Titus 1:5-16

Paul commands Titus to set in order the churches in Crete by appointing qualified elders. These leaders must be blameless, have integrity, have a godly family life, exhibit self-control & have a firm grasp of sound doctrine, why? So they can both encourage believers & rebuke opposers. 

Paul tells Titus to rebukes the local false teachers, particularly Jewish legalists who are causing division & doubt in families for dishonest financial gain. He is to silence & rebuke these hypocrites, that focus on legalistic ordinances & rituals. These things expose their defiled minds & actions that deny the God they profess to know.

So for you & I today, what can we take away from this passage? I see 3 things:

•The evaluation of spiritual leadership by character rather than charisma

•We need to actively guard against deceptive & legalistic teaching.

•Finally, ensure ourselves that our personal actions match our profession of faith in Jesus.