Titus 1:5-8

v5: A local church without elders is lacking. "Where there is a suitable number of believers... elders must be appointed and their continuation in the churches is as necessary as their being appointed in the beginning." We should praise God for His wisdom in structuring the church in this way, give thanks if we enjoy the blessing of being in a church led by elders, and "pray for those who lack it!"

v6: Elders must be blameless. They "must not be people who have a bad reputation, but must have a good reputation... they must not be grossly or scandalously guilty, which might bring [disapproval] on [their] ministry." This aspect of the elder's character is to be seen in their relationships, particularly within the home. They "must be pure with respect to marriage," and "have faithful children, obedient and good, brought up in the true Christian faith and living according to it, as least as far as the endeavours of the parents are effective."

v7-8: Negatively, an elder must not have "a high opinion of oneself, or having [excessive] thoughts of one's gifts and abilities and abounding in one's own self-importance." Nothing is more inconsistent in an elder, "who is to direct his own and others' eyes to another world, than to be too intent on this one." Positively, an elder must "be exemplary in loving what is good," being "sober in respect to himself, upright and righteous toward all, and holy toward God."  Pray for your elders to be godly in their character.