Title: Godly Leaders (Titus 1:1-9). • The theme of Titus: “Truth that leads to godliness.” Titus 1:1 (NLT) • The book of Titus is short: 46 verses! • Titus will marry truth and godliness. • The two will become one. • Edmond Hiebert, “Nowhere else does Paul more forcefully urge the essential connection between ... truth and ... morality (godliness) than in this brief letter.” • Next week, we will see the opposite: error leads to ungodliness! (a sub theme in Titus). Ill. An atheist student told David Wood, “I don’t care if it’s true.” I just care that its bad.” • Christians – care deeply about truth and goodness. • Many Atheists/unbelievers are not interested in truth – just interested in bad. • This is exactly the trouble Titus is facing on his island mission in Crete. • The Cretans were not interested in truth. They loved bad. Epimenides said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” (6th century BC). • Quoted in Titus 1:12 • Crete was an island culture that lied and loved bad! • Crete is mentioned in the OT as the ancient home of the Philistines. • This is a tough crowd! • Titus has a tough assignment to appoint godly men of truth in every city. Who is Titus? • A young Gentile man that Paul led to Christ. • Paul’s “true son in a common faith.” - Titus 1:4 • Titus is mentioned 12x (2 Cor., Gal., 2 Tim., Titus). • Titus was a loyal apostolic delegate (w/ Paul 12-15 years). • Titus was tested before Peter, James and John in Jerusalem (over circumcision). • His Island Mission: Appoint godly leaders (elders) in Crete (20 cities) Godly Leaders Submit to the One True God. Titus 1:1 (NASB), Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time revealed His word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true son in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. • Paul is establishing his credentials/authority as an apostle in order to deputize Titus as his apostolic delegate to Crete. • There is a chain of authority laid out: What Jesus says, Paul says. What Paul says, Titus says. • This letter to Titus will be read in the churches, and authorize Titus to work in the churches as Paul’s delegate. Paul and Titus do not flaunt their authority. • Paul calls himself a bond-servant before he calls himself an apostle. • A bond-servant is a submissive term. • A bond-servant is the best title for every Christian leader (and every Christian too). This idea should not offend us. • Bond-service is not a limitation, it is liberation! • Bond-service to Jesus is the greatest honor, privilege, and freedom in life. • Peter tells every Christian, in 1 Peter 2:16, “… use your freedom ... as bond-servants of God.” • Jesus is described in Phil. 2:7, as one who, “emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant.” • Likewise, Paul, Titus, and every godly Christian leader is called to bond-service – submitting 100% to the One True God. We emphasize the one true God because V.2 – God cannot lie! • Truth is an attribute of God. • Truth is God’s nature, essence and being. • God never acts/speaks contrary to truth because He is truth. • God doesn’t have integrity problems like many of our leaders do. • God never says one thing and does another. • Hebrews 6:18 says, “it is impossible for God to lie!” Knowing God does not lie, should encourage us even more to submit to Him. Godly Leaders Must Exhibit True Godliness. Titus 1:5 (NASB), “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion. 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined…” • Titus is given a clear mission to appoint elders in every city. • NOTICE what he is to look for – the IFS of marriage/family and the MUSTS of character. • Titus is not discovering gifts, locating talent, seeking skills, or social status (these are secondary). • Character comes first. • John Maxwell “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” There’s 15-character qualities here that show the way of godliness. . 2a. Godliness in Marriage and Family Titus 1:6 (NASB), “namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion.” Godly elders must meet 3 conditions. First their lived are… • “beyond reproach” - Beyond reproach means having a good reputation. The elder cannot be truly accused of wrongdoing (he can be falsely accused but not truly accused). He is not perfect, but he has a clean record and no charges can be brought against him. • A husband of one wife meaning, “a one-woman kind of man.” He has only one wife not 2-3 (he’s not a polygamist). But the main idea is he has only one lover (he is not sleeping with someone not his wife). • Their children are believing and behaving. Children are unpredictable and not expected to be perfect. But the children do tell a story, they indicate if a father is engaged, is shepherding/teaching, and is respected. • There is no better test of character than in marriage and family. 2b. Godliness in Character V7 lists 6 negative characteristics to avoid: • Not blamed (is another way to say, “beyond reproach” in v6). • Not self-willed – means not overbearing, not self-loving or arrogant, this person doesn’t always have to be right and prove others wrong. • Not quick-tempered – not easily angered, offended, or quick to quarrel. • Not overindulging in wine – not letting any substance control you, cloud your mind, or become an addiction. • Not a bully – means not a striker, not violent. • Not greedy for money – means not using ministry for personal profit. A godly elder refuses to serve money. V8 lists 6 more characteristics a godly person pursues: • Hospitable – means to love strangers, to be gracious and interested in them. • Loving what is good – means a godly person pursues good causes, good living, good friendships, good habits. They don’t love bad (like those young atheists). • Sensible – means governed by common sense. Not driven by appetites, feelings, passions or whims. • Righteous – refers to being just and respectful in conduct. • Holy – means to be fully dedicated to God and set apart from sin and selfishness. • Disciplined – means self-control. A godly person does not need constant supervision. They have healthy habits and boundaries. Here are 12-character qualities (6 to pursue. 6 to avoid). Together they paint a picture of a godly character/elder. • Do you know anyone who lives up to this list? • Why would God require such high expectations for church elders? • Because the church/family/world needs godly examples to follow. • And the Good News is the Gospel transforms people like this by the power of the HS! Godly Leaders Hold on to True Convictions Titus 1:9 (NASB), “...holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.” • v9, is the cornerstone for every godly Christian and leader. • Godly persons holds firmly to God’s Word. • Conviction means to be glued to the Word, to stick to Scripture. • “Everyone has beliefs—someone said, but your convictions are what people actually see.” The godly leader/elder must do two things with the Word. • Exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict. • Doctrine – means teaching. • Sound – comes from the Gk word for Hygiene. • Sound doctrine is a disinfectant against evil/lies. • Sound doctrine is like clean food – true Biblical teaching with no additives, no preservatives, no artificial colors. • We exhort by going on offense. We teach and encourage others in the Word so others can run with the truth. • We refute by going on defense. It’s a strong word meaning to overthrow, reprimand, expose lies and false teachers. • Exhorting and refuting are two critical duties of elders/pastors. • The book of Titus continues on these two tracks to the end. CONCLUSION: Some credit George Orwell with saying, “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” • Godly elders, pastors, and leaders are like revolutionaries, armed with truth, overthrowing lies, and demonstrating godliness in character. • Godly leaders marry the truth with godly living. • Godly leaders like godly mothers are like a 5th gospel. • They are the Gospel we read by watching their godly lives.