Titus 1

Pray Psalm 82.1.
God stands in the congregation of the mighty;
He judges among the gods.

Review Titus 1.

Prepare.
1. Why did Paul think it was necessary to order the churches in a particular way?

2. What do elders contribute to church order?

Meditate.
As in 1 Timothy, so in Titus, Paul insists that churches must be ordered in a particular way, following the precedent God set for His people in the Old Testament. Judges – in the New Testament, elders – were to be appointed for every city – every church. They were to be the overseers – bishops – of the church, watching over the spiritual lives of the members of the congregation, and guarding against false teaching.

It takes a special kind of man to be an elder. He must be spiritually strong, morally impeccable, and able to teach and shepherd the people entrusted to his care. Elders are not board members; they are shepherds. They should be chosen not because of their worldly success, but because of their zeal for the Lord and His church, and their Christ-like qualifications.

No church is “in order” (v. 5) that does not have such elders. No small part of the pastor’s job is to make sure that elders are trained, in place, and doing the work of shepherding God’s flock – watching over the souls of His people – that they might live fruitful lives for Him.

Like Adam in the garden, elders are appointed to develop the spiritual lives of God’s people, so that they can bear much fruit for the Lord, and to guard them against whatever might want to subvert their faith or divide them. 

Reflect.
1. Why are elders so important to the order of a local church?

2. How can you tell when false teaching is beginning to establish itself in the church? What should you do then?

3. How are all believers, like Paul, bondservants and apostles of the Lord?

He again repeats, that they who aspire to the office of a bishop ought to retain an unspotted reputation; and he confirms it by this argument, that, because the Church is the house of God, every person who is appointed to govern it ― is constituted, as it were, governor of the house of God. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Titus 1.7

Thank You, Lord, for our pastors and elders. Today, let me encourage them by…

Pray Psalm 82.1-8.
Let this psalm guide you in praying for the judges of your church – your pastors and elders.

Sing Psalm 82.1-8.
Psalm 82.1-8 (Aurelia: The Church’s One Foundation)
God stands amid His people to judge their rulers all.
How long will they oppress those who on His favor call?
How long will they the wicked show partiality,
And treat with scorn the meek who their proper care should be?

Behold the weak and orphaned in need of loving care;
The destitute and smitten are with you everywhere.
Do justice, then, you rulers, to all God’s needy lambs.
Redeem, revive, retrieve them from wicked, sinful hands.

They do not understand, they in darkness walk around,
While Zion’s walls are shaken  and scattered on the ground.
God says to them, “My children, the sons of God Most High,
Though you be high exalted, like all men you shall die.”

Rise up, O God, in splendor according to Your worth!
Rise up in pow’r to judge all the nations of the earth!
Rise up, O God our Savior, and hear our fervent call,
For You possess and rule o’er the nations one and all.

T. M. Moore

What are church leaders supposed to do in leading the Lord’s flock? Our workbook, Shepherding God’s Flock, will show you how to bring effective pastoral ministry and disciple-making into the everyday life of your church. Order your copy by clicking here.

Download this and all the studies in our series on the Pastoral Epistles by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).