Secure LEADERS

The Book of Titus | Making Leaders | Titus 2:15 | Pastor Duane Smets

This an exegetical sermon of Titus 2:15 which addresses the need for Christians to be ones who speak, encourage, and correct as well as being ones who are commissioned and ones who will receive criticism. Particular attention is given to the experience of insecurity, where that comes from and how the gospel gives us confidence. This sermon was originally preached on July 17th, 2011 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.

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The Resolved Church
Pastor Duane Smets
July 17th, 2011

The Book of Titus: Making Leaders
Secure LEADERS | Titus 2:15

I. Ones Who Speak – “declare”
II. Ones Who Encourage – “exhort”
III. Ones Who Correct – “rebuke”
IV. Ones Who Are Commissioned – “authority”
V. Ones Who Are Criticized – “disregard”

Introduction

Today, we finish of the second of three chapters in the book of Titus which we are studying through this summer. It’s a book which focuses on leadership and the assumption in it is all Christians are meant to be leaders in some way. It’s directly written to a man named Titus, who was ministering in a church much like ours in the first century on the island of Crete. But it was also written for all churches throughout time because it gives universal principles and directions for every single Christian whom Jesus has specifically given the charge to “go and make disciples (Mt 28:19).”

This week we are slowing down and looking at just one verse, in a sermon I’m calling “Secure LEADERS.” The verse we’re looking at is 2:15. I’m spending a whole week on it for a couple reasons. One reason is it’s sort of a transitional verse between the things which are said in chapter one and chapter two. But the other reason, the more important one is because I think it hits a vein in us where we really need the medicine of God’s word to be injected.

What I mean is this. All the Bible is good and is true for all people in all times in all places. However, culture…the different places, interests and ideas of a certain geographical locale….those shift as time and history moves forward and are different depending on the particular place. The theme of today’s verse is the security, confidence or authority of Christians. And it seems to me our culture is one that has an especially hard time with this. We don’t like authority and are perhaps more unsure and insecure as a people than we’ve been in a long time.

I’ll give you an example. Taylor Mali is a comedian, slam poet and teacher. He’s not a Christian as far as I know. He did this piece at a New York comedy club a few years ago called “Totally, Like, Whatever, you know?” It goes like this.

In case you hadn’t realized,
it has somehow become uncool
to sound like you know what you’re talking about.
Or believe strongly in what you’re, like saying?
Invisible question marks and parenthetical (you know?)’s and (you know what I’m saying?)’s
have been attaching themselves to the ends of our sentences.
Even when those sentences aren’t, like, questions. You know?

Declarative sentences – so-called because they used to, like, you know DECLARE things to be true, okay
as opposed to other things which were, you know, not -
They’ve have been infected by a totally hip and tragically cool interrogative tone?
As if I’m saying don’t think I’m a nerd just cause I’ve notice this okay,
I’ve nothing personally invested in my own opinions.
I’m just inviting you to join me in in the bandwagon of my own uncertainty.

What has happened to our conviction?
Where are the limbs out on which we once walked?
Have they been, like, chopped down with the rest of the rain forest? You know?
Or do we have, like, nothing to say?
Has society just become so, filled with these conflicting feeling of eugh.
That we’ve just gotten to the point where we’re the most aggressively in-ar-tic-ulate generation to come along since…you know, a long, long time ago!

So I entreat you, I implore you, I exhort you, and I challenge you:
To speak with conviction.
To say what you believe in a manner that bespeaks the determination with which you believe it.
Because contrary to the wisdom of the bumper sticker,
it is not enough these days to simply QUESTION AUTHORITY.
You gotta speak with it, too.

Pretty good eh? It’s been running around on YouTube for awhile, so you can go check out the real thing if you want. What Taylor Mali taps into in that piece is the shift we have experienced in our culture to where we know longer are certain or secure or confident about much of anything. Low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence is one of the main diagnosis of popular psychologists seeking to help people overcome their fears and sense of failure.

What our verse offers today is a different solution. It addresses the problem and reminds us of where true security, confidence and authority comes from. So let’s read today’s verse, Titus 2:15, pray over it and then work through each of the words in it. (read text and pray)

We’ll look at each of the five key words in our text today. The first is “declare” where we’re directly told that leaders must be ones speak.

I. Ones Who Speak – “declare”

The word “declare” here is the simple phrase “to speak” but it’s in the imperative tone, which is a direct command, so the ESV translates it here as the more decisive term, “declare.” Two questions here. One, why do we have to be told to speak? And what are “these things” we are supposed to speak about?

On the first one, on why we have to be told to speak…there is a general principle which flows throughout all Scripture whenever it gives a command or an imperative and it’s this. It is because of our fault or failure, our sin that we must be told by God’s word what is expected and required of us.

Martin Luther in his great work, “The Bondage of the Will” addresses the nature or function of imperatives in the Bible. He references a formal argument he was having with this dude named Erasmus and he writes. “Friend Erasmus, as often as you throw in my teeth the Words of the law, so often I throw in yours that of Paul, ‘By the law is the knowledge of sin,’—not of the power of the will. Heap together, therefore, out of the large Concordances all the imperative words into one chaos…and I will immediately declare, that by them is always shown what men ought to do, not what they can do, or do do. And even common grammarians and every little school-boy in the street knows, that by verbs of the imperative mood, nothing else is signified than that which ought to be done…Thus, therefore, it comes to pass, that you theologians, are so senseless and so many degrees below even school-boys….so that, what you command to be done, and is therefore quite possible to be done, is yet never done at all.”

What Luther is getting at, with a little flair, is that the imperatives or the commands of Scripture exist not to boost our ability or our pride in what we can accomplish, but rather the opposite…they call out what we don’t do, need to do, and even cannot do. We are commanded by God to do things in which it is not in our sinful nature to do. So in this case, we are told to declare these things, because it is going to be our tendency and inclination to remain silent.

Now how the gospel works is that we realize our reluctance and even inability to do what God calls us but as we look to him he changes and empowers us to do it. That was the subject of all last week’s sermon. And it fits in the context right here with what we’re looking at. Verse 14 ended by saying Jesus purifies us and makes us zealous for good works. What’s that mean in regards to verse 15? It means he enables us to declare these things, when before or apart from him we would not and could not.

So that’s the first thing. Why does Scripture tell us here that we have to declare? Because in our sinfulness we’d rather stay silent. Indeed, it’s even commonly recognized in the business workplaces of the world…often what makes for bad leadership and a company that does not run smoothly is the lack of communication. Same thing in marriages which fall apart…often it’s due in large part to a lack of communication. What is a lack of communication? Not declaring. You’ve gotta speak.

Josh Feil hit it up a couple weeks ago when he was preaching on verse 1 of this chapter where we’re told we have to “teach what accords with sound doctrine.” His point was you gotta speak to do that. This idea that people will learn just by watching or just by your example is wrong. You need to be putting a good example out there but if it’s not followed up by words your example is worthless.

This leads into the second question of what things are we to declare? There’s some debate here about whether it’s referring to the things before or the things after here. Likely it’s both. I can’t imagine Paul would be like, “tell everybody about everything I’ve said so far but keep what I’m about to say a secret.”

But what he has said so far is pretty huge. Just in this chapter, he’s unpacked the gospel, outlined what the different roles and behavior for older men, young men, older women, younger women, slaves and masters, and he’s talked about how to deal with opponents. That’s quite a bit of stuff and a lot of it wouldn’t be that popular and Titus wouldn’t want to talk about it.

Here’s an example. Two weeks ago I was preaching on Titus 2:2-10 and I was totally dreading it because there this verse in there that says some things that are really not popular here in San Diego. I’m not going to tell you what it was because then you’ll all start thinking about that instead of what I’m saying.

But the point is I didn’t really want to talk about it. Before service I told the building transformation crew and the worship team that I needed prayer because it wasn’t a fun day for a preacher and I needed God’s help just to do my job and declare what he’s given us here in his book.

I don’t like people getting mad at me. But I’m commanded here. “Declare these things.” That helps. It helps because it helps me understand that my hope and my happiness is not in people liking me but in God being pleased with me. And my hope and trust is that if I faithfully declare God’s word, his word will do it’s work and the gospel to change hearts so that whatever God says God’s people will know and believe it’s good so we trust and follow it.

Here’s the thing. Some of you over-communicate and some of you under-communicate. If you’re an over-communicator you need to work at saying things with less words. We get bored trying to listen to you. If you’re an under-communicator, listen you’re not helping anyone. You need to speak up, even if it comes out ugly. You’re not going to want to but as you look to Jesus he will help you to say the things you need to say when you need to say them.

Alright, let’s move on to the next two, “exhort” and “rebuke.” These address two different types of speech, positive and negative and both are needed. The first one is that leaders are “Ones Who Encourage.”

II. Ones Who Encourage – “exhort”

The word exhort is generally a good thing. It’s a positive spurring along. Directly addressing them and saying something that will enable them to continue on, to keep going, and keep heading in the right direction. I like the word “encourage” here. To encourage means to pour courage in.

And there are lots of ways to do this. It can be saying thank you and expressing appreciation. It can mean complimenting people on a job well done. It can mean telling them the potential and gifting you see in them, boosting their confidence. It can mean painting vision for them of what might or could be.

I think of it like putting gas in a car. Encouragement puts gas in people’s tanks and enables them to run. What it gets at is that being a Christian is hard. If someone told you it was easy I’m sorry they lied to you. If you haven’t figured it out yet Christians are liars like everyone else. We just keep looking to Jesus, the only one who’s never lied and he’s helping us become more and more truthful.

But that’s not easy. Being a Christian is not easy. We need each other. We’re not meant to do it on our own. We’re not meant to live in isolation. We need encouragement from one another.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 says, “We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.”

Or I like Hebrews 10:24 here and I actually like what the NIV does with it, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

I don’t know if it’s right or not but experts say it takes seven good and true things said to you to make up for one bad and untrue thing said about you. It’s probably not true, I don’t know how you would measure that. But it does capture the principle. We need a lot of encouragement. My father in law says you can never thank and encourage people enough. I think that’s true.

Here’s a little homework assignment for you church. Before you leave here today, encourage someone here this morning. If they did something in the service, or back with the kids, or in setting up this place, or maybe you just liked their voice when you heard them singing…whatever, encourage someone. Tell them you’re thankful for them and appreciate them. And here’s more homework. Look to see who you can encourage this week. Tell someone who has meant something to you, who has invested in your life, tell them thank you. Or mabye it’s someone you see great potential in who your working with. Tell them their doing a good job and you know God has good things ahead for them if they keep running the way they are.

Okay, let’s move on the negative one. This one’s harder. It’s one of those “I don’t like my job as a preacher words.” Rebuke. Leaders are “Ones Who Correct.”

III. Ones Who Correct – “rebuke”

This is the negative one. Hard words which must be said. Rebuke. Here’s a few other words which might help you with it’s meaning. It is to “correct, confute, chide, convict, punish or expose.” A few things on this one and say them without any fluff.

First, if when you hear the word “rebuke” you think of this loud, harsh, mean-spirited, chastising that’s not the biblical idea of rebuke. The Bible gives straightforward and clear instructions of how rebuke is supposed to be done. It’s to be done in love, Ephesians 4:15 says and Galatians 6:1 says it’s to be done gently. So if when you hear the word rebuke you think of an ugly argument that’s the wrong idea.

A biblical rebuke is much more like a long conversation where one person expresses deep care and concern for another person in what they are believing and doing. It’s not a stand up, point your finger and yell “I rebuke you!” It’s attempting with God’s spirit and all the fruits of God’s spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control), to use all that to try and turn the course of direction a person is heading in. If exhortation is encouraging them to keep on in the right direction. Rebuke is to challenge and call others to change direction.

Here’s the second thing about rebuke. You shouldn’t like it. If you enjoy rebuking people you need to be rebuked and you’re not in a place to be correcting others because of the plank you have in your eye as Jesus says. But here’s what happens. So many of you because you don’t like correcting others simply don’t ever do it. You hate and fear conflict and never want to rock the boat so you don’t say anything.

Here’s what I want to say to that. That’s not loving! If you really loved and cared for the person you know needs correction, you’d say something instead of sitting idly by hoping someone else will or that the problem will just get fixed on it’s own.

Not saying something almost always results in things getting worse. And really, let’s be honest. Who are you caring more about when you avoid conflict? Yourself. You don’t want to say something because you don’t like being uncomfortable and you don’t like people thinking bad about you…so really when it comes to it, it’s all about you. When you avoid and abdicate you’re really just loving yourself.

Okay, last thing on rebuke. One more reason why we need each other…not only because we need to be encouraging one another but we need each other to rebuke one another. We all have blind spots. And it is a lot easier for other people to see our blind spots than it is for us to see our own. We need other people to point things out to us and correct us. Psalm 141:5 says that it’s a kindness we shouldn’t refuse.

A while back the IX Marks of a Healthy Church ministry put out this article of 20 things of how to cultivate healthy counseling in the church and one of the points was on creating a culture of rebuke. It was like number 11 on their list. They said, “Teach the congregation to invite correction and rebuke from one another.”

When we see that we need rebuke and that it’s a good thing and when it’s done in love, grace and gentleness it almost always ends up becoming a positive thing. And even when it doesn’t and people get offended and run off because of it. That’s a good thing to for us. Rebuke also weeds bad seeds out. If you’re unteachable and can’t receive correction, then this isn’t the place for you.

Our church is full of bunch of screw-up who are growing and changing and seeking to become more like Jesus. But make no mistake, there are no perfect people here. Only people helping each other by both encouraging and rebuking one another.

I’ll ask this, “Is there someone you need to rebuke?” Someone you know is veering off, not living in line with the gospel and you need to lovingly attempt to correct them? If so, don’t sit back and do nothing. Set up a meeting. Go talk to them. You’re commanded to here. And that’s real love. Don’t resist the prompting of God’s spirit if when you’re hearing me say this someone is coming to mind. Follow through.

Okay, enough on rebuke. Don’t get wanna get rebuked for talking about rebuking people too much. The next key word in our text is the word “authority” wherein we recognize that Christians and church leaders are “One Who Are Commissioned.”

IV. Ones Who Are Commissioned – “authority”

What I mean by commissioned is that they have a derivative authority. First of all, all Christians and all churches are meant to sit underneath the covering and authority of the Word of God. It’s the “sola Scriptura” principle of the Reformation.

J.I. Packer, who some of you are familiar with, he wrote a great little book on the Bible called, “Truth & Power.” In it he writes this,

“Holy Writ (that’s a fancy way of saying the Bible) is not to be kept not under a bushel but under people’s noses…Churches must use all means to promote individual and corporate attention to the Bible; to recover the Bible-proclaiming, Bible-teaching ethos that was one secret of all the strength they ever had; to foster group and family Bible study; to sponsor good, clear translations and expositions; and to bring the Bible to bear on theoretical problems and practical decisions alike.

The church serves its master best by keeping the Bible not in store on the shelf as a relic of the past but in use in each congregation as the ever-relevant handbook of authentic discipleship, received in effect from the Master himself…So any congregation in which Bibles are not in worshipers’ hands at services nor used as the focus of attention in sermons nor studied as a main activity has cause to be ashamed of the poor quality of its discipleship.

…Biblical authority means believing, affirming, applying, and obeying all biblical teaching, both informative and directive, and submitting all human opinion – worldly, churchly and personal – to the judgment of that teaching…(it is) God’s abiding and reliable instruction, divinely authoritative against all human views that diverge from it…The Scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35).”

I know that was a long quote. But it is so good! So here are the two implications here. One, Paul was keenly aware that he was writing Scripture and wrote with divine authority which hands out here. Two, the Scripture here gave Titus authority both as a Christian and a church leader. So it’s like a chain. There’s God, then the Bible, then church leaders, and then all Christians and that is the line of authority.

What is means is you can’t just declare, exhort or rebuke people whenever you feel like it…only when it’s something the authority of Scripture addresses. It’s the same thing for what I’m doing right now. I don’t have freedom to just preach whatever I want. I only have authority as a pastor in so far as what I’m saying is in line with the Word of God.

The flip side of this is when we do speak and it’s something the Bible does clearly address, we speak with the divine authority of God’s word, because then our words are not our own but are clearly God’s because we can read ‘em and understand ‘em in his book. So when we’re speaking what the Bible speaks then our words carry with them a lot more authority.

Let me see if I can illustrate what I mean. I could say with a real strong authoritative voice, “Apple is far better than PCs, so you all need to get Mac’s.” I might be right (I am!) but that statement would lack any real pastoral authority because the Bible is silent on that issue. There’s no eleventh commandment saying Christians should buy Macs. BUT if I say, “You all need to put faith in and follow Jesus because he is your only hope!” Then there’s more weight to my words because that’s clearly in the Bible.

Here’s the last thing with authority. We are meant to be a people who live under authority. Only God does not live under or submit to anyone else. Everyone else is meant to submit to varying authorities and all of us are to submit to and follow God. We are not designed to be free but to be dependent on God. We are meant to live under rulership and authority, the authority and rule of God. The way we know and hear the authority and rule of God is right here in this book.

One of the main functions of the gospel is to turn our heart from rebellion to the authority of God. The gospel makes us soft, teachable, submissive and happy serving God our king. Once the issue of rebellion is dealt with then it’s much easier for us to simply find our place and be okay with playing the part God has given us.

Some of you probably need to grow in your confidence in the authority of God’s word and start offering your opinion less. In the place of your opinion you need a more Bible saturated worldview and you need to really study and learn what the Bible says about things.

Some of you probably have a hard time hearing about authority, maybe someone who was in a role of authority in your life abused their position so now you reject all authority. Maybe it’s some other reason. But there’s likely some of you who have been fighting against God and you just need to stop, trust him, he’s not going to screw you over, and you just begin to submit to his supreme rule and authority.

Some of you probably don’t think of yourself as a leader and you’re kind of hesitant. But you’re actually on track and you simply need to start asserting yourself and walking in the authority God has granted to you by bringing your life in line with his word.

Wherever you’re at. This verse applies. God has given us the authority and he means for us to walk in and with it. Alright, let’s move on to our last point for today looking at the word “disregard”, “Ones Who Are Criticized.”

V. Ones Who Are Criticized – “disregard”

This last one is an interesting one. The phrase in our text is “let no one disregard you.” This assumes a couple of things. One, it acknowledges the simple truth that leaders will be disregarded. It’s a simple and universal fact that if you’re leading, trying bring others along in a certain direction, you will be criticized. If you attempt to do what this passage calls for and speak out, there will be backlash. People will always criticize and have strong opinions about whoever is out in front.

That’s the first thing this phrase assumes. The other thing it assumes or addresses is the need for the leader to react and respond to that in a certain way. It’s the part of this phrase that comes out “let no one” in our text. So what that mean? How do you “let no one disregard you”?

Things will be said about you which are not true. For example, one of the guys in our church who became a Christian just this last year was telling me a few weeks ago how he was telling one of his co-workers about becoming a Christian and his co-worker friend started giving him a lot of flak for it. He was saying stuff along the lines of he didn’t believe it, that it was a fad or a phase that would wear out, that it was simply a crutch to avoid dealing with some hard things…the co-worker friend was disregarding him.

So how do you respond? How do you let no one disregard you? I think first it happens internally. The first way we respond is to look to the gospel and remind ourselves of who Jesus is, what he has done and who we are in him. Every single soul in the world may disbelieve us and think we’re crazy…and we will be tempted to think that too. But the realities of the gospel’s work in our heart and life and the truth it brings will outshine all the skepticism which may be thrown at us or arise in us.

I like how Paul says it in 2 Timothy 1:12 says it. “I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me.” I know in whom I have believed. You see what happens if you do let others disregard you? Is it really them who does the disregarding? No. It’s you. Ultimately it’s you who disregard your self. You allow others words to have power to effect you.

So the first response I think is internal. I’ve said it like this before. You gotta have a tough hide and a tender heart. You can’t let the words of others get in easy…tough hide. And you gotta keep your heart and your mind soft and centered on Jesus and hold firm to the faith…tender heart. Sometimes you have to remind yourself and say, “No. I know in whom I have believed!”

The other response I think is external. It’s where you speak up and silence others by defending the faith. It’s the Titus 1:9 thing. “To hold firm to sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.” You’ve got to be careful with this one however. Because it seems to me that those who are so quick to move to this one are often the most argumentative and emotionally reactive because when it comes down to it they are not really sure about the gospel. So their words are driven more by fear and uncertainty than compassion and truth.

So make sure you’re not arguing just because you’re afraid of being wrong and looking stupid. No. Even if you’re right…if you’re a Christian you’ll still look stupid. But there is a time to speak up and make Jesus look really good by the things you say and how you say them.

Okay, let’s conclude today’s sermon in the gospel.

Conclusion

This last point has been warming us up to the gospel so it’s good. Look, the title and theme of today’s message is security, “Secure LEADERS.” Really what we’re talking about is security in the gospel.

Here’s the truth. When it comes down to it, we’re all insecure. If we we’re really honest, all of us have doubts and fears and uncertainties. Things about our life we don’t know how they will work out. Things about our relationships and how they are doing or whether they are good or not. Things about our jobs and our work and whether we’re in the right place? Things about our identities and who we really are and what our place is in this world? Insecurity surrounds us.

Here’s where the gospel comes in and speaks massive truth into our lives. The gospel says the most important thing about you and who you are is to know that you are a creature…that there is a God and he created you and made you to live life with him, worshipping and glorifying him in everything. That is the bedrock truth for you security!

Here’s why we’re all insecure. Because of sin. Sin has broken into our world since shortly after God created everything in that famous Garden of Eden and ever since we have been questioning ourselves, our worth, this world and our God. That’s where insecurity comes from.

Here’s what God did about it. He came into the world in Jesus. Jesus was never insecure. From the time he’s a little boy, to when he’s a full grown man and starts his earthly ministry he always knows who he is and what he came to do. And people recognized it. Repeatedly in the gospel accounts it’s noted that people we’re amazed at the authority with which Jesus taught. When he’s a little boy they’re amazed at his wisdom and confidence. When he’s a man, they’re astounded with the authority he asserts. When he’s on the cross, the place of utter weakness he speaks with strength, command and forgiveness.

Here’s is what Jesus did. He went to the cross to bury sin and it’s insecurity into the dirt. Then he was raised to new life three days later so we might be reconnected with our creator. Through belief in Jesus that is what God does. He reconnects us with God and in that we find the value, confidence and strength we know we we’re made for.

So really the answer to all these things we’ve been talking about today is Jesus. Where do we find the courage to declare, exhort, and rebuke with authority and not be disregarded? By looking to and trusting in Jesus. To the measure we believe in him we will become ones who speak, encourage, correct, are commissioned by God and able to handle criticism. Our security is not to be found in ourselves. We don’t need more self-confidence or self-esteem, we need more Jesus. We need to have confidence in Christ and we need to esteem Him!

We’re going to respond to God’s word and the message of the gospel today as we do each week by receiving the Lord’s supper. This sacred holy sacrament where we remember and recognized the grace of God extended toward us in Jesus, in his body and his blood in the bread and wine.

Today as you come, lay all your insecurities at the feet of Jesus. Allow him to take them and speak his righteousness over you. Where you need forgiveness and restoration, let him work that in you. Where you need empowerment by his Spirit to be a witness, let him give that to you. Where you need his love, grace and mercy, let him extend that to you.

Let’s pray.