17th June 2026

17th June 2026


Pray (ACts)


Read (Titus 1:6-9)


Message (Alan Burke)


We need elders. Of course, today in our individualistic society, we need no one; we don’t like being told what to do, but Paul has left Titus, and it is so he might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as Paul directed him. We’ll get to more about the reason why we need elders in Friday’s devotion, but for now, we’re going to focus on how we need elders who are qualified. In the passage here before us, Paul gives Titus a list. It isn’t exhaustive, for it is meant to imply the kind of personal qualities that are necessary in our elders, who will act to safeguard the congregation here. Even if we were to include 1 Timothy 3 (v2-7), there are many other things that we could add, but they are a good starting point when we consider who is qualified to be an elder. The qualifications here are laid out in these verses and fall into two general categories: Firstly, they are to be those whose character is blameless, and secondly, they are those who hold fast to and believe the gospel. 


Firstly, they are to be those whose character is blameless. Now, you might hear that word blameless and think, “Wow. I’m sure if you spoke to my wife, she above all would be able to put the blame for many things firmly at my feet.” Although I’m sure that I’m not unique in that. The character of the elder is to be blameless. What, though, does blameless mean?


Well, let’s start with what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean that an elder is sinless or morally perfect. For we know that on this side of glory, that is an impossibility. We are not blameless, we are not sinless or morally perfect. You might like to think you’re like Mary Poppins and that you’re practically perfect in every way, but that isn’t the reality. The Greek word translated as blameless means above reproach; to be blameless means that for an elder, that we, for all who are elders, live in such a way that no charge may legitimately be levelled against us. That is why Paul focusses on an elder’s wife, their children, that they would not be overbearing, quick-tempered, not one for drunkenness, or violent, or pursuing dishonest gain. The life of an elder should be seen as one who acknowledges their sin and is quick to repent of it, who lives a life characterised by self-control, loves good, is upright, holy, and disciplined. 


Secondly, elders are those who are to hold fast to and believe the gospel, and we see this in v9; “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it”. So an elder is to hold firmly to the trustworthy message, the message that Paul has proclaimed that he began to speak about as he wrote to Titus in v1-2, where he’s said: ‘the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life (Tt 1:1–2). Titus is to appoint elders who are holding firmly to the knowledge of that truth that rests on the hope of eternal life. 


Elders, we are not playing games here; eternity is at stake. They are to refute, rebuke, correct; you are to have an unwavering commitment to the gospel, holding fast to it, believing in it, defending it, and fighting for it. This is so that they can v9; encourage others by sound doctrine, refuting those who oppose it and what is false, what is fake. They are to protect the church from the Father of Lies, to protect it from Satan’s attacks, and so that the flock under their care would be protected from Satan’s attacks, from his lies, so that if you were to stray into believing something other than the truth, you would be corrected, reproved, restored to the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q96 What is the Lord’s Supper?
A. The Lord’s Supper is a Sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.
​