Stay the Course with Solid Pastors! - Titus 1:5-9 | Sunday Morning Service

Paul tells Titus that churches do not simply drift into health. Titus was left in Crete to “set in order” what was lacking, a phrase that carries the picture of setting a broken bone. God uses solid, faithful leaders to help bring order, strength, and health where a church is weak or out of place. Every city, every church, whether big or small, needs qualified leadership.

The words elder, bishop or overseer, and pastor point to the same office. Elder speaks of the position and maturity of leadership. Overseer speaks of the work of watching over God’s people. Pastor speaks of shepherding the flock. The church may have different practical models, including multiple elders or a lead pastor, but congregational authority must remain intact. The congregation holds real responsibility before God, while qualified leaders are called to lead, serve, teach, and give direction.

Paul places a high standard on the pastor’s home because the home reveals the man. Blameless does not mean sinless. It means there is not a continuing pattern of offense for people to grab hold of. The “one woman man” is marked by faithfulness, purity, and a settled commitment that pictures Christ’s faithfulness to His bride, the church. A man who cannot lead with integrity in his own home cannot rightly carry leadership in the body.

Paul also names the temptations that can wreck a pastor’s character. A pastor cannot be self willed, quick tempered, lingering around wine, violent, or greedy for money. God’s steward does not use ministry to get his own way, dull his mind, pick fights, or build personal wealth. His time, talents, ambitions, possessions, and opportunities belong to the Lord. Faithfulness matters more than personal gain.

Paul then gives the positive picture. A pastor is hospitable, loves what is good, is sober minded, just, holy, and self controlled. Such a man takes the work of God seriously and masters his appetites, emotions, words, and actions. These qualities belong to every follower of Christ, but God makes them crystal clear for those who lead His church.

Paul finally requires that a pastor hold fast the faithful Word. Sound doctrine enables him to come alongside and encourage those who want to stand for Christ. Sound doctrine also enables him to convict those who contradict the truth. Solid pastors are not perfect men, but they are men whose lives make others want to trust Christ, obey His Word, and stay the course.

##

---

Key Takeaways

• 1. Churches need solid, faithful shepherds [52:32] God does not leave local churches without care or direction. Qualified leaders help set in order what is lacking, bringing biblical stability where confusion, weakness, or disorder may exist. Congregations should treat the calling and support of godly pastors as a serious spiritual responsibility. [52:32]
• 2. Leadership begins with faithfulness at home [01:08:45] The home tests whether a leader’s faith has become real character. A pastor’s marriage, purity, and manner of leading his children reveal whether he can care for God’s people with humility and steadiness. Christ’s faithful love for His bride gives weight to this calling. [68:45]
• 3. A steward cannot live for himself [01:10:29] Self will, temper, alcohol, violence, and greed all turn ministry inward. God’s steward remembers that time, money, gifts, and ambition are loaned by the Lord for the good of His people. Faithful leadership refuses to use spiritual influence for personal escape, control, or gain. [70:29]
• 4. Sound doctrine encourages and convicts [01:22:34] The faithful Word gives a pastor courage to come alongside tired saints and say, “You can do it” through the help of Jesus. The same Word gives him responsibility to confront error when people move outside proper teaching. Love without truth cannot protect the flock, and truth without encouragement cannot rightly shepherd it. [82:34]
• 5. Godly examples shape lasting convictions [01:24:40] A faithful leader leaves more than good words behind. His character gives younger believers a picture of what it looks like to follow Christ when nobody is watching. Such examples call children, church members, teachers, deacons, and pastors to live in ways that do not disparage the testimony of those who led them toward Christ.
  
  ## [84:40]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [48:16] - Stay the Course With Solid Pastors
• [49:21] - Titus Is Left to Set Things in Order
• [53:47] - Elder, Overseer, and Pastor
• [56:54] - One Pastor or Multiple Elders
• [60:39] - Congregational Authority and Elder Leadership
• [64:12] - Qualifications in Marriage and Family
• [69:46] - Character Qualifications for Pastors
• [71:47] - The Warning Against Lingering at Wine
• [78:17] - Violence, Greed, and Faithful Stewardship
• [80:43] - Positive Marks of Godly Character
• [81:34] - Holding Fast the Faithful Word
• [84:04] - The Power of a Faithful Example
• [89:30] - Stay the Course
• [90:14] - Invitation to Trust Christ

Bible Reading

Titus 1:5-9
“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— 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. 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. 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.” [49:21]

1 Timothy 3:1-7
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.” [57:49]

Acts 20:28
“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.” [55:46]

Observation questions

1. In Titus 1:5-9, what work was Titus left in Crete to do, and what two parts of that work are named?
2. What descriptions in Titus 1:6-8 concern a leader’s home, character, and relationships with others? [01:04:03]
3. What negative qualities are listed for an overseer, and what positive qualities are listed immediately afterward?
4. According to Acts 20:28, what words are used for the same church leaders, and what responsibility do they have toward God’s flock? [55:46]

Interpretation questions

1. Paul says Titus was to “set in order” what was lacking and appoint elders in every city. What does this show about why churches need qualified leaders rather than simply hoping things will work themselves out? [52:09]
2. “Blameless” does not mean sinless, but it does mean there is not a continuing pattern of wrongdoing for others to hold against a leader. How does that distinction help a church pursue both high standards and grace? [01:04:22]
3. Why does Paul connect leadership in the church with faithfulness in marriage, family, and the home? What does a person’s home life reveal that public ability may not reveal? [01:08:46]
4. Titus 1:9 says sound doctrine enables a pastor both to encourage believers and to confront those who contradict the truth. Why are both encouragement and correction necessary for caring well for a church? [01:22:34]

Application questions

1. Churches need solid, faithful shepherds. How can group members regularly pray for church leaders in specific ways—not only for their public ministry, but also for their homes, character, and endurance? [53:31]
2. Every Christian is called to grow in the qualities named in Titus 1, even though they are especially required of pastors. Which quality—hospitality, self-control, love for what is good, holiness, justice, or sober-mindedness—needs the most attention in your life right now? What would growth look like this week? [50:15]
3. A steward remembers that time, talents, possessions, ambitions, and opportunities belong to the Lord. Where are you most tempted to use something God has entrusted to you mainly for yourself rather than for the good of others? [01:10:22]
4. Self-will and a quick temper can turn leadership and relationships into a fight to get one’s own way. When are you most likely to become defensive, controlling, or short-fused? What could help you respond with humility and self-control? [01:10:53]
5. Hospitality means loving the stranger and seeking the welfare of others. Who is someone you could welcome, include, visit, or encourage in a practical way this week? [01:20:43]
6. Faithful examples shape lasting convictions. Who has given you a believable example of following Christ, and what part of that person’s life do you want to imitate? How can you become that kind of example in your home, group, workplace, or friendships? [01:24:40]
7. Sound doctrine should lead believers to encourage those who are tired or struggling and to speak truth when someone is moving away from it. Is there someone who needs encouragement from you, or someone with whom you need to have a loving and truthful conversation? What would a wise next step be? [01:22:38]