Paul wrote many letters to various churches in Asia Minor, helping them to understand the implications of the good news about Jesus. But he also wrote a few letters to specific individuals. These personal letters have so much to teach us about God’s calling for our lives.
These personal letters have so much to teach us about God’s calling for our lives.
Titus was one of the apostle Paul’s “sons” in the ministry, someone in whom he had invested a lot of teaching and prayer. After sending Titus to lead the churches on the island of Crete, he wrote this letter to encourage him in his ministry there. In the letter, Paul emphasizes the importance of good leadership in the body of Christ, and he calls on Titus to develop leaders within the church to carry out the ministry. This included encouraging the older men to disciple the younger men, and the older women to disciple the younger women. In this way, members of Christ’s body could help one another grow strong in the faith.
The letter also contains solid teaching on the importance of good works—those practical ministries that benefit the members of the church and those outside it. At the same time, it also emphasizes the need for teaching sound doctrine by proclaiming God’s Word with love and clarity. Two words summarize Paul’s message in this letter: proclamation and coordination. Titus was to preach the Word and coordinate the ministry so that lives would be changed and God’s kingdom would be expanded.
Two words summarize Paul’s message in this letter: proclamation and coordination.
You and I have the privilege of applying these same principles to our own lives.
Here’s a short video that highlights five key themes in the book of Titus. May you be blessed by it!
