SERMON: “What Makes a Good Local Church?” (Titus 1–3)

“What Makes a Good Local Church?”
(Titus 1–3)

Series:               Questioning the Church #10             Text:                 Titus 1–3

By:                    Shaun Marksbury                         Date:                March 9, 2025

Venue:              Living Water Baptist Church            Occasion:             AM Service

 

I.              Introduction

(Note: This is actually message #9 in this series, but that is because we are skipping the message on church discipline.  I preached that message on Sunday morning just last year, so that is printed out and available for you.)

If I were to go to some of the top seminaries in our country, Baptist or otherwise, and ask them what a local church needs to be a good church, what kind of answers do you think they would give?  I met a pastor not too long ago of a small Southern Baptist church in a small town, and he applied for funding through the North American Mission Board to be considered a church plant.  They conducted a lengthy investigation, as you might expect — listening to his sermons, asking questions about the operations of the church, and so forth.  Their conclusion, though, was to deny his request — though he explained the Word of God well enough in their estimation, he needed to step down from ministry for a few months and learn more about culture, perhaps assisting a “successful” pastor in the area.  They also told him to lose the suits.

For them, a good church has an “attractional” ministry, one that will gain more foot traffic.  Many ideas abound in this area: Live music is a must, perhaps with a band that can play crossover music in addition to music about the cross.  Briefer sermons with less theology also rank high on most lists, with shorter overall services, good parking, refreshments, and streamlined operations.  Pastors should see themselves less as shepherds and more like CEOs, delegating out as much ministry as possible to remain as mission-minded and vision-focused as possible.  The vision of the ministry should be modern, geared to sensibilities about social action and change.  In other words, the entire worship experience should be as calculated as the shopping experience at the big-box store, and many Christians see the numbers as equaling success.

Now, it’s not that there isn’t something to be said about doing things well, making sure church is comfortable and safe from a physical standpoint (like updating the restrooms, running air conditioning and heat, having clean and well-maintained facilities, and other common-sense measures).  However, there’s a problem when ministry becomes pragmatic and seeker-sensitive, choosing methods of worship because it supposedly “works” for people.  Pragmatism might bring people in the door (and sometimes it doesn’t), but that is not what marks a “good” church.

What we’ve done with this series, hopefully, is begin to lay the groundwork for what we should consider important in the local church.  We’ve seen that it’s more than music styles and kind of preaching (though it’s also that).  At the core of the question is whether a church exists for the glory of God or the glory of man.  All the rest of those issues begin to fall into place as we see how a church strives to align with God’s will.

We are finishing the Questioning the Church series today.  I wanted to give a message that would begin wrapping these thoughts together, and I thought of the Book of Titus.  I would like to preach through this short book with you in the next year or so, but tonight, we’ll be taking more of a bird’s-eye view of the text.  As we do so, we’ll be seeing again many of the themes we’ve covered together.  We’ll also be highlighting a few that we didn’t dig into as much as I would have liked.

This letter is a call to having a sound church and sound people.  Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles, plural, so he desired to continue moving and planting churches in key areas.  Crete is a large island in the middle of the sometimes tumultuous Mediterranean Sea, obviously strategic in location.  The first step of having a sound church is to appoint leaders, but instead of selecting elders himself, this time Paul assigns Titus to this task.  Titus came to Christ apparently during Paul’s past visit (see. v. 4), and Paul is confident that Titus can set things in order.  So, in writing this letter, Paul not only tells Titus what to do to set the churches in the various towns of Crete in order, but gives Christians a description on good church order.

II.           First, a Good Church is Established According to God’s Will (1:1–5)

Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, but at the proper time manifested, even His word, in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior, To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.  For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains…

Note how Paul starts his letters — He’s the bond-servant, the doulos, the slave of God.  Of course, he does so from the perspective of the gospel, which we’ll talk about in a minute, but he sees himself as bought by the Lord.  That is how we should view both ourselves and our ministries.  As Paul serves the Gentile peoples, such as those at Crete, he does so according to the will of God. 

In our first week of this series, we discussed some of these issues.  Our churches should be proclaiming the Word, and we should be operating as a fellowship according to the command of God.  That means likewise be committed to all the other elements of church worship and organization.  Our services should include all the elements God commanded and authorized, and we should beware adding anything to it.  

As such, as Paul begins v. 5, we see that he calls Titus to set the churches in order.  There was work remaining to be done, and the church should be orderly.  Many people say they don’t want organized religion, but that is exactly what God wants for them.  And, we see that there is something specific to the organization in Crete that was needed, bringing us to the next point:

III.        Second, a Good Church is Overseen by Qualified Elders (1:5–9)

For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who 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 both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

Paul and the other Apostles were in the previous habit of appointing elders (plural) in every church.  However, a transition begins where the apostle appoints those who will appoint others.  This is eventually what every church would do — elders identifying men, training them up, and then selecting them for service.  So, Paul lists again the qualifications for elders.

Just to throw this out there: While it’s common to see single-pastor congregations today, Baptists historically understood multiple elders should led a church.  For instance, the first president of the SBC, W. B. Johnson, taught that individual churches should be led by a plurality of elders.  One of the founding members of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, William Williams, likewise taught this; the Abstract of Principles says, “The regular officers of a Church [singular] are Bishops or Elders [plural], and Deacons.”

The SBC statement of faith is no different.  In 1925, it stated, “A church of Christ [singular] is a congregation of baptized believers… Its [singular] Scriptural officers are bishops, or elders [synonymous, plural terms in Scripture], and deacons.”  The 1963 Baptist Faith and Message opted for the term “pastor,” but maintained the principle — “Its [singular] Scriptural officers are pastors [plural] and deacons.”  The 2000 statement retained the wording: “Its [singular] scriptural officers are pastors [plural] and deacons.”  So, Baptist history holds to a plurality of elders as opposed to a single-pastor approach.

Qualified elders are important for preaching the Word and teaching the congregation.  They must oversee and watch the flock that God has given them, which implies church membership.  And, if someone is contradicting sound teaching, they must refute it, bringing us to the next point:

IV.        Third, a Good Church is Ordered by Church Discipline (1:10–16)

For there are many rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain.  One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.  To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.  They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

There is a lot we could get into with these verses.  Suffice it to say that there was a group of false teachers who were upsetting the people of God.  They were leading some astray, and we can see here professed Christians were living unholy lives as a result. 

This is why refutation is so important, though some would condemn it as judgmental.  Moreover, those who are troubling others who refuse to repent must be dismissed from the fellowship.  Such discipline implies membership and is necessary for purity, as we’ll see in a few minutes.

Moreover, it’s so we are properly caring for the other saints, bringing me to the next point:

V.           Fourth, a Good Church is Committed to One Another (2:1–10)

But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.  Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.  Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.  Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.  Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

These verses demonstrate discipleship within the church.  It’s important to have all committed to church membership, young and old, so cross generational instruction can happen.  Too many times in church life, we think the kids must stay away from the adults in worship, or that the Sunday School classes need rigid age brackets.  The sad reality is that most kids who grow up in that kind of structure end up abandoning church when they become adults, partly because they aged out of the only church they knew.  Only having age-segregated instruction as many churches do is unwise and not good — the older should be teaching the younger.  It’s not that we shouldn’t have opportunities for people at certain stages of life, but we should create opportunities for the whole church body to mingle and grow together.

Toward the end of this letter, we’ll also see that Christians are to treat each other with grace.  The one-another commands of Scripture reveal just how we are to value others above ourselves.  For instance, when we as adults hear babies crying in the service, we remember what a blessing it is to have both mother and child in the service with us and we show compassion and grace.  When a young person comes in who may be new to the faith but doesn’t know how to interact or live, that’s a perfect opportunity for discipleship.    

Everything we do is grounded in the gospel, bringing me to the next point:

VI.        Fifth, a Good Church is Grounded in the Gospel (2:11–15)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of bour great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.  These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.  Let no one disregard you.

Even as Paul opened this letter to Titus, he reminded him of the gospel and pronounced the following blessing: “Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”  As believers, we should understand most intimately how undeserving we are, and how merciful our Savior is.  As such, we want that to be the primary proclamation of our services: our liturgy, our music, our prayers, and our preaching should uphold the work of Christ.

Believers need the gospel message as much as unbelievers do, as we still sin.  Because of our state of humility before God, we are more willing to be gracious to others, which we’ll discuss in a few more minutes.  Also, because we were formerly children of disobedience and have been transformed to children of obedience, we will want our lives conformed to the image of God in Christ, bringing us to the next point:

VII.      Sixth, a Good Church is Practiced in Holiness (3:1–11)

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.  But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Those last two verses obviously refer to an aspect of discipline, but this whole passage has implications for personal holiness.  We should, as Christians, should desire to be holy even as our Father in heaven is holy.  We are applying the truths of the gospel to accomplish this; we don’t have the power to live holy lives in the flesh, but we can by the grace of God.  Because He who called us is holy, and He has regenerated and renewed us by the Holy Spirit, we can now walk in the holiness of the Lord.  Because God is good, and we have been transformed by Him, we can engage in good deeds. 

As such, we should indeed be careful to do so, walking by faith in the Word, and avoiding the nonsense of false teachers.  We should instead seek to apply it, showing respect and honor to all as we are able.  We’re working out the grace of God with fear and trembling, bringing me to the final point:

VIII.   Seventh, a Good Church is Graceful (3:12–15)

When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.  Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.  All who are with me greet you.  Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all.

Again, we see the call to good deeds.  Earlier, we saw that the church must be grounded in the gospel of Christ.  In 2:11, we read, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men.”  The grace that we show to one another starts with God and what He has demonstrated to us in Christ Jesus. 

We will never know how to treat one another unless we first know the grace that the Lord has shown us in the good news of the gospel.  Here, in Paul’s closing greeting, we see grace applied.  We should extend every grace to those who name the name of Christ and follow the teachings of Scripture.

IX.        Conclusion

This is what church life led by the Holy Spirit looks like — what a good church looks like.  There will be people who are saved, baptized, and gathered together.  They will devote themselves to Scripture and to one another.  Just as we saw in Acts 2, they will be fellowship, breaking bread together, and praying unto the Lord.  They will seek to apply all the truths of God’s Word in their lives.

I’m glad that we’ve been able to do this series together, and I’m excited to see what the Lord has in store for us in the future.  I’ve been encouraged to see just how much this church checks off these boxes.  As an appendix to this series, in a couple of weeks, we’ll talk about what issues threaten a local church.  Until we meet again, let us strive by the grace of the Lord to continue in those things we have learned.