Guardians of the Gospel
A message for pastors — those who lead the church and proclaim the gospel!
Titus 1:1-9
Introduction:
Have you ever watched Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy? It’s about a band of unlikely heroes—misfits from different backgrounds—who find themselves tasked with protecting something that could save the universe. They aren’t perfect, and they don’t always get it right, but when it matters most, they rise to the challenge and stand together to guard what truly matters.
In many ways, that’s a picture of what God calls us to be as believers. We may feel ordinary or unqualified, but God has entrusted us with something far more valuable than a cosmic artifact—He has placed in our hands the gospel of Jesus Christ, the hope of salvation, and the mission to guard and share this good news faithfully in a world that desperately needs it.
Yet in a world flooded with distractions, shifting values, and constant noise, it’s easy to lose sight of this calling. We feel the pressures of leadership, the expectations to perform, and the temptation to measure success by the wrong standards. We may find ourselves asking:
“Am I truly guarding what matters most?”
“Am I leading with the integrity the gospel demands?”
“How can I remain faithful in a world that keeps shifting its values?”
If you have felt these tensions, you’re not alone. But there is clarity and hope. In his letter to Titus, the apostle Paul writes to remind leaders that we are stewards of the faith, called to guard the gospel with integrity and faithfulness while raising up others to do the same.
This passage isn’t just for pastors or elders; it is for every believer who senses the responsibility of carrying the gospel into a broken world. As we open Titus 1:1–9, we will discover four key principles that will strengthen us as guardians of the gospel—anchoring our identity, shaping our ministries, fueling our preaching, and guiding us to raise up leaders who reflect God’s character.
If you long to lead with purpose, faithfulness, and courage, this message is for you.
Grab your Bible and turn with me to Titus 1:1, where the apostle Paul begins:
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; 4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. — Titus 1:1–9 (ESV)
Isn’t it powerful how Paul opens this letter? In these verses, Paul is writing to a young leader facing a culture of chaos, compromise, and confusion. The island of Crete was known for its immorality, its shifting values, and its resistance to truth. Yet in that very environment, Paul calls Titus—and all who would lead the church—to stand as guardians of the gospel.
This passage isn’t just a list of leadership qualifications; it is a charge to protect and pass on the faith with lives that reflect the gospel we proclaim. It calls us to step into a culture of confusion with the clarity of God’s truth, to hold fast when others drift, and to live in such a way that our lives validate the message we carry.
If we are going to be guardians of the gospel in our generation, we need to pay careful attention to where Paul begins. Because before Paul talks about leadership structures, before he describes qualifications, and before he addresses the challenges of the culture, he begins with something essential:
1. Reclaim Your Identity as God’s Servant
The theme of identity shows early in this letter. In verse 1, Paul says,
“Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ…”— Titus 1:1 (ESV)
Paul was a leader — but his leadership began with following Jesus.
I think it is John Maxwell who says, ”If you think you’re leading, turn around to see if someone is following. If no one is following, you’re not leading, you’re only taking a walk.’’
Paul begins not by proclaiming his authority as an apostle, but by claiming the identity of a servant — a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
His point was to identify himself with Jesus. And the implication is that you should do the same. So, reclaim your identity as God’s servant.
Paul was a man who knew what it meant to be radically redefined by an encounter with Jesus Christ. His life was rebranded on the Damascus Road. A man driven by pride, self-promotion, and a zeal to climb the ladder of religious success was completely transformed into a humble servant of God.
He went from Saul, the persecutor of the church, to Paul, the servant of God, who would lay down his life for the Gospel.
Again, this wasn’t just an identity Paul adopted — or even a title or role. To the contrary, this word “servant of God” became his posture. It was the mantra of his ministry.
Paul is saying, “Before anything else, I’m a servant of God. Before I am anything else—before I am an apostle, a preacher, a church planter—I am a servant of God.”
The word Paul used here is the Greek word: doulos. It literally implies someone who has no independent agenda, no self-promotion, and no divided loyalties. It was more than a servant — it was a bond-servant, or a slave. Someone whose entire life was wrapped up in the will of their master. A bondservant was someone who became a slave by voluntarily selling themselves to a Master. And for Paul, this posture began on that road to Damascus. It was in that moment that his entire life was changed and he was rebranded as a slave to Christ. In a moment, the proud Pharisee, Saul, was transformed into the humble servant, Paul.
For you, reclaiming your identity as servant of God is paramount. Because, you’re not your own, you’ve been bought with a price, and you belong to God! You are a slave to Christ — a slave to righteousness!
It means letting go of self-serving ambitions and focusing on God’s call. Our identity as servants of God comes before any title, any platform, any role we may take on. I know the world has a very different idea of what it means to lead. It tells us that leadership is about status, recognition, and power. But in the Kingdom of God, true leadership begins with servanthood.
To lead others to Christ, we must first be willing to be led by Him, humbling ourselves and surrendering our agendas to His will.
Pastor, leaders, bible teachers, ministry teams — hear this: your calling to ministry doesn’t start with your vision, your plans, or your gifts. It starts with your surrender! You are called to serve—not just the people in your church, not just the community around you, but to serve God’s purpose for His Kingdom. When you understand this truth, everything else in ministry becomes secondary to the pursuit of God’s will. And when you begin to serve from this place, not only does your ministry become more focused, but the impact you have on others multiplies.
We often get caught up in seeking approval or recognition. We want to be noticed, appreciated, and validated. But if we are truly honest with ourselves, how often do we let those desires dictate our ministry? We may preach for applause, lead for influence, or work for personal satisfaction. But Paul is calling us, even today, to something deeper. He is calling us to a posture of surrender—a posture where our only ambition is to glorify God and to faithfully serve the people He’s entrusted to us.
As John Stott, the renowned English pastor and theologian, once said,
“The servant of God must not be a master of men, but a servant of Christ. A servant is not in charge; he follows orders, and his life is marked by surrender, not by self-interest.”
When we embrace our true identity, we can:
- Stop striving and start surrendering.
- Lead with courage, not for credit.
- Preach from the overflow, not from performance.
- Resist discouragement, knowing that faithfulness is success in the eyes of the Lord.
This sets us free from performance-based ministry and leads us into a life of true obedience, trusting that the results are God’s, not ours.
Personal Reflection:
- So, let me ask you — when was the last time you revisited your calling?
- Do you remember your “Damascus moment”?
- Are you living as a servant of God, or have you started serving lesser masters?
Once we reclaim our identity, we are called to anchor our ministry in something eternal—something that transcends the fleeting concerns of the present.
And so, the second challenge you find within this passage is to:
2. Anchor Your Ministry in Eternal Hope
“…in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began…”— Titus 1:2 (ESV)
Paul reminds us that our ministry—our purpose, our calling—must be anchored in something far greater than temporary successes or circumstances. Our hope is not a fleeting emotion or a wishful desire for something we can’t grasp, but an unshakable certainty rooted in the eternal life promised by God. This hope isn’t just for a “someday,” but a reality that has been promised before the ages began and secured by the God who never lies.
In our world today, it’s easy to be swayed by immediate results, by applause, or by the constant ebb and flow of trends in ministry. We can get caught in the temptation to measure success by the number of people in the pews, the size of the budget, or the recognition we receive. But these things are passing—subject to the winds of culture and circumstances. If we measure our success by what is seen, we will be tossed around by the storms of ministry—always chasing the next affirmation or result.
But Paul is calling us to anchor our ministry—our very lives—in the eternal hope of what God has promised. This is the bedrock on which we must build. Our ministry is not about immediate results; it is about serving with the certainty that our labor is not in vain because our reward is stored up in eternity. The hope of eternal life doesn’t just affect the “end”—it gives us the purpose and perspective we need today.
When we anchor our ministry in eternal hope, it gives our work true perspective. Ministry stops being about what we can achieve in the moment, and it becomes about what God is doing through us for His eternal purposes. We no longer chase after fleeting applause or worry about the shifting tides of popularity, because we are driven by the certainty that our labor matters. And even when the fruits of our labor seem hidden or delayed, we trust that God sees, and His promises are sure.
And so, this eternal hope keeps us focused and gives our ministry true purpose. When we anchor ourselves in the promise of eternal life, we can:
- Lead without fear of failure.
- Serve with joy, knowing that our work is meaningful in God’s eyes.
- Resist comparison, because we are not working for the approval of others but for the glory of God.
Imagine a sailor navigating through a storm, eyes fixed on the distant lighthouse, guiding them safely through the waves. Our ministry must be anchored in the eternal hope of God’s promises, helping us navigate the storms of life and ministry with faith and purpose.
C.S. Lewis, in his book Mere Christianity, once said, “Hope is one of the theological virtues. This means, that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not, as some modern people think, a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do.”
Personal Reflection:
Let me ask you, are you anchored in the hope of eternal life? Do the struggles of ministry shake your perspective, or do you hold firmly to God’s promises?
When we reclaim our identity and anchor ourselves in eternal hope, we are equipped to fulfill our calling—to preach God’s Word with urgency and authority.
And so, the third challenge you find within this passage is to:
3. Fulfill the Call to Preach God’s Word
“…and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior.” — Titus 1:3 (ESV)
Paul’s words here are a reminder—a clarion call for all of us in ministry. Preaching God’s Word is not a mere task we check off our to-do list. It is not an optional component of our calling, but a divine stewardship. When Paul says he has been entrusted with the preaching of God’s Word, he is acknowledging something incredibly sacred. This is not just a profession, but a responsibility to deliver truth that has eternal significance. It’s a trust given to us by the God of the universe, and it demands our faithfulness and urgency.
In a world filled with spiritual noise—opinions, ideologies, and constant distractions—people are desperately in need of something real, something unshakable, something that speaks into their lives with authority and clarity. The world may offer countless voices, but only God’s Word has the power to transform hearts and give life to souls. Preaching is not about delivering a good speech, drawing applause, or impressing others with our cleverness. It’s about delivering God’s truth, faithfully and clearly, to a people who need it now more than ever.
Think of it this way, preaching is about delivering a life-saving message.
In the same way that a messenger might run to deliver critical news to someone in danger, we are called to deliver the Word of God—unchanged, unaltered, unwatered down.
The urgency of the message must be evident in our preaching. We are not simply sharing ideas, but proclaiming the truth that has the power to change eternity for people. As messengers, we must make sure that what we deliver is faithful to the source—God’s Word—and not watered down by our own opinions or concerns.
Consider this, preaching isn’t about our personality or our performance—it’s about obedience to God’s calling. God has entrusted us with the most important message the world will ever hear. And we cannot afford to take this lightly. Every time we stand before God’s people, we must be reminded that we are not just teaching ideas—we are delivering the eternal, life-changing Word of God. And it must be delivered with faithfulness.
John Piper, a prominent theologian and pastor, once stated,
“Preaching is not just a means of communicating ideas, but a means of moving hearts, stirring affections, and pointing people to the glory of God through Jesus Christ.”
Just imagine you are a messenger running to deliver life-saving news. The message is urgent; lives are at stake. You don’t stop to admire the scenery, or to change the message to suit your preferences. You simply deliver it—faithfully and clearly, knowing that the stakes couldn’t be higher. That is what preaching is like. We don’t have the luxury of watering down the message, compromising for the sake of ease, or softening the truth for fear of discomfort. The Word of God is living and active, and it will do its work in the hearts of those who hear it. Our job is simply to deliver it with faithfulness and urgency.
Personal Reflection:
So, let me ask you, how seriously do you take the call to preach God’s Word? Do you approach it with the urgency and authority it deserves, or do you find yourself caught up in performance or personal concerns?
Preaching the Word is central, but the church can only grow if leaders reflect God’s character. This brings us to our final point: the need to raise up leaders who reflect Christ’s holiness.
And so, the final challenge Paul presents to you in this passage is this — that you would:
4. Raise Up Leaders Who Reflect God’s Character
“…This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town…” — Titus 1:5-9 (ESV)
Paul’s final charge to Titus speaks directly to the health and vitality of the church in Crete. Paul likely wrote this letter during a fourth missionary journey — not recorded in the book of Acts. His purpose is to instruct Titus about how to lead the church of Crete forward.
Apparently Paul had established the church — but Titus was left to establish order within — and to do that, he would have to raise up leaders who would reflect the character of God. And that would be quite a task, because, the people of Crete were notorious for lying, corruption, violence, and sexual sin.
Crete was renowned for two things:
First, they openly refer to themselves as liars. In fact, the Greek word for, “liar” originated with the word, “Cretan.”
And second, the island was believed to be the birthplace of the Greek god Zeus, who was known for seducing women and lying about it to his wife. For this very reason, Paul wants to ensure that the church of Christ is led by those with integrity — not compromised character.
Notice that Paul doesn’t tell Titus to focus on charisma, popularity, or earthly success. Rather, he challenges Titus to look for leaders whose character aligns with the holiness of God—leaders who are above reproach, self-controlled, and humble. These are not qualities that the world celebrates, but they are the qualities that God values most.
In the Kingdom of God, leadership is not about power, status, or influence. The world places importance on who has the loudest voice, the most followers, or the most visible platform. But in the church, leadership is about godliness. Leadership in the church should reflect the character of Christ—humble, self-controlled, and holy. True leadership in God’s eyes is character-driven, not success-driven.
As Paul writes to Titus, he’s highlighting the importance of godly leadership because a church can never grow beyond the level of its leadership. If the leaders are corrupt, selfish, or driven by ego, the church will follow suit. But if the leaders reflect the character of Christ—if they lead with humility, self-control, integrity, and holiness—then the church will be built on a strong, godly foundation that will endure and grow.
Pastor, this is an essential reminder for all of us in ministry. The focus isn’t on building our platform or gaining a following. It’s about raising up leaders who reflect the heart of God. We are called to shape others into Christ-likeness, to teach them to reflect His character in every aspect of their lives. This doesn’t happen by accident. Just as a sculptor carefully shapes a block of stone into a masterpiece, raising up godly leaders requires intentionality, patience, and skill.
Think about a sculptor working with a rough block of stone. The sculptor doesn’t just randomly chip away at it; every cut is purposeful, aimed at bringing out the beauty hidden within the stone. The process of shaping leaders is much the same. It requires careful discipleship, mentoring, and intentional development. Leaders don’t just emerge; they are shaped by the Word of God, trained in godliness, and matured through the work of the Holy Spirit. It’s a slow, steady process, but the result is a leader who reflects the character of Christ in every area of their life.
As A.W. Tozer wisely said, “The Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men.”
The focus should be on raising leaders who reflect Christ’s character, for it is character that truly shapes the church.
Personal Reflection:
What qualities do you look for in leaders? Are you more focused on a leader’s charisma and popularity or on their godliness and character? Do you place as much importance on their holiness as you do their public persona or achievements?
John Maxwell, a leadership expert, also highlights the same truth: “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”
But for a leader to show the way, their life must reflect Christ’s character first. People don’t follow a leader’s methods; they follow the leader’s character—their integrity, humility, and commitment to holiness.
So, Pastor, this is a moment to reflect on the type of leaders you are raising up in your ministry. Are you focused solely on skill, talent, or influence, or are you equally, if not more, focused on the godliness of those you are mentoring? Are you developing leaders who reflect Christ in their decisions, relationships, and overall lives? Or are you simply looking for leaders who can deliver results, but whose character doesn’t always match the gospel they preach?
The church cannot grow beyond the level of its leadership. If we want to see true spiritual transformation and growth, we must prioritize raising up leaders who reflect the character of Christ. This is the heart of Paul’s instruction to Titus—and it’s just as relevant for us today.
Conclusion:
In ministry, leadership is not about power or prestige; it is about service, integrity, and faithfulness. As we reclaim our identity as servants of God, anchor our ministries in the hope of eternal life, fulfill the call to preach God’s Word, and raise up leaders who reflect God’s character, we fulfill our calling to be faithful stewards of the gospel.
The world needs leaders who will stand firm in their identity, rooted in eternal hope, and committed to the faithful proclamation of God’s truth. May we each strive to lead with integrity, reflect God’s holiness, and preach with urgency.
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of being called Your servants. Help us to fulfill the call you’ve placed upon our lives. Let us be brave in the midst of a frightening world. Empower us by Your Spirit to proclaim the truth of Your Word at all times—never compromised. May we live with integrity, may we preach Your Word with passion and urgency, and may we obey Your command to train and raise up leaders who reflect Your character. Strengthen us to fulfill our calling, anchored in the eternal hope of Your promises. And may our lives and ministries always bring glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.