Titus 1:5-9 NIV
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
---
The trajectory of our inner life determines the destination of our public life
---
Titus 1:5-9 NIV
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.
---
The trajectory of our inner life determines the destination of our public life
1. What insight, principle or observation from this week’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye opening or troubling? Please explain.
2. Is there a leader you have looked up to? What about a spiritual leader? Why did you look up to them and why did they have influence on you?
3. Now think of a spiritual leader who had influence on you and then years later stuff came out about their inner life that shocked you? How did it affect you and your faith?
4. Your inner life will eventually show up in your public life. Interact with this statement. Where have you seen its truth?
5. Read Titus 1:5-6. Why is the home the place to start when it comes to being a person of integrity? What challenges you regarding your home life and your own leadership?
6. Read Titus 1:7-9. What in this list challenges you most about your life or integrity? As you think of the list and the leaders who have fallen, which ones are common pitfalls for leaders?
7. Why would this list be important for a pastor or elder in our church today?
8. We don’t all see ourselves as great leaders or influencers and yet on some level we are all both. In what areas of life are you a leader or influencer? If God truly does look at the heart, what in your inner life are you hiding right now that you need to deal with before it becomes tragic for yourself and others? Or, what area of the things listed are you most tempted to try and hide?
---
Public leadership and influence are important. But the inner life of the leader and influencer is always most important
Although we aren’t all leaders the same, we are all leaders.
Although we don’t all have the same influence, we all have influence.
The trajectory of our inner life determines the destination of our public life.
---
Take a look at your interior, and commit to growing your leadership, your influence from the inside out, start by looking at your life in light of the qualifications listed in Titus 1:5-9, and then watch your leadership, your influence grow.
