Sermon for MHBC (6 June 2021). You can listen on Facebook, YouTube, Vimeo, or our website. Live at 11:00am on Sundays. Also available as a podcast here or by searching “Monument Heights Baptist Church” in your favorite podcast app.
Truthfully, I don’t know how to introduce this sermon. It’s an odd passage to preach, but the benefit of expository preaching is that we hear the full counsel of God’s Word. And I think what I’d like to begin with is an exhortation to us here. I want you to pay close attention to this passage. We talk a lot about renewal. But renewal must happen by putting the church in order, and by that I mean, ensuring that the church is structured around biblical principles and not just our traditions. We have lots to look at and I believe some things to correct based on what we see in this passage.
Let’s take a look at v. 5: 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. So Paul gave two tasks to Titus. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order and appoint elders in every town.
It seems to me that we have a tendency to think however our church is structured is the correct way. Or if we grew up in the church, we might think how it was structured then was the right way. But that’s not necessarily the case. And the structure of the church is important. We will see more of that next week. But, for now, let me just say, that a church structured according to the guidelines in Scripture is a benefit to the entire congregation and a strong witness for the gospel.
So the first task for Titus is to put what remained into order. The church must be structured properly.
The second task is to appoint elders in every town. Let me say a word about elders. The Bible uses three terms interchangeably: pastor, elder, and overseer (KJV: bishop). We can see that in this passage. Notice Paul uses elder in v. 5 but in v. 7, still talking about the same office, he refers to an overseer. There are two places in the NT, where all three terms—pastor, elder, and overseer— are used synonymously. Let me show you one from 1 Peter 5:1–2:
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly.
Notice also that the word elders is plural. The pattern we see throughout the NT is not a single pastor ruling or leading a church. In fact, Ben Merkle, a NT professor at SEBTS, states strongly, “There is no example in the New Testament of one elder or pastor leading a congregation as the sole or primary leader.”[1] The pattern we see consistently is a group of pastors, a plurality of elders, leading the church. We see this in Acts 14:23 where Paul and Barnabas make it a priority to appoint multiple elders in a church. Or in Acts 20:28, where Paul exhorts the elders (plural) to shepherd the church in Ephesus (singular). James 5:14 instructs the sick to call for the elders (plural) of the church (singular). So, thinking about just those few verses and Paul’s advice to Titus here, we can conclude that one of the first tasks for a healthy church is the appointment of elders.[2]
Now what qualifies one to be an elder. Look at v. 6: 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. This word above reproach is really the controlling word. All the following characteristics are just descriptions of this word “above reproach.” And we see above reproach again in v. 7. What does it mean to be above reproach? It means to be blameless.
Of course, the biblical concept of this is unblemished and spotless like a sacrificial lamb. I think a helpful analogy comes to us from the Roman Empire Marcus Aurelius, who, to be clear, was no Christian, and quite possibly a persecutor of Christians. Nevertheless, I like his picture. He writes, “No matter what anyone says or does, my task it to be good. Like gold or emerald or purple repeating to itself, ‘No matter what anyone says or does, my task is to be emerald, my color undiminished.’”[3] Be emerald. Emeralds are rare gems like diamonds. I say this with much trepidation but leaders in the church must be distinct. And, by the way, all Christians are called to this ideal of being above reproach.
But Paul is talking specifically about identifying elders. Look at v. 7: For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. The overseer represents God as a minister and administrator. Pastors teach the Word of God to the people of God. A pastor must be above reproach. Now what does it mean to be above reproach. The last half of v. 7 gives us five negative traits that are disqualifying and then v. 8 gives us six positive traits. And v. 9, finally gives us the central task of the elder or pastor. Look at the rest of v. 7: He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.
Most of these words are self-explanatory. The first one “arrogant” is a bit closer to stubborn than simply prideful, though the overlap is easy to see. Now let’s resist making these into rules. The best way to understand this is to say these are virtues in the classical sense. In the classic world, a virtue was something that characterized the being of a person more than just the doing. Virtue concerns character not mere actions. Think about it this way, a man is not honest because he told the truth one time. A man is honest because he has a history of telling the truth. C. S. Lewis put it this way, “We might think that God wanted simply obedience to a set of rules: whereas He really wants people of a particular sort.”[4] So these negative and positive traits should be viewed as a person’s general character. That also leaves room for grace, because no human will embody be above reproach 100% of the time. But we are looking at character patterns.
So a leader should not be arrogant/stubborn or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain. A red flag in those areas needs to be examined closely before appointing to a leadership position.
Now on to the positives. Verse 8: but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. These ought to be the general pattern of pastors.
Then we come to the final verse: 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.
This series is titled after that phrase “sound doctrine.” And that is Paul’s dominant concern in this letter to Titus. The primary task of ordering the church revolves around a commitment to sound teaching.
In this last verse, we see a commitment to Scripture and the faith handed down to us. Reverence for and commitment to Scripture and the Christian faith, then, are further hallmarks of qualified leaders.
Notice the twofold reason given: (1) to instruct in sound doctrine and (2) to rebuke those who contradict it.
So pastors need a thorough grasp of Scripture and sound doctrine. The reason for this is so that they can give instruction and correction in the church. Now this doesn’t mean a seminary degree is necessary. But it does mean that the individual has put in the time and effort to grasp Scripture and sound doctrine. This is likely done under the oversight of other elders. Further, this doesn’t mean that all elders have to preach. There are lots of opportunities for instruction. This can be in small groups, Bible studies, counseling situations.
What are the benefits for this type of leadership? Having a plurality of qualified pastors ensures the health of the church. The first president of the SBC, W. B. Johnson wrote, “A plurality [of elders] is of great importance for mutual counsel and aid, that the government and edification of the flock may be promoted in the best manner.” There’s a reason one of the primary tasks for establishing the church in Crete is appointing qualified leaders. Healthy leaders are necessary for healthy congregations.
Let me return to this idea of multiple elders, both paid and lay, by the way. I know this church, despite having a pastoral staff, still tends to think of one pastor. But I’m afraid we can’t continue thinking like that if we desire to follow the biblical model. Furthermore, a plurality of leaders ensures a complete spectrum of gifts in your leadership. Diversity of gifts best serve the church.
Then there’s accountability. How many examples of authoritarian pastors have we heard? How many pastors fall into some scandal?
A plurality of voices to discern Scripture together rather than one voice to which the entire congregation is susceptible or of which the congregation is skeptical. Both situations would be bad for the church.
Qualified leaders provide godly protection and oversight for the congregation. The Lord knows how to run his church. We must trust him.
Let me say a final word about the qualifications here. This list is overwhelming. If you don’t feel it, I can assure you I feel it. I can never live up to these standards perfectly. While I don’t want to exhibit a pattern of being snippy with people, I can’t promise that it won’t happen in a moment of frustration. But this list points us to a greater shepherd.
Every single characteristic in this list was and is embodied by the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. And he never failed on any of these points. He was always above reproach and he spoke truth perfectly and was full of grace.
The exhortation Peter gives to elders in 1 Peter is to shepherd faithfully because the chief Shepherd is returning. Leaders in a congregation are under-shepherds. We are here to remind you of the gospel of Christ. That he perfectly embodied righteousness, he is without sin, he died, and rose again, and he is worthy of our worship. And now together, we are called to emulate him and be conformed to his pattern, to follow in his footsteps. So, as one of your leaders, I urge you to look to Christ with me. I will strive, by God’s grace, to be faithful and qualified so that I do not bring reproach upon Christ or upon his church, but I am fallen and weak. There is only one who can make me above reproach and that is Christ, and now through his Spirit he has begun a sanctifying work in me that will continue into life everlasting.
[1] Ibid., 285.
[2] C. H. Spurgeon, perhaps the most famous Baptist of all, wrote in 1862: “To our minds, the Scripture seems very explicit as to how this Church should be ordered. We believe that … with [the pastor] should be associated … the elders of the Church to assist in all the works of the pastorate in the fear of God, being overseers of the flock. Such a Church we believe to be scripturally ordered; and if it abide in the faith, rooted, and grounded, and settled, such a Church may expect the benediction of heaven, and so it shall become the pillar and ground of the truth.”
[3] Meditations, trans. Gregory Hays, 7.15.
[4] Mere Christianity, 68–9.