Someone has said, “The church rises or falls on leadership.” That is a true statement for sure, but leadership is also important in other areas of life as well. Not only does the church rise or fall on leadership, but marriages, families, and children rise or fall on leadership.
In this section of The Book of Titus, the apostle Paul is focusing his instruction on the kind of leaders that God desires. Leadership is very important to God because people are very important to God. God understands that the quality and caliber of leaders will help decide the effectiveness of his people, church and mission.
Three Areas That God Wants To Help You Lead Well
1. Lead your family well
Titus 1:6 “…He must be faithful to his wife, and his children must be believers who don’t have a reputation for being wild or rebellious.”
Each year researchers list the most difficult and dangerous jobs in this country. Working on a fishing boat in the winter on the Bering Strait is always high up there on the danger scale. So is being a logger or working in an oil field. These are very difficult jobs to be sure. But one job that never makes the list of the most difficult jobs list is being a Christ-centered spouse and parent.
In order to lead your family well, parents must accept their role as pastors of their kids. This is your God-given privilege and responsibility. Throughout the Bible, even way back in the Book of Deuteronomy, God gives instructions to parents on how to raise children.
Deuteronomy 6:7 “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.”
In order to be a pastor to your kids, you must take advantage of teachable moments. A teachable moment is anything that can help your children grow in their relationship with Jesus. Parents need to be consistently looking for teachable moments. Notice also that parents are to repeat those teachable moments. Along with taking advantage of teachable moments, parents model what they want to see happen in their kids’ lives. There is no more powerful training tool than modeling what you want to see happen.
2. Lead yourself well
Who is the hardest person to lead? That is a good question, isn’t it? Could they be that employee who is constantly late, the person who thinks they can do your job better than you, or that stubborn person who isn’t very teachable? Admittedly, those are good potential answers, however, without question, the hardest person to lead is you. The most difficult person you will ever lead, is you.
Titus 1:7-8 “…he must live a blameless life. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered; he must not be a heavy drinker, violent, or dishonest with money…he must love what is good. He must live wisely and be just. He must live a devout and disciplined life.”
In other words, character counts. The first thing that jumps out about this list of God-given characteristics of a leader is that character counts with God. In our culture, it seems charisma, skill and power often trump character. In God’s world, character counts above all the rest. How do I develop this character? Jesus wants to help.
John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”
Just as a branch is connected to the vine, our job is to stay connected to Jesus. That is the way God will produce the fruit (character) that he desires. Christ tells us that our job is to stay close and remain in him and his job is to bear the fruit (character) in our lives.
3. Lead your neighbors well
Titus 1:8 “He must enjoy having guests in his home…”
God wants you to be hospitable and to enjoy having guests in your home or apartment or dorm room. Hospitality carries the idea of acting in a loving manner to your guests and to treat them with generosity and care. Your guests are not a burden to avoid or a responsibility to ignore. They are guests to be loved, cared for and treated with the generosity of Christ.
The warmest, most inviting, most hospitable house on your block can be your house. Be the house the kids want to play at. Have barbecues, parties and social gathers at your home.
Live a full-circle life
Titus 1:9 “He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.”
Because you have been transformed by Christ, you have a strong belief in the trustworthiness of the Gospel. And because you trust Jesus, you are able to encourage others with this message. The rest of your life is committed to helping people go full circle with Jesus. You mentor them in Jesus and you help them mentor others in Jesus. You help your spouse, your kids, your neighbors, roommates at school, and co-workers go full circle with Christ. It becomes the great priority and passion of your life.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What do you think of the statement, ”Not only does the church rise or fall on leadership, but marriages, families, and children rise or fall on leadership.”?
- In what areas of your life could grow in leadership?
- Read Titus 1:7-8 and share why you think character counts with God.
- Why do you think leading yourself is the hardest person to lead?
- Give some examples of people who demonstrated hospitality to you and how that made you feel.
- What are some practical ways that you can be more hospitable in your life?
- Read Titus 1:9 and share how you can grow in mentoring more people for Jesus.
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
