Titus
No Ordinary People (Titus 3:9-15)
Introduction It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare… It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe…
Justified by Grace (Titus 3:1-8)
Introduction WCF 9.3 Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation… Accepting this “bondage of the will” is prerequisite for understanding Effectual Calling (WCF 10) and Justification (WCF 11). The Cretans had a reputation for being morally corrupt (1:11). Paul has instructed Titus to establish elders to teach sound doctrine that accords with sound living. In the previous passage we learned that Jesus Christ, not Caesar,…
Adorn the Doctrine of God (Titus 2:9-10)
Introduction Goldingay A slave has no rights and slave owners may assume they are free to do with the slave as they wish and to require of the slave whatever they wish. We have this definition in the back of our minds clouding our interpretation of passages like this. That’s typically unhelpful, because in addition to there being contextual differences, it makes the focus too narrow. Although the institution of slavery is no longer applicable, much of the instruction here…
Trained by Grace (Titus 2:11-15)
Introduction The first episode of Planet Earth 2 contains an intense chase scene. Baby iguanas hatch on a beach to everyone’s delight. They slowly open their eyes for the first time and find themselves surrounded by rocks and empty beach…except for the gigantic snakes! These iguanas literally begin their lives on the run. Only the fast and brave survive. Our lives can often feel like that little naïve hatchling. We have no idea what lurks inside the rocks, just beyond…
Sound Living (Titus 2:1-10)
Introduction About ten years ago the White Horse Inn interviewed pastors at a conference. The pastors were asked to explain a few basic Christian doctrines: What is the gospel? What is justification? What is sanctification? Their answers were consistently depressing. The typical rebuttal goes something like this: People are tired of hearing divisive doctrine. What they really need is something relevant and instructive about loving others. Rick Warren said it like this: The first Reformation was about doctrine; the second…
Dealing with False Teachers (Titus 1:10-16)
Introduction Paul is writing to fledgling churches scattered across the island of Crete. He’s left Titus there to appoint elders. And this letter serves to assist him in accomplishing that task. He needs to help the church identify qualified men who will lead the church. But why is this so urgent? Read Titus 1:10-16 False teachers don’t destroy churches, they defile them with their influence until the whole place is rotten. Establishing elders was the most pressing need because there…
The Character of an Elder (Titus 1:7-9)
Introduction Skipping his typical thanksgiving, Paul’s urgent need is to instruct Titus to appoint elders. An elder’s ability to shepherd his home reveals his ability to shepherd the church. Similarly, his ability to manage himself reveals his ability to manage the church. As Paul delineates the qualifications for elder, he specifies several vices and virtues that apply to all of us to varying degrees. Read Titus 1:5-9 Early on, a church needs biblically qualified leaders. How will we choose? What…
The Elder in His Home (Titus 1:5-6)
Introduction Research continues to reveal that today’s children are less stable than previous generations. That is true physically, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. The primary reason children are unstable is because their parents are unstable. 46% of children live with mom and dad in first marriage. 96% of children live in a dysfunctional family (at least one member has addiction > neglect). What’s the solution? Godly men who lead their homes well, then equip other men to do the same. Paul’s…
Introduction to Titus (Titus 1:1-4)
Introduction There are a thousand different strategies from a thousand different denominations all advocating some unique selling proposition that the church MUST consider TODAY! It’s not only confusing, but it’s often at odds with the simple instruction provided in the Word of God. The great Easter Egg drop of 2014. 7,000 candy-filled plastic eggs were dropped from a helicopter. “You may ask, well, what does dropping an egg from a helicopter have to do with the resurrection? Uh, Absolutely nothing.…