Study inTitus

Presentation 01

Extending Mission In The

ChurchChap 1v1-7

Presentation 01

Presentation 01

IntroductionA young man received a call at work from his minister who said, “I have three questions. Are you free this evening? Do you own a driving licence? Could you take a friend to Stirling after work?” A ‘yes’ to all three questions meant that the car keys his minister’s brand new car were put in his hand as he left work. The minister explained the controls and arranged to have the car returned later that night. As the young man drove off he looked in the mirror to see if the minister was watching to see how well he was driving this strange new car. The minister never once looked back producing a warm glow in the driver who thought, ‘He has confidence in me!’

Presentation 01

IntroductionA sign of a maturing relationship is for increased responsibility to be given to another without a constant, anxious interference. A wise parent understands this giving their child more room to express their own individuality, and develop some independence. Even if that means allowing them to make their own mistakes and learn from them. What is true of family life is also true within the church family.

Paul, Titus’ father in the faith and was concerned for the safety, wellbeing and development of his young protégé who had been left behind in Crete to help the fledgling church grow.

Presentation 01

IntroductionPaul's relationship with Titus displays a marvellous balance between exercising care for his progress and a refusal to clip his wings as he develops. We find this not only from the contents of this epistle but the respect which Paul has for this young man is seen in the way in which he speaks of Titus in the rest of the N.T. In 2 Cor.7v6 Paul tells us that he regards Titus as ‘a cherished companion’. While in 2 Cor 12v17-18 he is described as a ‘fellow worker’.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of HimselfWe can better understand the richness of Paul’s relationship when we place it over against his own self-disclosure of who he is in v1-4. Paul, in his old age, describes himself by the two constraints that dominated his life. First, he is the ‘servant of God’! Literally a ‘bondslave’ - someone who had no rights. He was someone who would not act independently of his Master! This speaks of a life that is wholly surrendered to God for his service. And it is this relationship to God which lies at the root of all forms of fruitful Christian service. To be gripped by the fact that we have no rights that we belong to God and are his to command.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of HimselfSecondly, Paul describes himself as an ‘apostle’. The word lit means ‘one who has been sent out’. A man with a message. Paul received his apostolic commission from the risen Christ. Paul, along with 11 others, held a unique office in the church. The apostle’s office gave them a unique authority which came from Christ and covered matters of church doctrine and policy and qualified them to be human authors of the N.T. Incidentally, this implies that the only recognisably dependable apostolic succession that exists today is scripture itself. Preachers only have apostolic authority when they teach the apostle's doctrine.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of HimselfPaul having introduced himself, explains his role. He has been called to be an apostle for, “the faith of God’s elect”. All of his energy was poured into two things, evangelism and teaching. Notice how Paul unpacks his understanding of his ministry:

1. Election and Evangelism.

Despite criticism to the contrary, the doctrine of election found in scripture is not designed to dampen evangelistic activity but to promote it. It is the church’s conviction that God will call all his own people to himself that excites a spirit of expectation when the gospel is preached.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of Himself2. Faith and Knowledge.

Quite simply saving faith and saving knowledge go together. So many people have strange views of what faith is. Some think that its something you are born, a bit like a musical ear. Others see it as a kind of jump into the unknown, leap a in the dark! For Paul saving faith is a response to certain facts about God and his plan of salvation.

This is why instruction held such a high priority in his evangelism.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of Himself3. Truth and Godliness.

Why is it important for us to come to a knowledge of the truth? It is not in order to make us clever! Its aim is not to give us a reputation for being very learned but to make us like Jesus. This is how we are to understand Paul’s passion to proclaim the truth as it is in Christ Jesus. Godliness is the goal of the gospel. The purpose of Gospel truth is not to issue us with a ticket for heaven but to make us fit for heaven.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of HimselfThe ultimate goal of Paul’s teaching lies beyond this world and points to the hope of glory. And it held three ages together; from eternity to eternity:

1. The age history began.

2. The age when history was a stage for God's blessing.

3. The age when history ends.

Finally, Paul speaks of the constraints laid on his preaching. First, it as a "sacred trust," not a hobby, a pastime, or a job which had to be done. God had entrusted it to his care. Pray for ministers that they would never lose sight of this.

Presentation 01

Paul's Introduction Of HimselfSecondly, it was a ‘divine command.’ Paul had no option but to preach. He tells church at Corinth that he is ‘hemmed in to preach this message’. Today there is pressure in some parts of the church to play down verbal communication like preaching and replace it with drama, mime and dance!

These things may have their place but it is a minor place. The apostolic churches and Paul were aware of the command given to them to proclaim the gospel.

Presentation 01

The Unfinished TaskThe mature and experienced apostle had entrusted Titus with the development of the work in Crete, v5-9. The advance of God’s work is linked with the appointment of the spiritual leadership. Paul recognised that it is the leadership of the church that sets both its spiritual direction and tone.

The importance of their office that caused Paul to Say to Timothy, ‘Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honour.’ 1Tim. 5v17The elder, God’s under-shepherd, is worthy of our respect. However the leaders failure to take the role of leadership seriously can have disastrous consequences for God’s work and invites his displeasure. Note the comment on failed spiritual leadership in Ezek. 34v6ff…

Presentation 01

The Unfinished Task“My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no-one searched or looked for them. 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them”.

Presentation 01

The Character Of The ElderNow it is precisely because the role of elder is so important that Paul provided Titus with instructions for the choice of leadership and the qualifications of true elders are made plain.

Two interchangeable Greek words can be translated as ‘elder’, ‘episkapos’ and ‘presbuteros’. The first deals with the function of the elder, "one who keeps an eye on", "an overseer" while the second deals with the ‘character’ of the man.

First, we have some general qualifications.

Presentation 01

The Character Of The ElderThe elder must be ‘blameless’. The word literally means "not called“; not having a bad reputation or having doubts cast over ones character. The concern here is with what a man is seen to be in society. Secondly, the elder’s marriage record is considered. He is to be the ‘husband of but one wife’. A person who has proved unfaithful in marriage is not a suitable candidate for the eldership. The logic is clear, if a man has not kept faith with his with and honoured the vows made to care for her how can he be expected to care for the church?

Presentation 01

The Character Of The ElderThirdly, the elder’s qualification in relation to his home and family life is on view. Here the elder is to be seen to have, not only believing children, but those who are ‘not wild or disobedient’.

Clearly, if a man cannot prove himself in his home and exercise influence and control there, what hope does he have of doing so in the household of God?

The modern notion that children should be allowed to do as they like has no scriptural support.

Presentation 01

The Character Of The ElderIn v7ff Paul moves from general to specific qualifications. The elder is not to be ‘overbearing’ - literally, ‘self-pleasing, and authoritarian’. His function is to lead, and encourage development, not to crush. The next three characteristics have to do with self-control: ‘not quick tempered’. i.e. not the type of person who reacts suddenly and unthinkingly, not be easily roused to anger. He has not to be ‘given to drunkenness’, obvious! ‘Not violent’. The elder must also be a man of integrity in financial affairs.

John Milton said of Oliver Cromwell, "The secret of his stature is that he first obtained the governance of himself". That sums up what Paul says about the character of the elder. The key to all of these negatives is self-control.

Presentation 01

The Character Of The ElderIn v8ff the positive qualifications of leadership are described. The elder is to be ‘hospitable’; that is a marvellous word and it carries the idea of using ones home as a hospital for sick and needy people.

The elder is to be a friend to strangers; preachers, persecuted Christians, and gospel messengers. It is a marvellous thing to be addicted to hospitality. The elder is also to ‘love goodness’, be ‘self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined’.

In other words his life is not to be shoddy

Presentation 01

TemplateText here