Scripture: Titus 3:8

C.I.: “…set in order what remains”

Today we begin our 3 rd and final book – in our series on Paul's letters to preachers (I, II Timothy & today, Titus).

A Difficult Place
1. Landmass : the fifth largest Mediterranean island, 152 miles long, 7.5-35 miles and 3,220 square miles in area.

•  Crete forms the southern boundary of the Aegean Sea.

•  Crete is composed of four limestone massifs, reaching an altitude of 8,058 ft.

•  People:
a) Epimenides, a Cretan poet, says of them, ( Tit. 1:12 ), “A poet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, lazy gluttons.'” – Note; they don't just lie, aren't just beast, and simply over-eat!!!

•  But Jesus died for these people also – and the Lord desired for His church to be established here!!!

A Remarkable Message
1. Our reading shows the main purpose – to get believers to engage themselves in good works, ( 1:16; 2:7, 14; 3:1, 5, 8, 14 ).
a. Our salvation by grace – does not preclude good works – but encourages it
1) ( Eph. 2:8-10 ), “For by grace you have been saved….”
2) ( Jms. 2:14, 17 ), “What use is it, my brethren, if man says he has faith, but he has no works? – Can that faith
save him?” … “ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”

•  Finish the Job, (Chapter 1)

•  Appoint Qualified Men, (vs. 5-9)

•  ( v. 5 ), “For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you.”

a. Just as individuals must mature spiritually – so too must congregations. – For there comes a time when each
congregation should be spiritually mature enough – to appoint qualified leaders!
b. 3 things that are true about leaders in the Lord's church:
1) Plurality ( “ elders” ) – Man-made churches have 1 human leader (pastor, reverend, etc.).

2) Local ( “ every city” ) – Man-made churches (diocese, bishoprics, etc.). – Each church has its own leaders!
3) Qualified ( cf. vs. 6-9) !!! – We will not cover these again as we did recently ( “Self-Evaluation for Shepherds”).

c. Later today, we will be appointing a man to this leadership position – and also two men to the position of deacon.

•  Equip Them to Meet The Challenges, (vs. 10-16)

•  A godly man will not look for problems – but he will not run & hide when they appear!

a. Paul speaks of two spiritual challenges that godly men must oppose:

•  False Teaching – “For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially among the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach.” ( vs. 10-11a ).
a) We have already seen the harm of false teaching, ( cf. I Tim. 4:1-2; II Tim. 4:3-4 ).
b) As God's men in times past have courageously stood against; giants, flaming furnaces, and imprisonment –
so too today must God's leaders have the courage to stand against that which would destroy the souls of
fellow believers!!!

2) False Beliefs - ( v. 14 ), “…paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.”

a) There are things today which appear to people to be right – but are wrong in the sight of God…
b) Jesus had to deal with a couple of false religious beliefs, ( cf. Matthew 15:3, 9 ).

•  How to Deal with These Challenges…

•  The person of God (especially His leaders) will meet these challenges – by using the tools God has given us.

a. A godly leader will, “Hold fast the faithful word which is in accordance to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in
sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict,” ( v. 9 ).

•  Thus, in a day when we are told; don't make waves, don't hurt people's feelings, be “Politically Correct,” – the man of God knows that souls are in jeopardy – so he will do what is necessary to bring them back!!!

•  ( v. 13 ), “For this cause reprove them severely that they may be sound in the faith . ”

•  We do this through the proper use of the word of God, ( quote I Tim. 4:2 ), “Preach … reprove , rebuke….”

b. Those who accept false doctrines – since they reject God's word – have no way to distinguish between right/wrong!
1) Thus, those who know God's word – will use it to determine what is pure vs. defiled.
2) ( v. 15 ), “To the pure, all things are pure; but to the unbelieving and defiled, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their
conscience is defiled.”

a) To those who choose not to follow His word – God says, “They profess to know God, but by their deeds they
deny Him, being detestable and disobedient, and worthless for any good deed,” ( v. 16 ).
b) “But I believe in God!” – ( Jms. 2:19 ), “You believe that God is one. You do well, the demons also….”

Invitation:

1) For some– it may be time to start living like the godly man or woman – He saved you to be!!
2) For others – it is time for you to lay aside your old way of life – and begin anew, ( quote Rom. 6:1-4 ).

Installation of New Leaders : (Ask elders to come to the front)

Elders: (I Thess. 5:12-14 ), “We request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge
over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work”

(I Thess. 5:15-16 ), “And we urge you, brother, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient
with all men. See to it that no one repays evil for evil, but always seek that which is good for one another and for all men.”



Deacons: (Matt. 20:25-26 ), “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.
It is not so among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you, shall be your servant.”