Biblical Eldership Church Leadership

Paul ’s Instruction to Titus

God’s steward, then, must be like Job. He must live a morally up right life and be clothed in practical righteousness.

DEVOUT: To be “devout” (hosios) is to be firmly committed to God and His Word. It is to be separated unto God and pleasing to God. Despite the changing winds of culture and circumstances, the devout person faithfully clings to God and His Word. One of the terrible facts of Israel’s history is that many of its leaders were not “just” and “devout,” so the people were led astray. An elder must not lead people astray! He must model godly commitment, char acter, and conduct, and thereby lead people in righteousness and devo tion to God. SELF-CONTROLLED: God’s steward must be characterized by self control and self-discipline in every aspect of life, particularly in his physical desires (Acts 24:25; 1 Cor. 7:9; 9225). An undisciplined man has little resistance to sexual lust, anger, slothfulness, a critical spirit, or other base desires. He is easy prey for the devil. Solomon warns against the undisciplined man’s vulnerability to all the enemies of his soul: “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit” (Prov. 25:28). In Solomon’s time, walls were a strategic part of a city’s defense system. A strong and secure city fortified its walls. Solomon likens a person’s power of self-control to the walled fortifications of a city. Without self-control, a person is exposed to attack and becomes easy prey for any enemy. Self—control is an essential part of the Spirit-controlled life (Gal. 5:23). Leaders who lack discipline frustrate their fellow workers as well as those they lead. Not only are they poor examples, but they cannot accomplish what needs to be done. Consequently, their flock is poorly managed and lacks adequate spiritual care. HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD. . .ABLE BOTH TO EX HORT IN SOUND DOCTRINE AND TO REFUTE THOSE WHO CONTRADICT: Verse 9 presents the final and crucial point in the Pauline catalog of elder qualifications. This is the heart of Paul’s con cern. The verses following this qualification elaborate on why this qualification is so indispensable to an elder and to the local churches of Crete (Titus 1210-16). This last requirement is more than just

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