Put in Order
Titus • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsOrdering the Church aright through the appointment of Elders, and the correction of false teachers.
Notes
Transcript
Theme scripture: Titus 2:11-14
Theme scripture: Titus 2:11-14
Prayer: Prepare my heart, O Lord, to learn and love your words. Your law is my counselor; I will be ruled by it. It is my physician; I will be a patient under it. It is my schoolmaster; I will be obedient to it.
Open our eyes that we may behold wondrous things from your law.
In and for Christ, we pray. Amen
Read: Titus 1:5-16
“This” - (specific, defined task)
“Left” - (leave behind, “abandon”)This was a difficult challenge among difficult people. God’s sovereign will is often not easy.
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
I. WHY Remain?
A. To “put (direct causation; active) what remained (lacking necessary things) in order (to correct in addition, or to cause in a correct manner).
B. Appoint (not necessarily “create”, but to set down and put in place) Elders (long Jewish history of this man of responsibility and authority over socio-religious matters)
In every town (local churches in specific locales)
II. HOW to do it
A. As [Paul] directed (modeled and mentored detailed instructions)
To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
Here we see clearly inferred, the absolute necessity of clear doctrinal teaching as one of two essential elements of the propagation of The Church, the second being...
B. The character of the Elder candidate: Above reproach (w/o stain, guiltless, no accusation of wrong)...
Intimate/Family (where we are BEST known!)
a. husband of one wife (one, in contrast to the common Greek male w/many. ie. “one woman man”)
b. believing children (faithful, trustworthy, dependable, not vulnerable to the charges of ) debauchery (senseless/reckless) and insubordination (rebelliously disobedient)
Overseer=bishop=elder
2. Outward/Public Character
a. Negative:
> arrogant
> quick-tempered
> drunkard
> violent
> greedy for gain
b. Positive:
> hospitable
> lover of good
> self-controlled
> upright
> holy
> disciplined
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
C. Calling of the Elder Candidate:
Hold firm to the Word (the needs of culture must not be the first determiner for the Elder; but it is the Word rather, that trains our spiritual eye to view the current culture clearly and accurately so as to best meet true cultural needs)
Give instruction (Holy Spirit’s gift of teaching)
Sound (healthy) doctrine (inferring the clear presence of “unhealthy” doctrine)
Illustration: If we were a diverse group desiring to sail for a better land, would we be better off as small groups in rafts; attempting to strap ourselves together and navigate a difficult crossing in the seeming “comfort” of our varying styles and beliefs?
Or are we more secure, unified, and effective learning to sail together on one ship; mastering the many elements and details of successful navigation to our desired land?
THIS is the right and unifying nature of strong, basic Bible doctrine…of shared beliefs that strengthen us in our Mission to “Go... and make disciples of all nations”.
4. Rebuke those who contradict...
III. Those who contradict
A. [There are] many insubordinate
empty talkers (clouds w/o rain)
deceivers (this should cause us to ask, “what is their true motive?”)
circumcision party (Jewish legalists)
So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcision party criticized him, saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
Here, then, is an example of wrong doctrine improperly imposing unbiblical demands upon culture.
4. They must be silenced
5. upsetting whole families (difficulty or trouble regarding their belief)
Illustration: Metropolitan Baptist Church, Louisville, KY (1987)- imposing a non-biblical teaching and requirement upon members that resulted in the literal destruction (through division, extreme mental/emotional anguish, and suicide) for one family, among others that were damaged. The church eventually was lost and disbanded, no longer even existing; where once it had boasted an active, evangelistic Body of over 1000!
6. shameful gain (the young pastor of the aforementioned church illegally sold the property and ran for Texas to join a cult)
7. (v.12) Quote from Cretian, Epimenides. This testimony is true (and unfortunately seen on display in many churches today, so consumed by their own lusts and culturally-infected philosophies that they have lost any true distinction from the world system around them!)
Think: “Blessedly different, NOT isolated!”
8. Rebuke them sharply (this is forceful and will not be viewed favorably by our relativistic world)
9. sound in faith (the painful rebuke is the healing agent to restore health)(Or…to correct the course if we go back to our sailing illustration)
10. not devoting…Jewish myths …commandments...turn away from the truth (off course…divergent!!)
11. Pure…pure. defiled/unbelieving…nothing is pure…minds and consciences are defiled.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
12. Profess to know God but deny Him by their works
You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
13. Detestable (abhorrent, abominable), disobedient (continually), unfit (proven worthless)
APPLICATION:
> DOCTRINE MATTERS
Are we individually and corporately devoting ourselves to “growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ”? If not, we risk navigating off-course and landing somewhere we will regret eternally.
> GODLY LEADERS MATTER
Are we prayerfully seeking, encouraging, equipping, appointing, honoring, respecting, and obeying Godly Elders among us?