2. Background Elders = overseers = pastors Every church had them: “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— (Titus 1:5 ESV)” Always plural: “Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: (Philippians 1:1-2 ESV)
3. LIVE the gospel “You yourselves know how I lived among you the whole time from the first day that I set foot in Asia, serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials that happened to me through the plots of the Jews;” (Acts 20:18-19 ESV) Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ. (1 Cor11:1 ESV) Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. Titus 1:7-8
4. PREACH the gospel You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus…… For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God. (v 20, 21, 27)
5. DEFEND the gospel “So guard yourselves and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own blood—over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders. I know that false teachers, like vicious wolves, will come in among you after I leave, not sparing the flock. Even some men from your own group will rise up and distort the truth in order to draw a following. (v28, 29,30) For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. (2 Tim 4:3)
6. PURSUE the gospel However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace (V24, NIV) “My people’s greatest need is my personal holiness”. (Robert Murray M’Cheyne, 1813-1843)
7. ..one final thought If we want leaders who live, preach, defend and passionately pursue the gospel, what sort of church do our leaders want?
