Paul told Titus that elders must “hold firmly to the trustworthy Word” (Titus 1:9). Leaders are shepherds, called to feed and protect the flock with sound doctrine. Calvin said the church cannot stand without faithful teaching. Doctrine equips leaders to exhort in truth and refute error. Leadership divorced from doctrine is weak; leadership grounded in doctrine strengthens the whole church.

Doctrine is simply teaching — not speculation, not human opinion, but God’s truth revealed in His Word. Paul urges leaders to hold firmly to sound doctrine (Titus 1:9). R.C. Sproul reminds us, “Everyone’s a theologian” (Everyone’s a Theologian, p. 1). The only question is whether we are faithful to God’s teaching or swayed by man’s ideas. The church stands firm when she treasures doctrine.

The apostle Paul repeatedly reminds the church to hold fast to sound teaching. He urged Timothy, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me” (2 Tim. 1:13). Again, he warns that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:3).