Everyone Has Someone

Story: Let me tell you about a few of my young friends…

Jon Andersen

Struggles socially

Comes from a family that doesn’t follow Jesus

I am firmly “Team Jon”

Has been learning to trust and take Next Steps

Liv Williams

Wrestles with former alcoholism

Lost 4 family/friends to death over a few month period of time

Desperately needs a family to thrive in

Ian Matthews

Comes from a very broken family

Recently ended a difficult (and unhealthy) relationship

Been bringing his parents to church with him

Cautiously optimistic about finding a family that will love him

Matt Hayes

Discovering men that he wants to emulate

Sarah (Lilypad)

Needs a family — not sure about church yet

Amelia (ABB)

Needs a family — not sure about church yet

These young adults desperately need older adults — both men AND women — who will invest their lives…

Context of Titus:

Paul left Titus on the island of Crete

Crete was a notoriously difficult place, with a hardened culture

Paul’s letter gave Titus practical advice on how to organize and lead a church in the culture

Titus 1:5 NIV

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Paul goes on to talk about the rebellious people in Crete…

And then…

Titus 2:1–8 NIV

1 You (Titus), however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Throughout the letter, Paul encourages Titus to:

Involve all people…

Old men

Old women

Young women

Young men

Empower all people… Teach them to…

Be worthy of respect

Love their families

Be self-controlled (THREE MENTIONS)

Be pure

Have integrity

The purpose of all this teaching was so that anyone who might accuse a believer find nothing bad to say about them

As Connect continues to grow…

Everyone has a role to play

Everyone has someone to influence

Everyone is INVOLVED

Everyone is EMPOWERED

Will you join me in the Ministry of the Kingdom of Heaven???