Servants of the Master

Rev. Dr. Adam Filipek, pastor at Holy Cross Lutheran Church and Immanuel Lutheran Church, both in Lidgerwood, ND, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Titus 1:1-9.

As Paul writes to Titus, the pastor he left to serve on the island of Crete, he identifies himself as a servant of God. He is bound to do what his master says to do; he is bound to do what his master gives him to say. That message is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is the Truth of salvation for sinners. In Him, we have the hope of eternal life which God promised before the ages and now gives in time through the preaching of the Word by Paul, by Titus, and by all pastors. Paul reminds Titus of his task of appointing pastors there on Crete to bring order to the Church through their preaching of sound doctrine according to God’s Word. Throughout the qualifications listed for these men, the theme is clear that they ought not to give any obstacle to the preaching of the Word. Instead, they are to cling to that trustworthy word and preach it plainly so that those who hear it would be brought to saving faith in Jesus.

“The Word is Trustworthy” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These three letters are named after their recipients, two young pastors in the Christian Church. St. Paul gives instruction to these two men concerning the doctrine and life of the congregations where they are given to serve. In these epistles, the Apostle teaches both pastors and congregations of all times and places that the sound doctrine from God’s Word is faithful to save sinners in Christ Jesus.