"Godly Leaders Inspire Good Works"

Titus: Letter written by Paul in roughly 63-66 AD sometime before his imprisonment. Was written after Paul and Titus went to help the churches in Crete and then left Titus there. Although Paul’s last words in 2 Timothy were that Titus went to Dalmatia, tradition tells us that after that he went to Crete and spent the rest of his life there ministering with the church in that region.

Probably a lot of work there because there were probably many churches. The Cretan’s were a rough group Epimenides there own prophet said
Vrs 12.
Polybius in Histories said “Almost impossible to find personal conduct more treacherous or public policy more unjust, then in Crete”

Cicero states in Republic “Moral principles are so divergent that the Cretans consider highway robbery honorable”

How do you do good among such a sinful and messed up culture? The first thing is appoint leaders who follow the Lord. Is this possible to find Godly people to lead in such terrible circumstances…Titus would know the answer is yes…cause he knew about Noah, Lot, Moses, Daniel

Theme of letter: “Promoting good works among the people” Obviously a difficult task.

Tonight we will learn that “Godly leaders inspire good works”
We all realize that when there is corruption in leadership and injustice happens people respond in sinful ways.

An example of that was in LA in the early 90’s when Rodney King beaten by police and the police got off the hook. Explain the riots and the story of Rev. Bennie Newton who ran a ministry for troubled young men in LA, turn on the tv as the riots started to break out and realized around the corner from his house Reginald Denny was being beaten by looters. He ran out to find that others saved Reginald by the attackers were now beating a man named Fidel Lopez, Rev. Newton with Bible in hand jumped on Fidel to guard him from the attackers and yelled “If you kill this man you have to kill me first” and the attackers dispersed and Rev. Newton prayed over the man and brought him to the hospital because no ambulance responded.

Our culture and every culture and place need righteous leaders to stand for righteousness.

To identify Godly leaders we look at...
• family life.
• personal purity.
• doctrinal beliefs.
• willingness to do what is right no matter the cost.

What I am going to do is go through the passage in order rather then going through there four points and taking the passage out of order. With these points behind me you will be able see that these points are what we find in the passage.

• Intro Verses 1-4
Vrs 1 Paul starts with the reminder of truth GOSPEL (doctrinal beliefs)
Vrs 2 Even though you are in a culture of liars. In 600BC the Cretans were so much known for being liars that other people came up with the term “Cretanize” which meant you were lying. In sharp contrast Paul states “God is not a liar” His Gospel is true (personal purity)
Vrs 3 Given Word to be preached and “Entrusted” Paul with it. This is what all Christians must understand we are “Entrusted” to bring the Word. (doctrinal beliefs)


• Vrs 5 Here is what I need you to do. Clean up the mess and then appoint those who can take care of the church.
Appoint: who has the right to put people in leadership? Those in leadership, not about yes men but about qualified men.

The character of Godly leaders Vrs 6-8 What qualifies them? these are character traits that all Christians should strive after. When I preached 1 Timothy 3 I did an entire sermon on these traits, so I don’t want to get repetitious.

Paul is saying here is this the measuring stick…Why? Because people need real life people in their church and community to look up to, get Godly advice from and trust. In the culture Titus was in it was a lot easier to select unqualified men to be leaders but Paul is saying “no no” There must be standards for who will have authority in the church.

Vrs 9 these men have to be willing to do the hard things and not shrink back for fear of others. They stick to God’s Word and use it to correct those who violate it and oppose it.

• The character of the ungodly Vrs 10 Paul now describes what characterizes the ungodly. “circumcision party” The false teachers arose form the Jewish Christians (Here is how you will recognize them, they are the ones adding rules)

• What to do about the ungodly 11-14.
-Silence v11 They need to be willing to speak up..
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil...not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer

-v12-13a Even the unredeemed know they are sinful (Epimenides)
-Rebuke & correct them v13-14
Need to point out their error and send them on the right way
Myths-belief in untrue or fanciful stories that were deceptive and excused immoral behavior.

• Vrs 15-16 When someone is working on their personal purity their focus becomes on the things of the Lord, when that happens we think on what is pure…that is where our mind goes…did you ever have someone say to you “get your mind out of the gutter”?
The ungodly are deceived their conscience and moral compass is off…The book of Romans talks a lot about this.

-When your mind is deceived the result is sin, false teachers loved to make up and hold people to rules that are not Biblical


Vrs 16 “Unfit” even when they do good it just does not seem good


The result…
Having Godly leaders in place will inspire those they are leading to do good works.

Our Response…
Follow in good works in order to lead others to Jesus.

In effect we all have some role in leading…