The The Apostle Paul was passionate about the gospel. He preached everywhere about salvation.

He also recognized the importance of establishing effective church leadership.

And today on Truth for Life weekend, Alistair Begg walks us through Paul's

instructions concerning the function and responsibility of church elders. Let's open our Bibles to

Chapter 1 in the book of Titus. Titus chapter 1 verse 5, this is why I left you in Crete so that you might put what remained

into order and appoint elders in every town as I directed you if anyone is above reproach the

husband of one wife and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered,

or a drunkard, or violent, or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.

He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction

in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradicticted. For there are many who are insubordinate,

empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be

silenced since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to

teach.

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said,

Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy glutton's.

This testimony is true.

Therefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the faith,

not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving,

nothing is pure, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. They profess to know God,

but they deny him by their works. They're detestable,

disobedient, unfit for any good work. Amen. Paul has left Titus in position in the island of

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