WEBVTT

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 We just finished 1 Corinthians, as you all know, and we are now starting a new short book called Titus.

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 We will wrap this up probably in two or three weeks.

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 And the reason why we're taking a short hiatus with this book before we go into a longer Old Testament book

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 is because it teaches us helpful things that we think we need to address at this point of our church's life.

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 So, for example, it talks about church leaders in the first chapter.

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 Even though it mentions elders, which I'm talking about today, it doesn't mention deacons,

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 but I'm going to do another message, more topical message on deacons as well.

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 Next week, Titus 2 addresses various ministries of the church,

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 how our good works should accord with the sound doctrine that we have.

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 And in that passage, it also speaks of women's ministry as well, and we'll be launching that as well.

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 So that's where I went for that.

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 So that's why we're here.

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 Titus was written around 60, in the 60s AD by Paul, and he wrote it to Titus,

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 but with the intention to be read by the whole church in Crete, because Titus was ministering there.

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 He was facing a lot of opposition from false teachers in Crete.

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 And so Paul teaches through this letter that Christians should be characterized by good works

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 that accord with sound doctrine.

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 That's really the main point of this whole book, that Christians' lives should be characterized

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 by good works that accord with sound doctrine.

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 And the first chapter, like I said, is about church leaders.

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 The second and third chapter is about good works that accord with sound doctrine.

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 And let's dive into Titus 1.

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 In this first chapter, the main point is really that the elders of the church must be above reproach

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 so that they can teach sound doctrine and promote sound faith.

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 That's the main point of this first chapter.

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 The elders of the church must be above reproach so that they can teach sound doctrine and promote sound faith.

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 And we see three different profiles here in this chapter.

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 First is the profile of Paul and Titus in verses 1 to 4.

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 And then we see the profile of the elders, the qualifications for elders in verses 5 to 9.

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 And then third, we find the profile of the false teachers that are wreaking havoc in the church in Crete,

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 verses 10 to 16.

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 In verses 1 to 4, that's Paul's opening greeting where he introduces himself and Titus.

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 And first, Paul talks about who he is.

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 He says,

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 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 And then second, he describes why he was called to be a servant and apostle.

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 He says,

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 For the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth.

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 And then third, he describes what he does toward that end.

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 He says,

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 The preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God and Savior.

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 So we see who he is first.

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 That's what he addresses.

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 The word servant literally means slave.

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 Slave.

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 Obviously, that's not a complementary word.

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 It's not a complementary word in our context.

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 It wasn't a complementary word in their context as well either.

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 Yet Christians enthusiastically embraced that term, just as they embraced the word humility,

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 which was thought to be only to be associated with the lowly and the servants.

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 And that's because they believe that everyone is a slave in one sense or another.

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 They're either a slave to sin or a slave to righteousness, slave to God.

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 And then those who have come to faith in Jesus have been liberated from their slavery to sin.

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 And so now they are slaves of God.

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 And so that's what the reality that Paul's speaking of here that addresses in Romans 6.

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 He also describes himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ,

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 meaning that he is an authorized messenger of Jesus Christ,

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 someone who was sent out by Christ himself to bear witness to his saving message.

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 That's who Paul is.

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 And then he explains why he was called to be a servant of God and apostle of Christ Jesus.

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 Look with me at the end of verse 1 and down to verse 3.

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 For the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth,

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 which accords with godliness in the hope of eternal life,

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 which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began.

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 So this is Paul's purpose in ministry, right?

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 His purpose in ministry is to bring God's chosen people, the elect, to faith.

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 And this faith is not merely subjective, right?

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 But it's rooted in the objective truth content that he tells us,

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 the knowledge of the truth, right?

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 So it's not some anything that you believe, whatever you want to believe.

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 No, it's based on the knowledge of the truth,

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 and his goal is to bring them to the faith in that.

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 And the word truth is a key word throughout the pastoral epistles,

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 which include 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus.

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 And the truth refers to the truth of the gospel.

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 And Paul says,

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 For the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth,

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 which accords with godliness.

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 So not only is it a subjective faith based on an objective truth,

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 the knowledge of the truth,

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 it is evidenced in good works.

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 It's not just a theoretical.

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 It's not abstract, but it's a truth.

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 It's a faith that leads to godliness.

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 It accords with godliness.

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 It produces godliness.

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 And so that's really the main difference between Paul and the false teachers who are in Crete.

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 Paul doesn't separate the good works from faith.

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 He believes that godliness is a necessary implication of a true faith.

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 And he says this godliness is cultivated in the hope of eternal life.

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 We see again the two of the three famous Pauline triads, right?

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 The faith, hope, and love.

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 We see faith and hope here.

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 The goal of Paul's ministry to bring God's elect to faith in hope of eternal life, right?

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 So the Christian life is characterized by faith and hope,

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 believing in what we do not see and hoping in what we do not yet have.

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 But Paul, lest we think that this hope is something in vain or something that's just in our imagination,

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 he tells us that we should have confidence in this hope because he says this,

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 God who never lies promised before the ages began.

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 So not only was this promised by God, it was promised by a God who never lies.

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 And not only was it promised by a God who never lies, it has now been revealed to us as well.

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 He follows it up by saying this in verse 3,

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 And at the proper time, this was manifested in his word.

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 It was revealed in his word.

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 God's salvation plan, which was from before the ages began, in eternity past,

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 has now in the proper time, in the time of Jesus, has been revealed to us.

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 So because of that, we could have assurance in our faith and assurance in our hope

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 because this was given, promised by a God who never lies,

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 but also revealed in our day, in the days of Christ to us.

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 And then, having told us about who he is and why he was called,

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 he tells us what it is that he does.

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 He says in verse 3,

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 He says that God's word now goes forth through the preaching with which I have been entrusted

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 by the command of God our Savior.

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 So Christian preaching involves the proclamation of the word,

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 which, again, is the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ,

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 his saving message that he died for our sins and rose again.

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 And the word preach comes from a Greek word that means herald, right?

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 So herald is a messenger, right, who relays someone else's message faithfully, right?

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 He serves as an ambassador of sorts and represents the person he sent,

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 the message that he bears.

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 And as such, the herald has no right to speak on his own authority

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 or to say whatever he wants.

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 He must preach.

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 He must herald.

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 He must announce what his sender, what his source authorized him to say.

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 And so that's the role of preaching.

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 Paul says, I preach what I've been told to preach.

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 I relay what I've been given, entrusted by God.

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 So that's why it's called an entrustment.

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 He was entrusted by the command of God.

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 And then Paul addresses Titus, who is a recipient of this letter.

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 Titus, this is an interesting tidbit that connects us to 1 Corinthians,

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 which we just finished.

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 But you know how Paul was sending Timothy to Corinthians to address all their problems, right?

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 So it turns out that that trip didn't go that well.

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 And so Paul has to do an emergency visit to Corinth because of it.

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 And that trip doesn't go well either.

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 And as a last resort, what he does,

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 and we know this from piecing together the information we have in Acts and other places.

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 And so the last resort, what he does, he sends Titus.

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 And so Titus seems to have been a man of extraordinary character and grace,

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 just able to work in situations like this.

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 And so that's the Titus we're talking about.

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 And he's facing a lot of opposition in Crete.

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 And he describes him this way.

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 Verse 4,

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 To Titus, my true child in a common faith,

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 grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

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 So Paul is ministering faithfully for the sake of the faith of God's elect

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 in their knowledge of the truth.

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 And Titus stands squarely in line with that heritage.

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 He's of the common faith.

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 And he is a true child.

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 And because of that, he says,

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 Grace be with you.

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 Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

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 Even though this is directly addressed to Titus,

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 it's a letter that was intended to be read by the whole church.

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 And we know that because at the end of the letter, in the closing greeting,

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 Paul says,

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 Grace be with you all.

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 Chapter 3, verse 15.

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 So Paul's writing this to Titus,

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 but as a way of kind of authorizing him

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 and making his ministry legitimate among the churches in Crete.

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 So he wants this to be read.

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 And other people to see that Paul is entrusting this task to Titus.

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 And that Titus has been charged by the Apostle Paul

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 to appoint leaders in these churches.

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 And that's why Paul greets him in a way.

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 So that's the profile of Paul and Titus.

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 And he says,

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 Grace and peace.

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 I mean,

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 this comes up quite a bit, doesn't it,

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 as we've been going through the New Testament epistles.

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 But once again,

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 grace,

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 if grace is God's favor toward us,

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 his love,

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 the mercy from which all his goodness toward us is expressed,

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 it's his unmerited favor,

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 with which God saves us from sin and death.

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 But if grace is the reason why God saves us,

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 peace is the result of that saving work, right?

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 It's to be a peace with God.

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 We have harmony with him.

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 We're reconciled to him.

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 And through that,

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 we have peace with one another.

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 So he greets them with that grace and peace.

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 That's the profile of Paul and Titus.

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 Next,

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 we see the profile of the elders

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 that Titus is supposed to appoint in the church.

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 Paul writes in verse 5,

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 This is why I left you in Crete,

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 so that you might put what remained into order

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 and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.

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 On one of his missionary journeys,

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 Paul had left Titus as his representative

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 with the church in Crete.

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 And the goal of this was to ensure doctrinal fidelity,

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 so that to sound doctrine.

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 But the means of ensuring sound doctrine

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 was appointing faithful leaders.

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 So that's what he was appointed to.

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 He was called to appoint elders in every town.

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 And we see that throughout Acts,

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 Acts 14, 23,

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 it was Paul's custom to appoint elders

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 in every church that he planted.

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 And the fact that Titus is appointing elders

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 for the first time

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 shows that this is a relatively young church.

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 That's probably also why,

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 if you look at the parallel passage in 1 Timothy 3,

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 which gives qualifications for elders,

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 like here in Titus 1,

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 there's one notable difference.

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 In Timothy 3, Paul tells them

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 that an elder must not be a recent convert

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 lest he become puffed up with pride

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 and fall to the judgment of the devil.

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 But that qualification is not given here in Titus,

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 interestingly enough.

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 And it may be because there was no one

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 who had been Christian for a very long time

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 because it's a young church that Paul just planted.

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 We don't know that for sure,

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 but that may explain that discrepancy.

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 And so what is an elder?

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 Who is an elder?

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 Right?

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 It's not a reference to the elderly,

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 even though sometimes the same word

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 is used in that way in the Bible,

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 because what's the qualification being an elderly?

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 You just have to be old, right?

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 So, I mean, so if that's the case,

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 then that would be the only qualification he gives.

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 But he lists other qualifications.

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 That's how we know that by an elder,

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 he doesn't mean elderly, right?

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 So he lists qualifications.

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 So an elder is a man who occupies

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 the office of elder in the church,

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 in a leadership position in the church.

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 And in the Old Testament,

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 towns were ruled and judged by their elders,

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 who were heads of their own respective households

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 that gathered at city centers and city gates

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 to deliberate issues that faced the entire community.

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 And they led in that capacity.

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 By the New Testament period,

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 men who were leaders in the local synagogues

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 were called elders.

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 And Paul seems to be adopting that terminology

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 and appointing and using elders

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 in the context of the local church.

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 And elders are also referred to as overseers.

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 If you look at verse 7,

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 that term is used,

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 those two terms are used interchangeably.

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 I'll just mention this.

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 It's because you've probably heard of it.

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 So the term presbyter,

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 it's the same word as elder.

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 Term bishop or the episcopate,

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 those are all the same word as overseer.

00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:52.659
 So some of these come from,

00:13:52.740 --> 00:13:54.539
 and you've probably heard it in different church contexts.

00:13:55.480 --> 00:13:58.860
 But these are not different roles

00:13:58.860 --> 00:14:00.299
 within a church hierarchy.

00:14:00.500 --> 00:14:02.139
 They're all interchangeable terms.

00:14:02.740 --> 00:14:06.460
 For example, the overseer, pastor, elder.

00:14:07.179 --> 00:14:09.240
 Pastor is really not a title that's given in the Bible.

00:14:09.379 --> 00:14:10.840
 It's really a function of an elder.

00:14:10.840 --> 00:14:13.139
 And I can show you,

00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.680
 give you an example from Acts 20,

00:14:14.860 --> 00:14:16.440
 17 to 28.

00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.220
 I skipped a whole bunch in the middle.

00:14:18.759 --> 00:14:19.399
 But it says,

00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:20.840
 Now from Miletus,

00:14:21.180 --> 00:14:22.580
 Paul sent to Ephesus

00:14:22.580 --> 00:14:25.320
 and called the elders of the church

00:14:25.320 --> 00:14:26.399
 to come to him.

00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:28.120
 And when they came to him,

00:14:28.160 --> 00:14:28.840
 he said to them,

00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.980
 Pay careful attention to yourselves

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.580
 and to all the flock

00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:36.019
 in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.639
 to care for the church of God,

00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:40.560
 which he obtained with his own blood.

00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.719
 So you see all three terminologies used there.

00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.399
 He's addressing the elders of the church in Ephesus.

00:14:46.759 --> 00:14:48.279
 He calls them overseers.

00:14:48.479 --> 00:14:50.399
 And he tells them to care for the flock,

00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.799
 which is pastoring language,

00:14:51.979 --> 00:14:52.879
 shepherding language.

00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:55.079
 So it's all the same office.

00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:57.759
 It's one office that has many people in it.

00:14:58.699 --> 00:15:00.899
 And note also that the word elder

00:15:00.899 --> 00:15:02.399
 is in the plural form.

00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:04.939
 Whenever the Bible speaks

00:15:04.939 --> 00:15:07.239
 of instituting leadership structure in the church,

00:15:07.279 --> 00:15:09.619
 it speaks of appointing elders in the plural.

00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:12.079
 Except when it's talking about

00:15:12.079 --> 00:15:13.500
 a singular office of elder.

00:15:13.779 --> 00:15:15.519
 So office of overseer, right?

00:15:16.219 --> 00:15:17.579
 And so the plurality of elders

00:15:17.579 --> 00:15:19.459
 provides an important check

00:15:19.459 --> 00:15:23.059
 to a single elder's power or dominance.

00:15:23.399 --> 00:15:25.139
 It provides accountability.

00:15:25.819 --> 00:15:27.439
 And it creates a ruling body

00:15:27.439 --> 00:15:29.500
 that is wiser than its constituent parts.

00:15:29.959 --> 00:15:32.419
 And that's why from the beginning of our church,

00:15:32.479 --> 00:15:33.959
 we've had a plurality of elders.

00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:35.460
 Even though as a church plant,

00:15:35.700 --> 00:15:39.440
 we don't have our own elders, all of them.

00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:42.540
 But we have two other elders,

00:15:43.040 --> 00:15:44.220
 Dan Rocha and Paul Buckley,

00:15:44.280 --> 00:15:45.900
 whom we're borrowing from a sister church

00:15:45.900 --> 00:15:46.820
 in Massachusetts.

00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:49.540
 I've been with them on a regular basis

00:15:49.540 --> 00:15:50.600
 at least once a month

00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:53.080
 to deliberate different things about the church.

00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:55.139
 And then, of course, for this reason,

00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:56.720
 we also have our own leadership team,

00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:59.240
 which includes me

00:15:59.240 --> 00:16:00.539
 and three pastoral,

00:16:00.779 --> 00:16:01.720
 four pastoral interns

00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:05.159
 who we are working through training

00:16:05.159 --> 00:16:06.740
 so that we can be equipped

00:16:06.740 --> 00:16:10.100
 and assessed for eldership.

00:16:11.019 --> 00:16:11.860
 And so that's the goal.

00:16:11.960 --> 00:16:13.139
 That's the reason for this.

00:16:13.240 --> 00:16:14.600
 The reason why these teams are important

00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:16.360
 is because of the plurality of elders

00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.220
 that's taught in scripture.

00:16:18.139 --> 00:16:19.620
 So that's who the elders are.

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:21.340
 Now let's look at the qualifications

00:16:21.340 --> 00:16:22.980
 for elders that Paul delineates

00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:24.000
 in verses six to nine.

00:16:24.720 --> 00:16:25.879
 The first requirement

00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:28.419
 is that they be above reproach, right?

00:16:29.419 --> 00:16:31.179
 So right away, there you go.

00:16:31.299 --> 00:16:33.419
 Okay, Sean cannot be a pastor anymore, right?

00:16:33.860 --> 00:16:34.719
 So what does it mean

00:16:34.719 --> 00:16:36.559
 that he has to be above reproach?

00:16:37.360 --> 00:16:38.759
 And this doesn't mean

00:16:38.759 --> 00:16:41.139
 that an elder has to be above criticism.

00:16:42.479 --> 00:16:43.399
 In that case,

00:16:43.500 --> 00:16:45.360
 no one would be qualified to be an elder,

00:16:45.559 --> 00:16:46.500
 not even Jesus.

00:16:47.579 --> 00:16:48.360
 And in fact,

00:16:48.439 --> 00:16:49.439
 Apostle Paul himself

00:16:49.439 --> 00:16:51.179
 had many critics and naysayers.

00:16:51.519 --> 00:16:53.959
 We saw that in 1 Corinthians 8 to 11.

00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:55.539
 Paul was accused

00:16:55.539 --> 00:16:57.439
 of being inconsistent in his stance

00:16:57.440 --> 00:16:59.420
 regarding food sacrificed to idols.

00:16:59.940 --> 00:17:01.460
 In 2 Corinthians 10.10,

00:17:01.600 --> 00:17:03.300
 Paul specifically quotes someone

00:17:03.300 --> 00:17:04.080
 who says of him,

00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:06.279
 his letters are weighty and strong,

00:17:06.519 --> 00:17:08.360
 but his bodily presence is weak

00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:10.620
 and his speech is of no account.

00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:12.299
 This is what someone else said about Paul.

00:17:12.460 --> 00:17:12.779
 So I mean,

00:17:13.120 --> 00:17:15.200
 he's got a pretty vocal critic there.

00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:18.279
 And in Acts 21, 27 to 36,

00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:19.799
 some of the Jews accused Paul

00:17:19.799 --> 00:17:20.759
 of breaking God's law

00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:22.039
 and leading people away from God.

00:17:22.460 --> 00:17:24.279
 So certainly he was not without his critics.

00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:25.220
 And not only him,

00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:27.799
 Jesus himself had many critics, right?

00:17:27.859 --> 00:17:29.440
 In Luke 7.34,

00:17:29.899 --> 00:17:31.440
 Jesus is accused of being a glutton

00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:32.440
 and a drunkard,

00:17:32.519 --> 00:17:34.359
 which specifically would disqualify him

00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:34.980
 from being an elder

00:17:34.980 --> 00:17:36.819
 and consorting with sinners.

00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:39.180
 He's accused of being a false prophet

00:17:39.180 --> 00:17:40.799
 in Luke 7.39,

00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:43.420
 of being a Sabbath breaker in Luke 6,

00:17:43.579 --> 00:17:46.059
 of being insane in Mark 3.21,

00:17:46.500 --> 00:17:48.440
 of being demon possessed in John 10.

00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:51.259
 So, and of blaspheming in Matthew 26.

00:17:51.399 --> 00:17:53.079
 I don't know how you blaspheme yourself, right?

00:17:53.079 --> 00:17:53.799
 He's a son of God.

00:17:53.879 --> 00:17:54.500
 But that's,

00:17:54.619 --> 00:17:56.839
 he's accused of all kinds of things.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:18:00.119
 And so his life was full of controversy

00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:00.960
 and scandal,

00:18:01.159 --> 00:18:03.480
 but yet he was blameless

00:18:03.480 --> 00:18:05.419
 and sinless.

00:18:06.019 --> 00:18:08.240
 Therefore, he was eminently above reproach.

00:18:09.139 --> 00:18:10.359
 So what does it mean then

00:18:10.359 --> 00:18:11.579
 to be above reproach, right?

00:18:11.619 --> 00:18:13.059
 So the qualification above reproach

00:18:13.059 --> 00:18:14.619
 cannot mean above criticism.

00:18:15.259 --> 00:18:16.199
 What it means is,

00:18:16.379 --> 00:18:18.480
 because if people want to find dirt on you,

00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:18.919
 they will.

00:18:19.339 --> 00:18:19.859
 They can.

00:18:19.859 --> 00:18:23.719
 And, but it doesn't mean that,

00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:25.740
 because we're all imperfect and sinful.

00:18:26.199 --> 00:18:27.559
 What it means is that an elder

00:18:27.559 --> 00:18:30.259
 must possess a general high character

00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:33.240
 so that he is not accused of hypocrisy

00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.359
 and bringing shame to the gospel.

00:18:37.119 --> 00:18:39.899
 Paul actually goes on to unpack what this means.

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.879
 So above reproach is really less

00:18:41.879 --> 00:18:43.599
 one of the qualifications in the list.

00:18:43.699 --> 00:18:44.740
 It's more of a summary

00:18:44.740 --> 00:18:46.740
 of all the qualifications in the list.

00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.700
 And we know that because he repeats

00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.960
 that exact phrase again

00:18:49.960 --> 00:18:51.839
 at a critical juncture in this passage.

00:18:52.200 --> 00:18:53.500
 So in verse 6 and verse 7.

00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:54.380
 So in verse 6,

00:18:54.720 --> 00:18:56.900
 Paul says that elders must be above reproach.

00:18:57.160 --> 00:18:59.359
 And then he explains what this means

00:18:59.359 --> 00:19:01.940
 with regard to his family life in verse 6.

00:19:02.339 --> 00:19:03.480
 And then in verse 7,

00:19:03.539 --> 00:19:05.000
 he repeats that an overseer

00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.500
 must be above reproach.

00:19:06.819 --> 00:19:08.579
 And then he proceeds to explain

00:19:08.579 --> 00:19:09.740
 what this means with regard

00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.839
 to his personal life,

00:19:10.900 --> 00:19:11.720
 his personal character.

00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:13.240
 So above reproach is really

00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.400
 a summary of all of that.

00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:16.120
 So let's look at the qualifications

00:19:16.120 --> 00:19:16.740
 in verse 6.

00:19:16.840 --> 00:19:17.620
 In order for an elder

00:19:17.620 --> 00:19:18.860
 to be considered above reproach

00:19:18.860 --> 00:19:20.019
 regarding his family life,

00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:22.500
 he must be the husband of one wife

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:24.460
 and his children are believers

00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.920
 and not open to the charge of debauchery

00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:28.040
 or insubordination.

00:19:29.840 --> 00:19:32.980
 First, he must be the husband of one wife.

00:19:33.019 --> 00:19:35.360
 So this verse is so difficult.

00:19:36.060 --> 00:19:38.259
 I spent hours and hours

00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.680
 just contemplating this verse,

00:19:39.800 --> 00:19:41.060
 thinking about the implications

00:19:41.060 --> 00:19:41.960
 and figuring it out.

00:19:41.960 --> 00:19:43.140
 So I'm going to tell you

00:19:43.140 --> 00:19:45.079
 what I arrived at,

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.420
 but just so you know,

00:19:46.500 --> 00:19:49.279
 this is, I'm not sure.

00:19:49.680 --> 00:19:50.480
 I'm going to teach you

00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.160
 what I think it means.

00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.019
 Verse 6.

00:19:52.799 --> 00:19:54.240
 So the husband of one wife,

00:19:54.340 --> 00:19:55.819
 literally the phrase in the Greek

00:19:55.819 --> 00:19:57.579
 is one woman man.

00:19:59.600 --> 00:20:01.720
 An elder must be a one woman man.

00:20:02.180 --> 00:20:03.480
 The phrase assumes

00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:04.860
 that an elder would be a man

00:20:04.860 --> 00:20:06.500
 that's consistent with the teaching

00:20:06.500 --> 00:20:08.299
 of 1 Timothy 2, 11 to 15,

00:20:08.460 --> 00:20:09.319
 1 Corinthians 14,

00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.140
 which we talked about,

00:20:10.140 --> 00:20:11.640
 which calls mature Christian men

00:20:11.640 --> 00:20:13.960
 to the office of elder

00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:15.160
 and to lead the family of God

00:20:15.160 --> 00:20:16.820
 in the same way God calls other men

00:20:16.820 --> 00:20:17.759
 to be heads of households

00:20:17.759 --> 00:20:18.900
 within their respective families.

00:20:19.540 --> 00:20:20.880
 But this does not mean,

00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:21.420
 I don't think,

00:20:21.480 --> 00:20:23.800
 that an elder has to be a married man

00:20:23.800 --> 00:20:25.440
 in the same way

00:20:25.440 --> 00:20:26.540
 the mention of children

00:20:26.540 --> 00:20:27.520
 doesn't mean that an elder

00:20:27.520 --> 00:20:29.200
 has to have children, right?

00:20:29.780 --> 00:20:31.259
 So Paul himself,

00:20:31.380 --> 00:20:31.800
 like Jesus,

00:20:31.880 --> 00:20:32.500
 was single,

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:34.440
 and Paul clearly teaches

00:20:34.440 --> 00:20:36.380
 that being single

00:20:36.380 --> 00:20:38.120
 so that we can be

00:20:38.120 --> 00:20:39.680
 singularly devoted to God

00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:41.299
 is better than being married

00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:42.279
 in 1 Corinthians 7.

00:20:42.900 --> 00:20:44.120
 So it doesn't make sense

00:20:44.120 --> 00:20:45.740
 for Paul to then contradict himself

00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:47.320
 and say that an elder of the church

00:20:47.320 --> 00:20:48.180
 must be married.

00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.400
 Rather,

00:20:49.580 --> 00:20:50.840
 Paul is giving these qualifications

00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:52.160
 in the case that a man

00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:53.279
 in question is married.

00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:55.120
 And if the elder canon is married,

00:20:55.120 --> 00:20:56.519
 it is necessary that he be

00:20:56.519 --> 00:20:58.880
 a one woman man.

00:20:59.720 --> 00:21:01.519
 Several different interpretations

00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:03.619
 have been proposed for this phrase

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.440
 throughout church history.

00:21:05.259 --> 00:21:06.980
 And throughout church history,

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.619
 there have been proponents

00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:10.059
 for all three of these views,

00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:11.460
 which is why the interpretation

00:21:11.460 --> 00:21:12.339
 is so difficult.

00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:16.079
 But one possibility

00:21:16.079 --> 00:21:17.460
 is that the one man,

00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.440
 the one woman man,

00:21:18.500 --> 00:21:20.539
 it refers to the fact

00:21:20.539 --> 00:21:22.259
 that the man must be monogamous

00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:24.299
 rather than polygamous, right?

00:21:25.039 --> 00:21:27.900
 There are examples,

00:21:28.180 --> 00:21:28.420
 historically,

00:21:28.579 --> 00:21:30.539
 of Jews being polygamous, right?

00:21:30.539 --> 00:21:32.099
 And so this may be

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:33.500
 to ensure that that doesn't happen.

00:21:33.599 --> 00:21:34.859
 An elder has to be married

00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:35.639
 to only one woman

00:21:35.639 --> 00:21:37.899
 at the time.

00:21:38.539 --> 00:21:40.460
 And the second possibility

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.200
 is that the man

00:21:41.200 --> 00:21:42.500
 had to have been married

00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.500
 only once.

00:21:44.420 --> 00:21:46.259
 So some churches today

00:21:46.259 --> 00:21:47.359
 interpret it this way.

00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:48.759
 So he could not have married

00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:49.619
 a second time.

00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:50.920
 So he could not have divorced

00:21:50.920 --> 00:21:51.460
 and remarried.

00:21:51.559 --> 00:21:52.779
 And he could not have been

00:21:52.779 --> 00:21:54.079
 widowed and remarried.

00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:55.579
 Some people think

00:21:55.579 --> 00:21:56.940
 it only applies to divorce,

00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:58.080
 but not necessarily

00:21:58.080 --> 00:22:01.259
 to widowhood.

00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:03.340
 Third possibility

00:22:03.340 --> 00:22:03.980
 is that the man

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.039
 must be faithful

00:22:05.039 --> 00:22:06.420
 to his one wife,

00:22:06.620 --> 00:22:08.200
 to have eyes

00:22:08.200 --> 00:22:09.620
 for one woman only.

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:14.740
 So this is really hard.

00:22:15.000 --> 00:22:15.759
 But I think

00:22:15.759 --> 00:22:18.259
 one really helpful clue

00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.940
 is in 1 Timothy 5.9.

00:22:19.940 --> 00:22:21.700
 It says,

00:22:22.299 --> 00:22:22.920
 it's speaking,

00:22:23.100 --> 00:22:23.720
 Paul's speaking

00:22:23.720 --> 00:22:25.539
 of the role of widows.

00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:27.880
 So there are widows

00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:29.140
 who in the church

00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:30.440
 who give themselves

00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:30.960
 completely,

00:22:31.140 --> 00:22:31.799
 fully to the service

00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.220
 of the church

00:22:32.220 --> 00:22:33.120
 and remain widows.

00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.400
 And those widows

00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:36.080
 were eligible

00:22:36.080 --> 00:22:37.340
 to receive full,

00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:37.759
 basically,

00:22:37.880 --> 00:22:38.360
 life support

00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:38.980
 from the church.

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.460
 And so Paul's talking

00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:41.140
 about those widows

00:22:41.140 --> 00:22:41.700
 and he says

00:22:41.700 --> 00:22:42.700
 that these widows

00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.920
 must be qualified.

00:22:44.080 --> 00:22:45.059
 And one of the qualifications

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.660
 is this.

00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:47.200
 Let a widow be enrolled

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.180
 if she is not

00:22:48.180 --> 00:22:49.880
 less than 60 years of age,

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.840
 having been the wife

00:22:51.840 --> 00:22:53.640
 of one husband.

00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:55.640
 The phrase is literally

00:22:55.640 --> 00:22:57.779
 one man woman.

00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:59.539
 It's the mirror opposite

00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.880
 of the phrase

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:02.819
 that was given to man.

00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.680
 So I think this is helpful

00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:06.720
 for a couple of reasons.

00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:10.019
 First,

00:23:10.319 --> 00:23:11.580
 while it is known

00:23:11.580 --> 00:23:13.220
 for men in the ancient world

00:23:13.220 --> 00:23:14.420
 to have been polygamists,

00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:15.559
 to have multiple wives,

00:23:15.559 --> 00:23:17.940
 it is not known

00:23:17.940 --> 00:23:18.700
 for women

00:23:18.700 --> 00:23:19.940
 to have had

00:23:19.940 --> 00:23:21.220
 multiple husbands.

00:23:21.419 --> 00:23:22.319
 So polyandry

00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:23.700
 is not attested

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:25.240
 in the Roman world.

00:23:25.440 --> 00:23:26.779
 So for that reason,

00:23:27.099 --> 00:23:27.700
 I don't think

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.240
 it's likely

00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.599
 that one man woman,

00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:30.740
 a widow had to be

00:23:30.740 --> 00:23:32.779
 had been a one man woman.

00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:33.759
 I don't think that means

00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:34.359
 she had to have

00:23:34.359 --> 00:23:35.339
 had only one husband

00:23:35.339 --> 00:23:35.940
 at a time

00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:38.179
 because there's no context

00:23:38.179 --> 00:23:38.599
 for a woman

00:23:38.599 --> 00:23:39.359
 having more than one husband.

00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:40.220
 So I don't think

00:23:40.220 --> 00:23:41.099
 that phrase refers

00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.740
 to polygamy.

00:23:43.039 --> 00:23:43.679
 So second,

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:46.360
 in 1 Timothy 3, 2, 12,

00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.259
 3, 2 and 12,

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:48.259
 and Titus 1, 6,

00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:48.900
 the qualifications

00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:49.660
 for elders,

00:23:50.140 --> 00:23:51.580
 the one woman man requirement

00:23:51.580 --> 00:23:52.080
 is given

00:23:52.080 --> 00:23:53.460
 in the present tense.

00:23:53.700 --> 00:23:55.440
 So he must be now,

00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.039
 presently,

00:23:56.200 --> 00:23:57.460
 a one woman man.

00:23:58.039 --> 00:23:59.440
 But then if you look

00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:01.740
 at 1 Timothy 5, 9,

00:24:01.940 --> 00:24:02.740
 when it's speaking

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.180
 of widows,

00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:03.680
 the requirement

00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:04.160
 is given

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.480
 in the perfect tense,

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:07.080
 having been

00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:08.840
 a one man woman.

00:24:08.840 --> 00:24:09.200
 Right?

00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:10.779
 And so the reason

00:24:10.779 --> 00:24:11.740
 for the change

00:24:11.740 --> 00:24:12.200
 in the tense,

00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:13.319
 I think it's because

00:24:13.319 --> 00:24:14.519
 we're talking about

00:24:14.519 --> 00:24:15.279
 widows who are,

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:15.900
 by definition,

00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:16.859
 no longer married.

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.200
 Right?

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.460
 And so I think

00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.240
 because of that,

00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:20.539
 that description,

00:24:20.819 --> 00:24:21.859
 being a one man woman

00:24:21.859 --> 00:24:22.880
 or a one woman man,

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:24.380
 most likely refers

00:24:24.380 --> 00:24:25.440
 to the present

00:24:25.440 --> 00:24:26.440
 state of things.

00:24:26.839 --> 00:24:26.859
 How,

00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:29.099
 when you are married

00:24:29.099 --> 00:24:30.180
 and not to,

00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:30.819
 perhaps,

00:24:31.099 --> 00:24:32.220
 not to the person's past,

00:24:32.279 --> 00:24:32.660
 for example,

00:24:32.819 --> 00:24:33.559
 of having never,

00:24:33.559 --> 00:24:34.740
 having never married twice

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.839
 or having never married,

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.180
 having never divorced

00:24:38.180 --> 00:24:38.500
 or remarried.

00:24:38.579 --> 00:24:39.079
 So I don't think

00:24:39.079 --> 00:24:39.480
 it's referring

00:24:39.480 --> 00:24:40.400
 to someone's past.

00:24:40.480 --> 00:24:41.200
 I think it's referring

00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.640
 to someone's present marriage.

00:24:42.740 --> 00:24:43.079
 I don't think

00:24:43.079 --> 00:24:44.460
 that's in view.

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.259
 So I don't think

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.720
 it means one woman,

00:24:47.839 --> 00:24:49.440
 man means only once married,

00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:50.420
 never having married twice.

00:24:50.500 --> 00:24:50.720
 I think,

00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.180
 I don't think

00:24:51.180 --> 00:24:52.860
 that's because of this context

00:24:52.860 --> 00:24:54.240
 in 1 Timothy 5, 9.

00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.500
 I think that's still possible,

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:57.140
 but I don't think

00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.940
 currently as of now,

00:24:57.980 --> 00:24:58.400
 I don't think

00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:58.980
 that's what it means.

00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.779
 And there's multiple reasons

00:25:01.779 --> 00:25:02.160
 for that.

00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:04.400
 I think that this expression

00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.180
 is really rare,

00:25:05.620 --> 00:25:06.680
 but it's mentioned

00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:07.779
 three times in scripture.

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.860
 And every time

00:25:08.859 --> 00:25:09.459
 it's mentioned,

00:25:09.639 --> 00:25:10.539
 Paul seems to assume

00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.599
 that everybody will know

00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:12.519
 what he's talking about.

00:25:13.079 --> 00:25:14.139
 So it seems to be

00:25:14.139 --> 00:25:15.159
 a pretty simple

00:25:15.159 --> 00:25:16.299
 and intuitive thing.

00:25:16.899 --> 00:25:18.319
 But if he were trying

00:25:18.319 --> 00:25:19.099
 to say that

00:25:19.099 --> 00:25:20.779
 an elder candidate

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.819
 should have been

00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.639
 only married once,

00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:24.299
 that opens up

00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:25.199
 a whole can of worms.

00:25:25.459 --> 00:25:26.019
 So it raises

00:25:26.019 --> 00:25:26.979
 a lot of questions.

00:25:27.139 --> 00:25:28.059
 So what does that mean?

00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:30.859
 So what if his wife died

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.799
 and then he remarried?

00:25:32.279 --> 00:25:32.799
 Is he still

00:25:32.799 --> 00:25:33.559
 a one-woman man?

00:25:33.699 --> 00:25:35.279
 What if he divorced

00:25:35.279 --> 00:25:36.359
 and then remarried?

00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:37.819
 Is he a one-woman man?

00:25:37.819 --> 00:25:38.639
 And what if he divorced

00:25:38.639 --> 00:25:39.139
 and remarried

00:25:39.139 --> 00:25:41.079
 and then his ex-wife died?

00:25:41.519 --> 00:25:42.179
 Then is he now

00:25:42.179 --> 00:25:42.799
 a one-woman man?

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:42.939
 Right?

00:25:43.019 --> 00:25:43.259
 So I mean,

00:25:43.339 --> 00:25:44.579
 all kinds of questions

00:25:44.579 --> 00:25:45.119
 he raises,

00:25:45.460 --> 00:25:46.639
 and I don't think

00:25:46.639 --> 00:25:47.579
 that kind of nuance

00:25:47.579 --> 00:25:48.240
 or complexity

00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.399
 is in Paul's view

00:25:49.399 --> 00:25:50.240
 because he seems

00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:51.159
 to assume that everybody

00:25:51.159 --> 00:25:51.539
 will know

00:25:51.539 --> 00:25:52.119
 what he's talking about.

00:25:52.159 --> 00:25:52.700
 So he just says

00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.839
 one-woman man,

00:25:54.299 --> 00:25:55.159
 and I think it's,

00:25:55.379 --> 00:25:56.179
 and so I think,

00:25:56.439 --> 00:25:57.779
 I don't think that's likely,

00:25:57.960 --> 00:25:58.659
 even though a lot of people

00:25:58.659 --> 00:25:59.319
 have held that view.

00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:00.539
 So I think

00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:01.779
 what it's most likely

00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.279
 to mean,

00:26:02.839 --> 00:26:04.119
 I'm not dogmatic

00:26:04.119 --> 00:26:04.639
 about this,

00:26:04.640 --> 00:26:05.480
 but I think it's most likely

00:26:05.480 --> 00:26:06.200
 to mean that

00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:07.900
 he must be faithful

00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:10.020
 to his own spouse,

00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:10.920
 one spouse.

00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.300
 I think that's

00:26:11.300 --> 00:26:12.160
 the most likely meaning.

00:26:13.060 --> 00:26:14.400
 It describes a man

00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:15.180
 whose family life

00:26:15.180 --> 00:26:15.720
 is characterized

00:26:15.720 --> 00:26:17.800
 by one woman only.

00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:20.360
 Just as the qualification

00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.700
 of having obedient children

00:26:21.700 --> 00:26:22.780
 applies to the man's

00:26:22.780 --> 00:26:23.820
 present family life,

00:26:24.040 --> 00:26:24.660
 I think the issue

00:26:24.660 --> 00:26:26.000
 of being a one-woman man

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.380
 applies to the man's

00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.480
 present marriage

00:26:28.480 --> 00:26:29.660
 and not to his past,

00:26:30.340 --> 00:26:31.280
 whether he had been

00:26:31.280 --> 00:26:31.960
 widowed or divorced

00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.480
 in the past.

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.660
 So while marital history

00:26:33.660 --> 00:26:35.059
 is of course relevant

00:26:35.059 --> 00:26:35.720
 for determining

00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.480
 the man's character,

00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:37.799
 that's not what is

00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:39.140
 primarily in view here.

00:26:39.440 --> 00:26:39.920
 That's not,

00:26:40.039 --> 00:26:40.740
 doesn't automatically

00:26:40.740 --> 00:26:41.360
 bar someone

00:26:41.360 --> 00:26:42.839
 from the eldership.

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:44.759
 But of course,

00:26:44.920 --> 00:26:47.539
 if the one-woman man

00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.539
 means that person

00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:49.779
 must be faithful

00:26:49.779 --> 00:26:51.079
 to his one spouse,

00:26:51.259 --> 00:26:52.279
 of course that excludes

00:26:52.279 --> 00:26:53.059
 polygamy as well.

00:26:53.319 --> 00:26:54.779
 So I think that's assumed.

00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.200
 And in addition

00:26:57.200 --> 00:26:58.420
 to being faithful

00:26:58.420 --> 00:26:59.079
 to his wife,

00:26:59.640 --> 00:27:00.299
 Paul continues

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:00.839
 in verse 6,

00:27:00.920 --> 00:27:01.559
 his children

00:27:01.559 --> 00:27:02.519
 must be believers

00:27:02.519 --> 00:27:03.740
 and not open

00:27:03.740 --> 00:27:04.440
 to the charge

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:05.039
 of debauchery

00:27:05.039 --> 00:27:05.980
 or insubordination.

00:27:06.859 --> 00:27:07.839
 This is another

00:27:07.839 --> 00:27:09.119
 difficulty about this verse.

00:27:12.419 --> 00:27:13.299
 What's difficult

00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:14.579
 is that the parents

00:27:14.579 --> 00:27:15.639
 really don't have control

00:27:15.639 --> 00:27:16.539
 over whether their children

00:27:16.539 --> 00:27:17.139
 are going to be saved

00:27:17.139 --> 00:27:17.659
 or not, right?

00:27:18.359 --> 00:27:18.859
 I mean,

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.940
 we can do all that we can

00:27:19.940 --> 00:27:20.779
 to raise them up

00:27:20.779 --> 00:27:21.159
 in the discipline

00:27:21.159 --> 00:27:21.859
 and instruction of the Lord,

00:27:21.919 --> 00:27:22.839
 but ultimately salvation

00:27:22.839 --> 00:27:23.720
 comes from the Lord.

00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:25.700
 So how can the father

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:26.960
 be held accountable

00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:27.619
 for this

00:27:27.619 --> 00:27:29.259
 and punished for this

00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:30.059
 for not being able to?

00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.879
 So that's the reason

00:27:31.879 --> 00:27:32.720
 why it's difficult.

00:27:33.139 --> 00:27:33.980
 But the word

00:27:33.980 --> 00:27:36.399
 believers

00:27:36.399 --> 00:27:38.059
 can also be translated

00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.899
 as faithful.

00:27:39.599 --> 00:27:40.099
 And actually,

00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:41.000
 the same word

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:41.919
 in the exact same form

00:27:41.919 --> 00:27:42.740
 is often translated

00:27:42.740 --> 00:27:43.339
 as faithful

00:27:43.339 --> 00:27:44.079
 throughout the Bible.

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.240
 So those are

00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:46.099
 the two main options.

00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:47.339
 I think it's possible

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:48.599
 either one is right.

00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.259
 If it's referring

00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:50.960
 to them having

00:27:50.960 --> 00:27:51.639
 to be believers,

00:27:52.099 --> 00:27:53.039
 even if they have

00:27:53.039 --> 00:27:53.879
 no control of it,

00:27:54.059 --> 00:27:54.740
 the scripture

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.539
 could be teaching us

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:55.879
 that, well,

00:27:56.099 --> 00:27:57.240
 even if you're not

00:27:57.240 --> 00:27:58.079
 ultimately responsible

00:27:58.079 --> 00:27:58.699
 for it,

00:27:58.939 --> 00:27:59.699
 if your children

00:27:59.699 --> 00:28:00.419
 are not believers,

00:28:00.659 --> 00:28:02.240
 then it brings reproach

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:02.859
 to the gospel.

00:28:03.119 --> 00:28:03.659
 Like, hey,

00:28:03.720 --> 00:28:04.279
 here's a man

00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:05.099
 who preaches the gospel,

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:05.879
 here's a pastor,

00:28:06.159 --> 00:28:07.079
 his children don't even

00:28:07.079 --> 00:28:07.899
 believe what he teaches,

00:28:08.059 --> 00:28:08.240
 right?

00:28:08.579 --> 00:28:09.699
 So that could be

00:28:09.699 --> 00:28:10.339
 what that means.

00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.639
 Or it could mean

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.119
 that the children

00:28:12.119 --> 00:28:13.179
 have to be faithful.

00:28:13.699 --> 00:28:15.119
 My personal preference

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.960
 is that that's,

00:28:16.099 --> 00:28:17.220
 my best interpretation,

00:28:17.419 --> 00:28:17.879
 it means that

00:28:17.879 --> 00:28:19.059
 they should be faithful

00:28:19.059 --> 00:28:20.460
 or trustworthy.

00:28:20.679 --> 00:28:21.059
 And the reason

00:28:21.059 --> 00:28:21.740
 why I think that

00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.720
 is because the same word

00:28:22.720 --> 00:28:23.759
 is used two more times

00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:24.299
 in Titus,

00:28:24.299 --> 00:28:25.639
 and in both times

00:28:25.639 --> 00:28:26.440
 it refers to

00:28:26.440 --> 00:28:27.220
 being trustworthy,

00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.319
 not being believers.

00:28:28.720 --> 00:28:29.240
 It refers to

00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.399
 a trustworthy word

00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:31.399
 in chapter 1,

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:31.899
 verse 9.

00:28:32.139 --> 00:28:32.899
 It refers to

00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:34.200
 a trustworthy saying

00:28:34.200 --> 00:28:35.019
 in chapter 3,

00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.519
 verse 8.

00:28:36.039 --> 00:28:36.859
 And then secondly,

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.859
 if you look at

00:28:37.859 --> 00:28:38.379
 the parallel

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.500
 in 1 Timothy 3,

00:28:39.579 --> 00:28:39.859
 4,

00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:40.619
 it says this,

00:28:41.659 --> 00:28:42.519
 he must manage

00:28:42.519 --> 00:28:43.960
 his own household well

00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:45.379
 with all dignity

00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.639
 keeping his children

00:28:46.639 --> 00:28:47.539
 submissive,

00:28:47.680 --> 00:28:47.859
 right?

00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:48.839
 So again,

00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.980
 in that parallel context

00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:51.759
 in 1 Timothy 3,

00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.059
 it doesn't mention

00:28:53.059 --> 00:28:53.799
 anything about

00:28:53.799 --> 00:28:55.000
 them having to be believers,

00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.500
 having to have been saved

00:28:56.500 --> 00:28:57.139
 and being Christians.

00:28:57.460 --> 00:28:58.180
 It only talks about

00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.019
 them being submissive.

00:28:59.159 --> 00:29:00.419
 So if that's the case

00:29:00.419 --> 00:29:01.700
 and that's an accurate parallel,

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.419
 then I think here

00:29:02.419 --> 00:29:03.399
 it's referring to the fact

00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:04.079
 that your children

00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:05.220
 should be reliable.

00:29:05.700 --> 00:29:06.319
 They should be

00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:07.599
 of trustworthy character.

00:29:08.139 --> 00:29:09.519
 And what that looks like

00:29:09.519 --> 00:29:09.919
 is this,

00:29:09.960 --> 00:29:11.099
 they should not be open

00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.539
 to the charge of debauchery

00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.579
 or insubordination.

00:29:13.799 --> 00:29:15.139
 I think that's most likely

00:29:15.139 --> 00:29:15.879
 what this passage

00:29:15.879 --> 00:29:16.460
 is referring to.

00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:18.639
 Debauchery refers to

00:29:18.639 --> 00:29:19.680
 drunkenness, of course,

00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.460
 and wild living.

00:29:22.339 --> 00:29:22.819
 Insubordination

00:29:22.819 --> 00:29:23.440
 refers to

00:29:23.440 --> 00:29:24.460
 persistent rebellion

00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:25.360
 and disobedience.

00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.000
 Whether

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:29.759
 the word

00:29:29.759 --> 00:29:30.340
 should be translated

00:29:30.340 --> 00:29:31.200
 faith for all

00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:31.960
 or believers,

00:29:32.200 --> 00:29:32.960
 this passage

00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:33.660
 shows clearly

00:29:33.660 --> 00:29:34.740
 that it's important

00:29:34.740 --> 00:29:36.240
 to assess

00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:37.160
 the man's

00:29:37.160 --> 00:29:38.140
 family life,

00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:39.080
 that he has to have

00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:40.160
 been proven faithful

00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:40.920
 in his family life

00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.559
 for him to become

00:29:41.559 --> 00:29:42.000
 an elder.

00:29:43.380 --> 00:29:43.400
 And

00:29:43.400 --> 00:29:47.039
 this is referring

00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:47.860
 to children

00:29:47.860 --> 00:29:48.440
 who are still

00:29:48.440 --> 00:29:49.799
 under the father's authority,

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.779
 so it wouldn't apply

00:29:50.779 --> 00:29:51.559
 to grown children

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:52.000
 who are out

00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.440
 of the house

00:29:52.440 --> 00:29:53.599
 because they're

00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:54.279
 called children

00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.339
 and

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:56.319
 they're called

00:29:56.319 --> 00:29:57.099
 to be subordinate.

00:29:58.019 --> 00:29:58.039
 And

00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:59.879
 the rationale

00:29:59.879 --> 00:30:00.980
 behind the qualification

00:30:00.980 --> 00:30:01.639
 is this.

00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.700
 In 1 Timothy 3,

00:30:02.779 --> 00:30:03.259
 4 to 5,

00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:03.599
 it says,

00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.000
 he must manage

00:30:05.000 --> 00:30:05.720
 his own household

00:30:05.720 --> 00:30:06.899
 well with all dignity,

00:30:07.059 --> 00:30:07.700
 keeping his children

00:30:07.700 --> 00:30:08.399
 submissive,

00:30:08.400 --> 00:30:10.400
 for if someone

00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:11.180
 does not know

00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:11.900
 how to manage

00:30:11.900 --> 00:30:12.960
 his own household,

00:30:13.160 --> 00:30:14.580
 how will he care

00:30:14.580 --> 00:30:15.940
 for God's church?

00:30:16.060 --> 00:30:16.800
 That's the rationale,

00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:17.300
 right?

00:30:18.019 --> 00:30:18.720
 It's the,

00:30:18.940 --> 00:30:19.940
 a married elder

00:30:19.940 --> 00:30:20.540
 is called

00:30:20.540 --> 00:30:22.060
 to lead two families,

00:30:22.360 --> 00:30:23.120
 his family

00:30:23.120 --> 00:30:24.400
 and God's family,

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.560
 and the former

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:26.640
 functions as

00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:27.540
 the testing ground

00:30:27.540 --> 00:30:28.300
 for the latter,

00:30:28.460 --> 00:30:29.140
 whether he can serve

00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.820
 in the latter ground

00:30:29.820 --> 00:30:30.220
 or not.

00:30:30.900 --> 00:30:32.259
 4th century pastor

00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.160
 John Chrysostom

00:30:33.160 --> 00:30:33.960
 puts it this way,

00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:35.800
 I don't have the quote

00:30:35.800 --> 00:30:36.140
 for you,

00:30:36.180 --> 00:30:36.340
 sorry,

00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.859
 we should observe

00:30:37.859 --> 00:30:38.720
 what care

00:30:38.720 --> 00:30:39.539
 he bestows

00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:40.500
 upon children.

00:30:41.779 --> 00:30:42.399
 For he

00:30:42.399 --> 00:30:43.639
 who cannot be

00:30:43.639 --> 00:30:44.179
 the instructor

00:30:44.179 --> 00:30:45.059
 of his own children,

00:30:45.240 --> 00:30:45.939
 how should he be

00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:46.879
 the teacher of others?

00:30:47.339 --> 00:30:47.899
 If he cannot

00:30:47.899 --> 00:30:48.659
 keep in order

00:30:48.659 --> 00:30:49.459
 those whom

00:30:49.459 --> 00:30:50.579
 he has had with,

00:30:52.279 --> 00:30:53.839
 if he cannot

00:30:53.839 --> 00:30:54.579
 keep in order

00:30:54.579 --> 00:30:55.139
 those whom

00:30:55.139 --> 00:30:55.939
 he has had

00:30:55.939 --> 00:30:56.459
 with him

00:30:56.459 --> 00:30:57.139
 from the beginning,

00:30:57.579 --> 00:30:58.699
 whom he has brought up,

00:30:58.959 --> 00:30:59.659
 and over whom

00:30:59.659 --> 00:31:00.419
 he had power,

00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.299
 both by the laws

00:31:01.299 --> 00:31:02.000
 and by nature,

00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:03.279
 how will he be able

00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:04.240
 to benefit those

00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:04.579
 without?

00:31:04.579 --> 00:31:06.439
 For if he was

00:31:06.439 --> 00:31:08.000
 unable to restrain them,

00:31:08.059 --> 00:31:08.899
 it is a great proof

00:31:08.899 --> 00:31:09.480
 of his weakness.

00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:10.759
 And if he was

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.919
 unconcerned,

00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.279
 his want of affection

00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:14.299
 is much to be blamed.

00:31:14.899 --> 00:31:15.919
 He then that neglects

00:31:15.919 --> 00:31:16.519
 his own children,

00:31:16.619 --> 00:31:17.619
 how shall he take care

00:31:17.619 --> 00:31:18.220
 of other men?

00:31:18.740 --> 00:31:19.720
 That's the rationale.

00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:22.119
 So having addressed

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.500
 the elder's family life,

00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:24.960
 then Paul now turns

00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:25.799
 to the qualifications

00:31:25.799 --> 00:31:26.759
 regarding the elder's

00:31:26.759 --> 00:31:27.419
 personal life

00:31:27.419 --> 00:31:28.319
 in verse 7.

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:29.879
 Read with me.

00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:31.339
 For an overseer,

00:31:32.059 --> 00:31:33.259
 as God's steward,

00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:35.000
 must be above reproach.

00:31:35.059 --> 00:31:36.180
 He must not be arrogant

00:31:36.180 --> 00:31:37.079
 or quick-tempered

00:31:37.079 --> 00:31:37.900
 or a drunkard

00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:38.539
 or violent

00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.680
 or greedy for gain.

00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.440
 Once again,

00:31:41.539 --> 00:31:42.319
 the elder's qualification

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.119
 can be summarized

00:31:43.119 --> 00:31:43.640
 by the phrase

00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.619
 above reproach.

00:31:45.599 --> 00:31:47.799
 And being above reproach

00:31:47.799 --> 00:31:48.359
 entails,

00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:49.759
 in terms of personal character,

00:31:49.960 --> 00:31:50.900
 not being arrogant

00:31:50.900 --> 00:31:51.599
 or quick-tempered

00:31:51.599 --> 00:31:52.140
 or drunkard

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.500
 or violent

00:31:52.500 --> 00:31:53.160
 or greedy for gain.

00:31:54.759 --> 00:31:55.519
 These are pretty

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.220
 self-explanatory,

00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.940
 so I'll go through them

00:31:56.940 --> 00:31:57.400
 pretty quickly.

00:31:57.539 --> 00:31:57.980
 But an elder

00:31:57.980 --> 00:31:59.079
 must not be arrogant,

00:31:59.359 --> 00:32:00.759
 meaning overbearing,

00:32:01.000 --> 00:32:02.259
 seeking his own will,

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:04.960
 seeking his own interest

00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.119
 and pridefully.

00:32:06.680 --> 00:32:07.480
 He must not be

00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.240
 quick-tempered.

00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:08.960
 He shouldn't be

00:32:08.960 --> 00:32:09.579
 hot-headed

00:32:09.579 --> 00:32:11.720
 or angry.

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.839
 He must not be

00:32:13.839 --> 00:32:14.640
 a drunkard.

00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.700
 The Greek word

00:32:15.700 --> 00:32:16.420
 literally means

00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.740
 alongside wine

00:32:17.740 --> 00:32:19.079
 or beside wine.

00:32:19.579 --> 00:32:20.440
 So it refers

00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:20.799
 to someone

00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:21.240
 who spends

00:32:21.240 --> 00:32:21.920
 too much time

00:32:21.920 --> 00:32:22.680
 next to alcohol.

00:32:23.940 --> 00:32:24.940
 And he must not

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.720
 be violent,

00:32:26.119 --> 00:32:26.799
 a bully,

00:32:27.299 --> 00:32:28.240
 or a brawler.

00:32:28.599 --> 00:32:29.779
 So he must not

00:32:29.779 --> 00:32:30.859
 be greedy for gain.

00:32:30.859 --> 00:32:32.279
 Elders who try

00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:32.879
 to get rich

00:32:32.879 --> 00:32:33.839
 off of their ministry

00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:34.740
 bring shame

00:32:34.740 --> 00:32:35.619
 and disrepute

00:32:35.619 --> 00:32:36.099
 to the gospel

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.859
 of Jesus Christ.

00:32:37.319 --> 00:32:38.139
 So they must

00:32:38.139 --> 00:32:38.819
 not be greedy

00:32:38.819 --> 00:32:39.339
 for gain.

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:41.679
 Having described

00:32:41.679 --> 00:32:42.240
 what elders

00:32:42.240 --> 00:32:43.199
 should not be

00:32:43.199 --> 00:32:44.039
 in verse 8,

00:32:44.159 --> 00:32:44.779
 Paul describes

00:32:44.779 --> 00:32:45.399
 what elders

00:32:45.399 --> 00:32:46.059
 should be

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:47.279
 in verse 8.

00:32:47.979 --> 00:32:48.459
 They should be

00:32:48.459 --> 00:32:49.119
 hospitable,

00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:50.859
 a lover of good,

00:32:51.219 --> 00:32:51.919
 self-controlled,

00:32:52.139 --> 00:32:52.479
 upright,

00:32:52.759 --> 00:32:53.019
 holy,

00:32:53.219 --> 00:32:53.899
 and disciplined.

00:32:54.539 --> 00:32:56.159
 This is a great list,

00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:56.359
 right?

00:32:56.419 --> 00:32:56.939
 An elder must

00:32:56.939 --> 00:32:57.740
 be hospitable.

00:32:58.659 --> 00:32:59.299
 Isn't that crazy

00:32:59.299 --> 00:33:00.460
 that that's a requirement

00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:01.059
 for an elder?

00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:01.740
 Doesn't that sound

00:33:01.740 --> 00:33:02.399
 kind of wild,

00:33:02.539 --> 00:33:02.680
 right?

00:33:02.759 --> 00:33:03.940
 They have to be hospitable.

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.000
 That's a real requirement.

00:33:05.659 --> 00:33:05.819
 I mean,

00:33:05.839 --> 00:33:06.259
 I don't know.

00:33:06.319 --> 00:33:06.799
 I've never heard

00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:07.180
 of a church

00:33:07.180 --> 00:33:10.079
 that refused

00:33:10.079 --> 00:33:11.480
 to ordain an elder

00:33:11.480 --> 00:33:12.259
 because he failed

00:33:12.259 --> 00:33:12.940
 to be hospitable.

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.599
 But we need

00:33:14.599 --> 00:33:14.980
 to be ready

00:33:14.980 --> 00:33:15.460
 to do that

00:33:15.460 --> 00:33:16.460
 if it's really obvious

00:33:16.460 --> 00:33:17.460
 that they're not hospitable,

00:33:17.619 --> 00:33:17.779
 right?

00:33:18.399 --> 00:33:19.639
 And they must

00:33:19.639 --> 00:33:20.759
 not be reclusive

00:33:20.759 --> 00:33:21.539
 or withdrawn,

00:33:21.899 --> 00:33:22.079
 right?

00:33:22.779 --> 00:33:23.639
 They must not

00:33:23.639 --> 00:33:24.399
 be too busy

00:33:24.399 --> 00:33:25.200
 to prioritize

00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:26.419
 people in their lives.

00:33:27.159 --> 00:33:27.779
 They must be

00:33:27.779 --> 00:33:28.240
 welcoming

00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:29.120
 and inviting.

00:33:29.400 --> 00:33:30.440
 Their dinner table

00:33:30.440 --> 00:33:31.059
 should be open

00:33:31.059 --> 00:33:32.120
 to feeding others.

00:33:32.359 --> 00:33:33.319
 Their guest rooms

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:33.759
 and beds

00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.420
 should be open

00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:35.559
 for hosting others.

00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.940
 They should be willing

00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:38.519
 to inconvenience themselves

00:33:38.519 --> 00:33:39.559
 for the convenience

00:33:39.559 --> 00:33:40.099
 of others.

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.380
 Of course,

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:42.019
 this involves

00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:42.740
 being hospitable

00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:43.579
 to fellow believers.

00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:44.960
 1 Peter 4.9

00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:45.180
 says,

00:33:45.400 --> 00:33:45.940
 show hospitality

00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:47.120
 to one another

00:33:47.120 --> 00:33:48.519
 without grumbling.

00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.759
 Romans 12.13

00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:49.980
 says,

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:51.259
 contribute to the needs

00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:52.019
 of the saints

00:33:52.019 --> 00:33:54.039
 and seek to show hospitality.

00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:54.680
 So hospitality

00:33:54.680 --> 00:33:55.940
 is a significant aspect

00:33:55.940 --> 00:33:56.559
 of our love

00:33:56.559 --> 00:33:57.259
 for one another.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:34:00.500
 And in particular,

00:34:00.660 --> 00:34:01.619
 I think when it says

00:34:01.619 --> 00:34:02.180
 that an elder

00:34:02.180 --> 00:34:03.059
 has to be hospitable,

00:34:03.180 --> 00:34:04.599
 it probably is assuming

00:34:04.599 --> 00:34:05.480
 that an elder

00:34:05.480 --> 00:34:06.579
 is responsible

00:34:06.579 --> 00:34:07.440
 for basically

00:34:07.440 --> 00:34:08.320
 housing,

00:34:08.519 --> 00:34:09.260
 traveling missionaries

00:34:09.260 --> 00:34:09.880
 that come through

00:34:09.880 --> 00:34:10.739
 to minister to them

00:34:10.739 --> 00:34:11.260
 and to the church

00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:11.639
 as well.

00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:14.340
 But it's not just

00:34:14.340 --> 00:34:15.960
 for one another.

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.480
 Hospitality goes beyond

00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:18.340
 our care for one another.

00:34:18.820 --> 00:34:19.539
 The Greek word

00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:20.519
 for hospitable

00:34:20.519 --> 00:34:21.820
 literally means

00:34:21.820 --> 00:34:22.920
 loving the stranger.

00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:27.460
 It has a missional orientation,

00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:28.360
 our orientation

00:34:28.360 --> 00:34:29.420
 toward outsiders,

00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.220
 even unbelievers.

00:34:32.000 --> 00:34:32.800
 It should not be,

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:34.159
 our posture

00:34:34.159 --> 00:34:34.740
 should not be

00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:35.639
 one of fear

00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:37.039
 and antagonism

00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.900
 but of love,

00:34:38.200 --> 00:34:40.659
 inviting warmth.

00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.960
 So Hebrews 13.2

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.159
 says,

00:34:43.159 --> 00:34:43.980
 do not neglect

00:34:43.980 --> 00:34:45.219
 to show hospitality

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:46.440
 to strangers

00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:48.619
 for thereby some

00:34:48.619 --> 00:34:49.279
 have entertained

00:34:49.279 --> 00:34:50.519
 angels unawares.

00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.399
 An elder's home

00:34:52.399 --> 00:34:53.039
 should be,

00:34:53.519 --> 00:34:55.420
 it should be a hopping place

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.579
 to use our terms.

00:34:57.079 --> 00:34:58.500
 It should be a place

00:34:58.500 --> 00:34:59.839
 for drawing people in

00:34:59.839 --> 00:35:01.079
 and not for

00:35:01.079 --> 00:35:02.679
 retreating from people,

00:35:02.899 --> 00:35:04.119
 withdrawing from people.

00:35:06.379 --> 00:35:07.559
 Elders should also be

00:35:07.559 --> 00:35:08.579
 a lover of good,

00:35:09.119 --> 00:35:10.460
 not evil

00:35:10.460 --> 00:35:11.920
 and self-controlled.

00:35:12.159 --> 00:35:12.539
 The word

00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:14.860
 self-controlled here

00:35:14.860 --> 00:35:15.820
 has a sense of

00:35:15.820 --> 00:35:17.539
 being prudent

00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:18.320
 and thoughtful

00:35:18.320 --> 00:35:19.400
 rather than

00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:20.280
 rash and careless.

00:35:20.480 --> 00:35:21.039
 So he should be

00:35:21.039 --> 00:35:21.599
 a lover of good

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:21.960
 and he should be

00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.500
 self-controlled.

00:35:23.619 --> 00:35:24.539
 He must be

00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.519
 upright and holy.

00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.179
 The two words

00:35:26.179 --> 00:35:26.960
 are frequently

00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:27.539
 paired together

00:35:27.539 --> 00:35:28.039
 in scripture.

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.220
 Being upright

00:35:29.220 --> 00:35:30.159
 refers to one's

00:35:30.159 --> 00:35:30.800
 posture toward

00:35:30.800 --> 00:35:31.519
 other people,

00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.400
 being just

00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:33.039
 in your dealings

00:35:33.039 --> 00:35:33.720
 with other people

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:35.139
 and being holy

00:35:35.139 --> 00:35:35.920
 refers to one's

00:35:35.920 --> 00:35:36.940
 orientation toward God,

00:35:37.019 --> 00:35:37.800
 being set apart

00:35:37.800 --> 00:35:38.220
 for him

00:35:38.220 --> 00:35:39.639
 and living for him

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:41.659
 as someone

00:35:41.659 --> 00:35:42.099
 who has been

00:35:42.099 --> 00:35:43.059
 consecrated to God.

00:35:43.759 --> 00:35:44.779
 The last word,

00:35:45.039 --> 00:35:45.639
 disciplined,

00:35:46.279 --> 00:35:48.599
 it means

00:35:48.599 --> 00:35:49.299
 being disciplined

00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:50.219
 but it also has

00:35:50.219 --> 00:35:52.259
 likely a sexual nuance

00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:54.779
 because the verbal

00:35:54.779 --> 00:35:55.839
 form of the same word

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.960
 is used in 1 Corinthians

00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:58.179
 7, 8-9

00:35:58.179 --> 00:35:59.139
 when Paul addresses

00:35:59.139 --> 00:36:00.019
 widows and widowers.

00:36:00.239 --> 00:36:00.819
 He says this,

00:36:01.219 --> 00:36:02.359
 I say that it is good

00:36:02.359 --> 00:36:03.259
 for them to remain

00:36:03.259 --> 00:36:04.460
 single as I am

00:36:04.460 --> 00:36:05.679
 but if they cannot

00:36:05.679 --> 00:36:07.619
 exercise self-control,

00:36:07.779 --> 00:36:08.519
 that's the same word,

00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:09.780
 they should marry

00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.380
 for it is better

00:36:10.380 --> 00:36:10.780
 to marry

00:36:10.780 --> 00:36:11.280
 than to burn

00:36:11.280 --> 00:36:11.800
 with passion.

00:36:11.960 --> 00:36:13.400
 So to be disciplined,

00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.659
 I think it involves

00:36:14.659 --> 00:36:15.679
 being self-controlled

00:36:15.679 --> 00:36:16.619
 in one's desires

00:36:16.619 --> 00:36:17.320
 and passions.

00:36:18.500 --> 00:36:19.159
 And finally,

00:36:19.300 --> 00:36:20.340
 Paul says in verse 9,

00:36:20.639 --> 00:36:21.900
 he must hold firm

00:36:21.900 --> 00:36:22.719
 to the trustworthy

00:36:22.719 --> 00:36:23.739
 word as taught

00:36:23.739 --> 00:36:25.219
 so that he may be able

00:36:25.219 --> 00:36:26.219
 to give instruction

00:36:26.219 --> 00:36:27.119
 in sound doctrine

00:36:27.119 --> 00:36:28.219
 and also to rebuke

00:36:28.219 --> 00:36:29.639
 those who contradict it.

00:36:30.099 --> 00:36:30.980
 So up to this point,

00:36:31.079 --> 00:36:32.559
 Paul's list

00:36:32.559 --> 00:36:33.759
 all had to do

00:36:33.759 --> 00:36:34.420
 with character

00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.679
 requirements for the elders.

00:36:35.780 --> 00:36:36.480
 Now he addresses

00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:38.019
 a related issue

00:36:38.019 --> 00:36:39.420
 of theological competence.

00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:40.980
 The final aspect

00:36:40.980 --> 00:36:42.199
 of being above reproach

00:36:42.199 --> 00:36:44.079
 involves holding firm

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:45.820
 to the trustworthy word

00:36:45.820 --> 00:36:46.579
 as taught.

00:36:48.079 --> 00:36:49.039
 Elders must be people

00:36:49.039 --> 00:36:50.000
 who hold firmly

00:36:50.000 --> 00:36:50.559
 to the word,

00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.639
 not loosely

00:36:51.639 --> 00:36:53.119
 or lackadaisically

00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:55.199
 to the trustworthy word

00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:55.880
 as taught, right?

00:36:56.260 --> 00:36:56.860
 This, again,

00:36:56.960 --> 00:36:57.420
 the word,

00:36:57.960 --> 00:36:59.400
 he said a similar thing

00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:01.000
 earlier in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:37:01.059 --> 00:37:01.860
 1-2 which we saw.

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:02.240
 He said,

00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:03.900
 hold fast to the word

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:04.719
 I preach to you.

00:37:04.719 --> 00:37:05.679
 And he explained

00:37:05.679 --> 00:37:06.359
 that this word

00:37:06.359 --> 00:37:07.259
 is the gospel

00:37:07.259 --> 00:37:08.839
 that he preached to them.

00:37:09.899 --> 00:37:11.119
 Because this gospel

00:37:11.119 --> 00:37:12.059
 is trustworthy,

00:37:12.219 --> 00:37:13.059
 the saving use of Jesus,

00:37:13.159 --> 00:37:14.000
 because this gospel

00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.419
 is the power of God

00:37:15.419 --> 00:37:16.259
 for salvation

00:37:16.259 --> 00:37:18.179
 to everyone who believes,

00:37:18.379 --> 00:37:19.379
 that has to be

00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:20.319
 what the elders are about

00:37:20.319 --> 00:37:21.359
 and they have to hold

00:37:21.359 --> 00:37:22.759
 firmly to it.

00:37:23.219 --> 00:37:24.139
 Because if you're not

00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:24.959
 convicted of it,

00:37:25.000 --> 00:37:25.699
 if that's not what

00:37:25.699 --> 00:37:26.699
 you're staking your life on,

00:37:26.759 --> 00:37:27.519
 you will not be,

00:37:27.859 --> 00:37:28.399
 you will not have

00:37:28.399 --> 00:37:29.259
 a sense of urgency

00:37:29.259 --> 00:37:31.299
 when that is contradicted,

00:37:31.480 --> 00:37:32.339
 when it is challenged,

00:37:32.639 --> 00:37:33.480
 when it is lost

00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.500
 and taken for granted.

00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:37.279
 It's so easy

00:37:37.279 --> 00:37:37.959
 to become

00:37:37.959 --> 00:37:39.579
 kind of pragmatic

00:37:39.579 --> 00:37:41.099
 as an elder,

00:37:41.299 --> 00:37:41.899
 as a pastor,

00:37:42.419 --> 00:37:42.980
 and to neglect

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:43.439
 the gospel

00:37:43.439 --> 00:37:44.419
 in favor of some

00:37:44.419 --> 00:37:47.339
 particular pet project

00:37:47.339 --> 00:37:48.679
 or hobby horse,

00:37:48.819 --> 00:37:49.039
 you know,

00:37:49.480 --> 00:37:50.799
 or some kind

00:37:50.799 --> 00:37:51.739
 of doctrinal distinctive,

00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:52.119
 right?

00:37:52.179 --> 00:37:53.339
 Elders can get carried away

00:37:53.339 --> 00:37:54.519
 by a particular view

00:37:54.519 --> 00:37:55.519
 of the second coming,

00:37:56.099 --> 00:37:56.259
 right?

00:37:56.299 --> 00:37:57.079
 The millennium,

00:37:57.299 --> 00:37:57.459
 right?

00:37:57.480 --> 00:37:58.119
 What's the view?

00:37:59.199 --> 00:37:59.639
 Rapture,

00:37:59.799 --> 00:37:59.919
 right?

00:37:59.980 --> 00:38:00.199
 I mean,

00:38:00.299 --> 00:38:02.199
 an elder can get carried away

00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:02.559
 with,

00:38:02.759 --> 00:38:03.659
 and obsessed

00:38:03.659 --> 00:38:04.719
 with giving.

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:05.519
 Like,

00:38:05.819 --> 00:38:06.879
 you have to give more

00:38:06.879 --> 00:38:07.799
 every week,

00:38:07.879 --> 00:38:08.059
 right?

00:38:08.139 --> 00:38:08.739
 It's like a,

00:38:09.399 --> 00:38:09.939
 you could get,

00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:10.619
 they could get obsessed

00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:10.939
 with,

00:38:10.980 --> 00:38:11.179
 you know,

00:38:11.239 --> 00:38:12.359
 self-help practices.

00:38:12.699 --> 00:38:13.539
 If you do this,

00:38:13.619 --> 00:38:14.059
 you could have

00:38:14.059 --> 00:38:15.039
 your best life now,

00:38:15.079 --> 00:38:15.339
 right?

00:38:15.879 --> 00:38:17.319
 You could get fixated

00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:18.539
 on spiritual gifts,

00:38:19.339 --> 00:38:20.039
 apologetics,

00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.399
 social justice.

00:38:21.619 --> 00:38:22.259
 Not all of these

00:38:22.259 --> 00:38:22.679
 are bad,

00:38:22.739 --> 00:38:23.559
 they're really good things,

00:38:23.759 --> 00:38:24.719
 but none of these

00:38:24.719 --> 00:38:25.799
 things must rival

00:38:25.800 --> 00:38:27.100
 the centrality

00:38:27.100 --> 00:38:28.280
 of the gospel.

00:38:29.440 --> 00:38:30.120
 Elders must hold

00:38:30.120 --> 00:38:32.220
 firmly to the gospel.

00:38:33.100 --> 00:38:34.000
 This is necessary,

00:38:34.160 --> 00:38:34.400
 why?

00:38:34.620 --> 00:38:36.400
 So that he may be able

00:38:36.400 --> 00:38:37.400
 to give instruction

00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:38.560
 in sound doctrine

00:38:38.560 --> 00:38:40.019
 and also to rebuke

00:38:40.019 --> 00:38:41.780
 those who contradict it.

00:38:43.120 --> 00:38:43.840
 And if an elder

00:38:43.840 --> 00:38:44.860
 does not personally

00:38:44.860 --> 00:38:45.460
 hold firmly

00:38:45.460 --> 00:38:45.980
 to the truth,

00:38:46.160 --> 00:38:46.780
 trustworthy word

00:38:46.780 --> 00:38:47.180
 as taught,

00:38:47.260 --> 00:38:48.220
 he will neither be able

00:38:48.220 --> 00:38:49.280
 to instruct others

00:38:49.280 --> 00:38:50.720
 nor be able to rebuke

00:38:50.720 --> 00:38:51.840
 those who contradict it.

00:38:52.400 --> 00:38:54.260
 And I love how the word

00:38:54.260 --> 00:38:54.820
 that is used,

00:38:54.820 --> 00:38:55.680
 is sound,

00:38:55.860 --> 00:38:56.039
 right?

00:38:56.080 --> 00:38:56.980
 It means healthy,

00:38:57.120 --> 00:38:57.240
 right?

00:38:57.240 --> 00:38:58.120
 It's a medical metaphor,

00:38:58.840 --> 00:38:58.980
 right?

00:38:59.000 --> 00:38:59.840
 There is doctrine

00:38:59.840 --> 00:39:00.820
 that is sound,

00:39:00.920 --> 00:39:01.519
 that is healthy.

00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:02.680
 And there is doctrine

00:39:02.680 --> 00:39:03.780
 that is diseased,

00:39:04.080 --> 00:39:04.760
 that will lead

00:39:04.760 --> 00:39:06.340
 to spiritual ailments.

00:39:07.720 --> 00:39:08.580
 An elder must be able

00:39:08.580 --> 00:39:09.280
 to give instruction

00:39:09.280 --> 00:39:10.320
 in sound doctrine

00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:11.200
 because the elders

00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:11.760
 of the church

00:39:11.760 --> 00:39:13.180
 must be above reproach

00:39:13.180 --> 00:39:14.480
 so that they can teach

00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:15.240
 sound doctrine

00:39:15.240 --> 00:39:16.760
 and promote sound faith.

00:39:16.880 --> 00:39:17.760
 So that's the profile

00:39:17.760 --> 00:39:18.480
 of the elders.

00:39:20.260 --> 00:39:21.420
 And the reason

00:39:21.420 --> 00:39:22.900
 why Paul is so urgent

00:39:22.900 --> 00:39:24.539
 about Titus appointing

00:39:24.539 --> 00:39:25.440
 these qualified elders

00:39:25.440 --> 00:39:26.719
 is because of the presence

00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:27.759
 of the false teachers

00:39:27.759 --> 00:39:28.199
 in Crete.

00:39:28.320 --> 00:39:28.860
 So that leads us

00:39:28.860 --> 00:39:30.079
 to our final point,

00:39:30.579 --> 00:39:31.340
 the profile

00:39:31.340 --> 00:39:32.199
 of the false teachers.

00:39:33.699 --> 00:39:34.699
 Paul writes

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:37.000
 in verses 10 to 11,

00:39:37.000 --> 00:39:38.139
 for there are many

00:39:38.139 --> 00:39:39.460
 who are insubordinate,

00:39:39.960 --> 00:39:40.880
 empty talkers

00:39:40.880 --> 00:39:41.599
 and deceivers,

00:39:41.759 --> 00:39:42.639
 especially those

00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:44.039
 of the circumcision party.

00:39:44.440 --> 00:39:45.679
 They must be silenced

00:39:45.679 --> 00:39:46.739
 since they are upsetting

00:39:46.739 --> 00:39:47.519
 whole families

00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:48.039
 by teaching

00:39:48.039 --> 00:39:49.000
 for shameful gain

00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:49.920
 what they ought

00:39:49.920 --> 00:39:50.940
 not to teach.

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:52.659
 It's imperative

00:39:52.659 --> 00:39:54.039
 that Titus appoints

00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.619
 elders in Crete

00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:55.460
 who are above reproach

00:39:55.460 --> 00:39:55.960
 and able to teach

00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:56.440
 sound doctrine

00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.139
 because there are many

00:39:57.139 --> 00:39:58.340
 who are promulgating

00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.340
 false doctrine.

00:40:00.000 --> 00:40:00.700
 And the description

00:40:00.700 --> 00:40:01.679
 of these Cretan

00:40:01.679 --> 00:40:02.380
 false teachers

00:40:02.380 --> 00:40:03.340
 are intentionally

00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:04.780
 contrasted

00:40:04.780 --> 00:40:05.320
 with the description

00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:05.820
 of the elders.

00:40:06.200 --> 00:40:07.019
 So if you put them

00:40:07.019 --> 00:40:07.579
 side by side

00:40:07.579 --> 00:40:08.159
 and compare them,

00:40:08.240 --> 00:40:09.599
 it's like the exact opposite.

00:40:10.480 --> 00:40:11.639
 So the Cretan

00:40:11.639 --> 00:40:12.539
 false teachers

00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:13.119
 are described

00:40:13.119 --> 00:40:14.679
 as insubordinate

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:17.679
 and that's how

00:40:17.679 --> 00:40:19.079
 but the elders

00:40:19.079 --> 00:40:19.699
 on the other hand

00:40:19.699 --> 00:40:20.339
 are supposed to have

00:40:20.339 --> 00:40:21.279
 subordinate children.

00:40:22.619 --> 00:40:23.659
 Unlike the elders

00:40:23.659 --> 00:40:24.480
 who give instruction

00:40:24.480 --> 00:40:25.419
 in sound doctrine

00:40:25.419 --> 00:40:26.099
 in verse 9,

00:40:26.399 --> 00:40:27.039
 the false teachers

00:40:27.039 --> 00:40:28.319
 are empty talkers.

00:40:28.699 --> 00:40:29.279
 Unlike the elders

00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:29.739
 who are supposed

00:40:29.739 --> 00:40:30.659
 to hold firmly

00:40:30.659 --> 00:40:31.940
 to the trustworthy word,

00:40:32.259 --> 00:40:32.940
 the false teachers

00:40:32.940 --> 00:40:34.039
 are deceivers.

00:40:34.819 --> 00:40:35.679
 Paul is specifically

00:40:35.679 --> 00:40:36.440
 concerned about

00:40:36.440 --> 00:40:37.179
 those of the

00:40:37.179 --> 00:40:38.179
 circumcision party,

00:40:38.339 --> 00:40:38.519
 he says.

00:40:38.659 --> 00:40:39.440
 This is a reference

00:40:39.440 --> 00:40:40.679
 to legalistic

00:40:40.679 --> 00:40:41.899
 Jewish Christians

00:40:41.899 --> 00:40:43.000
 who insisted

00:40:43.000 --> 00:40:44.039
 that all Christians,

00:40:44.039 --> 00:40:45.539
 even Gentile ones,

00:40:45.579 --> 00:40:46.239
 had to follow

00:40:46.239 --> 00:40:48.539
 all the ceremonial laws,

00:40:48.820 --> 00:40:49.460
 the Jewish laws

00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:50.619
 and be circumcised

00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:51.480
 to become a Jew

00:40:51.480 --> 00:40:52.380
 in order to be saved.

00:40:53.219 --> 00:40:54.500
 And the apostles

00:40:54.500 --> 00:40:55.179
 and the elders

00:40:55.179 --> 00:40:56.340
 had already decided

00:40:56.340 --> 00:40:57.139
 this issue

00:40:57.139 --> 00:40:58.219
 in the Jerusalem

00:40:58.219 --> 00:40:59.400
 Council in Acts 15

00:40:59.400 --> 00:41:00.239
 saying that it's not

00:41:00.239 --> 00:41:01.279
 necessary for Gentiles

00:41:01.279 --> 00:41:01.960
 to become a Jew,

00:41:02.099 --> 00:41:02.639
 to be saved.

00:41:03.000 --> 00:41:04.259
 But these Jewish converts

00:41:04.259 --> 00:41:04.719
 were nevertheless

00:41:04.719 --> 00:41:05.559
 teaching this.

00:41:06.179 --> 00:41:06.840
 And Paul writes

00:41:06.840 --> 00:41:07.820
 that in verse 11,

00:41:07.900 --> 00:41:09.159
 they must be silenced

00:41:09.159 --> 00:41:10.420
 since they are upsetting

00:41:10.420 --> 00:41:11.219
 whole families

00:41:11.219 --> 00:41:12.759
 by teaching for a shameful gain

00:41:12.759 --> 00:41:13.800
 what they ought not

00:41:13.800 --> 00:41:14.240
 to teach.

00:41:14.340 --> 00:41:14.700
 Once again,

00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:15.420
 the contrast

00:41:15.420 --> 00:41:16.140
 between the elders

00:41:16.140 --> 00:41:17.019
 who are not greedy

00:41:17.019 --> 00:41:17.580
 for gain

00:41:17.580 --> 00:41:18.920
 and these false teachers

00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:19.460
 who are teaching

00:41:19.460 --> 00:41:20.620
 for shameful gain.

00:41:21.400 --> 00:41:22.280
 And so how are

00:41:22.280 --> 00:41:23.019
 these false teachers

00:41:23.019 --> 00:41:23.940
 to be silenced?

00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:25.840
 It's not by,

00:41:25.860 --> 00:41:26.060
 you know,

00:41:26.120 --> 00:41:27.140
 hiring some muscles

00:41:27.140 --> 00:41:28.460
 to escort them

00:41:28.460 --> 00:41:29.380
 out of the church service,

00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:29.820
 right?

00:41:31.280 --> 00:41:32.539
 The way Paul

00:41:32.539 --> 00:41:34.539
 calls these elders

00:41:34.539 --> 00:41:35.080
 to silence

00:41:35.080 --> 00:41:35.700
 the false teachers

00:41:35.700 --> 00:41:36.380
 is already,

00:41:36.620 --> 00:41:37.420
 he already told us

00:41:37.420 --> 00:41:38.340
 in verse 9,

00:41:38.340 --> 00:41:40.019
 by instructing

00:41:40.019 --> 00:41:41.260
 with sound doctrine

00:41:41.260 --> 00:41:42.680
 and rebuking

00:41:42.680 --> 00:41:44.160
 those who contradicted.

00:41:44.740 --> 00:41:45.280
 The elders

00:41:45.280 --> 00:41:46.260
 are to silence

00:41:46.260 --> 00:41:47.360
 false teaching

00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:48.760
 by teaching the truth.

00:41:50.280 --> 00:41:50.780
 And then,

00:41:50.980 --> 00:41:51.960
 in verse 12,

00:41:52.100 --> 00:41:52.820
 Paul condemns

00:41:52.820 --> 00:41:53.380
 these Cretans

00:41:53.380 --> 00:41:54.400
 with their own mouth

00:41:54.400 --> 00:41:54.900
 by quoting

00:41:54.900 --> 00:41:55.920
 a Cretan seer.

00:41:56.700 --> 00:41:57.480
 His name is

00:41:57.480 --> 00:41:58.300
 Epimenides.

00:41:58.980 --> 00:41:59.500
 Epimenides,

00:41:59.640 --> 00:42:00.240
 I don't know how to say it.

00:42:00.520 --> 00:42:01.800
 Cretans are always liars,

00:42:01.940 --> 00:42:02.560
 evil beasts,

00:42:02.820 --> 00:42:03.580
 lazy gluttons.

00:42:03.900 --> 00:42:04.840
 And then he affirms

00:42:04.840 --> 00:42:05.920
 that this testimony

00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:06.920
 is true.

00:42:07.720 --> 00:42:08.079
 Of course,

00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:09.380
 Paul is generalizing here.

00:42:09.720 --> 00:42:10.700
 Not every single

00:42:10.700 --> 00:42:11.440
 one of the Cretans

00:42:11.440 --> 00:42:12.639
 are like this.

00:42:12.700 --> 00:42:13.300
 If that were the case,

00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:13.920
 every single one

00:42:13.920 --> 00:42:14.639
 of the Cretan Christians

00:42:14.639 --> 00:42:15.559
 would be like that too.

00:42:15.920 --> 00:42:16.760
 That's not what Paul

00:42:16.760 --> 00:42:17.159
 is saying.

00:42:17.800 --> 00:42:19.340
 But this portrayal

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:19.720
 of them

00:42:19.720 --> 00:42:20.380
 is actually

00:42:20.380 --> 00:42:21.380
 quite consistent.

00:42:21.559 --> 00:42:22.659
 There's a lot of

00:42:22.659 --> 00:42:25.500
 history

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:27.360
 written by

00:42:27.360 --> 00:42:28.079
 non-Christians

00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:28.800
 attests to this

00:42:28.800 --> 00:42:29.460
 reality as well.

00:42:29.980 --> 00:42:30.099
 So,

00:42:30.099 --> 00:42:31.380
 Paulibius

00:42:31.380 --> 00:42:32.519
 was a Greek historian

00:42:32.519 --> 00:42:33.720
 from the 2nd century BC.

00:42:34.360 --> 00:42:35.039
 He writes

00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:36.340
 in his histories

00:42:36.340 --> 00:42:37.000
 this,

00:42:37.740 --> 00:42:38.360
 so much,

00:42:38.460 --> 00:42:38.880
 in fact,

00:42:39.260 --> 00:42:40.620
 disordered love of gain

00:42:40.620 --> 00:42:41.500
 and lust for wealth

00:42:41.500 --> 00:42:42.539
 prevail among them

00:42:42.539 --> 00:42:43.700
 that the Cretans

00:42:43.700 --> 00:42:44.900
 are the only people

00:42:44.900 --> 00:42:45.360
 in the world

00:42:45.360 --> 00:42:46.400
 in whose eyes

00:42:46.400 --> 00:42:47.440
 no gain

00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.539
 is disgraceful.

00:42:49.440 --> 00:42:50.120
 That's a pretty

00:42:50.120 --> 00:42:51.180
 harsh accusation,

00:42:51.260 --> 00:42:51.400
 right?

00:42:51.720 --> 00:42:53.100
 And then Cicero,

00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:54.200
 the 1st century

00:42:54.200 --> 00:42:56.600
 BC Roman politician

00:42:56.600 --> 00:42:57.200
 and lawyer,

00:42:57.380 --> 00:42:57.900
 he said this,

00:42:58.620 --> 00:42:59.280
 the Cretans

00:42:59.280 --> 00:43:00.579
 consider piracy

00:43:00.579 --> 00:43:02.260
 and brigandage

00:43:02.260 --> 00:43:03.079
 honorable.

00:43:04.320 --> 00:43:04.579
 So,

00:43:04.760 --> 00:43:05.059
 Cretans

00:43:05.059 --> 00:43:05.559
 did not have

00:43:05.559 --> 00:43:06.140
 a good reputation

00:43:06.139 --> 00:43:06.859
 and this is not

00:43:06.859 --> 00:43:07.799
 just from the Christians,

00:43:08.019 --> 00:43:08.379
 from this,

00:43:08.460 --> 00:43:09.539
 from pagan authors

00:43:09.539 --> 00:43:09.879
 as well.

00:43:10.460 --> 00:43:10.639
 So,

00:43:10.759 --> 00:43:11.219
 Cretans had

00:43:11.219 --> 00:43:12.199
 such a reputation

00:43:12.199 --> 00:43:12.920
 for lying

00:43:12.920 --> 00:43:13.639
 that the Greek

00:43:13.639 --> 00:43:14.579
 word for lying

00:43:14.579 --> 00:43:15.379
 actually is taken

00:43:15.379 --> 00:43:16.099
 from the word

00:43:16.099 --> 00:43:16.639
 Crete.

00:43:18.679 --> 00:43:19.879
 And Paul points

00:43:19.879 --> 00:43:20.359
 this out

00:43:20.359 --> 00:43:21.059
 not because he

00:43:21.059 --> 00:43:21.759
 wants to mock

00:43:21.759 --> 00:43:22.659
 the Cretan Christians

00:43:22.659 --> 00:43:23.779
 but because he

00:43:23.779 --> 00:43:24.900
 wants to exhort

00:43:24.900 --> 00:43:25.339
 them to

00:43:25.339 --> 00:43:26.519
 dissociate themselves

00:43:26.519 --> 00:43:27.339
 from the

00:43:27.339 --> 00:43:28.619
 ungodly bunch

00:43:28.619 --> 00:43:29.980
 and to distinguish

00:43:29.980 --> 00:43:30.500
 themselves

00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:31.659
 from that past

00:43:31.659 --> 00:43:32.659
 and from

00:43:32.659 --> 00:43:33.339
 that history.

00:43:34.679 --> 00:43:34.980
 Therefore,

00:43:35.179 --> 00:43:35.779
 Paul continues

00:43:35.779 --> 00:43:36.440
 in verse 13,

00:43:36.539 --> 00:43:37.319
 rebuke them

00:43:37.319 --> 00:43:37.799
 sharply

00:43:37.799 --> 00:43:38.460
 that they

00:43:38.460 --> 00:43:38.799
 may be

00:43:38.799 --> 00:43:39.239
 sound

00:43:39.239 --> 00:43:39.579
 in the

00:43:39.579 --> 00:43:40.000
 faith,

00:43:40.339 --> 00:43:41.000
 not devoting

00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:41.399
 themselves

00:43:41.399 --> 00:43:41.920
 to Jewish

00:43:41.920 --> 00:43:42.199
 myths

00:43:42.199 --> 00:43:42.460
 and the

00:43:42.460 --> 00:43:42.739
 commands

00:43:42.739 --> 00:43:43.059
 of people

00:43:43.059 --> 00:43:43.399
 who turn

00:43:43.399 --> 00:43:43.639
 away

00:43:43.639 --> 00:43:44.000
 from the

00:43:44.000 --> 00:43:44.299
 truth.

00:43:45.299 --> 00:43:45.539
 So,

00:43:45.920 --> 00:43:46.559
 Paul's

00:43:46.559 --> 00:43:47.279
 used the

00:43:47.279 --> 00:43:47.759
 word rebuke

00:43:47.759 --> 00:43:48.159
 already in

00:43:48.159 --> 00:43:48.659
 verse 9

00:43:48.659 --> 00:43:49.980
 so he's

00:43:49.980 --> 00:43:50.619
 rightly referring

00:43:50.619 --> 00:43:51.239
 to rebuking

00:43:51.239 --> 00:43:51.639
 the false

00:43:51.639 --> 00:43:52.059
 teachers.

00:43:52.559 --> 00:43:53.000
 He wants

00:43:53.000 --> 00:43:53.619
 even them

00:43:53.619 --> 00:43:54.399
 to return

00:43:54.399 --> 00:43:55.099
 to true

00:43:55.099 --> 00:43:55.480
 faith,

00:43:55.599 --> 00:43:55.940
 to be

00:43:55.940 --> 00:43:56.279
 sound

00:43:56.279 --> 00:43:56.539
 in the

00:43:56.539 --> 00:43:56.799
 faith

00:43:56.799 --> 00:43:57.139
 again.

00:43:57.139 --> 00:43:59.659
 And then

00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:00.639
 in verse 15,

00:44:00.839 --> 00:44:01.920
 Paul does

00:44:01.920 --> 00:44:02.679
 himself what

00:44:02.679 --> 00:44:03.359
 he tells

00:44:03.359 --> 00:44:03.940
 the elders

00:44:03.940 --> 00:44:04.379
 to do.

00:44:04.759 --> 00:44:05.440
 He silences

00:44:05.440 --> 00:44:05.859
 the false

00:44:05.859 --> 00:44:06.219
 teachers

00:44:06.219 --> 00:44:07.059
 by teaching

00:44:07.059 --> 00:44:07.500
 the truth.

00:44:07.619 --> 00:44:07.980
 He says,

00:44:08.619 --> 00:44:08.960
 to the

00:44:08.960 --> 00:44:09.339
 pure,

00:44:09.639 --> 00:44:10.239
 all things

00:44:10.239 --> 00:44:10.659
 are pure,

00:44:10.879 --> 00:44:11.159
 but to

00:44:11.159 --> 00:44:11.859
 the defiled

00:44:11.859 --> 00:44:12.739
 and unbelieving

00:44:12.739 --> 00:44:13.420
 nothing is

00:44:13.420 --> 00:44:13.699
 pure,

00:44:13.920 --> 00:44:14.440
 but both

00:44:14.440 --> 00:44:15.059
 their minds

00:44:15.059 --> 00:44:15.379
 and their

00:44:15.379 --> 00:44:15.960
 consciences

00:44:15.960 --> 00:44:16.799
 are defiled.

00:44:16.980 --> 00:44:17.139
 So,

00:44:17.259 --> 00:44:17.799
 Paul's here

00:44:17.799 --> 00:44:19.139
 contrasting

00:44:19.139 --> 00:44:20.159
 moral purity,

00:44:20.319 --> 00:44:20.739
 which is

00:44:20.739 --> 00:44:21.359
 necessary,

00:44:21.819 --> 00:44:22.839
 from ritual

00:44:22.839 --> 00:44:23.219
 purity,

00:44:23.359 --> 00:44:23.779
 which is

00:44:23.779 --> 00:44:24.379
 unnecessary.

00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:26.159
 This exposes

00:44:26.159 --> 00:44:26.679
 the heart

00:44:26.679 --> 00:44:27.119
 of the false

00:44:27.119 --> 00:44:27.699
 teaching of

00:44:27.699 --> 00:44:28.239
 the Cretan

00:44:28.239 --> 00:44:29.400
 circumcision

00:44:29.400 --> 00:44:29.759
 party,

00:44:30.199 --> 00:44:30.759
 because to

00:44:30.759 --> 00:44:31.400
 the pure,

00:44:31.599 --> 00:44:32.179
 all things

00:44:32.179 --> 00:44:32.599
 are pure.

00:44:32.900 --> 00:44:33.359
 To those

00:44:33.359 --> 00:44:33.679
 who are

00:44:33.679 --> 00:44:34.119
 morally

00:44:34.119 --> 00:44:34.519
 pure,

00:44:34.619 --> 00:44:34.960
 those who

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:35.400
 are pure

00:44:35.400 --> 00:44:36.119
 from within,

00:44:36.519 --> 00:44:36.900
 to those

00:44:36.900 --> 00:44:37.079
 who have

00:44:37.079 --> 00:44:37.679
 been cleansed

00:44:37.679 --> 00:44:38.319
 by Christ,

00:44:38.440 --> 00:44:39.119
 all things

00:44:39.119 --> 00:44:39.960
 are ritually

00:44:39.960 --> 00:44:40.359
 pure.

00:44:41.099 --> 00:44:41.699
 In Mark

00:44:41.699 --> 00:44:41.980
 7,

00:44:42.059 --> 00:44:42.259
 7,

00:44:42.339 --> 00:44:43.159
 Jesus rebuked

00:44:43.159 --> 00:44:43.859
 the Pharisees

00:44:43.859 --> 00:44:44.539
 because they

00:44:44.539 --> 00:44:45.519
 in vain

00:44:45.519 --> 00:44:45.980
 worshipped

00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:46.259
 God,

00:44:46.380 --> 00:44:46.960
 teaching as

00:44:46.960 --> 00:44:47.639
 doctrines the

00:44:47.639 --> 00:44:48.159
 commandments of

00:44:48.159 --> 00:44:48.420
 men,

00:44:48.719 --> 00:44:49.039
 and then

00:44:49.039 --> 00:44:49.539
 Jesus went

00:44:49.539 --> 00:44:50.079
 on to teach

00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.420
 that it's

00:44:50.420 --> 00:44:51.059
 the internal

00:44:51.059 --> 00:44:52.039
 moral purity

00:44:52.039 --> 00:44:53.500
 that matters

00:44:53.500 --> 00:44:53.920
 to God,

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.739
 not external

00:44:54.739 --> 00:44:55.559
 ritual purity.

00:44:56.019 --> 00:44:56.139
 So,

00:44:56.219 --> 00:44:56.719
 Paul is

00:44:56.719 --> 00:44:57.139
 following

00:44:57.139 --> 00:44:57.419
 Jesus'

00:44:57.559 --> 00:44:58.099
 teaching here.

00:44:58.099 --> 00:44:58.819
 And so,

00:44:58.899 --> 00:44:59.739
 conversely then,

00:44:59.839 --> 00:45:00.480
 the defiled

00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:01.279
 and unbelieving,

00:45:01.439 --> 00:45:01.919
 for them,

00:45:02.039 --> 00:45:02.759
 nothing is

00:45:02.759 --> 00:45:03.039
 pure.

00:45:03.799 --> 00:45:04.559
 To those

00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:04.819
 who are

00:45:04.819 --> 00:45:05.279
 morally

00:45:05.279 --> 00:45:05.980
 impure,

00:45:06.139 --> 00:45:06.679
 to those

00:45:06.679 --> 00:45:07.279
 who have

00:45:07.279 --> 00:45:07.899
 not been

00:45:07.899 --> 00:45:08.399
 cleansed by

00:45:08.399 --> 00:45:08.719
 Christ

00:45:08.719 --> 00:45:09.279
 from within,

00:45:09.519 --> 00:45:10.059
 because they

00:45:10.059 --> 00:45:10.819
 are unbelieving,

00:45:11.239 --> 00:45:11.879
 nothing is

00:45:11.879 --> 00:45:12.399
 pure for them.

00:45:12.519 --> 00:45:13.179
 All things

00:45:13.179 --> 00:45:14.119
 are ritually

00:45:14.119 --> 00:45:15.099
 impure for

00:45:15.099 --> 00:45:15.299
 them.

00:45:15.980 --> 00:45:16.559
 No amount

00:45:16.559 --> 00:45:17.299
 of ceremonial

00:45:17.299 --> 00:45:17.959
 cleanness can

00:45:17.959 --> 00:45:18.599
 purify their

00:45:18.599 --> 00:45:19.119
 hearts because

00:45:19.119 --> 00:45:19.419
 they are

00:45:19.419 --> 00:45:20.019
 defiled from

00:45:20.019 --> 00:45:20.299
 within.

00:45:20.439 --> 00:45:20.839
 Both their

00:45:20.839 --> 00:45:21.379
 minds and

00:45:21.379 --> 00:45:22.079
 their consciences

00:45:22.079 --> 00:45:22.719
 are defiled.

00:45:23.459 --> 00:45:24.159
 Because of

00:45:24.159 --> 00:45:24.359
 this,

00:45:24.439 --> 00:45:25.039
 Paul continues

00:45:25.039 --> 00:45:25.840
 in verse 16,

00:45:26.300 --> 00:45:27.300
 they profess to

00:45:27.300 --> 00:45:27.860
 know God,

00:45:27.920 --> 00:45:28.559
 but they deny

00:45:28.559 --> 00:45:29.179
 him by their

00:45:29.179 --> 00:45:29.500
 works.

00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.159
 They are

00:45:30.159 --> 00:45:30.860
 detestable,

00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:31.759
 disobedient,

00:45:32.139 --> 00:45:32.880
 unfit for

00:45:32.880 --> 00:45:33.460
 any good

00:45:33.460 --> 00:45:33.800
 work.

00:45:34.739 --> 00:45:35.739
 Paul repeats

00:45:35.739 --> 00:45:36.579
 the key word

00:45:36.579 --> 00:45:37.460
 work twice

00:45:37.460 --> 00:45:38.099
 in this verse.

00:45:38.719 --> 00:45:39.639
 And professing a

00:45:39.639 --> 00:45:40.440
 mere knowledge of

00:45:40.440 --> 00:45:41.039
 God is

00:45:41.039 --> 00:45:42.380
 insufficient if

00:45:42.380 --> 00:45:42.940
 it does not

00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:43.599
 produce good

00:45:43.599 --> 00:45:43.980
 works,

00:45:44.179 --> 00:45:44.940
 because faith

00:45:44.940 --> 00:45:45.719
 by itself,

00:45:45.800 --> 00:45:46.360
 if it does not

00:45:46.360 --> 00:45:46.800
 have works,

00:45:46.840 --> 00:45:47.259
 is dead.

00:45:48.219 --> 00:45:48.340
 Their

00:45:48.340 --> 00:45:48.940
 profession of

00:45:48.940 --> 00:45:49.259
 faith,

00:45:49.460 --> 00:45:50.019
 the Cretan

00:45:50.019 --> 00:45:50.559
 false teachers'

00:45:50.559 --> 00:45:51.159
 profession of

00:45:51.159 --> 00:45:51.380
 faith,

00:45:51.460 --> 00:45:52.460
 was nullified by

00:45:52.460 --> 00:45:52.940
 their evil

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:53.320
 deeds.

00:45:53.900 --> 00:45:54.300
 And that's

00:45:54.300 --> 00:45:55.639
 why Paul said

00:45:55.639 --> 00:45:56.099
 earlier in

00:45:56.099 --> 00:45:56.639
 verse 1 that

00:45:56.639 --> 00:45:57.199
 his goal in

00:45:57.199 --> 00:45:57.639
 ministry was

00:45:57.639 --> 00:45:58.460
 to secure the

00:45:58.460 --> 00:45:59.440
 faith of God's

00:45:59.440 --> 00:46:00.320
 elect and the

00:46:00.320 --> 00:46:01.019
 knowledge of the

00:46:01.019 --> 00:46:01.440
 truth which

00:46:01.440 --> 00:46:02.720
 accords with

00:46:02.720 --> 00:46:03.699
 godliness.

00:46:06.720 --> 00:46:07.720
 The elders of

00:46:07.720 --> 00:46:08.220
 the church must

00:46:08.220 --> 00:46:09.119
 be above reproach

00:46:09.119 --> 00:46:09.539
 so that they can

00:46:09.539 --> 00:46:10.360
 teach sound

00:46:10.360 --> 00:46:11.039
 doctrine and

00:46:11.039 --> 00:46:12.199
 promote sound

00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:13.159
 faith.

00:46:13.300 --> 00:46:14.559
 And why devote

00:46:14.559 --> 00:46:15.519
 an entire chapter

00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:16.059
 just to

00:46:16.059 --> 00:46:16.840
 qualification of

00:46:16.840 --> 00:46:17.179
 elders?

00:46:17.179 --> 00:46:17.339
 elders.

00:46:20.019 --> 00:46:20.819
 It's because

00:46:20.819 --> 00:46:21.339
 Paul is

00:46:21.339 --> 00:46:21.960
 concerned about

00:46:21.960 --> 00:46:22.579
 the gospel of

00:46:22.579 --> 00:46:23.219
 Jesus Christ.

00:46:25.139 --> 00:46:26.279
 I cannot be an

00:46:26.279 --> 00:46:27.219
 elder apart from

00:46:27.219 --> 00:46:27.719
 the grace of

00:46:27.719 --> 00:46:27.980
 God.

00:46:28.719 --> 00:46:30.139
 It's because I'm

00:46:30.139 --> 00:46:30.759
 a sinner through

00:46:30.759 --> 00:46:31.399
 and through and

00:46:31.399 --> 00:46:32.219
 it's him that

00:46:32.219 --> 00:46:32.919
 saved us,

00:46:33.480 --> 00:46:35.759
 saved me from

00:46:35.759 --> 00:46:36.199
 myself.

00:46:36.339 --> 00:46:37.440
 And Jesus died

00:46:37.440 --> 00:46:38.279
 for our sins,

00:46:38.379 --> 00:46:38.980
 paid the penalty

00:46:38.980 --> 00:46:39.639
 that we could not

00:46:39.639 --> 00:46:42.179
 pay so that we

00:46:42.179 --> 00:46:43.059
 can be recipients

00:46:43.059 --> 00:46:43.699
 of his grace,

00:46:43.779 --> 00:46:44.159
 so that we can

00:46:44.159 --> 00:46:44.839
 become holy,

00:46:45.379 --> 00:46:45.839
 and so that we

00:46:45.839 --> 00:46:46.719
 can be saints

00:46:46.719 --> 00:46:47.879
 living for him

00:46:47.879 --> 00:46:48.339
 and no longer

00:46:48.339 --> 00:46:48.919
 for ourselves.

00:46:49.039 --> 00:46:49.779
 That's the gospel.

00:46:50.299 --> 00:46:51.119
 And that is so

00:46:51.119 --> 00:46:52.119
 precious to Paul.

00:46:52.500 --> 00:46:53.459
 That is so

00:46:53.459 --> 00:46:54.879
 essential for the

00:46:54.879 --> 00:46:55.419
 health of the

00:46:55.419 --> 00:46:56.519
 church that he

00:46:56.519 --> 00:46:57.480
 devotes an entire

00:46:57.480 --> 00:46:58.579
 chapter to talking

00:46:58.579 --> 00:46:59.539
 about the leaders

00:46:59.539 --> 00:47:01.639
 whose only job,

00:47:01.839 --> 00:47:02.099
 really,

00:47:02.939 --> 00:47:03.500
 everything is

00:47:03.500 --> 00:47:04.119
 subsumed under

00:47:04.119 --> 00:47:05.059
 this one job,

00:47:05.099 --> 00:47:05.879
 is to protect

00:47:05.879 --> 00:47:06.839
 the gospel.

00:47:10.539 --> 00:47:11.379
 It's a high

00:47:11.379 --> 00:47:11.819
 calling.

00:47:12.239 --> 00:47:13.699
 And he doesn't

00:47:13.699 --> 00:47:14.379
 call just the

00:47:14.379 --> 00:47:15.259
 elders for that.

00:47:15.260 --> 00:47:17.400
 the elders are

00:47:17.400 --> 00:47:18.560
 called to ensure

00:47:18.560 --> 00:47:19.620
 sound doctrine,

00:47:20.220 --> 00:47:21.200
 ensure that the

00:47:21.200 --> 00:47:22.440
 gospel is held.

00:47:23.160 --> 00:47:24.140
 But as Paul said

00:47:24.140 --> 00:47:25.080
 in 1 Corinthians 15,

00:47:25.320 --> 00:47:26.460
 every believer is

00:47:26.460 --> 00:47:27.540
 called to hold

00:47:27.540 --> 00:47:29.140
 fast to the

00:47:29.140 --> 00:47:30.240
 gospel that was

00:47:30.240 --> 00:47:30.940
 preached to us.

00:47:31.000 --> 00:47:31.500
 So are you holding

00:47:31.500 --> 00:47:32.380
 fast to that

00:47:32.380 --> 00:47:32.740
 truth?

00:47:35.280 --> 00:47:36.260
 That's the power of

00:47:36.260 --> 00:47:37.060
 God unto salvation.

00:47:37.260 --> 00:47:37.880
 There is salvation

00:47:37.880 --> 00:47:38.980
 in no other name

00:47:38.980 --> 00:47:39.820
 except in the name

00:47:39.820 --> 00:47:40.680
 of Jesus Christ.

00:47:41.840 --> 00:47:43.240
 My prayer is that

00:47:43.239 --> 00:47:43.739
 we would have

00:47:43.739 --> 00:47:44.559
 elders who are

00:47:44.559 --> 00:47:45.159
 characterized by

00:47:45.159 --> 00:47:45.919
 this and we

00:47:45.919 --> 00:47:46.259
 have a whole

00:47:46.259 --> 00:47:48.319
 church that is

00:47:48.319 --> 00:47:49.399
 on board and

00:47:49.399 --> 00:47:50.919
 characterize that

00:47:50.919 --> 00:47:51.639
 passion for the

00:47:51.639 --> 00:47:51.939
 gospel.

00:47:53.000 --> 00:47:53.659
 And so to that

00:47:53.659 --> 00:47:54.219
 end, please pray

00:47:54.219 --> 00:47:55.319
 with me for our

00:47:55.319 --> 00:47:55.659
 church.

00:47:56.339 --> 00:47:56.919
 Pray for our

00:47:56.919 --> 00:47:57.239
 elders.

00:47:57.799 --> 00:47:58.339
 Pray that our

00:47:58.339 --> 00:47:59.039
 pastor interns will

00:47:59.039 --> 00:48:01.079
 all be equipped

00:48:01.079 --> 00:48:02.239
 and qualified and

00:48:02.239 --> 00:48:02.839
 that we be able to

00:48:02.839 --> 00:48:03.619
 affirm them, appoint

00:48:03.619 --> 00:48:04.419
 them as elders in

00:48:04.419 --> 00:48:04.879
 our church.

00:48:05.339 --> 00:48:05.819
 Pray for our

00:48:05.819 --> 00:48:06.479
 deacons as well,

00:48:06.579 --> 00:48:06.859
 which I will

00:48:06.859 --> 00:48:07.719
 address in the

00:48:07.719 --> 00:48:07.959
 future.

00:48:08.259 --> 00:48:08.679
 Let's take a

00:48:08.679 --> 00:48:09.479
 moment to reflect on

00:48:09.479 --> 00:48:10.039
 this and then we'll

00:48:10.039 --> 00:48:10.699
 pray together for

00:48:10.699 --> 00:48:11.079
 our church.

00:48:11.099 --> 00:48:20.619
 Let's take a

00:48:20.619 --> 00:48:21.079
orrho Macko

00:48:21.079 --> 00:48:21.139
 receivers.

00:48:22.019 --> 00:48:22.559
 Please pong

00:48:22.559 --> 00:48:22.960
 a restaurant

00:48:22.960 --> 00:48:23.759
 with a

00:48:23.759 --> 00:48:24.400
 flock of

00:48:24.400 --> 00:48:24.739
 families

00:48:24.739 --> 00:48:25.679
 to

00:48:25.679 --> 00:48:25.799
 families

00:48:25.799 --> 00:48:27.000
 to

00:48:27.000 --> 00:48:28.400
 Kä producción

00:48:28.400 --> 00:48:29.199
 of

00:48:29.199 --> 00:48:30.299
 us

00:48:30.299 --> 00:48:30.739
 to

00:48:30.739 --> 00:48:31.219
 Elaine

00:48:31.219 --> 00:48:32.039
 and