Young Man, there's a place you can go...

Tonight we looked at Titus 2. It was encouraging to look at what we can learn and what we can teach by our lives as Christians. Particularly lovely was the response of the boys who looked at the young men section.

"Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us."
Titus 2:6-8

Please pray that we would be self controlled in everything: In the way that we pray, in the way that we use our time, in the way that we relate to each other, in the way that we relate to girls, in the way we drink alcohol. Please pray that we will set a good example, and that we will do what is good. Pray that we will have integrity in what we say, will be mature in the way we speak and speak in a way that builds others up and not use our mouths to talk crap. Please pray that we will be able to stand firm under opposition and that those who oppose us will come to know Jesus as their Saviour by our blameless lives.

Something along those lines anyway. I think it's good to pray these things for young men. As one myself, I know I need it prayed for me. As a leader I know I need to pray it.

Why is 3 afraid of 4?

Last night at Bible Study we looked at Titus chapter 1. One of the things we thought about was what happens when, as a leader, you don't understand the heart of the gospel.

E1: "Why is six afraid of seven? Because seven eight (ate) nine!"
E2: "Why is three afraid of four? Because four five six!"

The logic for the joke is the same, but E2 didn't get what made the joke. So many people in Crete had similar logic, but missed the truth and beauty of the gospel. Godly leadership protects from error by making Jesus the focus of everything.

Elders/Overseers/Leaders in general should be:

• Blameless
• Faithful to their spouse
• Able to lead their family well
• Hospitable
• A lover of good
• Self-controlled
• Holy
• Upright, and
  
• Disciplined.

An elder/overseer/leader in general must not be:

• Overbearing
• Quick tempered
• Given to drink too much
• Violent
• Greedy
• A talker and deceiver
• Devoted to myths and controversies
  
• Someone who claims to know God but does not live like they do.

My personal opinion is that everybody leads somebody, no matter how uninfluential you think you might be. We can all learn from Paul's instruction to Titus and we should be praying for good leadership (both in ourselves and others).