A. By Organizing God’s People (1:5)

“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you might set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city as I directed you" (Titus 1:5).

1. Who did Paul leave behind? Where? Where is this place?

2. List the two purposes Paul gives him for leaving him behind?

3. Describe what the first purpose might mean. Be as practical as you can.

4. How does the second purpose go along with the first one?

5. What kind of churches might need someone’s help like Paul provided through Titus? Do you know of any such churches? Explain.

6. Some churches and denominations make a big difference between elders and overseers (bishops). How does Acts 20:28 and Philippians 1:1 show the relationships between these two terms?

7. Today’s modern world does not appreciate authority. What do you think of leaders in the church? What is their role” What goes on in the church where you attend? Do you think that having elders is an option or required? Why do you think so?

8. Are you committed to a congregation How does 1:5 imply a tightly bound congregation? Why do many onl want to attend church but not be committed members?

B. By Mandating Godly Standards (1:6-9)

“Namely, if any man be above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion. For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” Titus 1:6-9).

9. We had just spoken about setting up godly leaders. From your perspective, what characteristics are important for your church? How might this list differ from Paul’s? Why?

10. What are the actual standards that Paul sets before u here in 1:6-9? Make a list of them and define them in your own words.

11. Later, go back to the companion article for this text and further clarify your understanding of these terms.

12. Why do you think that Paul used these terms rather than others?

13. Let’s think together about developing Godly leaders.

Generally speaking, churches are desperately looking for godly leaders. They do not have leaders and typically envy the churches that have them. We hear, “I wish we had more people to do the work of the Lord.” Many churches think, “If we only had leaders like you, then we would be such a better church.” They are confused. They need to realize that the reason they do not have good and godly leaders is because they prevent them from developing. We need to ask two questions.

• What is a good leader?
  

• How do we raise up godly leaders?
  

The chief problem with raising up good leaders is that the church has the wrong conception of a good leader. It is totally inadequate to say that we want good leaders without knowing what they are. But this is precisely the problem many have. We want what we think good leaders can bring. But what we are faced with in this passage and others like it, is that we are looking for the fruit of good leaders rather than good leaders. Like the typical modern world, we want the easy and instantaneous rather than the long, arduous building of leaders. I would suggest that if we wanted good leaders rather than what the good leaders bring, we would be on a whole better place at reaching our goal. If we want more effective leaders, then we need to start lifting our standards to match what Paul says here. We cannot shift blame but starting crying out that God would wake up all of our hearts.

We cannot prepare a leader overnight. A person is not ready for leadership in the church because he is a leader in the community. A person might be a great business or great academic, but that does not make a good leader. It is for this reason we must train up our own leaders. We get to see and shape their character.

Again, we might be puzzled and even despairing over Paul’s treatment of leaders. He refuses

14. Is your church looking for a pastor or elders right now? Ask what qualities they are looking for? See what else they are looking for?

15. What steps has your church taken in raising up good elders