Titus - “The Teachings Found in Titus” (Series 2/2)

Passage: Titus 3:1-7…

Series: 2/2

Title: “Teachings Found in the Book of Titus”

INTRO:

Kade Ferguson taught on 10/06… and he examined Titus 2:1-9…

We learned about “Teaching Sound Doctrine”…

Kade provided us with a clear understanding of what the word “Doctrine” Means = “Set of Beliefs”

We were challenged to really think about what our “Doctrine” or “Set of Beliefs” are regarding God…

In other words, what are our own personal set of beliefs and Doctrine regarding the character of God… who He is… what he has done… His Son - Jesus Christ… and his Word- the Bible…

This week however we are turning our attention to Titus 3:1-7…

Before we dive into Titus 3:1-7…

WHAT IS CONTEXT:

I want to make sure I provide you with the Background information and CONTEXT of the passage…

Why? Because the CONTEXT gives us a CLEAR picture of the CIRCUMSTANCES…

EXAMPLE:

If I were to tell you… that I have never lost in an arm wrestling competition… That I had defeated 50 people in a row without a break… you may be impressed…

But… if you learned that each person I faced was 10 years old and weighed less than 100 pounds… you would not be impressed… WHY?

Because the CONTEXT is now CLEAR and you have a picture of the CIRCUMSTANCES surrounding the story…

SO… What is the CONTEXT regarding the Book of Titus?

THE CONTEXT OF TITUS:

Author:

- Many Scholars attribute or credit the authorship of Titus to the Apostle Paul

Date:

- Written between A.D. 62 - 64

The A.D. stands for “Anno Domini” a Latin phrase which means = “In the Year of the Lord”

Referring to the years after the birth of Jesus

BC stands for “Before Christ” and refers to years before the birth of Jesus Christ

All this to say… Titus was written about 60-62 years after the birth of Christ

About 2,024 years ago from today…

Surrounding Details:

- Titus served with Paul on both the 2nd & 3rd missionary journey and Titus become a beloved disciple

Titus was a Gentile

Titus was mentioned 9 times in 2 Corinthians where Paul refers to Titus as “my brother” or “my partner and fellow worker”

Titus was facing a group of people that were called “Judaizers” = They believed that all Christians - Jews and Gentiles alike - were bound to the Mosaic Law and the practice of circumcision for salvation…

In other words, Titus was faced with false teachings from these Judaizers

Why was it written:

Paul writes this Letter to Titus for at least 3 reasons:

1. To Encourage him to keep going

2. To Instruct him on how to implement order by selecting qualified Elders

3. To Instruct him on how to prepare others for “Every Good Work”

Please following along with me as I read Titus 3:1-7… it says,

Titus 3:1–7 (ESV)

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

One question that we should always ask ourselves as we approach God’s Word is… What is God Teaching us in and through this Text? This leads me to point #1…

POINT #1: We must be READY for EVERY GOOD WORK

The Word “Work” actually means = “Work that a person is obligated to perform for moral or legal reasons”

That Word “Work” is noun and can be replaced with duty or obligation…

In other words, if Jesus Christ is your LORD and Savior… you have a duty and obligation to be ready to help others with acts that are good…

When my brother enlisted into the Air Force… and became a solider for the United States Military… he was given a new obligation and duty… He was tasked with a new line of work…

To protect the citizens of the United States of America from any and all threats… in other words, he has been tasked with putting the welfare of the nation above his own interest and welfare…

Since he is now a enlisted in the air force… his number one priority is not himself, his needs, his wants, his desires, or his safety… rather his number one priority is the safety of his nation

When you become a citizen of Heaven… and King Jesus is your Lord and Savior… you are now given a new task, duty, and obligation… that prioritizes the moral welfare of others above your own interests…

I want to be clear… when you accept Christ as Lord and savior by placing your faith in him alone… you are called, obligated, and have a responsibility to take care of others and be ready for every good work…

If someone tells me that they are a Christian… yet, their life does not reflect or show any evidence of caring for others, being gentle, kind, or loving others more than themselves… then there is a problem…

those who hearts have genuinely been changed by Christ… genuinely care for others…

Example/Story #1:

Mom Serving Dad Story…

I can remember one evening… My mom was making dinner and my dad was sitting on the coach watching TV… my Dad had asked my mom to bring him a plate and to get him a glass of milk… and to serve him… In fact, this was not uncommon for my mom to do… my mom often would serve my dad… But, I can remember on this particular evening… I could not stand it… and as my mom was cleaning the dishes… I walked over to her and said…

Hey mom… why do you always do those things for dad?

You work…

You wash all the clothes…

You clean the house…

You get us kids ready for school…

You get take of the dogs…

You do so many things… why can’t dad just get up and get his own plate of food?

Why can’t dad just get up and get his own glass of milk?

Why and how do you these things all the time for him? Especially since you are doing all these others things?

I will never forget what she said to me…

She says,

Oh Tanner… you just don’t get it yet do you…

She looks into my eyes and says… I don’t do all those things for your dad… I do all those things because I get to serve the LORD that I love…

And in the moment… I realized that my moms motivation for being gentle, kind, caring, and loving towards others was not conditional or based upon what they had done for them… it had nothing to do with my dad… It had everything to do with her love, gratitude, and thankfulness for Jesus Christ…

Matthew 7:17–20 (ESV)

So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

If you are saved by Christ Jesus… you will bear good fruit… you will be READY for EVERY GOOD WORK… you will take care of others and love them well…

QUESTION: Are you someone who is ready for every good work? Are you someone who understands that you have a duty and obligation to help others?

has your heart been genuinely changed by Christ and do you actually care for others? Is your motivation for caring for others because you have to or you get to? Are you bearing good fruit?

For the remainder of our time… I want to focus on two behaviors that the book of Titus plainly tells us should not be what defines us:

Behavior #1: We should speak EVIL of NO ONE

I want you to notice how there is no exception to the rule… there is no Caveat… there is no loop hole… God’s Word tells us that We should speak EVIL of NO ONE…

Some of you in this room… absolutely love the DRAMA… I believe you young folk call it the “tea” or possibly… “Spilling the Tea”…

I know some of you truly love to stir up the pot and are willing to say anything… even if it is evil against another person… to get the drama going… to get it started…

How you speak… what you say… matters…

The Words you say carry weight…

I know the saying is… actions speak louder than words… But…. the WEIGHT of an evil Word just WHISPERED is WICKED, UNBEARABLE, and UNFORGETTABLE

In other words, someone is more likely to remember something awful you said… than 10 nice things you said…

I have already told you the story of the girl that I looked at and said… “YOU NEED PLASTIC SURGERY”… She remembered that evil thing that I said to her… and it was Unbearable and unforgettable…

When I was younger… my teeth were not straight at all… in fact it was not until after college that I was able to get invisalign and straighten these bad boys out… But I can remember when I was in college… someone looked at me, in front of my friends and was like, hey… did you have braces when you were younger… and I was like… na for not… and they said… Yeah I can for sure tell… they aren’t straight…

In fact, my nickname growing up was “Hammy” because my two front teeth were straight and huge as a child… but the others were not so great… I looked like a small hamster…

My freshman year of high school I could either be in band, choir, or in Drama… the Choir required no practice at home and we got to go to Kings Island at the End of the Year… so I said sign me up…

One day in choir class… I was standing next to my buddies… and the teacher said he tanner sing doe, ray, me, fae, so, la, te, doe…. So I did…

She then asks my three other friends to sing it… after they sing it… she says in front of the entire class… “class, I hope you noticed that Tanner’s voice was the highest pitched voice”… in an effort to demonstrate different the different vocal ranges… she humI listed me and I will never forget her saying… Tanner has the highest pitched voice of the boys…

My point is this… the Words you say matter… they leave an imprint on people… they stick… they last… and when you speak evil against someone else… even if it is just a whisper… the weight of your words can be crushing and unbearable…

James 3:6–8 (ESV)

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

If you are tongue is not disciplined… if you are not actively thinking about what you are going to say next… just know that your default… what you are inclined to say next… could be a deadly poison…

The Words that leave your lips out to words that Worship your Savior… and honor others…

QUESTION: Would other people say… that you are someone who speaks kindly, respectfully, and loving? Or are you someone who is known for talking bad, poorly, or evil against others… whether it is because they hurt you or you just want some drama? Have your words hurt more people or helped more people?

Behavior #2: We should avoid QUARRELING

This Word Quarreling means is referring to someone who is engaged in disputes… you fight and are difficult to have conservations or dialogue with… the conservation is not peaceful…

You are more worried about proving your point than having a peaceful conversation…

You all know someone… that you just want to avoid talking to because you know… that the conversation always ends in a disagreement… or a fight… its just not pleasant, easy, or enjoyable…

Those individuals… more than likely quarrel and fight because they are unable to see their PRIDE… they always have to be right… they lack humility… they are unteachable or uncoachable… they are unwilling to listen to others advise or help… and they must be heard…

I hope you know… that Christ calls us to be peacemakers… and to act in all humility…

Matthew 5:9 (ESV)

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

That word “peacemaker” means = “A mediator who tires to bring about harmonious relations (between two opposing parties)”

In other words, are you someone who is causing arguments, fights, and quarrels? Or are you someone who try's to bring peace and resolve to conversations? Which one describes you?

As our time comes to a close… I want to draw our attention to this last point…

POINT #2: Your ACTIONS and WORDS are a result of what is in your HEART…

Luke 6:45 (ESV)

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Some of you… truly can be cruel to your friends, family, and just other people with your words and actions… and for some of you… it comes naturally… effortlessly… Some of you do not have to try that hard to be cruel or mean with your words or actions…

WHY?

Because your heart has an abundance of evil… and therefore… all you know to speak or say are things that are hurtful, mean, and cruel…

People will say… I did not mean to say that… right… they will say something mean… or begin an argument… and say… hey, I…. I did not mean to say it…

YES THEY DID… they are just sorry they said it…

Make no mistake… you mean exactly what you say… and what you say represents what in your heart… and whats in your heart… represents who you follow and where you belong… and that is either with Christ Jesus - a son of the living God… or with this World and a child of disobedience - under the control of Satan…

Did you realize that your words reveal who you worship? That your actions show what team you align with? What you say… you mean… what you say… shows if you truly know Christ Jesus the Savior…