Amen.
As you can see, my name is Andy Constable,
as it was just behind me.
So I'm one of the pastors at Nidra Kimi Chesh.
I've been here for, I've been at Brunsfield
preaching the last three years, I think.
So it's my fourth year.
So it's very good to be with you.
Just to share a little bit more about that video
that you saw earlier.
So 20 Schemes is our church planting
and revitalization ministry of Nidra Community Church.
It's not a separate organization.
It's a ministry of Nidra Community Church.
If you look across Scotland,
we know in general that there's 2%
who are claiming to be Christians in Scotland.
I would say that that would be even less
in the housing schemes and council states in Scotland.
Churches are dying.
in these places.
And so a few years ago,
as we were working in a deprived area,
we thought, well, let's have a look at 50
of the most deprived areas
and see how many churches are in these areas.
And we worked out, not very many at all.
And so we thought, well, why don't we start
an organization that specifically plants
and revitalizes churches in those areas
for the glory of Christ?
And that's what we're doing.
We have four church plants at the moment,
one in Dundee, one in Glasgow,
one in Grace Mount, which is South Edinburgh,
and one just coming online in Aberdeen at the moment.
And all we want to do is to see souls saved in these areas,
like Tasha.
So three or four years ago,
she was, like you saw in the video,
a mess, struggling in life.
And the Lord saved her miraculously.
And now she's our youth worker.
She used to be the one terrorizing us,
doing the youth work with her.
Now she's saved and doing the youth work,
which is a testament to God's grace, isn't it?
And that's what we want to see across Scotland,
more and more plants in poorer areas
to the glory of Christ,
and more souls will be saved.
If you want to see more of the work,
I know I'm not really supposed to be advertising 20 schemes.
We're going to get into God's word in a minute.
But if you want to see more of the work,
20schemes.com, there's videos, blogs,
things you can look at there to find out more of the work.
So let's pitch over.
Let's get into God's words.
We're in Titus 1 this evening, verse 5.
So if you open up, we'll read, we'll pray,
and then we'll get stuck in to God's words together.
This is God's words.
This is why I left you in Crete,
so that you might put what remained into order
and appoint elders in every town as I directed you.
If anyone is above reproach,
the husband of one wife and his children are believers
and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination,
for an overseer as God's steward must be above reproach.
He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered
or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain.
But hospitable, a lover of good,
self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined,
he must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught
so that he might be able to give instruction
in sound doctrine
and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Amen?
Big amen there.
Amen?
That's God's word.
Amen.
Let's pray.
Amen.
Dear Lord, thank you so much for your words.
It is precious to us this evening.
And when it's opened up and preached
by the power of your spirit,
you change and transform our lives.
And so we pray, Lord,
that you might send your spirit now.
Help us to have ears to listen
and hearts that are soft
so we might glorify Christ and hear from him.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So leadership, I'm sure you'll agree with me,
is important, isn't it, in any organisation?
Whether that's business,
whether that's sport,
whether that's in the army,
or whether that's in the church.
So in business,
if you have a good leader,
then workers are happy
and business generally booms.
That's why leaders get paid the big bucks,
don't they?
In sport,
if you have a good manager,
again,
the club flourishes,
doesn't it,
under their leadership.
In war,
your general is absolutely vital
and can be the difference
between winning a battle
and losing.
It can almost be
the difference between life
and death.
Bad leadership,
on the other hand,
can mean a mess,
can't it?
Bad leadership
can lead to corruption.
Bad leadership
can bring a whole organisation
down in a matter of minutes,
days.
And while the same is true
in the local church,
the church needs
good,
godly elders
to lead
the church
to the glory of Christ.
If the leaders
do not carry out
the duties
given to them
by the Lord,
then the church
will crumble.
It will be a mess.
It will be
unhealthy.
And that's why
early on in this letter,
Paul instructs Titus
to appoint elders
in every town.
Just look at verse 5 again.
This is why
I left you in Crete
so that you might
put what remained
into order
and appoint elders
in every town
as I
directed you.
Paul and Titus
have been on this island
preaching the
gospel.
They've seen converts.
Paul obviously
had to go away
and he left Titus
with this sole task
of appointing elders
to make sure
the churches
are in
order.
This is the reason
he is left behind.
To make sure
the churches
are in order
with good,
godly
leaders.
And this is a vital
ministry because
in verse 10
Paul says
there are false
teachers on the
prowl of the
circumcision party.
And Paul is saying
here in these verses
the way that we guard
against heresy
and false teaching
is by the leaders
that we appoint
who will preach
the gospel,
who will refute
heresy,
and make sure
that we are hearing
sound
doctrine.
And I want us to
notice in this text
what kind of leaders
Paul tells Titus
he should appoint.
It's striking in a way.
He doesn't say
I want a winning
personality
who's going to
galvanise the troops.
He doesn't want
people who dress
well in a nice suit
who have a good
business acumen.
He doesn't say
Titus should appoint
people with super
spiritual gifts
or who are flashy
or a celebrity
pastor.
But he says here
men
men of character.
Men of character.
Men
with godly
integrity.
You see young men
in our generation
often get it twisted
don't they?
They think
if they have a degree
and they know
the Greek word
for chicken
that they're ready
for leadership.
But Paul says
it's the character
of our lives
that is most
important.
Yes we have to
know our Bibles
but we have to
live out what
we know in our
lives don't we?
We have to
talk the talk
but we've got to
also walk
the walk.
It's vital.
I mean leaders
are often chosen
by how good they
are at attracting
people around them
because they're
winning personalities.
What Paul says
here is by the
attractive way
that leaders
live for Christ
that people
will follow them
and give their
allegiance to them
and trust them.
not just by
cracking a few
funnies in the
pulpit
but by godly
integrity
of their lives.
And before we
get into this
some of you
might be thinking
this text
and this sermon
is only for elders
so I can switch off
or it's only for
wannabe leaders here.
You might be thinking
I'm a woman here
this has got nothing
to do with me
or I'm not interested
in leadership
and so I can
switch off again
from this text.
But the characteristics
in this list
are all ones
that we as a church
should be striving for.
These characteristics
are all characteristics
we should be seeing
in our lives.
They're not supernatural
super spiritual
character traits
that only elders
should have
but ones that we
as Christians
should be known by.
The standard
of this list
are the standards
of Christianity
in general.
This list
is basic
Christianity.
Nobody should be saying
this list is just
for elders.
This is how we
should all
act
and pay attention to.
But this is the
plumb line isn't it?
This is the plumb line
for us to judge
who we should be
appointing as elders
and who we shouldn't.
And as a church
you need to know
this list
because you guys
are going to be
one of the appointing
elders aren't you
with the elders
you have already.
So you need to make sure
the guys that are
being appointed
are in line
with the list
in the Bible
and so we need to
know it don't we
as a church.
So who should be
appointed as elders?
Just three headings
for you.
This evening
I'll group them in.
Firstly
they have to be
a godly head
of the house.
Secondly
they have to be
blameless
and thirdly
they have to teach
sound doctrine.
Godly head
of the house
blameless
teach
sound
doctrine.
Paul says
immediately
in verse 6
if anyone's
above approach
he should be
the husband
of one
wife.
Let me first
say here
an obvious thing
that eldership
is male here
it's not a wife
of one husband
but the husband
of one wife
and a woman
can serve
in every capacity
in church
I think
except that
of an elder
overseer.
And Paul says
that if a man
is married
that he has
to be
a one
woman
man.
A one
woman man.
Here's the thing
every husband
and especially
an elder
must be
dedicated
to his wife
and love her
well.
This is so
important.
Many people
run after
leadership
but their
home lives
are an absolute
train wreck.
They don't
communicate
within their
marriage.
There are
constant
arguments
behind the
scenes.
But a
leader's
home
should be
his
oasis.
It should
be a place
of love
and peace
in the
storms of
life and
ministry
that is
built on
a good
healthy
solid
marriage.
Because
marriage
shows us
who a
man really
is.
What he
loves
how he
leads.
If you
want to
find out
about the
men in
this
church
ask their
wives.
And they'll
tell you
what kind
of man
they are.
And here's
the thing
if you're a
leader this
evening or
want to be
leader it's
really for
all of us.
Too many
leaders don't
they love
their ministries
more than
they love
their wives.
We need to
love our
wives more
than we love
our ministries.
We need to
serve them.
We need to
treat them
well.
We need to
communicate and
lead in a
Christ honouring
way.
Our greatest
ministry as
men in this
church is to
lead our
homes.
If we aren't
able to lead
our homes we
will not be in
a position to
lead a church
or have any
godly influence
in it.
He also says
here that an
elder must be a
godly father to
his children.
Now verse 6
is one of the
most debated
texts in the
New Testament.
Let me read it
again.
It says here
if anyone is
above reproach
to the husband
or the wife
and his
children are
believers and
not open to
the charge of
debauchery or
insubordination.
Now does that
mean if your
children aren't
Christians that
you cannot be an
elder?
It's the question
that came to
mind as I was
reading this text.
Does that mean
if your children
aren't Christians
then you can't
be an elder?
Well I'm not
sure if that's
exactly what
Paul is saying
here.
Let me tell you
why.
Three reasons.
One, the verb
here to believe,
pista, is
passive in the
Greek and is
better translated
faithful, not
of faith.
Faithful, not
of faith.
Two, if you
say it's just
elders with
believing children
then you
automatically
disqualify half
the church who
might have young
children because
they're not
Christians yet.
It would mean
that you could
only appoint men
who have
children who
are professing
faith, who
have been
baptised and
are showing
evidence of
walking in step
with the
spirit.
It would mean
you could only
choose men who
have children of
a particular age
bracket.
Rule Graham and
myself out who
have under
twos.
We couldn't be
elders.
Our children
aren't Christians
yet.
And three, I
think it puts a
crushing
responsibility on the
parents the
scriptures doesn't
warrant.
A parent is
not in charge
of his sons
and daughters
salvation.
Yes, they
share the
gospel with
them.
Yes, they
model it in
their home,
but it's not
God who
saves.
It's God's
responsibility to
soften the
heart and
convict the
child of sin
and his or
her need for
salvation.
I think what
Paul is saying
here is that
the character of
the household
should be a
godly one.
Does the
man lead his
children in
the faith?
Does he read
the Bible with
them?
Has he passed
on a Christian
worldview?
Are the
children in
church and
under the
word of
God?
They might
reject the
faith of
their parents.
They might
wander off.
They might
not get
converted
straight away,
but as the
father and
head of the
house, is
he bringing
them up in
the instruction
and discipline
of the
Lord, a.k.a.
Ephesians 6
verse 4.
I think you
see this, the
outflow of
this in the
character of
the children.
The children
of an elder,
as Paul goes
on to say,
or a potential
elder, should
not be
disobedient and
wild.
Does that
mean if your
toddler drops
in the middle
of a service
that the man
is disqualified?
Does it
mean if a
child in the
supermarkets
throws a big
shop, a
strop, and
throws his
hands in the
air, going
he's disqualified
from eldership?
I don't think
so again here.
No, Paul is
talking about
wild, sinful
behaviour.
He's saying
there should
be order in
his household.
Kids can
have fun,
can't they?
They'll put a
straitjacket on
our kids,
do we?
They'll have
to be the
Waltons.
They'll mess
up, they'll
disobey their
parents, but is
the father
leading his
house with
consistent
discipline and
consistent godly
love?
See again,
here is the
thing, if a
man cannot
lead his
household, then
how is he
going to lead
the church?
It's not
possible.
A godly
leader, if he
has a family,
must lead
well in his
home and
be in
private what
he is in
public.
Again, if you
want to choose
godly leaders,
do not look on
a Sunday at
a person and
how they act
and the words
they use and
how they dress.
Look at
them in
their homes.
We're choosing
elders.
The way we do
it is that we
get into
people's lives.
We go around
to people's
houses.
We observe
their marriages.
We see how
they interact
with the
children.
Because you
can hide
things on a
Sunday, can't
you?
But you
cannot hide
things at
home.
And we're
good at that,
aren't we, in
Christian circles.
We track a
smile on a
Sunday, everything's
fine, nothing's
going on in my
life.
And yet, back
at home,
everything's a
mess.
If you want to
find out a true
mark of a man
and woman,
what they like,
who they are,
when they are
by themselves,
all alone,
when no one
else is
watching.
Paul is
saying, we
need to
choose guys
who are
going to
be men
of integrity,
who are
going to
love their
wives,
who are
going to
lead their
children,
and be
what they
are in
private as
they are in
public.
So firstly,
a man needs
to be a
godly leader
in his
home.
Secondly,
a potential
elder must be
blameless.
Paul mentions
twice in these
verses,
in ESV,
they need
to be
above
reproach,
or in
other
translations
they need
to be
blameless.
This doesn't
mean that
a man
mustn't
sin,
but that
he's not
liable to
accusation
or question
as to his
personal
character
and
integrity.
It means
even if
he's accused
of something,
people will
laugh it off
because they
know what
he's truly
like.
Again,
it means
being what
we are in
private,
what we
are in
public.
What does
that look
like?
He gives
us a list
doesn't
he?
Here.
He goes
negative
first.
He says
a leader
must not
be arrogant.
In other
words,
a leader
must not
be full
of himself.
A leader
can do
much damage
to his
congregation
when he's
pig-headed
and arrogant.
That's not
just leaders,
men in
general,
isn't it?
Pig-headed
and arrogant.
A man
who's
overbearing
and stubborn
and inconsiderate
of people's
feelings.
He's like a
bull in a
china shop,
isn't he?
But a
godly leader
is a servant
above all
things,
isn't he?
He will
admit when
he gets
things wrong.
He will
let others
make decisions.
He's a
humble man
because he
knows that
God opposes
the proud,
but he
gives grace
to the
humble.
At
Nidra again,
when we're
choosing our
leaders or
we're
hiring staff
or interns
to our
program,
the first
task we
will get
people to
do is
clean the
toilets.
If they're
willing to
clean the
toilets,
then they're
ready for
service in
the church.
If they're
not,
then they
have a
pride problem
and they
are not
fit for
service,
are they?
Jesus is
clear,
whoever will
be great
among you
must be
your servant,
whoever will
be first
among you
must be
slave of
all,
for even
the Son
of Man
came not
to be
served,
but to
serve and
give his
life as
a ransom
for many.
Paul then
goes on,
he says,
a leader
must not
be quick
tempered,
he must
not be
a bully,
he must
not fly
off the
handle every
time he
doesn't get
his own
way,
but be
patient and
forbearing
with those
around him.
He must
be slow to
anger like
the God
who he
follows.
You see,
a short
fuse does
not help
the work
of God
at all,
but hinders
it,
doesn't
it?
Hudson
Taylor,
a missionary
from the
19th century
said this,
my greatest
temptation
is to
my temper
over the
slackness
and
insufficiency
so disappointing
in those
on who
I depend.
It is no
use to
lose my
temper,
only kindness
is good,
but oh,
it is such
a trial.
ministry
can be
tough work,
church can
be tough
work in
general,
can't it?
Meeting
up with
people you
wouldn't
usually hang
out with
in general,
old and
young,
different
backgrounds
coming
together,
but as
leaders,
we face
trouble,
don't we?
We have
to feel
the complaints
and the
grumblings
of the
congregation
and we
need the
strength
of the
Lord to
be patient
with those
around us
because a
short fuse
does not
help the
kingdom of
God,
it only
hinders
it.
He must
not be a
drunkard or
violent.
In other
words,
he must be
able to
control his
passions,
he must be
able to
have self
control in
his life.
Again,
if he can't
have self
control in
his life,
how can
he counsel
someone who
is struggling
with it?
He cannot.
Paul rounds
off his
negative list
by saying
that Titus
should choose
men who
are not
greedy for
gain.
When I
think of
those words,
I think of
Judas Iscariot
who filled
his pockets
with the
money he
was supposed
to be
collecting
for the
disciples and
for the
Lord Jesus.
Money should
not be a
man's motive
for serving
in leadership.
We serve
Jesus Christ
and him
alone for
his glory,
not for
money.
We do
not go into
ministry to
make millions,
but for the
glory of
Christ.
That's why
I can't
understand
these leaders
in America
who paid
themselves
six-figure
salaries,
making names
for themselves
of their
books.
They're not
really about
the glory of
God,
but about
them.
We do
not do
ministry to
make money
from it.
1 Peter 5
2 is clear.
Shepherd the
flock of
God is
among you,
exercising
oversight,
not under
compulsion,
but willingly
as God
would have
you,
not for
shameful
gain.
Then Paul
goes positive.
A godly
leader is
to be
hospitable,
he says.
That means
that a
leader must
be hospitable
to the alien
and stranger
in the land.
He must
love them.
There's a
great picture
of this in
Job 31,
32.
Job says
this,
the sojourner
has not
lodged in
the street.
I've opened
my doors to
the traveller.
A godly
leader opens
up their
hearts and
opens up
their homes
to those
around them.
No matter
who they
are,
they're not
standoffish,
but they
are warm
towards
outsiders.
They open
up their
lives to
people.
They show
the world
their family
or they
care for
and they're
vulnerable
before people.
And a
lack of
hospitality
is only
a sign
of a
selfish
heart,
isn't
it?
And
hospitality
in our
culture
can be
sorely
missed,
can't it?
Because we're
so individualistic.
We have
this great
idol in our
culture and
it's called
this,
me time.
people of
Christ,
we are
called to
be
hospitable
and letting
the stranger
into our
homes,
the feet,
to love,
to care for.
A godly leader
will get into
people's lives
and allow
people to
see theirs
as well.
It goes on
and he says
a godly leader
loves what
is good.
Someone who
loves what
is good
is a
virtue
lover.
They love
the things
that Christ
loves and
they hate
the things
that Christ
hates.
Romans 12
verse 9,
let love
be genuine,
abhor what
is evil,
hold fast
to what
is good.
Godly
leaders
self-controlled.
This means
that a
leader has
complete
self-mastery
over their
passions
and their
impulses.
In today's
language,
a man has
a good grip
on himself.
Too many
young men
do not have
a grip
on themselves,
do they?
And older
men,
and middle
aged men.
They have
a grip
on themselves,
do they?
And their
passions.
A godly
man monitors
himself day
in and day
out and he
submits
himself to
the x-ray
and cat
scan
detail of
God's
perfect
words.
As
leaders
and as
men in
general,
we must
not forget
what kind
of men
we are.
At root,
we are
sinful
rats.
We are
rat bags
who have
only been
saved because
of the
grace of
our Lord
Jesus
Christ.
And yes,
we are
changed from
the inside
out afterwards,
but we
still have
sin in
dwelling.
we still
struggle.
We still
have a
battle going
on in
our hearts.
Let me
warn you
as a
church,
do not
put your
elders up
as a
pedestal
up here
that they're
going to
be a
super
Christian
compared
to you
guys.
They
have the
same
struggles
and issues
that every
other person
faces
within
the
church.
Eldership
can be a
lonely
experience.
I felt
it.
It can
be a
very
lonely
experience.
And so
you as a
congregation
need to
pray for
your
elders,
don't
you?
You as
a congregation
need to
keep your
elders
accountable.
And as
leaders here
at this
church,
you need to
make sure
you have
good,
godly
people
around
you that
you can
talk to
about what's
going on in
your heart
and mind.
Do not
sweep things
under the
carpet,
because it
always comes
out at
some point
under the
stresses of
ministry.
God
is
upright
or
sensible.
This is a
man who
has a
balanced
life.
He acts
with wisdom
and common
sense.
He sees
things from
God's
perspective
and acts
accordingly.
There's a
difference,
isn't there,
in life between
someone who
knows the
Bible and
someone who
knows the
Bible and
knows how to
put that into
practical terms
in their
lives.
Someone who
has wisdom
to implement
it.
Charles
Purgeon
said this
when thinking
about selecting
leaders.
He said,
certain good
men appealed
to me who
were distinguished
by enormous
passion and
zeal and a
conspicuous
absence of
brains.
Brethren who
would take
forever and
ever upon
nothing,
who would
stamp and
thump the
Bible and
get nothing
out of it,
are all
earnest,
awfully
earnest.
Mountains
and
labour are
the most
painful
kind,
but nothing
comes out
of it all.
Therefore,
I have
usually declined
their
applications.
In other
words,
a man must
not just
have zeal,
but he
must have
common
sense as
well.
Finally,
Paul says
to Timothy,
they need
to be
disciplined
and holy.
To be
holy in
this context
means to
be pure
and unpolluted.
Again,
this is a
man
committed
to godliness
and Christ
likeness.
People
often think
in our
culture that
holiness is
just not
doing what
the culture
does.
Back in
the day,
it was like
holiness is
I don't
go to the
cinema,
I don't
go to the
dancing,
I don't
smoke,
I don't
do this,
I don't
do that.
And that's
part of
it,
isn't it?
Standing
against the
culture,
but it's
deeper than
that,
isn't it?
Holiness
is about
being totally
transformed
inside out
into the
likeness of
Christ.
That's what we
should all be
striving for in
our lives.
It means to
love the
things that he
loves.
Again, it
means to
hate the
things that
he hates.
It means to
value the
things that
he values.
So we
need to
be looking
for men
who are
pursuing
Christ,
who love
him first,
who want
to serve
for his
glory and
not for
their own.
Again, let
me say these
are characters
that are not
super spiritual
ones.
There's an
absence of
unusual qualities
here, isn't
there?
We should
all be known
by holiness.
We should
all be known
by hospitality.
We should
all be known
by self-control.
And all the
other things
on this
list.
As Alistair
Begg writes,
these are just
down to
earth, common
commodities of
the Christian
life.
This job is
not for the
flashy.
It's not for
those who are
good in the
business world,
or just for
the those who
are good in
the business
world.
The position
of leadership
is for men
of character.
And if you
are a
wannabe leader,
if that's
something you
want to do,
that's a
noble thing
to want
to do.
But let
me warn you,
you need to
pray deeply
about it.
Because James
3, 1 says
this,
not many of
you should
become teachers,
my brothers,
for you know
that we who
teach will be
judged with
greater
strictness.
Greater
strictness,
that's scary
stuff.
We need to
think twice.
There's no
greater privilege
than being a
leader, I can
tell you that.
we must go
into leadership
with the
right heart
and with
humility
before God.
We challenge
you again as
a church
of Brunsford,
you need to
pray for your
elders.
You need to
ask them
constantly,
how are they
getting on in
their Christian
walk?
Hebrews 13,
7,
remember your
leaders,
don't forget
them,
keep them
accountable.
the health
of this
church
depends in
part on
your
elders
to commit
them to
prayer.
I don't
think we
realise
sometimes
the heavy
pressure
that elders
come under
from the
evil one.
Satan
knows if
he can
sift a
leader
then the
ministry
goes kaput.
He knows
if he can
get to
the top
men or
women
that the
house of
cards
will
tumble.
So
members,
get on
your knees
daily for
your leaders
and pray
for them.
And leaders,
be on guard
constantly,
wearing the
spiritual armour
of the Lord
because Satan
is roaring
around like
a wild lion
seeking to
devour.
We need
Christ,
don't we
leaders?
We need
Christ.
So
secondly,
a leader needs
to be blamed
and thirdly,
a godly leader
and finally,
needs to
teach
sound
doctrine.
Look at
verse 9
again.
He must
hold firm
the trustworthy
word as
taught so
that he may
be able to
give instruction
to sound
doctrine and
also to
rebuke those
who contradict
it.
An elder
has two
jobs,
to preach
the word
and to
defend
the truth.
This means
an elder
must know
the word
of God.
They must
know the
foundational
truths of
the Bible
so that he
can equip
the sheep
and keep
them from
error.
Our
churches,
don't they
need the
word of
God,
people?
They need
to know
that it's
sufficient
for all
of life's
problems.
They need
to know
that it is
a mighty
unstoppable
river.
they need
to know
that it's
only by
God's
words that
we will
be changed.
They need
to know
that this
word is
dynamite,
isn't it?
As we
read it,
as we
pray upon
it,
as we
hear it
preached
week in,
week out,
it puts us
in our
place,
doesn't it?
It reminds
us who
God is.
It reminds
us that
we are
sinners in
comparison.
It reminds
us constantly
of our need
for the
Lord Jesus
Christ to
be close
to us.
The
word
transforms
us as
the spirit
of God
takes it
and applies
it to
our lives.
In
short,
God's
words
brings
revival
and
spiritual
awakening.
And so
as elders
and pastors
here,
do not
try flashy
techniques.
They don't
work.
Only the
word of
God can
transform
our lives.
Preach
it,
know
it,
trust
in it,
be
transformed
by it.
Listen to
Paul's
instruction to
Timothy,
I charge
you in the
presence of
God and
of Christ
Jesus,
who's judged
the living and
the dead,
and by his
appearing in
his kingdom,
preach the
word.
Be ready in
season and
out of season.
Reprove,
rebuke,
and exhort with
complete patience
and teaching.
Again,
I revert back
to that
testimony that
you heard
earlier.
We didn't
do anything
special.
There's no
zip wire at
our church,
no smoke
machines.
We preach
the words
week in,
week out.
People come,
they hear,
and they are
transformed.
That's what's
going to
transform your
hearts and
your minds
here at
Brunsfield.
Let me say
again,
this is not
just a
man thing.
Men and
women and
children need
to know
God's words.
We need
godly wives,
don't we?
We need
older women
here to
teach younger
women and
sound doctrine
and get
into that
in Titus
2.
You see,
it's not
just the
job of
the elders
to protect
the purity
of the
gospel of
the whole
church.
In
Galatians
1.6,
he doesn't
write to
the elders,
he writes
to the
church.
And he
holds them
accountable
for protecting
the gospel.
We need
more women,
don't we,
who are
theologically
astute and
can train
younger women
and be a
godly influence
in their
lives.
Just because
we're
complementarian
does not
mean that we
cannot train
women to
train others,
other women.
It's sorely
missing in
our land.
And your
main job as
a listener,
week in and
week out,
is to be
attentive to
God's word,
but not to
be like the
man who
looks in
the mirror
and walks
away and
doesn't do
anything about
it, but to
obey God's
words.
Listen to
it.
Listen to
what your
elders are
saying through
God's word
and respond to
it in
repentance and
faith.
Let me end
with one,
Peter, if
you want to
turn with me
there.
1 Peter 5
says this,
So exhort
the elders
among you
as a
fellow elder
and a
witness of
the sufferings
of Christ,
as well as
the partaking
of the glory
that is going
to be revealed.
Shepherd the
flock of
God that is
among you
exercising
oversight,
not under
compulsion,
but willingly
as God
would have
you,
not for
shameful
gain,
but eagerly,
not domineering
over those
in your
charge,
but being
examples to
the flock.
And when
the chief
shepherd
appears,
you will
receive the
unfading
crown
of glory.
one day,
Jesus is
going to
come back
and what a
glorious day
it's going
to be.
And he's
going to
hold us
leaders
accountable
for our
service to
his flock.
our people
and our
churches
are only
on loan
for us
so we
might
protect
them,
build
them
up,
guide
and love
them
well.
And it
is a
tough job,
it is a
difficult job
at times,
it's a
thankless
task,
but here's
the encouragement
from this
text,
if we have
been faithful
to Christ
then we
will receive
the unfading
crown
of glory.
Let us
remember the
Lord Jesus
Christ as
we end,
because this
list in
this book
of Titus is
really just a
description of
Jesus Christ
isn't it?
He is the
perfect leader
and shepherd
who laid
down his
sheep for
his flock
so that we
might come
into the
presence of
God and
worship him
in spirit
and in
truth.
As
Christians
here this
evening we
need to keep
our eyes
focused on
him,
don't we?
The founder
perfecter of
our faith
and keep
running this
race with
our endurance.
Our leaders
might not be
perfect,
in fact they
are not,
but he
was and
he will lead
us all the
way home
under the
leadership of
his
under
shepherds.
Seek
Christ this
evening
and
imitate
him.
Amen?
Amen.