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提多书［第1章］
Book of Titus 1

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提多书1章|Book of Titus 1

【属灵领袖的品质和使命】

主讲：丘均发传道

20/02/2024


引言：

提多书是使徒保罗写给年轻同工提多的一封信。提多书不但提到教会领袖的要求，也对所要的信徒，都有十分具体的教导。提多书第一章，让我们深刻理解了属灵领袖的品质和使命。

一、使徒保罗的使命 (V1-4)

这封信是写给提多的，但是也是写给革哩底岛上的信徒的。因此在书信的开头，保罗告诉当地的基督徒他的凭据是神，并说明他身为神的仆人和使徒的使命：就是按着神的命令要他传道，使神的子民有信心、有真理的知识、又有永生的盼望。

保罗是我们应该学习的好榜样，我们都要视自己为神的仆人，主的使者，传扬福音赢得他人归向基督！

二、敬虔领袖的品质（V5-9）

保罗把提多留在革哩底的目的，是要提多使革哩底各教会的事务办好，并在每个城市任命长老。保罗在这里列出了教会长老的品质：

1. 好丈夫和好父亲（V6）

保罗特别强调，长老应该只有一位妻子。除了有合神心意的婚姻以外，长老也要带领儿女信主，要管教儿女，使他们的行为检点。长老首先必须是一个好丈夫和好父亲！

2. 无可指责的品格（V7-8）

保罗对长老的品格要求‘无可指责’：不任性，不暴躁，不因酒滋事，不打人，不贪无义之财，乐意接待远人，好善，庄重，公平，圣洁，自持。

3. 坚守真理的责任（V9）

敬虔的领袖牧者必须履行坚守真理的责任，首先自己坚守神的话语，就能用神的话语来劝勉人；并且驳倒那些反驳真理的人。

在现今充斥着各种声音和信息的世界里，我们需要扎根于正确的教义，具备辨别真理和坚守真理的能力，并引导他人走上正道。

三、严厉责备假教师（V10-16）

保罗强调要提多必须严严责备那些违背正确教义的人。这些假教师误导了革哩底岛的信徒，把信徒引入歧途，败坏人的全家！

保罗指示责备的命令，不是惩罚性的审判，而是纠正性的爱。目的不单单是谴责，而是要引导被误导的人，回到正确的信仰上。我们不要把纠正的责备，当作一种惩罚，而是当作成长的途径。

总结：

今天的教会，就像革哩底的教会一样，需要敬虔的领袖，致力于使一切事情井然有序，确保教义正确。这项任务不仅是牧师或教会领袖的事，也是我们所有基督徒的使命！


Titus 1 Qualities and Mission of Spiritual Leaders
GK611 Morning Devotion
20 Feb 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew

Introduction：

The Epistle to Titus is a letter written by the apostle Paul to his young co-worker Titus. The book of Titus not only mentions the requirements for church leaders, but also has very specific instructions for the believers it requires. The first chapter of Titus gives us a deep understanding of the character and mission of spiritual leadership.

1. The mission of the Apostle Paul (V1-4)

This letter was written to Titus, but it was also written to the believers on the island of Crete. Therefore, at the beginning of the letter, Paul told the local Christians that his credentials were God and explained his mission as God’s servant and apostle: to preach according to God’s command so that God’s people have faith and the truth, knowledge, and the hope of eternal life.

Paul is a good example that we should learn from. We should all regard ourselves as servants of God and messengers of the Lord, preaching the gospel and winning others to Christ!

2. The qualities of a godly leader (V5-9)

Paul's purpose in leaving Titus in Crete was so that Titus could manage the affairs of the churches in Crete and appoint elders in each city. Paul lists the qualities of church elders here:

(1) Good husband and good father (V6)

Paul specifically emphasised that elders should have only one wife. In addition to having a marriage that is in line with God’s heart, elders must also lead their children to believe in the Lord and discipline their children so that they behave appropriately. An elder must first be a good husband and father!

(2) A blameless character (V7-8)

Paul’s character requirements for elders are to be “blameless”: not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, hospitable, a person of good and kind, dignified, fair, holy, and self-controlled.

(3) The responsibility of holding the truth (V9)

Godly leaders and pastors must fulfil the responsibility of adhering to the truth. First, they must adhere to God's Words themselves, and then they can use God's Words to exhort and convict those who contradict them.

In today's world filled with voices and messages, we need to be rooted in sound doctrine, equipped with the ability to discern and stand for truth, and to guide others on the right path.

3. Severely rebuke false teachers (V10-16)

Paul emphasised the need for Titus to severely rebuke those who were contrary to sound doctrine. These false teachers misled the believers in Crete, led them astray, and ruined their families!

Paul's command to rebuke is not punitive judgment, but corrective love. The purpose is not just to condemn, but to guide misguided people back to the correct belief. We should not think of corrective rebuke as a punishment, but as a way to grow.

Conclusion：

The church today, like the church in Crete, needs godly leaders who are committed to keeping everything in order and ensuring correct doctrine. This task is not just for pastors or church leaders, it is the mission for all Christians!