The sermon highlighted a beautiful discipleship chain: Jesus entrusted Paul, Paul entrusted Titus, Titus entrusted the elders, and the elders entrust us to carry out the work. This pattern reveals God’s method for advancing His kingdom – through faithful people investing in other faithful people who will invest in others.
This chain reminds us that we’re not just consumers of spiritual leadership but participants in God’s mission. The pastors and elders who invest in us should see fruit in our own spiritual growth and ministry to others. We honor their leadership not just by learning from them but by living out what we learn and passing it on to others.
Every believer is both a disciple and a discipler. Even if you don’t hold formal church leadership, you have opportunities to encourage, mentor, and serve others. The character qualities required of elders – being above reproach, self-controlled, hospitable, and grounded in Scripture – are qualities every believer should pursue as they influence others for Christ.