. You are not going to do it because of his name." [00:07:47] (24 seconds)
"So now, nobody's turning the other cheek. You retire. You retaliate. You take vengeance. But the Bible says, the Bible says, we don't take vengeance. God says, no, let me take care of it. Now, it's not saying there's not going to be vengeance, but it's saying, no, my own vengeance is better than yours. Let me deal with it. So, there's some people, I mean, you know, I'm elder, I'm pastor. They've done some things to me in this life, but I've told myself many times, I'm not going to take vengeance. I'm not going to do it." [00:09:29] (31 seconds)
"You're not greedy for gain. Gain is not how, I'm not looking for how I'm going to get one over you, win over you, cut you short. It's not there for people that understand what Paul is teaching here. So they're upright. In other words, they live in a righteous manner and they're holy. They're conscious of spiritual things. They want to keep those spiritual things. Let me give you another example of, oh, did I miss? I've missed some. Oh, greedy for gain. But hospitable, actually." [00:14:11] (35 seconds)
"Hold firm to that trustworthy word as taught. Right? And hold firm is, hold firm, because if you don't hold firm, it might slip and go with it. Hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught so that he may be able to give instructions in sound doctrine. In other words, this person must know the truth, have held on to it for a while, and that gives them the ability to be able to give instructions in sound doctrine." [00:23:25] (40 seconds)
"Because if they're not people that hold firm to the truth, or they have changed the truth with time, or let me help you, or their child has become gay, so their view of gay has changed. I did that on purpose. I slipped that in. Because what tends to happen to us is, sometimes we believe certain truths until it applies to one of our own. Right? And my theology is not going to change for anybody. I don't care who you are." [00:24:45] (35 seconds)
"It's their job to confront their job to rebuke now how you do it matters and it varies but I need you to see that any good leader is going to confront and the person that you're confronted there's no way you're going to do it they're not going to like it I was having this conversation recently where I I was having this conversation recently where I can only talk from my own experience so what would happen sometimes is that something will happen and I'll come here and I'll talk about it." [00:28:50] (35 seconds)
"Shame is one of the ways you stop people from doing evil. Hello? Because now they don't want anybody to be ashamed. No, shame is one of the ways we stop people from doing evil. In other words, you think to yourself, oh man, if I do this, this is what I'm going to look like. Then you rein yourself in. So, when you remove shame from a culture, then you embolden people to do all sorts of crazy things." [00:31:22] (31 seconds)
"They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. That's really powerful. So what he's saying is that when you, someone can profess that they know God. So these people, these liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons, deceivers, what else did he use? Insubordinate, empty talkers. They actually act like they know God. But you know that they don't know God when you look at their works." [00:46:09] (29 seconds)
"These are things that we need to think about so that we can be different because we don't want to be like that and I don't think the next generation is going to take it from us anyway they're just going to Yimu at you you know what Yimu is what you people are doing is not you are not serious can't you see the inconsistencies in what you are doing right which is actually why I argue that no if there's inconsistencies we need to explain to them that this is wrong this is right don't do this don't do that don't keep quiet because if you don't they can see the inconsistencies and what they do is that they use those inconsistencies against you that's what they do they say how can you they won't say that how can you tell me to do this when so and so is doing this other thing they are telling me to be when somebody is doing this other thing that is not right." [00:52:54] (55 seconds)
"We don't want to say, because we can't be perfect, so it doesn't matter. We're just going to do whatever. No, no, no. Because we love you and we care about your kingdom and we doing better. Not just for our sake, but for the sake of your kingdom. For the sake of your plan and your purpose for humanity. For the sake of the salvation of souls. For the sake of the people on our front lines." [00:54:41] (36 seconds)
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