Church Stewardship
Titus 1
IL.: The old man had a habit of stepping out on his porch each morning and yelling "Praise the Lord". An athiest moved in next door and quickly became agitated. He would yell back, "there is no God'. One day the believer cried out, "Lord, help me. I have no money, no food, and I am cold."'
The next morning, the christian stepped out on the porch and found bags of groceries and a new blanket. He looked to heaven and proclaimed, "Thank you Lord". All of a sudden, the athiest came out of hiding from behind a bush and said, "There is no God, I bought those items and put them on your porch." With that, the christian dropped to his knees, raised his hands towards heaven and shouted, "Praise the Lord, you sent me groceries...and you had the devil pay for them."
Titus is God's self-help book for the church.
Titus was a young preacher whom Paul sent to the island of Crete to help put some churches there in order.
Some Cretans had heard the gospel on the mainland and even knew about pentecost.
Acts 2:10,11
10 en Frigia y Panfilia, en Egipto y en las partes de Libia que está más allá de Cirene, y romanos extranjeros, tanto judíos como prosélitos, (RVG04)
10 Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, (KJV)
11 cretenses y árabes, les oímos hablar en nuestras lenguas las maravillas de Dios. (RVG04)
The challenge for Titus---
1. Lay a proper foundation for these churches
2. Steer them away from false teachings.
3. Ordain elders in each of its cities
4. Lead them to become successful.
I. The Word of God Manifested through Preaching (vs.3, 9)
A successful church will base itself solely on God's Word.
Paul is reminding Titus that the preaching of the Word of God was the method that God will honor.
We don't need to even consider a plan B.
It is not in the picnics and the competitions for prizes, nor bringing in the quartets and gospel concerts.
The foundation must be biblical and based on the Word.
The preaching of the cross and the crucified life; not psychology nor logical reasoning.
II. It is About a Personal Relation with Jesus Christ
Mt. 7:22,23
22 Muchos me dirán en aquel día: Señor, Señor, ¿no profetizamos en tu nombre, y en tu nombre echamos fuera demonios, y en tu nombre hicimos muchos milagros? (RVG04)
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? (KJV)
23 Y entonces les protestaré: Nunca os conocí; apartaos de mí, obradores de maldad. (RVG04)
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (KJV)
It is not just about a bunch of good works that you have accumulated to your resumee.
III. Jesus is the Head of the Church
Heb. 13:20
20 Y el Dios de paz que resucitó de entre los muertos a nuestro Señor Jesucristo, el gran pastor de las ovejas, por la sangre del pacto eterno, (RVG04)
20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, (KJV)
Jesus is the Great Shepherd and every other pastor is under His jurisdiction.
IV. A Successful Church Will Have Its House in Order (v. 5)
Church leaders need to meet the criteria that God has set forth.
The church has congregants and then it has its leaders (elders). Some give them fancy names, such as: deacons, trustees, lay ministers, church stewards, etc.
The church is made up of all kinds of people at all different levels in their spiritual lives. Some are not qualified to be church leaders due to errors from their past or lack of a good testimony in the present. A number of qualifications are spelled out in verses 6-9.
Let us work on our testimonies:
1. personal--sober, just, holy, temperate, hospitable
2. family---one living spouse, children under your roof with good testimony
3. local church
4. body of Christ
WHY?
We have to shut up the opposers. (vs. 10, 11)
The command here is not to tolerate them, but to SILENCE them.
1 Peter 2:15
15 Porque ésta es la voluntad de Dios; que haciendo el bien, hagáis callar la ignorancia de los hombres vanos. (RVG04)
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: (KJV)
PUT OFF THE OLD MAN.
Verse 12 is a description of how they considered themselves to be.
1. Liars---that is why they could easily embrace a false message
2. Evil beasts---perverted and depraved
3. Slow bellies---"lazy gluttons"; not wanting to work, just "eat, drink, and be merry".
V. Accept Straigtforward Correction (v. 13)
The way to be spiritually healthy is to follow the hard advice of your spiritual mentor.
Don't just take the sweets, you need a well rounded diet.
Eph. 4:15
15 Antes hablando la verdad en amor, crezcamos en todas las cosas, en Aquél que es la cabeza, en Cristo; (RVG04)
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (KJV)
Let us work together to see the church built that God intends to be successful.
