Titus Ten: Investments

Titus 2:1 ESV

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

Titus 2:15 ESV

15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 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.

Opening illustration: “It all started by Jesus calling a few men to follow Him. This revealed immediately the direction his evangelistic strategy would take. His concern was not with programs to teach the multitudes, but with men whom the multitudes would follow. Remarkable as it may seem, Jesus started to gather these men before he ever organized an evangelistic campaign or even preached a sermon in public. Men were to be his method of winning the world to God”

Main thought: If teaching were enough, then we would have just gotten a book, a classroom, and an AI teacher

1) The Necessity of Investments

Explanation: The way of God to grow men was to invest. Teach and model. Giants of scripture did it well — Moses invested in Joshua, Jesus invested in the 12, Barnabas in Paul then Mark, Paul in Silas, Titus, Timothy, and Luke, the Apostle John in Ignatius and Polycarp...

Some didn’t do it well: Abraham failed with Lot. Aaron failed Nadab and Abihu. Joshua and his generation failed before Judges. Eli failed his two sons. David failed with Absalom.

Argumentation:

Illustration: My dad was a great dad. Faith in Christ was the only thing he didn’t teach. So, I have been given three great men in my life to shepherd and invest in me: Ronnie Owens, Fred Osgood, and Don Pirkle.

Application: We have classes, groups, seminars, conferences, programs, projects, ministers of this or that, lessons, sermon series, books, leaders, but the best way to make disciples is mentoring. It takes longer, but the ROI is much greater. EVERY man needs investing in. This is a group project for individual maturity.

2) Multi-generational Faithfulness

Explanation: Paul did not tell the younger generation to only sit down and be taught. He didn’t tell the older men to stop learning from others. He had instructions for both.

Older men should be able to discern things of greater importance vs. things of lesser importance. They should be self-controlled. They should have good judgment, discernment, discretion, and be able to reject foolish worldly desires. They should be steady and sound. Their steadfastness to biblical faith, love of Christ and others through hardship and disappointments serve as an anchor for others.

Young men are instructed to cultivate self-control.

Argumentation:

Illustration: Fasting is a means of telling your body that you are not a slave to it’s appetites.

Application: He points out the temptation that comes to us to self-segregate. Older, middle, young men tend toward each other. If the scripture indicates the opposite, we are going to have to be intentional about resisting that temptation. How might we do that?

We have to make men understand the critical role that we play in all of our lives. We have to generate a sense of unity to help each other be better disciples of Christ. We have to take responsibility of each other. We need to have larger events to invite, and small regular intentional relationships.

3) Investors and the Invested In

Explanation: This is the place where the rubber meets the road. Who are you going to invest in, and who are you going to seek investment from? The only alternative is isolation, intentional or unintentional.

2 Timothy 2:2 ESV

2 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.

There are four spiritual generations here: Paul, Timothy, faithful men, and others also. That’s how the faith is passed on. One man to one man. One man to two men. Groups of men to each other. Older and younger. Been a Christian a long time and became a believer this week.

Illustration: talk about Marvin’s story, talk about Mark Marshall and John Oliver.

Application: We all need to have someone(s) that we are being mentored by. We all need someone to invest in. They can be formal or less formal. Either way they need to be intentional. What have you learned from another man recently? Think big for a minute, name the three spiritual giants that have poured into you. Think of men that you have poured into. Start to name the men in our church in your head, or write them down.

What are you going to do about it?

Closing illustration: Joshua’s generation gone. Shrinking birth rates for Christians, failure to pass on the faith past college.

Recap