Titus 1

The start of a new week and a new Bible study. This week it’s Titus and Philemon. As I’m working through 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus, its really been fun to see the requirements for leadership in the Church. Paul lays out some very specific things we must adhere to. They are good guidelines for anyone but absolute necessities for leadership.

I Requirements for and Expectations of Leadership
vs 1-4 Opening greeting
vs 5-9 Paul list qualities needed for leaders
vs 10-16 Silence rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers

To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
Titus 1:15-16

This is a reality that I have seen many times in Youth Ministry. To the pure all things are pure. There are no double entendres in their speech, no flirtatious glances, no clothes that do not cover or are too tight, no course jesting, etc… When worldly people see these kids they are quickly written off as naïve but there is something else going on. A purity that comes from God and is the natural consequence of keeping their heart clear of all the sin and trash that that infects so many of the youth of today. It is so dangerous for a youth to “claim to know God, but by their actions … deny Him”. The Bible says these are “detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good”. I don’t ever want any teenager that I minister to, to be thought of in these terms. This is why it’s so important to challenge youth in personal holiness and to greater heights of devotion to God.