Looking for a Few Good Men

In this message centering on Titus 1:5–9, Chuck Swindoll outlines the non-negotiable standards for spiritual leadership within the church. He begins with a harrowing story of a pilot lost over South Africa to illustrate a vital principle: when a leader is unqualified or "lost," the lives of everyone on board are in danger. Swindoll applies this to the church, asserting that "good spiritual leadership requires being qualified," and that sincerity, zeal, or education alone are insufficient without proven character [3–6]. Swindoll explores the context of Paul leaving Titus on the island of Crete, a place teeming with theological and moral messes that needed to be "set in order." He explains that Titus’s task was to appoint elders—also called overseers or pastors—who could help him lead the flock amidst a culture of rebellion, gossip, and deception. Swindoll argues that leadership is lonely, difficult work that requires a team of qualified individuals to stand firm against opposition while leading the sheep with grace [7, 10–13]. The sermon conducts a deep dive into the specific qualifications listed in the text, categorized into three areas: the home (marriage and children), inner character (five negatives to avoid and six positives to pursue), and public ministry. Swindoll emphasizes that while perfection is not required, a leader must be "above reproach," possessing a track record of integrity that offers no loophole for community accusation. The message concludes by defining the leader's dual role: to feed the flock with sound doctrine and to courageously refute those who contradict the truth [14–16, 30–31].

Message Key Facts:

• The "Lost Pilot" Principle: Swindoll opens with a story by Tom Wright about a pilot whose instruments failed, leaving him lost. Swindoll uses this to argue that a person not spiritually qualified has no business risking the lives of others in a church [3–5].
• "Set in Order": Swindoll explains that the Greek verb used in verse 5 (epidiorthoo) is the root for "orthodontics" and "orthopedics." Just as these medical fields straighten teeth or broken bones, Titus was tasked with straightening out the theological and moral fractures of the church in Crete.
• The Shin Bruise Test: To illustrate the unglamorous reality of leadership, Swindoll suggests that those craving leadership should "hit yourself real hard on the knees and on the shin." He notes that leadership is often painful, lonely, and filled with criticism rather than glory.
• "One-Woman Man": In interpreting "husband of one wife," Swindoll clarifies the Greek literal translation is "one-woman man." This implies a singularity of faithfulness, sexual purity, and devotion to one’s wife, rather than merely a legal status regarding divorce or remarriage [16–17].
• The "Pugnacious" Pastor: Highlighting the qualification "not pugnacious," Swindoll defines this as a "striker"—someone who is violent, mean-spirited, or a bully. He warns that such individuals often become "church bosses" and should be avoided in leadership roles.
• Accommodating Theology: Swindoll warns against "sanding off" the sharp edges of Scripture to make them easier to live with. He urges the church to fit their lifestyles to theology, not their theology to their lifestyles.
• Two Voices of Leadership: A qualified leader must have two voices: one that draws the saints together through sound doctrine, and one that confronts predators and refutes those who contradict the faith. A leader unwilling to protect the flock is not qualified to lead [30–31].
• Greed in Ministry: Discussing "sordid gain," Swindoll admonishes pastors not to view weddings or funerals as opportunities to make money, warning that financial integrity is essential to the role [25–26].

Message References:

• Titus 1:5: The primary mandate: "For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint Elders in every city".
• Titus 1:6: Qualifications for the home: "If any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe...".
• Titus 1:7: Five negative traits to avoid: "Not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain".
• Titus 1:8: Six positive traits to possess: "Hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled".
• Titus 1:9: The public duty: "Holding fast the faithful word... so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict".
• Titus 1:10–11: The description of the difficult culture in Crete: "Rebellious men, empty talkers and deceivers... who must be silenced" [10–11].
• 1 Timothy 3: Referenced as a correlated passage regarding the qualifications of elders.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll