Hold Firm to the Trustworthy Word

In one paragraph

The pastor opened in Titus 1:5-16, looking at what Paul told Titus to build in a young and chaotic church on the island of Crete. The through-line of the passage is the contrast between the trustworthy word that does not change and the many voices competing to replace or add to it. That contrast turns out to be as live a question now as it was then. Paul left Titus in Crete for a specific reason:...

Read together

1. Titus 1:1-4 covered the previous week as introduction to the letter
2. Titus 1:5-16 main passage for this sermon on elders and false teachers
3. Titus 2:1 used to bring the passage around to self-evaluation about sound doctrine
4. Galatians 1:8 cited to warn against preaching any gospel other than the pure gospel
5. Galatians 3 pop quiz drawn from this chapter asking who has bewitched you and whether the Spirit was received by works or faith
6. 1 Timothy 3 referenced as parallel list of elder and deacon qualifications
7. 1 Timothy 4 cited for the saying that physical exercise has some value but godliness has value in every way
8. 1 Timothy 6 the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, flee from the desire to be rich
9. 1 Timothy 1:15 this saying is trustworthy that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners
10. Proverbs 14:12 there is a way that seems right to a man but in the end it is the way of death
11. Proverbs 16:25 exact same words as Proverbs 14:12, noted as repeated twice
12. Psalm 19 creation calling forth the glory of God, we are without excuse
13. Romans 1 suppressing the truth leads to a reprobate mind, consciences and minds defiled
14. Matthew 7 enter through the narrow gate, wide is the road that leads to destruction
15. 1 Corinthians 1:18-19 the message of the cross is foolishness to those perishing but the power of God to those being saved
16. James 1 be slow to speak and slow to anger, cited alongside the qualification of not being quick-tempered

Talk about it

1. The pastor opened with the riddle about the truth-teller and the liar, then connected it to the idea that we need an objective standard to accurately report what we see. Where do you find yourself tempted to trust your own perception over what God's word actually says, and what has helped you recognize that drift?
2. The list of what an elder must and must not be in Titus 1 is not just a job description for church leaders. The pastor said these qualities matter because the transforming nature of Christ makes people more and more into the image of Christ. Which of the seven 'must be' qualities do you find hardest to grow in, and why?
3. The pastor said that the Judaizers were adding to the gospel, and that when you add anything to grace it is no longer grace. He also pointed to modern examples, from prosperity gospel to legalism about dress. Can you think of ways, subtle or obvious, that we are tempted today to add something to the gospel of grace?
4. Paul quoted a Cretan prophet who said 'Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons,' and then affirmed that the testimony was true, yet he still sent Titus there. What does it say about the gospel that God's plan was to plant churches in exactly that kind of place, among exactly that kind of people?
5. The pastor said that many people who are spreading lies are well-intentioned, having been deceived themselves and sharing what they were told. How do you hold onto both the call to rebuke false teaching sharply, as Paul tells Titus, and a genuine compassion for the person who is sincerely but wrongly convinced they are telling the truth?