Order Through Elders
Without proper oversight, chaos will ensue. A perfect example of this happened when my children were younger, and my sister came to visit with her children. Inevitably, the same thing would happen. We would send the children upstairs to play so that the adults could catch up and have adult conversations. Seven young children were essentially left unsupervised. It is not hard to imagine the result. The ceiling would start shaking, bangs and crashes would indicate wrestling, and eventually a child would start crying.
But I did not want to give up our adult time away from the children. So I would yell upstairs, “Stop it!” and then proceed with the conversation. But you can imagine what happened. The chaos continued to spiral out of control. The young ones were getting abused, beds were being destroyed, toys were scattered and broken, and toothpaste was eaten. Basically, it was Lord of the Flies.
And this is what happens when there is no oversight. In our passage this Sunday, we come to Paul’s instructions to Titus on how to bring order to the newly planted churches in Crete. Paul understands that without proper oversight, things will quickly decay into chaos. Therefore, he instructs Titus to appoint elders who will provide oversight and ensure sound teaching, so that order might be established in the church.
This pattern of church order continues to this day. Christ has purposed to govern his church through a plurality of elders who exercise oversight and teaching. And when the church submits to Christ’s appointed order, it is not merely organized; it is cared for, protected, and built up in the truth.
To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and meditate on Titus 1:5-9, Exodus 18:13-27, Ephesians 1:15-23, Colossians 1:15-20, 1 Peter 5:1-5, Hebrews 13:17, and Westminster Confession of Faith 25.
As we gather to worship our loving Father this Lord’s Day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “Praise the Lord, Ye Heavens Adore Him”, the Acclamation of Praise “Before the Throne of God Above”, and the Hymn of Response “And Can It Be”. Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Text: Titus 1:5-9
Title: Order Through Elders
- Christ Governs His Church Through a Plurality of Elders (v. 5)
- Christ Governs His Church Through the Oversight of Elders (v. 7)
- Christ Governs His Church Through the Teaching of Elders (v. 9)