These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- Paul wrote 3 NT books to two men – I & II Timothy / Titus…
- We call them the Pastoral Epistles because they were written to pastors…
- Titus was the Pastor of the church on the Island of Crete – Mediterranean Sea…
- Timothy was the Pastor of the church in Ephesus…
- Paul wrote the books to encourage and instruct pastors / leaders in ministry…
- Too many pastors today do not know how to run a church…
- The book of Titus gives leaders instructions from GOD for HIS church…
- The theme of the book is the health and well being of the church…
- Chapter 1- Leadership – the qualifications of leaders / dealing with false teachers!
- Chapter 2 – People – how to serve different groups of people in the church!
- Chapter 3 – Government – how a healthy church should interact with government!
The Servant of God… (4 points)
- 1st – Paul was a servant… vs. 1
- 1st – Paul was a SERVANT…
- SERVANT – doulos – 127x in NT used to describe a SLAVE!
- Deuteronomy 15:17 – God defined the role of a doulos – a bondservant…
- If a servant was to be set free – but CHOSE to stay – he had his ear pierced on a doorpost…
- He became a BONDSERVANT – someone who CHOSE to be a slave for His master!
- Jesus does not demand that we give our lives to Him – it is our choice…
- We can choose to live for ourselves – live for this world – in bondage to this world…
- But the irony is when we give our lives to Jesus – that is when we are truly free!
- John 8:36 – “If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
- A SLAVE is owned by their master…
- We have been purchased – God bought us with through the cross – paid with His life!
- I Peter 1:18-19 – “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you… the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.”
- We are not our own – our lives are not ours to live as we choose…
- We were purchased with the highest of prices – the life of Jesus…
- Our lives belong to Jesus – we should live in a way that glorifies Him!
- I Corinthians 6:20 – “You were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
- A SLAVE can only serve one master…
- You cannot go in two directions at the same time – you cannot serve two people…
- Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters…”
- We choose who we serve – in the simple seemingly insignificant choices of life…
- We are either going to be serve the world – to the pursuit of money / pleasure…
- Or we are going to be serve the Lord – worshiping and following Him!
- 2nd – Paul was a SERVANT of God…
- Paul is giving his qualifications – by stating WHO he worked for…
- He was a SERVANT of God – meaning he came in with in the AUTHORITY of God Almighty!
- Every day when we walk out our front door – we REPRESENT the one we work for…
- We do not speak in our AUTHORITY – we come in the POWER of the one who sent us!
- Many times we are shy to stand up for Jesus – intimidated by the world…
- Or we fret about what we are going to say – afraid we do not have the right words…
- But we do not go in our STRENGTH – we ROAR with the POWER of God…
- We just need to open our mouths – God will speak through us!
- Matthew 10:19-20 – “Do not worry about what to say… it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you!”
- 3rd – Greatest in the Kingdom…
- A SLAVE – was the lowest position you could have…
- Paul worked for God Almighty – but he was just a lowly SLAVE!
- In the world – those who are GREAT – have all the authority – and often ABUSE it!
- In the workplace – those who have the power – tell everyone else what to do…
- In government – those who have the power – tell everyone else what to do…
- But the Bible contrasts the world to how things should work in church…
- To be GREAT in the church of God – you must be a SERVANT!
- Mark 10:43-44 – “Whoever desires to become great among you shall be your SERVANT. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be SLAVE of all.”
- Greatness to us is riches/ power / influence / having SERVANTS…
- Not the person who empties the trash / cleans / is the servant!
- We would call that a SERVANT – but God calls them GREAT!
- So to be GREAT in church – pick up the trash / clean a table / change a diaper!
- If you want to be FIRST (the greatest of all) – then be a SLAVE (doulos)!
- The same word the Apostle Paul uses to describe himself…
- Those who desire to be LEADER in the church – the GREATEST – be the SLAVE of ALL!
- Leadership in the church should not look like the leadership in the world…
- It should be the opposite – a leader in the church does not tell others what to do…
- A leader is the one who lives his life to serve (slave to) everyone else…
- The GREATER we become in the Kingdom of God – the more of a SERVANT we become!
- The Greatest of all servants – was Jesus Christ…
- Mark 10:45 – “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
- Jesus had every right to be served – He was God almighty!
- But instead He came to SERVE – and to give His life as a RANSOM for many –
- RANSOM – price paid to purchase a SLAVE / we were all SLAVES to sin – Romans 6:18
- The price Jesus paid to save us – was to give His life for us!
- Jesus gave us the example of Godly greatness – to give our lives for others!
- 1st – Paul was a SERVANT…
- 2nd – Paul was an apostle… vs. 1
- 1st – An Apostle of Jesus Christ…
- The word apostle simply means someone who is SENT OUT to preach the Gospel…
- The picture is that of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world!
- II Corinthians 5:20 – “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us…”
- Because people do not know Jesus – they are lost in darkness and sin…
- We can all can think of people right now who are not going to heaven…
- We know people lost in superstation / worthless religion / and empty sinful pleasures…
- We are called to be APOSTLES – SENT OUT to tell them about Jesus – Ephesians 4:11
- 2nd – THE Apostle to the Gentiles…
- Saul was given authority from the priest to arrest anyone who confessed Jesus – Acts 9:2
- But as Saul was nearing Damascus – a brilliant light beamed down on him…
- A voice from Heaven called out saying – Saul why are you persecuting me…
- When he came to the city – a man named Ananias came to pray for him…
- The Lord had told Ananias – Saul is my chosen vessel – Acts 9:15
- Chosen to be THE Apostle the Gentles – Romans 11:13 / I Timothy 2:7 / Galatians 2:7
- Peter was the Apostle to the Jews – Galatians 2:8
- Yet Peter was the working man – Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees…
- Simple logic would tell us that God would have called Paul to the Jews…
- Paul knew Judaism inside and out – he was perfect to minister to the Jews…
- Peter was a working man – he could have easily related to the Gentiles…
- Yet God called them to the exact opposite ministries!
- We are not always SENT OUT where we think we are the strongest…
- If God called us to our strengths – then we would trust in our own abilities…
- More often than not God calls us to our weaknesses – so that we trust in Him…
- Never be afraid to step out in faith – especially if it seems impossible!
- Remember God a simple man to build the ark – while the experts built the Titanic!
- Chosen to bear fruit that lasts…
- Paul wrote 1/3 of the New Testament – and his fruit can still be seen today!
- Because if God is the one who calls / anoints a person – the results are dynamic…
- We might come up with Great ideas – BUT only the ideas God comes up with work…
- If God is doing the work – then even if I am not there – the work continues – fruit remains!
- John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…”
- 1st – An Apostle of Jesus Christ…
- 3rd – The message of Paul… vs. 1-3
- 1st – Encourage the FAITH to those God had ELECTED… vs. 1
- According (kata) to the FAITH of the ELECT of God…
- ELECT – eklektos – 23x in NT – speaks of the sovereignty of God – He chose us…
- Paul certainly understood this because he was ELECTED by God!
- Acts 9:15 – “The Lord said unto him – go thy way: for he is a chosen [same word] vessel…”
- This can be a hard concept for us to comprehend – God chooses those who go to heaven!
- John 15:16 – “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…”
- God CHOOSES based on His foreknowledge…
- Romans 8:29 – “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined…”
- God is eternal – which means He has no beginning or end – Revelation 1:8
- God does not have an endless amount of time – God is outside of time!
- God sees all of time – from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 all at once!
- Isaiah 46:10 – “Declaring the end from the beginning…”
- In a sense God cheats – He knows every ones choice before they every make it…
- God sees EVERYTHING – He knows exactly who will believe in / receive Jesus…
- So He chooses those who He knows will choose Him!
- What if you do not want to choose to believe in Jesus…
- Then you are NOT one of those whom God has CHOSEN to be saved – to go to heaven…
- You might say – but I want to go to heaven – then CHOSE to believe in Jesus…
- When you do you will find out – God had already CHOSEN you!
- Joshua 24:15 – “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…”
- 2nd – Teach the truth – to know how to live Godly… vs. 1
- The acknowledgement of the truth – which accords with Godliness…
- Acknowledgement – epignōsis – to have the COMPLETE and TOTAL understanding…
- Of THE (definite article) truth – THE truth that Paul was teaching was the Word of God!
- We live in a world that would love to question TRUTH – there are no absolutes…
- What is right for you / may not be what is right for me – everything is RELATIVE…
- Event Pontius Pilate famously said to Jesus – what is TRUTH – John 18:38
- It does not matter what MEN say – the only place we can find TRUTH is in the WORD!
- Romans 3:4 – “Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.”
- John 17:17 – “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” – Psalm 119:160
- The TRUTH of the WORD teaches us how to be GODLY…
- People have a lot of ideas on how they are supposed to live their lives…
- Living for Jesus is almost always the exact opposite of what the world says…
- The world says to seek riches – the Bible says to be content – Hebrews 13:5
- The world says to focus on yourself – the Bible says to die to ourselves – Luke 9:23
- The word says to be strong – the Bible says we need to be weak – II Corinthians 12:9
- It can be hard to accept – it is so different from everything we were taught…
- But the TRUTH – what the world misses – is found in Christ!
- The only way we can know how God intends for us to live – is by studying the Word!
- 3rd – Bring the HOPE of eternal life… vs. 2
- God who CANNOT lie…
- Hebrews 6:18 – “It is impossible for God to lie…”
- People can make all the promises in the world – but they will break them…
- People can make all the threats in the world – but they cannot keep them…
- But whatever the Lord says – that you can guarantee will come to pass!
- Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man, that he should lie… or change his mind. He has never spoken and failed to act. He has never promised and not carried it through.”
- Promised BEFORE the world began…
- Before God created the world – Adam and Eve – God had a PLAN for salvation…
- If you knew that making a decision would cost your life – would you still do it…
- God knows all things – He sees the end from the beginning – Isaiah 46:10
- God knew that by creating man – it would mean He had to die – Isaiah 53:7
- The Lamb of God slain before the foundations of the World– Revelation 13:8
- Romans 5:8 – “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- How much does God love you and me…
- So much He created us knowing it would cost Him His life!
- Therefore we have the HOPE of eternal life…
- HOPE – 54x in NT carries the idea of expectation – what we EXPECT to happen…
- Hope – is trusting God for the future – the amazing promises that God has given to us!
- We cannot see God – have never been to heaven – have not seen Jesus…
- It is only through HOPE we believe the Gospel is true – has the power to save us…
- By HOPE we believe that life is not only about living here on earth…
- By HOPE we believe one day God will take us to be with Him forever in heaven!
- Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things HOPED for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- Therefore we do NOT fear death…
- The world watches us – because they see in us something different – they see hope…
- We know death is not the end – in fact it is just the beginning of eternal life…
- Those who are in the world live in constant fear of death – it terrifies them…
- And they want that same hope – peace – we have because of Jesus!
- I Corinthians 15:55-57 – “Death, where is your sting… thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- 4th – MANIEST through preaching the Word… vs. 3
- MANIEST – phaneroō – 49x in NT – to reveal or make visible…
- The HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE – was MANIFEST through the preaching of the WORD…
- Which was committed to Paul according to the command of God our Savior!
- Many churches today have neglected PREACHING the Bible…
- Too many pastors today spend too little time PREACHING the Word…
- Instead they tell funny stories to entertain – sprinkled with the occasional Bible verse!
- But it is not our words / or funny stories – people need to hear…
- They need to know about the dangers of hell – and the reward of heaven…
- About the coming judgment of God – and the amazing hope of Jesus!
- But they do not know these things – because they do not know the Word!
- And the ones who should be teaching them – the pastors – do not…
- The biggest problem in the church today – there is a famine in the Land!
- Amos 8:11 – “Not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the LORD.”
- 1st – Encourage the FAITH to those God had ELECTED… vs. 1
- 4th – The introduction of Titus… vs. 4
- 1st – Titus was a TRUE son in common faith…
- Titus was actually a son of Paul – he was a son through their COMMON faith…
- This is the identical greeting that Paul gave to Timothy – I Timothy 1:2
- Because Paul had taken them BOTH under his wings – and discipled them in the Lord!
- Some of us are blessed with CHILDREN – who we are called to bring in the FAITH…
- It is also the responsibility of the Dad to teach the kids about Jesus!
- Too often fathers forget that they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes
- Take the time to read the Bible with your children / pray with them…
- If we do not teach our kids to have a relationship with Jesus – who will!
- Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring [your kids] up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
- Others are like Paul – they have sons in the FAITH…
- We are all called to DISCIPLE others – raise up the next generation…
- God brings people – sons and daughters in the FAITH – into our lives…
- We pour into their lives desiring to see them blossom in their walks!
- Being an example for them on how to live for and follow Jesus!
- I Corinthians 11:1 – “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”
- 2nd – Paul wanted Titus to walk in Grace…
- From God our Father – and the Lord Jesus Christ – our Savior!
- Titus was chosen by God – not because of whom he was – it was by Grace!
- Maybe we think – I am pretty sure God did not choose me…
- Because we are looking at how messed up we are – and how few talents we have…
- But we need to remember God do not choose us because of who we are…
- He chooses by Grace – looking at who He is going to make us to be!
- 2nd – Paul adds Mercy to his common greeting in all his Pastoral Epistles…
- Because Paul wanted God to hold back – have MERCY – what these pastors!
- My pastor once told me – Dave do not know why God made me a pastor…
- He knew if it was not my job – I might never read the Bible!
- We get the idea that LEADERS are somehow – holier / more righteous than the rest…
- Chances are God choose us because He knows us all too well…
- And he knows that if He does not keep us extra close – we would get in a LOT of trouble!
- 3rd – Paul wanted Titus to have peace…
- Knowing we are chosen by God by His Grace – not because of our gifts…
- Knowing that we have mercy – God will not give us what we deserve…
- We can have peace – knowing God will stand with us as we LEAD others to Him!
- Because there is no greater calling or purpose in life – than to share Jesus with the world!
- 1st – Titus was a TRUE son in common faith…