Parking Lot Talks About Your Pastor Series

Do you know what the #1 fear in America is? The number one fear in America is public speaking.

Yet do you know what the #2 fear in America is? The number two fear in America is death.

The comedian, Jerry Seinfeld was talking about this and came to this conclusion. He said: “Since the number #1 fear is public speaking and the #2 fear is death; that means that if you die and a Pastor does your eulogy—he is more scared to death than you are.”

Transition:

As a Pastor I love this. It reminds me that will God all things are possible, and God must have helped me conqueror my fears so I could get up in front of you today.

As Paul speaks to Titus in Titus chapter 1, He communicates that He left Titus in Crete to get a job done. It appears that the job was not being done as quickly as Paul anticipated so he skips his normal and routine introduction to his letter and immediately says that something is out of order.

The churches need to be “set in order” by “appointing elders.” The word “appoint” (katasteses) is an interesting word because it was used in dramas and plays to denote a climactic moment, a special place or introduction.

Paul was telling Titus, to not only set apart these leaders but to have a climactic moment of introduction or ordination.

He then defines the role of these leaders as “elders.” The word here is the word “presbuteros” from which we get our word “presbyter or presbyterian” which from the beginning of the church since Pentecost was the name for the men who were identified as the Pastors or under shepherds of the church that were responsible to Jesus; the Chief Shepherd for leading His church.

Therefore, obviously, this passage is written specifically about Pastors. Therefore, in this passage, I am going to be preaching to myself. Yet also I am going to be preaching to you and outline our connection and relationship together.

So specifically, what does God say to each of us when it comes to the decisions of our lives?

Transition: Let’s talk about what God wants His people to do because He called and placed Pastors in His church?

I. He Wants You to Pick A Pastor

vs. 6-9- “namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children that 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, so that he will be able to both exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict.”

Explanation:

When it comes to the placement of Pastors in the church, Paul makes it clear that there is a certain criteria and qualifications that you should take note of when picking a Pastor.

In verses 6-9 he outlines what is necessary for a Pastor to be qualified to lead a church. Let’s read this list of specific requirements: “…namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children that 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, so that he will be able to both exhort in sound doctrine and refute those who contradict.”

There are some things that are obviously missing from this list that we usually put on the list. You will notice that there is no mention of:

a) Age- Paul told Timothy who was selected as a Pastor to “let no man despise his

youth.” Whether young or old; age is not and should not be the focus of picking a Pastor.

b) Ability- There is not mention of his preaching skills, his talents, or if his wife can play the

piano if they can get him for cheap. ?

c) Aptitude- There is not mention of whether he’s been to seminary or if he has a degree.

What is interesting today is that those three things (according to Lifeway Research) are the three criteria that most churches use in hiring a Pastor. As a matter of fact, they are currently studying the issue and recently said: “Age discrimination is common in many churches.”

Illustration: Mother Superior

When I started serving as a Pastor pretty young. I was 25. I remember once going to a Catholic Senior Adult Housing Facility that several of our church members lived in to visit. To visit them I had to get clearance from the “Abbess” or “Mother Superior.”