Titus – A Sound Church

Titus – A Sound Church

What does a healthy church look like? In his letter to Titus, Paul gives practical instructions for building churches that are grounded in sound doctrine, led by godly leaders, and marked by lives that reflect the truth of the gospel.

Our Titus sermon series walks through the letter verse by verse. We discover why biblical truth matters, what God expects from church leaders, how sound doctrine shapes godly living, and why the church must be prepared to protect the truth of the gospel.

Titus 1:1–4 – A Continuing Kingdom: Truth That Transforms

Paul begins his letter to Titus by showing that the church belongs to a kingdom much bigger than any individual leader or generation. Through Paul’s example we see that spiritual leadership requires both humility and submission to Christ’s authority. That authority continues in the church through the apostolic teaching preserved in Scripture.

Paul also connects faith with truth that produces godliness: biblical truth is not merely information to understand, but truth that transforms the way we live. Our hope rests on the promise of eternal life from the God who cannot lie, and our calling is to faithfully pass the gospel on to the generations that follow.

Read the sermon:
Part 1 – Humility and Authority
Part 2 – Passing the Faith to the Next Generation
Part 3 – Truth That Transforms

Titus 1:5–6 – God’s Leaders: Biblical Leadership Begins with Character

Paul left Titus in Crete with the responsibility of setting the churches in order and appointing qualified elders. But biblical leadership is not primarily about talent, influence, or organizational ability. God gives clear instructions about the character of those who lead His church.

Elders must be blameless, faithful, and able to demonstrate godly leadership first within their own homes. Titus 1:5–6 reminds us that the church belongs to God, and those entrusted with leadership must therefore follow His standards rather than simply adopting the leadership principles of the surrounding culture.

Read the sermon:
Part 1 – God’s Design for Church Leadership
Part 2 – Qualifications for Church Elders
Part 3 – Faithful Leadership Begins at Home
Part 4 – Living by Biblical Principles

Titus 1:7–9 – God’s Leaders: Character Matters

What kind of character should mark those who lead God’s church? Paul describes an elder as a steward of God’s household—someone entrusted with caring for something that belongs to Christ, not to himself.

Such a leader must not be self-willed, quick-tempered, violent, or greedy, but hospitable, self-controlled, just, holy, and devoted to what is good. Yet character alone is not enough. An elder must also hold firmly to God’s Word so that he can encourage others through sound doctrine and respond to those who contradict it. Titus 1:7–9 shows that healthy church leadership requires both godly character and faithfulness to biblical truth.

Read the sermon:
Part 1 – Character Matters
Part 2 – Stewards of God’s Church
Part 3 – Character and Self-Control
Part 4 – Character and Sound Doctrine

Titus 1:10–16 – Unpleasant but Necessary: Protecting the Church from False Teaching

One of the most difficult responsibilities of church leadership is protecting God’s people from destructive teaching. Paul warns Titus about rebellious people, empty talkers, and deceivers who were disrupting entire households and distorting the truth for selfish gain.

Elders cannot simply ignore such teaching; they must recognize it, confront it, and, when necessary, rebuke it sharply. Yet the goal is not winning arguments or exercising control—it is spiritual health and faithfulness to the gospel. Titus 1:10–16 reminds us that sound doctrine and godly living belong together, and that protecting the church from false teaching remains an important responsibility of faithful leadership.

Read the sermon:
Part 1 – Confronting Rebellion in the Church
Part 2 – Confronting False Teaching
Part 3 – Recognizing False Teachers