They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Titus 1:16) Paul wrote to Titus about the kind of people causing trouble among the Christians on the island of Crete. He described them in several ways. First, Paul said “They profess to know God.” If…

To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled. (Titus 1:15) In his work as a pastor and leader on the island of Crete, Titus had to deal with a lot of difficult people. Some of those people were…

One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. (Titus 1:12-13) More than 50 years ago, the musicians Simon and Garfunkel wrote in a song that “the words of the prophets are…

For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers… (Titus 1:10) In the previous section of Titus, Paul told his associate the kind of men he should look for as he appointed leaders for churches spread out all over Crete (Titus 1:5-8). Then he told Titus what those leaders should do – “hold fast the…

“Holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught” (Titus 1:9) The Apostle Paul gave an extensive list of the character qualities that Titus was to look for in the men who should lead the churches on the island of Crete. That list (found in Titus 1:5-8) is helpful not only for selecting leaders,…

“Just, holy, self-controlled…” (Titus 1:8) We have carefully considered Paul’s list of qualifications to look for in leaders among God’s people. Those who oversee the work of the church are not to be chosen according to charisma, talent, status, or other such qualities. We should look for character, the kind of men who can be described…