Titus: Letter written by Paul in roughly 63-66 AD sometime before his imprisonment. Was written after Paul and Titus went to help the churches in Crete and then left Titus there. Although Paul’s last words in 2 Timothy were that Titus went to Dalmatia, tradition tells us that after that he went to Crete and spent the rest of his life there ministering with the church in that region.
Probably a lot of work there because there were probably many churches. The Cretan’s were a rough group Epimenides there own prophet said
Vrs 12.
Polybius in Histories said “Almost impossible to find personal conduct more treacherous or public policy more unjust, then in Crete”
Cicero states in Republic “Moral principles are so divergent that the Cretans consider highway robbery honorable”
How do you do good among such a sinful and messed up culture? The first thing is appoint leaders who follow the Lord. Is this possible to find Godly people to lead in such terrible circumstances…Titus would know the answer is yes…cause he knew about Noah, Lot, Moses, Daniel
Theme of letter: “Promoting good works among the people” Obviously a difficult task.
Tonight we will learn that “Godly leaders inspire good works”
We all realize that when there is corruption in leadership and injustice happens people respond in sinful ways.
An example of that was in LA in the early 90’s when Rodney King beaten by police and the police got off the hook. Explain the riots and the story of Rev. Bennie Newton who ran a ministry for troubled young men in LA, turn on the tv as the riots started to break out and realized around the corner from his house Reginald Denny was being beaten by looters. He ran out to find that others saved Reginald by the attackers were now beating a man named Fidel Lopez, Rev. Newton with Bible in hand jumped on Fidel to guard him from the attackers and yelled “If you kill this man you have to kill me first” and the attackers dispersed and Rev. Newton prayed over the man and brought him to the hospital because no ambulance responded.
Our culture and every culture and place need righteous leaders to stand for righteousness.
To identify Godly leaders we look at...
• family life.
• personal purity.
• doctrinal beliefs.
• willingness to do what is right no matter the cost.
What I am going to do is go through the passage in order rather then going through there four points and taking the passage out of order. With these points behind me you will be able see that these points are what we find in the passage.
• Intro Verses 1-4
Vrs 1 Paul starts with the reminder of truth GOSPEL (doctrinal beliefs)
Vrs 2 Even though you are in a culture of liars. In 600BC the Cretans were so much known for being liars that other people came up with the term “Cretanize” which meant you were lying. In sharp contrast Paul states “God is not a liar” His Gospel is true (personal purity)
Vrs 3 Given Word to be preached and “Entrusted” Paul with it. This is what all Christians must understand we are “Entrusted” to bring the Word. (doctrinal beliefs)
• Vrs 5 Here is what I need you to do. Clean up the mess and then appoint those who can take care of the church.
Appoint: who has the right to put people in leadership? Those in leadership, not about yes men but about qualified men.
The character of Godly leaders Vrs 6-8 What qualifies them? these are character traits that all Christians should strive after. When I preached 1 Timothy 3 I did an entire sermon on these traits, so I don’t want to get repetitious.
Paul is saying here is this the measuring stick…Why? Because people need real life people in their church and community to look up to, get Godly advice from and trust. In the culture Titus was in it was a lot easier to select unqualified men to be leaders but Paul is saying “no no” There must be standards for who will have authority in the church.
Vrs 9 these men have to be willing to do the hard things and not shrink back for fear of others. They stick to God’s Word and use it to correct those who violate it and oppose it.
• The character of the ungodly Vrs 10 Paul now describes what characterizes the ungodly. “circumcision party” The false teachers arose form the Jewish Christians (Here is how you will recognize them, they are the ones adding rules)
• What to do about the ungodly 11-14.
-Silence v11 They need to be willing to speak up..
Silence in the face of evil is itself evil...not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer
-v12-13a Even the unredeemed know they are sinful (Epimenides)
-Rebuke & correct them v13-14
Need to point out their error and send them on the right way
Myths-belief in untrue or fanciful stories that were deceptive and excused immoral behavior.
• Vrs 15-16 When someone is working on their personal purity their focus becomes on the things of the Lord, when that happens we think on what is pure…that is where our mind goes…did you ever have someone say to you “get your mind out of the gutter”?
The ungodly are deceived their conscience and moral compass is off…The book of Romans talks a lot about this.
-When your mind is deceived the result is sin, false teachers loved to make up and hold people to rules that are not Biblical
Vrs 16 “Unfit” even when they do good it just does not seem good
The result…
Having Godly leaders in place will inspire those they are leading to do good works.
Our Response…
Follow in good works in order to lead others to Jesus.
In effect we all have some role in leading…
Sunday, March 27, 2011
"Helpful or Hurtful?"
Helpful people…
-are servants of the Lord
Crescens v10 nothing is known but apparently was dispatched to do the work of the Lord in Galatia
Titus v10 Helpful but we will learn more about him next week.
Tychicus v12 Eph 6:18-21 & Col. 4:2-7 Paul states that “he is a faithful brother and minister” 2x and says he will tell the church at Collosea his affairs…so he was a messenger.
Q=Do you serve the Lord?
Luke v11 The physician wrote Gospel of Luke and Acts. But he is with Paul
-use skills and abilities to serve.
Q=What skills and abilities do you have to serve?
-provide companionship. Luke knew Paul would appreciate company.
Q=Are you available?
-do things for others.
Vrs 13 bring my cloak, books and parchments (OT Scriptures)
Q=Are you willing to do things for others?
Side note: Spurgeon Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1860’s on “The books”
How rebuked are they by the apostle! He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading."
Christians, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying.
Hurtful people…
-let us down
Demas v10 Being in love with the world will leave you Restless. It is amazing to see that when people turn away from the Lord it actually hurts those who are serving Him. (some personal illustrations)
Q=Have your actions and decisions let others down?
-cause us problems
Alexander v14a “Much harm” “guard against/Beware of him” this would carry the idea we have to put up some walls against people who have hurt us. This does not mean we do not forgive, or we should treat them badly. But it does give us the idea that we should enter in with extreme caution.
Do people change?
Sometimes the hurtful become helpful.
Mark v11 Acts 15:36-41 Paul disapproved of Mark because of his departure from them. 46-47AD. God sometimes uses departed situations to further the Kingdom and prove peoples usefulness. Paul did not say “I was wrong about him” he said he is useful almost 20 years later.
So yes people change but they may need time…I would suggest time
You may be saying to yourself…I don’t really have many helpful people in my life…
Vrs 16-18 When we can’t count on anyone…we can count on the Lord.
Jesus is helpful to us even though were hurtful to Him. GOSPEL
How do we treat those who are hurtful?
Vrs 14b (our instinct is to take revenge)
-take comfort that the Lord will repay.
Vrs 16 -pray for mercy for them
- Realize you have hurt others.
Thomas Kempis wrote in the “Imitation of Christ” in the 1400’s
Under the heading “Bearing with faults of others”
“Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault” “If you cannot make yourself what you wish to be, how can bend others to your will” “we want them to be perfect and yet we do not correct our own faults”
(Paul would understand that because he did great harm to the faith and then he was saved and people where skeptical and he understood that)
How do we treat those who are helpful?
-encourage them
Vrs 19-21 Greet those co-laborers Paul is being an example of a person that is helpful. His encouraging words to those people. Think about the God of this universe decided to inspire Paul to give “shout outs” to certain people and how encouraging would that be to be one of them.
-Bless them
Vrs 22
The final words Paul penned was a blessing
-are servants of the Lord
Crescens v10 nothing is known but apparently was dispatched to do the work of the Lord in Galatia
Titus v10 Helpful but we will learn more about him next week.
Tychicus v12 Eph 6:18-21 & Col. 4:2-7 Paul states that “he is a faithful brother and minister” 2x and says he will tell the church at Collosea his affairs…so he was a messenger.
Q=Do you serve the Lord?
Luke v11 The physician wrote Gospel of Luke and Acts. But he is with Paul
-use skills and abilities to serve.
Q=What skills and abilities do you have to serve?
-provide companionship. Luke knew Paul would appreciate company.
Q=Are you available?
-do things for others.
Vrs 13 bring my cloak, books and parchments (OT Scriptures)
Q=Are you willing to do things for others?
Side note: Spurgeon Metropolitan Tabernacle in 1860’s on “The books”
How rebuked are they by the apostle! He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading."
Christians, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying.
Hurtful people…
-let us down
Demas v10 Being in love with the world will leave you Restless. It is amazing to see that when people turn away from the Lord it actually hurts those who are serving Him. (some personal illustrations)
Q=Have your actions and decisions let others down?
-cause us problems
Alexander v14a “Much harm” “guard against/Beware of him” this would carry the idea we have to put up some walls against people who have hurt us. This does not mean we do not forgive, or we should treat them badly. But it does give us the idea that we should enter in with extreme caution.
Do people change?
Sometimes the hurtful become helpful.
Mark v11 Acts 15:36-41 Paul disapproved of Mark because of his departure from them. 46-47AD. God sometimes uses departed situations to further the Kingdom and prove peoples usefulness. Paul did not say “I was wrong about him” he said he is useful almost 20 years later.
So yes people change but they may need time…I would suggest time
You may be saying to yourself…I don’t really have many helpful people in my life…
Vrs 16-18 When we can’t count on anyone…we can count on the Lord.
Jesus is helpful to us even though were hurtful to Him. GOSPEL
How do we treat those who are hurtful?
Vrs 14b (our instinct is to take revenge)
-take comfort that the Lord will repay.
Vrs 16 -pray for mercy for them
- Realize you have hurt others.
Thomas Kempis wrote in the “Imitation of Christ” in the 1400’s
Under the heading “Bearing with faults of others”
“Try to bear patiently with the defects and infirmities of others, whatever they may be, because you also have many a fault” “If you cannot make yourself what you wish to be, how can bend others to your will” “we want them to be perfect and yet we do not correct our own faults”
(Paul would understand that because he did great harm to the faith and then he was saved and people where skeptical and he understood that)
How do we treat those who are helpful?
-encourage them
Vrs 19-21 Greet those co-laborers Paul is being an example of a person that is helpful. His encouraging words to those people. Think about the God of this universe decided to inspire Paul to give “shout outs” to certain people and how encouraging would that be to be one of them.
-Bless them
Vrs 22
The final words Paul penned was a blessing
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Entrusted: "The Pastor, the People, the Promise"
2 Timothy 4:1-8 “The Pastor, the People, the Promise”
Vrs 1 We will all meet our Judge 2 Cor 5:10 Paul was motivated by future judgment so therefore he wanted to motivate Timothy that way as well. “I charge you”
Some have suggested that we should not be motivated by reward…but I would suggest that pleasing Christ is a reward that we should all be motivated by. (My kids just love to hear words of approval and affirmation) but in this passage Paul also concludes that there is a heavenly reward for living a life that is pleasing to God…a life of righteousness.
In this passage Paul then is telling Timothy a pastor of pastors, what Christian’s should be reminded of when it comes to righteous living. He speaks to the pastors and the people
Vrs 2 The call of a pastor is to…
-“Preach the Word” Matthew Henry said “It is not their own notions and fancies that they are to preach, but the pure plain word of God; and they must not corrupt it”
Remember the ceter piece of the Word is Jesus
-“Be ready” “instant” Calvin “Overcome the hindrances of being effeminate or slothful, don’t yield to opposition and make excuses for our laziness”
In season-when people want to hear it. Out of season- when they don’t
Use the Scripture for guidance in dealing with the people
-Reprove- conviction (help people realize something is wrong)
-Rebuke (admonish) – disapproval based upon what the word says
-Exhort- Persuade to press on
-“with complete patience and teaching(doctrine)” This should be the attitude of the pastor/preacher. Anytime correction has to happen it should be done in patience and gentleness but rooted in Scripture.
Inevitably if a Pastor is doing this people who persist in sin will be inclined to get angry. And in the next verse Paul speaks about what those people will do
Vrs 3-4
Temptations for the people
-Not to endure sound teaching (I don’t like that / or you have no right)
-Find people who teach what they like to hear (they themselves are the measure of needs to be heard and taught and how things should go) We live in this time and unfortunately democracy has taught us to think like we know what we are talking about.
So the problem is because of our prideful un-teachable spirits we do not want to admit that we are in desperate need of guidance. And true guidance only comes fro the Lord and His Word
-Believing myths or wrong doctrines
A person with a teachable spirit will respond to the preached word. And submit to Godly people when they are sticking with the Scripture
Vrs 5-6 The Pastor and the People
My position as a Pastor is to study God’s Word and have a pulse on the people I minister to so I am able to preach what we all need to hear. The great news for all us is that when we study through books of the Bible or select passages of Scripture to preach through we know it is what God wants us to hear. And then you all will be able to learn how to function as a Christian in your world.
When pastors teach the Word and the people respond
We become able to….
-Think clearly- The only way we can think clearly is if our mind is renewed. Romans 12:2 “do not conform to the world…be transformed”
-Endure suffering- Deal with it and don’t let it stop you
-Tell others about Jesus GOSPEL
-Fulfill what God has given us to do – whatever you feel you are gifted to do and God has enable you to do, keep your focus and do your job
-Live a life of sacrifice
-Unfortunately the trap that Paul is talking about that many Pastors fall into is “fear of man” and they feel they have to bow to what the people want or the people will not come. This I believe comes from low self worth, focusing too much on numerical growth, focusing too much on what every other church is doing and a low view of the power of God’s Word preached
-The trap that people fall into is that they think that church exists for them, so they find a place that speaks to what they want to do or hear.
But the church exists for the Glory of Jesus
Questions we can ask ourselves…
Vrs 7
-“Fought the good fight” Do I do what can to serve Him?
-“Finished the race” If today were the last day did I finish well? (weddings)
-“Kept the faith” Do I keep to sound teaching of the Bible?
Vrs 8
The result for both parties is a promise…a reward for righteous living
The promise
This is why I think it is not only appropriate but Biblical to focus in on the promise…sometimes it is all we have.
Paul was awaiting his death…he could easily say “a life of service and this is what I get… jail time and a death sentence” (your best life now)
Righteous living results in a little something extra in the “goody bag”
Vrs 8 “crown of righteousness” this is a reference to some kind of heavenly reward for those who have lived in righteousness.
Paul reminds in 1 Cor 9:25 that runners in an earthly race run for a prize that does not last but as Christians when we seek after and follow the Lord He rewards us with a crown that will last.
The way we understand that is “those who love His appearing” signify those who live their lives in view of Jesus.
If you are so focused on the Lord you cannot help but live a life of righteousness.
Vrs 1 We will all meet our Judge 2 Cor 5:10 Paul was motivated by future judgment so therefore he wanted to motivate Timothy that way as well. “I charge you”
Some have suggested that we should not be motivated by reward…but I would suggest that pleasing Christ is a reward that we should all be motivated by. (My kids just love to hear words of approval and affirmation) but in this passage Paul also concludes that there is a heavenly reward for living a life that is pleasing to God…a life of righteousness.
In this passage Paul then is telling Timothy a pastor of pastors, what Christian’s should be reminded of when it comes to righteous living. He speaks to the pastors and the people
Vrs 2 The call of a pastor is to…
-“Preach the Word” Matthew Henry said “It is not their own notions and fancies that they are to preach, but the pure plain word of God; and they must not corrupt it”
Remember the ceter piece of the Word is Jesus
-“Be ready” “instant” Calvin “Overcome the hindrances of being effeminate or slothful, don’t yield to opposition and make excuses for our laziness”
In season-when people want to hear it. Out of season- when they don’t
Use the Scripture for guidance in dealing with the people
-Reprove- conviction (help people realize something is wrong)
-Rebuke (admonish) – disapproval based upon what the word says
-Exhort- Persuade to press on
-“with complete patience and teaching(doctrine)” This should be the attitude of the pastor/preacher. Anytime correction has to happen it should be done in patience and gentleness but rooted in Scripture.
Inevitably if a Pastor is doing this people who persist in sin will be inclined to get angry. And in the next verse Paul speaks about what those people will do
Vrs 3-4
Temptations for the people
-Not to endure sound teaching (I don’t like that / or you have no right)
-Find people who teach what they like to hear (they themselves are the measure of needs to be heard and taught and how things should go) We live in this time and unfortunately democracy has taught us to think like we know what we are talking about.
So the problem is because of our prideful un-teachable spirits we do not want to admit that we are in desperate need of guidance. And true guidance only comes fro the Lord and His Word
-Believing myths or wrong doctrines
A person with a teachable spirit will respond to the preached word. And submit to Godly people when they are sticking with the Scripture
Vrs 5-6 The Pastor and the People
My position as a Pastor is to study God’s Word and have a pulse on the people I minister to so I am able to preach what we all need to hear. The great news for all us is that when we study through books of the Bible or select passages of Scripture to preach through we know it is what God wants us to hear. And then you all will be able to learn how to function as a Christian in your world.
When pastors teach the Word and the people respond
We become able to….
-Think clearly- The only way we can think clearly is if our mind is renewed. Romans 12:2 “do not conform to the world…be transformed”
-Endure suffering- Deal with it and don’t let it stop you
-Tell others about Jesus GOSPEL
-Fulfill what God has given us to do – whatever you feel you are gifted to do and God has enable you to do, keep your focus and do your job
-Live a life of sacrifice
-Unfortunately the trap that Paul is talking about that many Pastors fall into is “fear of man” and they feel they have to bow to what the people want or the people will not come. This I believe comes from low self worth, focusing too much on numerical growth, focusing too much on what every other church is doing and a low view of the power of God’s Word preached
-The trap that people fall into is that they think that church exists for them, so they find a place that speaks to what they want to do or hear.
But the church exists for the Glory of Jesus
Questions we can ask ourselves…
Vrs 7
-“Fought the good fight” Do I do what can to serve Him?
-“Finished the race” If today were the last day did I finish well? (weddings)
-“Kept the faith” Do I keep to sound teaching of the Bible?
Vrs 8
The result for both parties is a promise…a reward for righteous living
The promise
This is why I think it is not only appropriate but Biblical to focus in on the promise…sometimes it is all we have.
Paul was awaiting his death…he could easily say “a life of service and this is what I get… jail time and a death sentence” (your best life now)
Righteous living results in a little something extra in the “goody bag”
Vrs 8 “crown of righteousness” this is a reference to some kind of heavenly reward for those who have lived in righteousness.
Paul reminds in 1 Cor 9:25 that runners in an earthly race run for a prize that does not last but as Christians when we seek after and follow the Lord He rewards us with a crown that will last.
The way we understand that is “those who love His appearing” signify those who live their lives in view of Jesus.
If you are so focused on the Lord you cannot help but live a life of righteousness.
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