Q

Paul creates a thoughtful and sometimes entertaining list of traits he wants to see or not see in church leaders (Titus 1:5-9). Just for fun, how about trying to put them in order of importance—as you would rate them? Or just pick out some of the ones that you think pose the greatest problem in local churches today.

YES

• Squeaky clean and above suspicion
• One-woman man
• His kids are believers
• Hospitable
• Fan of goodness
• Even-tempered
• Fair
• Devoted to God
• Disciplined
• Believes what he has been taught about the faith
• Tells others about Jesus
• Stands up to people who attack the faith

NO

• Party animal
• Rebellious
• Snooty
• Bad-tempered
• Drunk
• Violent
• Greedy

A

There are two main reasons local church ministers get in big enough trouble to get fired: sex and money. So we might want to put those concerns near the top of the list when we’re looking for a minister. “Even-tempered” probably needs to be up there, too, because in a sense, ministers are in sales. They are selling Jesus and the Christian faith. In so doing, they have to interact with humans. Some humans are more human than others—so human that a sensible person might rather make a living by observing and recording the nitpicking habits of snow monkeys in Japan.

Reprinted from Leader’s Guide & Atlas Titus & Philemon

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