Sermon Tone Analysis

Titus #3

Titus 3:1-15

What King of People Ought we to Be?

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Well this is a whirlwind trip through the book of Titus.

Only three weeks for these three chapters but we want to get the big picture.

The most clear picture that we get from this book is one of accountability and expectations.

In a culture driven by rights and individualism we don’t really like to be told how to live.

Then from a position of grace, often in the church we don’t like these expectations because we feel that they infringe on our “freedom in Christ” and his Grace.

But folks we learned something in our study two years ago in Galatians and that is that while we have been freed from the bondage of the law, Grace is ALWAYS one that does MORE than what the law requires, NOT less.

God’s grace doesn’t nullify the law it completes it.

So this has been a top down look.

We started the study by looking at the expectations for the Pastor.

Then last week we looked at the expectations for older and younger believers.

I was very pleased that many of you responded with a desire to help lead out in regards to intergenerational relationship building.

Men, I do have room for a couple of more men to help in leadership if you’d like to do that.

Ladies thank you for your great response, I will make plans in the next few weeks for a meeting to get things kicked off and then I’ll put it back in your hands.

So, we have talked about our accountability to God and to one another for the way we should live, what kind of Christians we should be.

Now for our last chapter, we ask the question

What King of PEOPLE ought we to be?

*READ 3:1-15*

Now again we could spend several weeks here but let’s get a big picture look and then I hope you will go back and reread the chapter and allow God to work for transformation in your life

Wait, TRANSFORMATION?

YES that is what God wants.

If you are the same as you were last year or even last month you aren’t what God wants you to be.

Let me take you back to Romans 11:33-36

Romans 11:33–36 (NIV84)

33 /Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! /

/How unsearchable his judgments, /

/and his paths beyond tracing out! /

/34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?

/

/Or who has been his counselor?”

/

/35 “Who has ever given to God, /

/that God should repay him?”

/

/36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.

/

/To him be the glory forever!

Amen.

/

/And then Paul follows that understanding up with the instruction/

Romans 12:1–3 (NIV84)

/12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

/

/3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

/

Did you see the way to approach our scripture today?

Don’t think to /“highly of /yourself” … sometimes we think, “I’m fine, I’ve got it together” CAREFUL …

And don’t forget that the REASON we were foreknown by God, called by God, justified by God, was to be CONFORMED to the Image of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29-30)

So, that is why I say we MUST be moving toward transformation to be IN the will of God.

So, hopefully last week challenged you to evaluate where you are and make a commitment to transformation and today takes it into a different realm.

So, again, what KIND of people ought we to be?

!

*1.

Citizens of a Nation*

We are Americans and so we must be godly citizens of this nations.

We have to first be

!! A. Submissive to Authority

In Paul’s day, the Christians were watched and looked at suspiciously by the Roman Government.

So, it was important for them to display that they were faithful citizens though committed to Christ.

Paul wanted them to do this in order to be an example to those watching.

Paul says “Remind them” – it is not that we don’t know or haven’t been told.

But sometimes we need to be reminded to be good citizens.

Paul taught the Romans that all rulers gain their position over us at the knowledge and at least permission of God (Rom 13:1-2)

American Heritage Dictionary defines a citizen as “a person owing loyalty to and entitled by birth or naturalization to the protection of a state or nation … a resident of a city or town, especially one entitled to vote.”

We need to be reminded because often Christians are at odds with a government run by pagan principles and we think we are not subject to them.

But if we are citizens, then we must respond in submission to authority.

The word hypostasso – to be subordinate, bring under control …

TO RULERS – /arche = the beginning, rulers/ – i.e. those at the top in rule.

They are at the top for a reason; so we must be under control submissive.

TO AUTHORITIES – /exousia = “freedom of choice” /¬– is the literal translation but when used in this context it means those rulers who have been chosen or given authority.

We selected them and we must now submit to their lead until we choose others.

Ultimately God is still in control.

In Daniel 4:32 the pagan king, Nebuchadnezzar learned this truth he said “The Most High is Sovereign over the Kingdoms of men and gives them to anyone he wishes.”

Yet we are not just submissive to the people

!! B. Obedient to the Laws

The word peitharcheo (pi-tharkh-eh-o) obey, listen, follow the advice … “be obedient” is a good translation because the idea here is more than just doing what you tell me or are watching me do but to adjust my life around the laws given.

Speeding?

Taxes?

Codes?

Expectations?

Yes, yes, yes, yes

But then from just following he takes it up a notch and says

!! C. Ready to Do Good

I will say again that we are recipients of Grace and so we should be BETTER citizens, not worse.

The instruction here is not that we will follow the letter of the law, but we will look for ways to do MORE; that is to DO GOOD.

“Do” – /ergon = work, business, employment/ – we should take it as our job to DO

“whatever” – /pas = all or every/

“Good”- /agathos = good, useful, beneficial, joyful /

Notice though it is not accidental but it says we should be

“Ready”- /hetoimos (het-oy-mos) = preparation / - to be the kind of citizens we ought, we have to be involved in what is good.

There is more to it than just keep our noses clean and obeying the laws.

I think the church, for the most part, today is only heard from where we have something to complain about.

We are more famous for what we are against than what we are FOR.

If we are citizens of a nation we need to get involved.

That might even include joining forces with people who we might disagree with on some other issues but as citizens we can come together for certain good things.

Now, you certainly can and should take action on your own, but I believe we also need to move together as a church and citizens on issues of justice and poverty, helping the less fortunate, providing alternatives for those we are turning from negative actions like pregnancy services, adoption referrals, alcohol and drug assistance, prisoner reentry assistance among other actions, or tutoring and parenting coaching.

Now, lest you sit there and say “yea, that’s a great idea Pastor, get to work on that and let us know how it goes”.

I can’t plan those activities.

My primary job according to Acts 6 is to give my attention to /“prayer and the ministry of the Word”/.

However, I CAN advise, empower, encourage, and direct some in the body who the Lord calls to lead out in these types of citizen ministries.

So, if you sense the Lord is leading, I want to help you hone the ideas, focus around our vision, advertize, and gather others who will assist you in organizing opportunities for this body to become visible and active citizens of a nation that don’t just obey and submit but are eager and ready to make it our business to do good!

Who will step up?

If we want to change the world we can’t just be citizens of a nation but also

!

*2.

Part of the Equation*