Titus 1:5-9 | The Good Shepherd and Pretty Good Shepherds

Theme: It takes sound men with sound doctrine to produce sound churches.

4 observations from Titus 1:5:

1. Elders are a means of producing order in the church.

2. An elder is a man of spiritual maturity.

3. It is not unbiblical or unusual for one man to be granted great authority in the church.

4. It appears that the Elder/overseer/pastor is one office, not three.

Ephesians 4:11

And He gave some [as] apostles, and some [as] prophets, and some [as] evangelists, and some [as] pastors and teachers…

Acts 20:17, 28

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders of the church. ... 28 "Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.

1 Timothy 5:19-20

Do not receive an accusation against an elder except on the basis of two or three witnesses. 20 Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful [of sinning.]

“In these verses, Paul hit the balance between accepting as true every bit of gossip about a leader versus ignoring serious sin in a leader’s life. Either extreme is wrong.” David Guzik

Titus 1:6

if a man is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

1 Timothy 3:4-5

[He must be] one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?),

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

What disqualifies a man from being an elder?

• Immorality

• A disordered household

• Careless financial stewardship

• Selfish and overbearing

• Flies off the handle and looks for a fight

• Sauced

• Greed

• Poor doctrine and/or cowardice

What qualifies a man to be an elder?

• Unaccusable/good reputation

• A one-woman man

• Wise stewardship

• An orderly household

• Self-control: emotions, money, sex

• Loves strangers

• Lifestyle of “godwardness”

• Sound doctrine and courage

Theme: It takes sound men with sound doctrine to produce sound churches.

2 challenges:

• Don’t let the pursuit of godly character be limited to elders.

Galatians 5:22-25

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those [who are] Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

2 challenges:

• The church deserves some pretty good shepherds but always has a Good Shepherd!

John 10:11, 17-18

"I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. ... 17 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."