“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. 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, 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, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction and sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
– Titus 1:5–9
The Outline for Elders and Pastors
Titus 1:5-9 is one of two passages in the New Testament that specifically outline the character and competency qualifications of elders or pastors in the church. So what I want to do is I want to read these verses and then lead us to pray specifically for pastors in the church. So hopefully you’re part of a local church. I want you to picture the pastors in your church as we read through this text and then we pray specifically for them according to God’s word. So Titus 1:5–9.
As our pastors submit to God’s leadership over the church, we pray for them and submit to their leadership within the church.
So God, we pray for all of these things in pastors. I think about my own life, pastors in the church where I have the privilege serving. We each, as we pray, think about pastors that you have put in our lives and some who are listening right now are pastors. God, we pray that you would help our pastors to be all of these things.
Prayer for Pastors to be Above Reproach
We pray that you would help our pastors to be above reproach, to honor you in their marriage, in their family. We pray that their families would flourish in Christ. And we pray that you would give humility to pastors. God, may pastors not be marked by arrogance. Would you give pastors self-control, O God, that you would keep pastors from being greedy for anything in this world, for money, for any kind of selfish gain, for pleasures according to the world, for possessions in this world?
Prayer for Pastors to Live Holy Lives and Stand for Sound Doctrine
Keep them from being consumed with the pursuits of this world. O God, help our pastors to be hospitable. Help our pastors to reflect your character and love and compassion. Help our pastors to love only that which is good. And, O God, please help our pastors to hold firm to the trustworthy word you have given us. God, please keep our pastors tethered to your word. Help them to speak your word constantly, to give instruction in it in sound doctrine. Help our pastors to rebuke those who contradict sound doctrine according to your word. We pray that our pastors would only speak your word as authoritative. That you would keep our pastors from speaking their opinions. Their thoughts, giving counsel according to their opinions. Their thoughts, but according to your word.
Titus 1:5–9: Prayer for Pastors to be Good Shepherds
May they lead and shepherd the church, we pray. We pray for your blessings on them. We pray that you would help us to submit to their leadership as they submit to your leadership over the church. Help them to lead us well in church for the glory of your name. Help them to love and serve us as well in the church for the glory of your name. We pray for our pastors, in Jesus name. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
