Sermon Central
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Is The Pastor Eligible?-1
Contributed by Byron Sherman on Mar 18, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Part 1 of a 2-part sermon. Paul told Titus that the focus of his work on Crete was to bring order to the churches & appoint qualified elders. Pastors must meet certain qualifications. But What are they? Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
IS THE PASTOR ELIGIBLE?-I—Titus 1:5-9
Attention:
The churches of Crete were saved but were lacking the finesse necessary to accomplishing their mission. They were not yet organized for ministry.
A pastor by the name of Titus, was charged with the fortunate task, of straightening out those aspects of a local— & possibly island-wide— church body which would bring it up to speed, thus making them viable & able to powerfully carry the message of Christ to a lost world.
With apostolic authority, Paul instructs Titus specifically, to “appoint” qualified men to pastoral positions in every city on the island of Crete. That is his first priority. This is because without headship, their can be no sustained & organized effort to win their world for Christ.
Thus Paul informs Titus of the basic qualifications for pastoral eligibility.
So we begin at this point in verse 5.
Need:
Paul told Titus that the focus of his work on Crete was to bring order to the churches & appoint qualified elders.
Pastors must meet certain qualifications.
What qualifies a man as pastor?
6 measures of pastoral eligibility/integrity.
1—Pastoral eligibility is measured by...
ALIGNMENT Stability(:5)
Explanation:(:5) Complete/Complement/bring Order to the church
:5—“For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set in order the things that are lacking, & appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--”
“For this reason I left you in Crete,”
“Crete”—Krhth— ‘Fleshy.’
—The largest of the Greek islands(3,219 sq.mi.—Bigger than Delaware but smaller than Connecticut). 162 mi. long X 37 mi. wide(7.5 mi. minimum). A rich Greek(Minoan) history dating from ~2600BC. In Acts 2, one of the languages specifically mentioned is Cretan. Paul appeared before Ceasar via Crete.
“That you should set in order the things that are lacking,”
“Set in order/Straighten out”—epidioryow—To set in order besides or further. Strong—From epi & a derivative of oryov(‘Orthodontist’—straightens or aligns teeth); To straighten further, i.e. (figuratively) arrange additionally:-- Set in order. Used of setting bones or bent limbs or our ‘orthopedics.’ Used 1X.
“Lacking/Wanting/Remains/Left unfinished”—leipw—1) To leave, leave behind, forsake, to be left behind—1a) To lag, be inferior, 1b) To be destitute of, to lack; 2) To be wanting, to fail.
“And appoint elders in every city as I commanded you--”
Titus was so trustworthy in Paul’s eyes, in that he was charged with appointing elders for the churches in the cities of Crete in Paul’s physical absence.
Acts 14:21-23—“And when they had preached the gospel to that city & made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, & Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, & saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” & So when they had appointed elders in every church, & prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
2Tim. 2:1-2—“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
“Appoint/Ordain”—kayisthmi—To set, place, put. Strong—To place down (permanently), i.e. (figuratively) To designate, constitute, convoy:-- appoint, be, conduct, make, ordain, set.
“Elders”—presbuterov—1) Elder, of age,—1a) The elder of two people, 1b) Advanced in life, an elder, a senior, 1b1) Forefathers; 2) A term of rank or office—2a) Among the Jews—2a1) Members of the great council or Sanhedrin (because in early times the rulers of the people, judges, etc., were selected from elderly men), 2a2) Of those who in separate cities managed public affairs & administered justice, 2b) Among the Christians, those who presided over the assemblies(or churches). The NT uses the term bishop, elders, & presbyters interchangeably, 2c) The twenty four members of the heavenly Sanhedrin or court seated on thrones around the throne of God.
Argumentation:
1Cor. 14:40—“Let all things be done decently & in order.”
Col. 2:5—“For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order & the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.”
1Cor. 4:15-17—“For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved & faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church.”
1Cor. 7:17—“But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches.”
1Cor. 11:16—“But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God.”
Illustration:
Ellinor to Dr. Busby for braces/Spend years & funds to have him apply expertise to Ellinor’s teeth/There are some things that are lacking/These require different applications for different teeth/ALIGNMENT Stability
