The Introduction We come into the last passage of Paul’s epistle to Pastor Titus. Both letters to both Pastor Timothy and Pastor Titus were instructions for the hearts and souls of the two pastors so that they could rest in Christ and pass this on to their respected congregations so they too can rest in Christ. Never in these letters does God tell his people, “Do better” or “try harder” But yet, “Trust in my Son....
The Introduction The Text Titus 3:1–7 (CSB) 1 Remind them to submit to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another....
The Introduction We wrap up the second chapter of Titus with us focusing the theme of chapter 2 in our teaching of one another. Surely, we know that there are those whom God has qualified to teach and shepherd great and small portions of His flock. But to us all who believe and trust in His name, we are given careful instruction to teach and encourage one another. Why? We are in Christ and Christ taught us all....
The Introduction Previously, Paul admonished young Timothy to instruct older men and older women in his congregation. We can reasonably assess, by the entirety of Scripture, that these most of these instructions are not so much gender specific but wisdom and commands of God for life. But then Paul continues an instruction for the young men of any congregation. But then the Scriptures gets weightier. Let me show you. The Text Titus 2:6–8 (CSB)...
The Introduction In the corporate world, it is said that a clear red flag during an job interview when any of the employee of the company tells you, “We are like family around here.” When you hear that, you run for the hills and don’t look back. During the 1950s and 60s, when the ideal nuclear family unit was being promoted to America as the ultimate way of life (mostly by Evangelicals because of the design by God)–then with the social upheaval of the late 60s and 70s, that ideal fell apart....
The Introduction I want to look at these letters from Paul to Timothy and Titus and to a bigger extend, to the churches in Ephesus and in Crete within the both the grace and pastoral leadership of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul makes the dire plea to both pastors to put intentional, willing, qualified elders to care for the church. Why is that? It is both to protect, love, and care for the sheep (John 21) and to be on an offensive front against those who would oppose the church....
The Introduction If you pay too close attention to social media, it is quite popular to love certain parts of the Bible and then dislike certain parts of the Bible. To believe and trust in God, that will happened–especially at the beginning of your faith. But this sort of like/dislike has morphed into a different beast altogether: love and embracing some Scriptures and completely hating other parts. The most common: loving the Gospels–the defense is “Well, they are about Jesus Christ....
The Introduction We are coming to the third volume of Paul’s Pastoral Letters. Initially, one set of letters were written to Timothy, a pastor in in the ancient city of Ephesus, which is located in on the coast of present day Turkey. The other was written to another pastor, Titus, who lived in the Greek island of Crete. These were little letters of instruction, encouragement, and exhortation. Little in size but in ultimately shaping the way, standing up the building studs upon the solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ for the next 2000 years and beyond....