Historical Background

The island dwellers of Crete (otherwise known as Cretans) were notorious for lying, corruption, violence, and sexual sin. The Greek word for, “one who is a liar” originates from the word, “to be a Cretan.” Located in heart of the Mediterranean Sea, Crete’s harbors are strategically placed to service cities all over the region. For these reasons, Paul saw the island of Crete as fertile soil for the gospel of Jesus and the possibility for the message of Christ to be easily sent to the corners of the known world. Therefore, Paul sent his travel companion and trusted mentee, Titus, to the island to show them a better way of living and to restore order to a number of house churches that were being deceived by the local leaders.

The possibilities Paul and Titus dreamed of when thinking about Crete may be similar to the possibilities we see in many of our cities and towns in the 21st century. Like those on the island of Crete, many people today live on islands of sin and brokenness, longing for a more hopeful future. If God can transform the lives of the Cretans to be a light for the Mediterranean world, the gospel message has the power to transform people today to be a light for the world.

Sermon Series

Title: Titus’ Treasure Island

Big Idea for Series: Searching for Godly Living in an Un-Godly World.

The title of this series is a spin-off of Robert Lewis Stevenson’s classic book, Treasure Island, and fits with the Book of Titus since he was assigned to the liars on the island of Crete. Helping the believers on Crete discern the treasure of how to live lives worthy of the gospel was Paul’s task to Titus. Similarly, people today are continually asking how to live in a predominantly secular world. The outline helps to see that living transformative lives comes from a different kind of church, family, and world.

Series Outline

• Paul’s Greeting (1:1-4)
• A Different Church: Titus’ Responsibility of Establishing Elders and the Problems in Crete (1:5-16)
  • Essential qualifications for elders (1:5-9)
  • Confronting masked Christians (1:10-16)
• A Different House: Teaching Godly Conduct at Home (2:1-15)
  • Leading generationally by example (2:1-10)
  • Relying on God’s grace and Jesus’ example (2:11-15)
• A Different World: Being Prepared to Display Good Works and Evading Endless Controversies (3:1-11)
  • Living a holy life because of Jesus’ mercy (3:1-8)
  • Avoiding divisive people (3:9-11)
• Final Instructions and Farewell (3:12-15)

Part 1 – Paul’s Greeting

Text: Titus 1:1-4

• Title: Paul’s Greeting
• Big Idea: In a world of lies, God’s Word is truthful.
• Sermon Focus: Crete was renowned for two things: First, they openly refer to themselves as liars (see 1:12), second, the island was believed to be the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus, who was known for seducing women all throughout Greek mythology and lying about it to his wife. Paul wastes no time in drawing a contrast between the world of false gods and lies that the Cretans are accustomed to and the one true God who never lies and is always faithful (vs. 2). How can you help your church overcome the lies of this world with the truths of God’s Word?

Part 2 – A Different Church: Titus’ Resonsibilities of Establishing Elders and the Problems in Crete

Text: Titus 1:5-9

• Title: Essential Qualifications for Elders
• Big Idea 1: Godly leaders are God’s leaders.
• Sermon Focus 1: Paul declares that the only ones worthy of leading the church are those who have a walk to back up their talk. These are ordinary people who align their lives with the gospel and the new commandment given by Jesus. The Cretan church is plagued by eccentric Jewish teachers who try to trip-up these leaders and teach false doctrines to the new converts. Paul’s looking for people who can lay down a firm foundation and has a lifestyle that stands in opposition. Do our lives meet the high standard Paul is calling the leaders to in Crete? What areas of our lives should we reexamine to become better equipped to lead God’s people?
• Big Idea 2: Holy leadership attracts whole-hearted followers.
• Sermon Focus 2: Paul would most likely rather have a church with no leadership than a church with shaky leadership. Why? Because Paul recognizes the importance of leaders in a world with precarious lifestyles. Leaders who have dubious doctrine or ignored sin are not the examples that Paul wants in these churches. Therefore he left Titus in Crete to set a foundation for thriving churches, and he told Titus it starts with holy leadership. How does your lifestyle and the lifestyle of your congregation impact others?

Text: Titus 1:10-16

• Title: Confronting Masked Christians
• Big Idea 1: For God’s sake, rebuke hypocrisy.
• Sermon Focus 1: Paul declares that the Cretans are correct when they call themselves liars (vs. 12). I imagine that Paul may have even cracked a smirk when he penned this, but his point is clear: The Cretans are not trustworthy, and their actions are disruptive to God’s ministry. There were leaders in the church who demanded Jewish customs and were motived by money. Titus is not only tasked with finding qualified elders, but he needs them to confront the false leaders who claim to know God but live as if he does not exist. Like Titus, we must be alert of the imposters in our midst. Is the church aware of people who twist doctrine? How are we teaching the next generation of believers to discern the difference between truth and lies?
• Big Idea 2: When your actions match your words, you widen your circle of influence.
• Sermon Focus 2: The Cretan church is under invasion from insiders. False teachers are corrupting this young church and the people in their community. Paul advises that the best way to combat this is for Titus to raise up powerful leaders who can withstand the slander and smears by living a countercultural lifestyle. Today’s church needs more people whose lives exemplify following Jesus. Unfortunately, like the rebellious people in Crete, many people today claim to follow God, but contradict him with their day-to-day actions. But when Christians unashamedly live for Jesus, others take notice.

Part 3 – A Different House: Teaching Godly Conduct at Home

Text: Titus 2:1-10

• Title: Leading Generationally by Example
• Big Idea 1: Godly living is infectious.
• Sermon Focus 1: Previously, Paul called out false followers. Their corrupt influence resulted in: (1) A mistrust in God’s Word (vs. 5), (2) Non-Christians could make false accusations towards Christians (vs. 8), and (3) The gospel comes off as not compelling (vs. 10). So now Paul attempts to correct this misunderstanding and point those who are trying to follow Jesus on the right path. Part of Paul’s plan is generational leadership. How might we better inspire godliness in our families and the people around us?
• Big Idea 2: The family is the first frontier for evangelism.
• Sermon Focus 2: The Cretan Christian family that Paul paints was a novel experiment for the day. In a culture that pays homage to idols, dishonesty, and regards Caesar as deity, being above reproach is key. Paul calls the believers in Crete to live radically different lifestyles for all to see. He believes that the gospel’s supremacy must prove its redemptive power in the public square while all eyes are on the Christian family unit. Do the lives of believers in the 21st century look so countercultural that people are asking what the difference must be?

Text: Titus 2:11-15

• Title: Relying on God’s Grace and Jesus’ Example
• Big Idea 1: Learning to live a godly life takes constant reliance on God’s grace.
• Sermon Focus 1: Living for Jesus is hard. It was never meant to be easy. It was hard for those on the island of Crete and it is hard for those living in the 21st century. While we may live in a different time period and society than these early believers, it is still challenging to say “No” to worldly desires and “Yes” to godly living. Thankfully, we do not have to rely on our own strength when making these crucial choices. Paul reminds us that the same grace of God that offers salvation, teaches us how to make decisions that honor the Lord.
• Big Idea 2: Small actions can make a big difference.
• Sermon Focus 2: Crete might seem like an odd place for the start of a global revolution. However, Paul believes just the opposite: movements can begin with the smallest of actions. Every time we say “Yes” to God and “No” to the worldly passions, we teach the current and next generation what it means to do what is good. How would we act differently if we lived in light of the truth that every small action is significant?

Part 4 – A Different World: Being Prepared to Display Good Works and Evading Endless Controversies

Text: Titus 3:1-8

• Title: Living a Holy Life Because of Jesus’ Mercy
• Big Idea 1: The clearest gospel is seen before it is heard.
• Sermon Focus 1: When Paul looked at Crete, he saw the possibility of a different kind of world. It started with the family, but then he zooms out to everyone living in the Cretan society. He viewed Christians, among all people, the ideal citizens—generous, peaceable, and obedient to authorities. The power source for this way of living comes from the gospel (vs. 4-7). Spirit-empowered believers have the potential to transform the world, and they still do today.
• Big Idea 2: Your past can change someone’s future.
• Sermon Focus 2: A widespread temptation in the Western culture is to make our lives look perfect. We try to hide our shadow-side, consequently hiding the transformational power of the gospel as well. However, sometimes the greatest joy stems from the greatest sorrow. Are we real with people in our testimonies or do we brush past the rough stuff? One person’s past has the power to change someone else’s future.

Text: Titus 3:9-11

• Title: Avoiding Divisive People
• Big Idea 1: Don’t strive to make a point, strive to make a difference.
• Sermon Focus 1: There are enough differences and nuances in Christian theology that can endlessly consume a church body. But instead of being bogged down with debate and quarrels, Paul urges Titus and others to avoid these foolish controversies. Why do we have an urge to be right, instead of getting it right? Paul would rather have believers focus on the main thing and avoid those who are divisive.
• Big Idea 2: If at first you don’t succeed … walk away.
• Sermon Focus 2: Sometimes, we want people to change more than they are willing and able. When interacting with a divisive person, Paul’s advice to Titus is to warn them at least two times, then walk away. This may be difficult because of our urgency to make things right, as well as to make people right. But we must remember that only the Lord can change someone’s life. We ought to do our best, but then leave the rest up to the power of God.

Part 5 – Final Instructions and Farewell

Text: Titus 3:12-15

• Title: Final Instructions and Farewell
• Big Idea: Don’t look down on calling for back-up.
• Sermon Focus: Paul is adamant about Titus setting up a functioning ministry machine on Crete. Beyond that, Paul is clear that he wants to see an accountability base in which Titus can find advice and support. To a large degree, Paul himself is a part of this accountability team. This is a prominent need in our modern churches. Sometimes, true humility is found in our willingness to receive feedback. Our ministries are so sensitive to our hearts that it becomes difficult to let outside sources speak into our practices. Do we seek to establish functional accountabilities in our own lives by way of mentors and friends?

Application

There are several application points to keep in mind when applying this book. For instance, a preacher can highlight the various forms and characteristics of leadership found throughout the book. In particular when it comes to leading a church.

The preacher could also apply the differences between worldly living and living for God. Christians should be ambassadors of transformation by wise participation in society, not by picking culture wars or through assimilation.

This book is also heavily built around eternity and God’s consistency. Therefore the preacher may look for ways that the church finds its hope in things outside of the gospel and help point them back to the truths of God.

Each passage has specific issues to deal with, but for example, you might broadly tell your congregants to value every portion of this little book. Since it is such a short book, perhaps they could find 10-15 minutes to read, or listen to, the Book of Titus each day over the course of the series. In addition, since Paul is Titus’ spiritual mentor, you could encourage each member of your congregation to find a spiritual mentor for themselves, and perhaps be a spiritual mentor for someone else.

Theological Themes

Paul’s letter to Titus deals with several theological themes that may be worth expounding upon in any sermon series. The following theological topics can easily be addressed by asking them in question format.

Christology

Paul opens his letter by clearly stating that the hope of eternal life comes through Jesus (1:1-4; 3:7). This truth influences the rest of the letter and Paul’s task for Titus and the churches in Crete. How are our lives impacted by salvation and grace in Christ Jesus?

Ecclesiology

Paul’s hope is that churches can be planted on the island of Crete. It is extremely important for him to make sure that those leading the churches are godly followers of Jesus (1:5-9). What steps can be taken to ensure our church is accountable and effective?

Evangelism

Paul is adamant about reaching more people with the gospel of Jesus Christ through challenging the Christians in Crete to live lives that are countercultural to the Cretan ways (2:11-15). What must our church do to be most effective in reaching the next generation with the gospel?

Apologetics

Paul gives the gospel in somewhat of a poetic form in 3:3-7 in hopes to persuade his readers to defend their faith through their right thinking and actions. In light of an unbelieving culture, how are we going to defend the truths of the Bible?

My Encounter with Titus

The Book of Titus challenges my perspective on how I view a sinful society. While I am tempted to get preoccupied with destructive discussions or recuse myself altogether, Titus reminds me that believers of the gospel are called to wisely and lovingly participate within the culture. Preaching through this book enabled me to challenge my listeners to live their lives with integrity and generosity. Their lives were daily on display for their friends, neighbors, and co-workers to see how the Triune God Jesus was completely counter-cultural to the false gods of the 21st century.

Commentaries

John Calvin, Titus (Electronic ed. Albany, OR: Ages Software, 1998. Print. Calvin’s Commentaries).

Calvin’s commentary will skillfully focus on intricate details like word studies, individual verse meanings, and Pauline writing styles.

Ben Witherington III, Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1-2 Timothy and 1-3 John (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2010).

Witherington provides wonderful sources to consider. He will pull in the social structure, cultural norms, and historical meaning in captivating ways.

N. T. Wright, Paul for Everyone: The Pastoral Letters: 1 and 2 Timothy, and Titus (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2004).

Wright does an excellent job of looking at the text like a road map. He is looking for thematic patterns, how various areas of the book tie into each other, and the meaning and significance of the larger passages.

Chris Rappazini is an Associate Professor of leadership at Anderson University’s Center for Leadership and Organizations and Founder of Faithful Steps Forward, which provides leadership coaching and training to pastors and business leaders. He has also served as the head of the Pastoral Studies program at the Moody Bible Institute, where he was on faculty for eleven years. Learn more at FaithfulStepsForward.com.