United In Christ · Growing In Grace · Reaching Out In Love

Sunday Morning Sermon Summary 

Series: Foundational Truths

Undeniably Irresistible (Titus 2:1-12)

January 4, 2009

ME:      No seminary, not ordained, no experience: importance of doctrine, getting it right; John Boykin: “preach the Word”.

WE:      Last week: mission, vision, strategy and values.  Are we on the same page? Do we know what and why we believe?  Is it important? Series: Foundations.

GOD:   TITUS:  Greek (no Torah training), his name means “pleasing”; traveled with Paul, had been assigned to carry messages (1 and 2 Corinthians), left on Crete to “straighten out what was left unfinished…” no seminary, not ordained, A HIGHLY COMPETENT LAY PERSON (Apostle Paul trusted him on his own)

            Titus became an example (circumcision)

            Titus first task was to explain the role of behavior (particularly in Corinth but also in places like Macedonia, north of Greece, part of what was Yugoslavia, not far from Slovenia)

Titus 2:1 ►You must teach what is in accordance with sound doctrine.

            That is, don’t just teach doctrine; teach what doctrine looks like in the real world!

 WHAT DISTINGUISHES A CHRISTIAN? (DNA: Doctrine with Nurture and Accontability)

2 Teach the OLDER MEN to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the OLDER WOMEN to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can train the YOUNGER WOMEN to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the YOUNG MEN to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. IN YOUR TEACHING show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9 TEACH SLAVES to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

 WHAT’S THE POINT:

IF YOU DON’T PLAN TO LIVE IT – DON’T TRY TO LEARN IT

IF YOU WANT TO LIVE IT – YOU NEED TO LEARN IT

 TWO KEYS TO EFFECTIVE DOCTRINE

►1)      Undeniable: 1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.

 BE PREPARED TO ANSWER WHEN ASKED: Truth relative: “The really important thing isn’t finding the truth, it’s searching for it” (Try that when you’re searching for a job or a parking place; or a floatation device when you’re drowning.” – Randy Alcorn)

    2 Timothy 4:3-5  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations…

Acts 17:11  Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

 “No right to share Christ with people, not the kind or loving thing to do?”: imagine seeing someone canoeing happily down a quiet river when you know there’s a waterfall coming that means certain death…

►2)      Irresistible: “so that IN EVERY WAY they may make the teaching about God our Savior ATTRACTIVE.” (verse 10) KJV: “That they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.”

1 Peter 3:8-14 (Context for vs. 15) Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." (Psalm 34) Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." (Isaiah 8 - 9:2) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light)

 ►Summary for ABChurch

1)  Biblical,

2)  Guided by the Spirit,

3)  Tested by consensus

 ► SO WHAT: UNDENIABLE

 Jesus: “I am come that they might have LIFE”

 Exodus 32: 10 Commandments; Golden calf: Moses ground it to powder, mixed it with water and made the Israelites drink it, 3,000 people died that day!

(Fast forward)

 Acts 2:40-41 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

 ►WHAT NOW: IRRESISTIBLE (Jesus is the WAY, TRUTH, LIFE (But He came down hardest on the one’s who shared His doctrine)

    2 Corinthians 3:1-6 (a letter probably carried by Titus) 3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. 5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 6 He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant- — not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

1 Cor 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God- 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Phil 2:5-7 – Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…made Himself of no reputation, took the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death…

Rom 12:2 – Be (always) transforming by (continually) renewing your mind…

Phil 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.

ONE LAST NOTE ABOUT TITUS: He was also assigned to encourage acts of grace and mercy (2 Corinthians 8:6-7 So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. But just as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us -see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

 PICTURES OF THE FOOD AT McDONALD’S: doesn’t look like that when you order it

Legend:

Green: Mission and Vision
Blue: Illustrations and quotes
Red: Scripture

Note to the visitor:  These are Pastor Paul’s sermon notes from Sunday Morning.  They probably won’t make much sense if you weren’t in the service.  Feel free to contact Pastor Paul if you’d like more detailed information.
For past sermons, please visit the Sermon Archive. 

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