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Appointing Elders who love what is good

Titus 1:1-9

  • Session: 1
  • Week: 1
  • Day: 1
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Introduction

Outcomes for Titus

The church on Crete Island was started by Paul while traveling from Jerusalem to the Emperor’s court in Rome, Acts 24: 1, Acts 28:30. The seed of the gospel could have been planted by the Cretans who had been in Jerusalem for Pentecost and heard Peter preach. Acts 2: 11.

This letter was sent to an Emerging leader called Titus, and was focused on putting order (Titus 1: 5) (alignment) in the church of God at Crete in terms of, 1. selecting true and godly leadership, or disciplers, 2. starting true discipleship program on church members and 3. engaging on true resource stewardship or management with the church of God. The role of the top leadership in any organization is in strategy and alignment, which entails four tasks: providing vision, providing provisions, engaging in supervision, and restricting divisions. Such was the temporary assignment Titus was sent to accomplish in the church at Crete. The moral bankruptcy of the community at Crete was described as always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons, Titus 1: 12.

Introduction

In this session, Titus Chap 1: 1-9, we will focus on understanding the truth about the elders of the church of God in Crete, that is their qualifications and roles, the way they relate to self, to spouse, to parenting, to church life and to outsiders, what makes them rebellious and the dangers of rebellion in the church.

Objectives

By the end of this session, the learner will have:

  • Understood the principles Paul used for investing in himself, in Titus his son and the church in Crete.
  • Discovered the dangers of rebellious and disloyal leaders and how Titus was supposed to engage them
  • Appreciated the place of elders in a local Church

Outline

  • Three investments of Paul
  • Elders of the church
  • Dealing with the stronghold of rebellion

Group Study Time

Titus 1:1-9

Connecting

  • Gather with two or more people for a community discovery bible study session.
  • Start with a heartfelt prayer, inviting God to guide and bless your understanding.
  • Explore the passage by reading it at least twice, using different Bible versions if available, then retell the story together as a group.
  • Reflect and share the challenges and blessings you experienced from the previous study.

Comprehending

  • Read Titus 1:1-3. Who wrote this letter? What was said about him? What did he say about God?
  • Who was the receiver of this letter? What is said about the receiver? Titus 1:4. 3: 14, 2 Corinthians 8:23, 2 Corinthians 7: 6, 13-14, Galatians 2: 1-3, 2 Corinthians 8: 6, 16-17, Acts 15: 2 and 2 Timothy 4: 13.
  • Why was this letter written, Titus 1: 5.
  • Read Titus 1:5-9. What 7 things do you discover about the elders of a local church? (qualifications and roles, the way they relate to self, to spouse, to parenting, to church life, and to outsiders)

Committing

  • Engage with the Bible—read, study, memorize, meditate, pray, listen, and live it out.
  • List three lessons you have learnt as an agent of change that you would like to put into practice and teach others about.
  • Take time and worship Jesus with the attributes revealed about Christ.
  • Use the SPACEPETS model, to assist you in putting God’s word into practice. Look for:
    • Sin to confess
    • Promise to claim
    • Attitude to change
    • Command to keep
    • Error to change
    • Prayer to make
    • Example to copy
    • Truth to obey and
    • Something praiseworthy

Communicating

  • Identify one person you can connect with and share the valuable insights and lessons you gained from this session.
  • Reach out to a new believer—either in person or by phone—and pray with them to support them through their challenges, including any concerns about attending church.
  • Create a new group and guide others through this study to help them grow in their understanding.

Post Lesson Teaching Summary

Great job completing the study! Take a moment to listen to this summary to reinforce your group’s understanding of the text and ensure you’re all on the same page. We’re here to support your learning journey!

Appointing Elders who love what is good

Titus 1:1-9

Titus 1:1-9

Context

  • Titus is a pastoral letter from Paul to his spiritual son Titus, a Gentile convert who accompanied Paul on missions and was not circumcised, unlike Timothy, to serve among Gentiles.
  • Paul modeled his ministry after Jesus by investing time in himself through prayer, in mentees like Titus to continue the work, and in target audiences.
  • Titus was sent to Crete, an island Paul visited and where the gospel seed was likely planted by Pentecost attendees, to establish order in the church through godly leadership (chapter 1), discipleship (chapter 2), and stewardship (chapter 3).
  • Elders, also called pastors or overseers, provide vision, provision, supervision, and work against division to ensure the church endures.
  • The passage focuses on elders’ qualifications across five dimensions: relation to self, spouse, children, church, and outsiders.

  

Understanding Elders in the Church (Titus 1:1-9)

  • Paul’s Greeting: Paul identifies as a servant of God and apostle of Jesus Christ, sent to strengthen faith and knowledge of truth leading to godliness and eternal life, promised by God who does not lie and revealed at the proper time through preaching entrusted to him.
  • To Titus: Addresses Titus as his true son in shared faith, wishing grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus.
  • Purpose in Crete: Titus was left in Crete to complete unfinished work, specifically appointing elders in every town to align the church properly.
  • Elders’ Qualifications:
    • Relation to Self: Blameless, not overbearing, quick-tempered, given to drunkenness, violent, or pursuing dishonest gain; must be self-controlled, wise, upright, holy, and devoted to God.
    • Relation to Spouse: Faithful to his wife.
    • Relation to Children: Children must be believers, not wild or disobedient.
    • Relation to Church: Oversees God’s work blamelessly; hospitable, loves what is good; holds firmly to the trustworthy message to encourage sound teaching and refute opposers.
    • Relation to Outsiders: Not open to accusation of wrongdoing.
  • Importance: Essential due to many rebellious people who refuse to obey; qualified elders ensure godly order and counter false teaching.

  

Application

  • Appoint elders who meet these qualifications to lead with integrity, provide sound teaching, and maintain church order; leaders should embody these traits in personal, family, church, and community life to glorify God.
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How to use these studies

These lessons are designed as short, 25-minute studies based on Bible truths, and meant for self-learning or small group study. The study sets systematically cover different books of the Bible. 

Each lesson follows a simple structure:

  • Introduction (Including the outline and objectives)
  • Step 1: Connecting
  • Step 2: Comprehending
  • Step 3: Committing
  • Step 4: Communicating

These sections include questions to help you reflect on the bible passage and how it applies to your life. 

Use these lessons to disciple others by journeying together over time and allowing God’s word to penetrate your heart and bring transforming change to your life. As a leader, pray for wisdom in leading and for modelling the truths in your own life.

Sharing offline

  • Mobile Friendly PDF
  • Print Friendly PDF
  • Full Study PDF

Each lesson has three buttons allowing you to download a easily saveable and shareable PDF version of the study. You can choose either a Mobile-friendly PDF version, and Print-friendly PDF version, or a print version of the Full Study PDF (for example all the lessons in the current book of the Bible).

These are free and can be easily copied and shared from one person to another!

Gathering a Small Group

Start small to build a safe space for sharing and growth.

  • Pray first: Ask God to show you 3-6 people who need encouragement in faith, like family, neighbors, or fellow believers facing hardship.
  • Invite personally: Meet one-on-one, explain how the lessons are designed to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God and his Word.
  • Keep it simple: Meet in a home or quiet spot; no need for fancy setup – just willing hearts.
  • Aim for consistency: Suggest weekly meetings, but be flexible for busy lives or safety concerns in persecuted areas.

Trust helps everyone open up, reflect, and apply truths without fear.

  • Start with sharing: In the first meeting, share simple stories of your own faith struggles to show vulnerability.
  • Set ground rules: Agree to listen without judging, keep stories private, and focus on encouraging each other.
  • Build bonds: Begin each session with a short prayer or song inviting God to be present with you.
  • Be patient: Trust grows over time – encourage quiet members gently, and celebrate small steps of honesty.

Good preparation makes the lesson flow and helps discipleship.

  • Read ahead: Study the lesson before; pray over the Bible passage and think how it fits your group’s challenges.
  • Adapt for the group: Use simple words; if literacy is low, read aloud slowly and explain questions or stories.
  • Gather basics: Have a Bible (in your language) and paper for notes.
  • Reflect personally: Ask yourself the study questions first – lead from your own growth and experience.
  • Pray: Pray for your group members.

Guide the group through the lesson structure to encourage discovery and commitment.

  • Step 1 – Connecting: Start the group meeting by praying together. Thank God for his Word and ask for open hearts to receive it. Read the Bible passage together (Read it aloud twice; ask someone to repeat in their words.)
  • Step 2: Comprehending: Use the provided questions to help you grapple with the truth of the Bible passage.
  • Step 3 – Committing: Consider how the passage might apply to your lives and what simple steps of obedience you can commit to. The goal of these studies if life-change! Not just knowledge!
  • Step 4 – Communicating:  Think of who you can share the truths you have learned with.
  • Close with Prayer: Let group members pray short prayers of thanks or commitment. Pray for one another.

For many of the lessons, there is a short summary teaching voice-note at the end of the lesson (together with a text summary). This is designed to be a recap and reminder of the key lessons you should have learned through the lesson. 

As a leader, you might like to use these summary teaching resources to help you in preparation for leading your group, though ideally not before you have spent time prayerfully reflecting on the passage.

This is an ongoing discipleship journey aiming to transform lives and help people to live victorious Christian lives. Focus on growth, not just finishing lessons.

  • Meet regularly: Join together at least once a week. Review past actions at each start to build accountability.
  • Encourage reflection: Between meetings, urge personal time with the lesson – read, pray, and try complete commitments made.
  • Support one another: If your group members are facing challenges, use lessons to pray together and share burdens; become “agents of change” by helping others in your community.
  • Multiply groups: As trust grows, encourage members to start their own small groups with family or friends.
  • Keep it short: Stick to 15 – 25 minutes per lesson to fit busy, challenging lives.
  • Handle challenges: If fear or hardship arise, encourage members by always pointing back to God’s love. 
  • Stay safe: In persecuted areas, meet discreetly; focus on heart change over big displays.
  • Celebrate progress: Note how people have grown in faith; allow time for sharing testimonies of what God has done. Take note of what you pray for, and give thanks when God answers prayer.

Final encouragement

Leading these lessons is serving like Jesus – humble, loving, and truthful. As you journey together, God will build growing faith into each person’s life. Pray often, and watch lives transform!

If you would like to share stories of faith from your own communities, please get in touch with us!