Today we’re sharing an excerpt from Lifeway Women’s new Bible study Titus by Courtney Doctor and Hunter Beless. Learn more about this impactful new Bible study! This day of study is written by Hunter Beless.
It’s no secret that bad leaders have wreaked havoc in the church. In recent years, there have been toxic leaders in popular ministries and prominent churches who embody everything but the list of qualifications we’ve been studying in Titus 1:5-9. As a result, it seems like more people are leaving the church than ever before. Many distrust the church and her leaders—and not without cause.
This situation grieves God. Why? Because God loves His church. And, as followers of Jesus, we are to love what God loves. The church is the bride of Christ, the one Jesus is coming back to get, and that which the gates of hell will not prevail against. So today, our hope is that Paul’s words to Titus will help us examine our hearts, humbly consider what we believe, and seek to rightly align our beliefs with God’s Word so that we would truly love His church.
What comes to your mind when you think about church leadership? What personal experiences, good or bad, might be influencing your view?
The sad reality is that abuse happens in the church, and it is not always handled well. If you have been hurt by bad leadership in the church—either by someone abusing power, covering up wrongdoing, or failing to walk in repentance and faith—we want to say we’re sorry and encourage you to seek wise counsel from a trusted pastor, godly friend, or Christian counselor. Depending on the type of abuse you’ve experienced, you may also need to report it to law enforcement authorities. Know that the church is supposed to be a place of safety, security, and refuge, and bad leadership has both grieved the heart of God and hurt many in His beloved church.
Titus 1:5-9 tells us about the kind of character and behavior leaders in the church should exemplify, including blamelessness, hospitality, and righteous behavior.
No one in church leadership will live out the list of requirements perfectly, but we should expect them to consistently display godly character, hold fast to the gospel, and rely on God’s grace to fulfill their calling. This is the kind of church leadership God intends. Besides people being hurt, poor leadership can result in members walking away from the church and trying to fill the void with social media, the internet, or questionable “Christian” ministries.
In our digital age, many of us devote much time to following celebrity pastors and prominent online ministries. While these ministers and resources can be a helpful supplement to our spiritual growth, we are best shepherded by people we know and who know us. Our local church leaders know our specific needs, and hopefully genuinely care about our spiritual well-being (Heb. 13:17). It’s spiritually dangerous to only listen to people who say what we want to hear. Let’s graciously lend our ear to the local church leaders God has given us, knowing they are for our spiritual good.
Hebrews 13:17 instructs us to respond to the humble leadership of our church leaders by obeying and submitting to them. Our leaders are to be a picture of true discipleship—teaching and training in godliness in the context of relationship—within our local churches. In turn, we are to follow their leadership, encouraging and supporting them so that their task of leading is filled with joy.
We hope you’ve seen how the gospel transforms our beliefs about church leadership. As we close, let’s reflect on the mercy we’ve all—church leaders and church members alike—received in Christ by remembering Titus 3:5, “He saved us—not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy—through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.”
Want to learn more about the Titus Bible study? Watch the short video below or view a free sample and teaching video clips at lifeway.com/titus.
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