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Introduction… (5 points)
- 1st – Who wrote the book…
- 1st – Paul – the same Paul whose ministry is laid out in – Acts 13-28
- The same Paul who wrote 13 books of the NT (14 if you count Hebrews)
- He opens the letter with the greeting – “Paul, a bondservant of God…”
- The authorship of the book has been universally accepted from the early church!
- 2nd – Paul wrote three NT books to two men – I and II Timothy / Titus…
- We call them the Pastoral Epistles because they were written to pastors…
- Timothy was the Pastor of the church in Ephesus…
- Titus was the Pastor of the church on the Island of Crete – Mediterranean Sea!
- 3rd – Paul wrote the books to encourage and instruct pastors / leaders in ministry…
- Our desire as we finish up this final book in what is called the pastoral epistles…
- Is to encourage and help equip us to be Biblical leaders…
- That is not to say we are all called to be PASTORS – be we are all called to LEAD!
- We think of CHURCH as a building we meet in on Sundays…
- But church is not a place – it is the PEOPLE of God…
- Our families are a small church that meets EVERY day of the week…
- And we are called to LEAD in our families – Dads / moms!
- Ephesians 6:4 – “Bring [your children] up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
- All of us are called to be ministers of the Gospel…
- We are called to lead people to Christ in our communities…
- God has called us to go out and share the Good News!
- Romans 10:14- – “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear [unless someone tells them] …”
- The reality is we need to learn and be prepared for that work…
- And the reality is there is a LOT we need to learn to be prepared for that work…
- The way we are prepared is by listening to Jesus – studying His Word!
- II Timothy 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
- Our desire as we finish up this final book in what is called the pastoral epistles…
- 1st – Paul – the same Paul whose ministry is laid out in – Acts 13-28
- 2nd – Who was Titus…
- 1st – Titus was a pastor on the Island of Crete…
- Crete is one of the largest Islands in the Mediterranean Sea…
- Apparently – there were many churches in the various cities on the Island – Titus 1:5
- The reason is because the Island received Gospel in the very beginning…
- When the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2:11 – there were men there from Crete…
- They returned to their home – and spread the Good News about Jesus!
- But the people of Crete had a bad reputation…
- Titus 1:12 – “The people of Crete are all liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.”
- Imagine poor Titus – he was trying to minster to liars / beast / and lazy gluttons!
- I am sure there were days he wanted to give the responsibility to someone else!
- If we are honest – we do not want responsibility – let someone else do it…
- It is NOT easy reaching out to people who do NOT want to hear the Gospel…
- But it takes no FAITH to let someone else serve the Lord – be used by the Spirit…
- What takes a step of FAITH is to believe that God can use me!
- And Paul wrote this book to help Titus – help us – as we minister the Gospel!
- Crete is one of the largest Islands in the Mediterranean Sea…
- 2nd – Titus did NOT have a famous name…
- He is mentioned 13 times in the NT (9 times in the book of II Corinthians) …
- He was NOT a Jew – he was a Gentile – most likely from the city of Antioch in Syria…
- We do not know where or when he met Paul – or how he got saved…
- He is NEVER even mentioned once by name in the Book of Acts!
- John 12:43 – “For they loved [agape] the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
- Those who are LOOKING for the accolades – who WANT praise – have the wrong focus…
- It should NOT matter if MEN know our names – does the LORD know our name…
- What good is the recognition of men – if God says I NEVER knew you!
- Matthew 7:23 – “Then I will declare to them – I never knew you – depart from Me…”
- Titus was available – he was willing to help anywhere…
- He traveled with Paul on his missionary journeys…
- Paul sent Titus to Corinth to receive the offering for Jerusalem – II Corinthians 8:6
- Titus also delivered the second letter of Paul to Corinth – II Corinthians 8:16-19
- We might be convinced that we are called to a specific role…
- My job is to – be a mom / serve in a particular ministry / work at a particular job…
- We get comfortable in our role – and refuse to be open to anything new!
- The 11th commandment – blessed are the FLEXIBLE for they will not be broken…
- Often we get frustrated / miss opportunities – because of our expectations!
- Our identity is not in what we are doing / or where we are serving…
- Our identity is simply in Christ – and we need to FLEXIBLE to what He wants us to do!
- The reason why Titus was so flexible – he trusted in the Lord …
- If we trust in the Lord – then we have no problem – no matter what the Lord does…
- We know that no matter where He sends us / what we are doing…
- Ultimately if we are following the Lord it is going to be the best for our lives!
- Be a servant of Jesus is not conditional – so long as it is what we want…
- If we make it conditional – we will find we are no longer serving…
- Not that God would send us somewhere / have a do something we did not want…
- Along with the call – if we are open – comes a change of heart!
- Psalm 37:4 – “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
- He is mentioned 13 times in the NT (9 times in the book of II Corinthians) …
- 3rd – Paul took Titus with him to Jerusalem – Galatians 2:1
- After Paul and Barnabus had returned from the first missionary journey…
- Certain Jews came teaching to be saved you must be circumcised – Acts 15:1
- The thought being you must become a JEW – and live by the commands of the LAW!
- Yet none of the Jews were never able to live up to the standard of the Law…
- So why would they want to place that impossible standard on the Gentiles!
- If I told you the only way to heaven was to swim across the Pacific Ocean…
- The first question you would want to ask – did you swim across yet…
- If I were unable to keep my own rules – why would you want to follow them!
- Matthew 23:4-5 – “They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.”
- So many churches today suffer from HYPOCRISY – living a double standard…
- From the pulpit you hear the message of HOLINESS / PURITY…
- But practically the people listening – even the pastors – live just like the WORLD…
- If even they cannot live up to the message – obviously it does NOT work!
- Paul brought Titus with him to Jerusalem…
- Titus was a key example of what the debate in the church was about…
- A Gentile believer who was NOT circumcised – was NOT keeping the Law of Moses…
- But it is possible even Titus felt the need to conform – be like the other Jews!
- Even Peter and Barnabus had gotten carried away – Galatians 2:11-13
- If everyone is NOT eating pork – we feel funny if we do…
- If everyone is DRESSED up for church on Sunday – we feel funny if we do not!
- It is easy to get sucked up into LEGALISM – feel the pressure to conform…
- But there are only two things that can come from Legalism…
- If we MANAGE to keep the RULES – we feel like we have boasting rights….
- If we FAIL to keep the RULES – and do not do as well as others – condemnation!
- Titus was a key example of what the debate in the church was about…
- Paul would have nothing to do with it…
- He ABSOLUTELY refused to circumcise Titus – Galatians 2:3
- For the sake of the Gentile churches Paul would not give in to their pressure!
- After Paul and Barnabus had returned from the first missionary journey…
- 1st – Titus was a pastor on the Island of Crete…
- Having a Bible – going to church – these things do not make us a Christian…
- The Good News is NOT that we need to follow a lot of rules to be GOOD…
- The Gospel is that we could NOT be GOOD enough to get to heaven…
- So God came down and paid the price for our sin – so we could be saved…
- The Gospel of Grace is the ONLY Gospel – it makes us a Christian…
- And when God gets a hold of our lives – He changes our heart – we become good!
- 3rd – Where and when did Paul write the book of Titus…
- 1st – The Bible is not clear on the exact location Paul wrote the book…
- Some say that Paul was in Corinth on his 4th missionary journey…
- There are only 3 missionary journeys in Acts – ending with Paul in prison in Rome…
- The emperor during this time was a man called Caesar Nero…
- Many believe that when Paul was first imprisoned – he shared the Gospel with Nero…
- Just as he had done before Felix / Festus / and King Agrippa – Acts 24-26
- But when the Caesar rejected Jesus – he went mad / perhaps possessed!
- 2nd – Paul was ultimately released from house arrest – returned to Macedonia – I Timothy 1:3
- This is a 4th journey not recorded in the book of Acts
- At this time – he wrote both I Timothy and the book of Titus
- 4-6 years later Paul was arrested a 2nd time…
- This time he was held in the in the Mamertine prison!
- Nero began a widespread persecution against Christians…
- He would clothe Christians in animal skins – then fed them alive to the lions…
- He rode his chariot down the road lined with burning Christians for light!
- 3rd – Paul would ultimately be beheaded during this 2nd imprisonment in Rome…
- It was there on death row – that Paul wrote the book of – II Timothy
- Paul knew his time was limited – so he wanted to prepare these pastors!
- II Timothy 4:6 – “I am already being poured out… the time of my departure is at hand.”
- We do not know how much time we have – with our kids – with those we love…
- The question is what we are going to do with the time God has given us…
- We can live for the things of this world – money / possessions – an empty life…
- Or we can take the time we have been given and use it serve Jesus!
- Ephesians 5:16 – “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
- 1st – The Bible is not clear on the exact location Paul wrote the book…
- 4th – Why is this book important…
- 1st – Too many pastors today do not know how to run a church…
- Sure they go to Bible College for 4-6 years – and have a diploma on their wall…
- But they are full of the ideas of MEN – on how the church of GOD should run…
- Some try and operate the church like a BUISNESS – basing decisions on MONEY…
- Others try and operate the church as if it was a CLUB – trying to get MEMBERS…
- Still others try and make the church a DEMOCRACY – voting on DECISIONS!
- 2nd – The problem is that NONE of these ideas is from the Word of God…
- The book of Titus gives leaders instructions from GOD for HIS church…
- Teaching us how to raise up leaders to operate a church HIS way…
- Teaching us who really is THE leader of the church – Jesus Christ / God almighty!
- Teaching us not to depend on our ability – but instead trust in the GRACE of God!
- Leaders in the church are expected to have answers…
- We need to know how GOD WANTS HIS church / our FAMILIES to be run…
- We are not out to please people – we do not follow their ideas – we follow God…
- We do not base decisions on MONEY – we step out in faith and trust God will provide!
- We do not try to make the church FUN so more people will come…
- We do not VOTE on our decisions – we listen to the Holy Spirit and follow Him!
- We teach the TRUTH (which often hurts) – and trust the Lord will add to His church!
- The book of Titus gives leaders instructions from GOD for HIS church…
- 1st – Too many pastors today do not know how to run a church…
Chapter 3 – Government – how a healthy church should interact with government!
5th – The theme of Titus…
1st – The theme is the health and wellbeing of the church…
The word SOUND – is used 5 times by Paul in the Book of Titus…
SOUND doctrine – meaning healthy SOUND teaching – Titus 1:9 / Titus 2:1
SOUND faith – Titus 1:13 / Titus 2:2 – as well as SOUND speech – Titus 2:8
Luke 5:31 – “Healthy [sound] people do not need a doctor-sick people do.”
Paul wrote the book so the church could be healthy – in doctrine / faith / and speech!
The suggestion is the church was NOT healthy – and needed a Titus…
The name Titus means NURSE – one who helps others / makes them healthy!
Titus 1:5 – “I left you on the island of Crete so you could complete our work there and appoint elders in each town as I instructed you.”
We live in a city that is far from SOUND in doctrine – full of every wind of doctrine…
We all know people who do not have SOUND faith – trust in money…
And their speech is ANTHING but SOUND – full of complaining and curse words…
They need us – they need Jesus – to make them healthy again!
2nd – Outline of Titus…
Paul will address the HEALTH of the church three areas of ministry!
Chapter 1- Leadership – the qualifications of leaders / dealing with false teachers
Chapter 2 – People – how to serve different groups of people in the church
Old men / old women / young men / young women / servants
And Paul ties it all together by telling us it is the Grace of God that allows us to serve!
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