People are Watching

Intro:

Titus 2:11 NKJV

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

Tonight, we will continue our study through the book of Titus entitled, [Equipment for the Assignment], the subject of tonight’s message is [People are Watching].

In May of 2010, I came to Missouri. What was supposed to last three months has lasted nine years. I never say I will NEVER go back to Oklahoma, because when I was a teenager and I thought my dad had got a job in Missouri, I boldly declared, I will NEVER live in Missouri.

I was born an Oklahoman, I was raised an Oklahoman, and one day I will die an Oklahoman. And within five years, I lived in Missouri. I cannot say I will never go back, but I can say I do not want to go back. I love living in Missouri.

I was eighteen when I moved to Salem, and I was enamored with the small-town atmosphere. I loved that I could see people throughout the week. It was fun to run into someone at Walmart. I thought I was living in Mayberry.

That nostalgia lasted for a while, until I lived there long enough to have a bad day. Then I just wanted to get in and out of the store. Then I wished I could go to a restaurant and not run in to anyone. Living in a small town, I learned something I did not know when I was in Oklahoma City, “people are watching.”

I remember going to the dry cleaners and getting somewhat frustrated that I couldn’t pay with a debit card. I restrained myself and left. Then I went back in to get the total amount, and the man asked, are you an evangelist?

In a righteous and holy attitude, I answered, YES. He replied, I thought I had heard you preach once, you did a great job, let me pay for your dry cleaning. I quickly learned, people are watching.

Regardless if we live in a big city or a small community, as Christians, we have a responsibility to be an example of Jesus. That is easy to say in church, but not always easy to live every day.

In chapter two of Titus, Paul focuses on the character and integrity of the people and pastor of the church in Crete. As we discussed in our study two weeks ago, Crete was a small island near modern day Turkey.

It was as populated as some cities and the church was winning many people to the Lord. As successful as they were, they still had their problems.

Titus was sent there to set the church in order. They were sincere in their faith, but carnal in their actions. There was an ancient saying that remarked, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons.”

These attributes are not a problem when everyone acts that way, but as Christians we are called to live a righteous and holy life. Therefore, Titus was to help the Cretans learn how they were to act followers of Christ.

Nothing can harm our witness that doing something to tarnish our reputation. People are less interested in what we say we believe or where we go to church. They are more interested in HOW we live. When they observe us from a distance, to they see a genuine born-again believer, or do they see someone who lives one way on Sunday and another way throughout the week?

If Titus was to take this group of backslidden and carnal church around, he had to teach them how they were to live. Their background and culture did not exempt them from their assignment to be examples and ambassadors of Christ.

Therefore, Paul emphasized how we are to live in light of our assignment. He provides the necessary equipment for the assignment to live for the Lord.

Last time we focused on church organization. Tonight we will focus sound doctrine. We will look at the two categories in the church, [People watch other People] and [People watch the Pastor].

We will look at two categories of people

Let’s begin

1. People watch other People

Titus 2:1–3 NKJV

1 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: 2 that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; 3 the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things—

3

Some of what Paul wrote to Titus is reminiscent of what he wrote to Timothy. While it seems redundant, it is helpful for me.

When I read what Paul wrote to Titus concerning how people are to live and act, it encourages me. It is tempting to look back at those whose names are in the Bible and assume they were perfect.

However, when I read the instructions God gave them, I realize they were just as bad as we are, and many times a whole lot worse. I feel good at times because there are things people did in scripture that I have NEVER thought about doing.

However, when I read the instructions God gave them, I realize they were just as bad as we are, and many times a whole lot worse. I feel good at times because there are things people did in scripture that I have NEVER thought about doing.

But notice two words in verse one: SOUND DOCTRINE.

But notice two words in verse one: SOUND DOCTRINE.

The things that separates the Church from other good and moral organizations is our doctrine. We are not Christians because we are charitable, kind, or good. We are Christians because of our doctrine.

And what is the foundation of our doctrine? Jesus came, died on the cross, rose from the grave, ascended to heaven, sent the Holy Spirit and will come back to get us.

With this the foundation of sound doctrine, we must ask, how are we to live? Sound doctrine will ALWAYS promote sound demonstration.

When we hear the truth of the gospel, we will want to live a righteous and holy life. When we get into the word and study scripture, the Holy Spirit will speak to us and convict us of what needs to change in our lives.

Knowing that people are watching, how are Christians to live? Paul answers the question, focusing on five categories, older men and women, younger women and men, and servants.

I have heard it said that age is a state of mind, not a number. As we look at these four categories, we can decide if our age is older or younger!

Older men are to be:

temperate- meaning to avoid extravagance or overindulgence.

dignified- living a life worthy of respect

sensible- prudent or disciplined.

and sound in faith, love, and perseverance

Likewise, older women are to be:

reverent in their behavior

not gossips or people who talk bad about others

not given to drunkeness

and teachers of good things

Paul emphasized how the church in Crete was to live. If the men and women were undignified, non-sensible, gossiping, hotheaded, drunk people, how would that have spoken to non-believers?

They would have looked at them and thought, they are not different than us. They say they have sound doctrine, but they do not demonstrate an honorable life.

How were the younger women and men to live?

Titus 2:4–8 NKJV

4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. 6 Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, 7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, 8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

Paul was intentional in starting with the older generation, for younger generations learn how to live based on how their predecessors live.

The older women were to model a holy life, for the younger women were watching. Historians say in Crete, women drank too much and then the begin to gossip too much. Therefore, the older women were to encourage the younger women on how to live.

Young women were to:

live in purity- living a life of holiness, realizing they were set apart.

Workers at home- that does not mean they could not work out of the home, but to be productive wherever they worked

Obedient to their husbands- this is God’s design, but it only works when husbands lead their families in love and inspire the kind of respect that makes it easy for their wives to follow

When Paul spoke to the young men, he told them to do one thing, be sober-minded. It is possible Paul only focused on those two words because Titus was a young pastor.

Therefore, it was Titus’ job to model how to live so they other young men would follow. He was to show that being saved means demonstrating our doctrine.

be sober-minded

Therefore, we must do good works, living a holy life, let nothing tarnish your integrity, and speaking in a way that no one will be ashamed of what you have said, giving them no material to talk about you.

Titus 2:9–10 NKJV

9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.

Titus 2:

To understand Paul’s focus on servants, let’s remember how normal slavery was in Rome. Today, we could replace the word servant with employee. On the job, we are to be respectful and honorable, living out our faith in the job.

On the job, we are to be respctful and honorable, living out our faith in the job.

Why did Paul expound so much on how to live? Because people watch people. If we say we are Christians we need to live in such a way that people can tell we are Christians LONG before we ever speak to them.

If people watch other people, then...

2. People watch the Pastor

Titus 2:11-1

Titus 2:11–15 NKJV

11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

Paul turned his attention to a foundational doctrine that is pivotal to the way we live. He reminds Titus that Jesus is coming again. As the pastor of the church in Crete, he was to keep the coming of the Lord in focus.

Dr. James Brown of AGTS believed, “The greatest danger facing the Assemblies of God is not church government or modern trends, the greatest danger facing the Assemblies of God is if we lose sight of the second coming.”

Knowing that Jesus is coming soon changes everything:

how we live

how we talk

what we do

why we forgive

who we tell about Jesus

and what we do in church

The one who is to lead the way this lifestyle is the pastor. As leader of the church in Crete, Titus needed to model what it means to live in the grace of God!

First, Paul reminded Titus, Grace found us! The salvation of humanity did not occur because people studied or searched for salvation for years.

Instead, people were so engrossed in sin and did not even realize it until the grace of God appeared to us through Jesus Christ! Pastors are to follow the pattern of the Great Shepherd as they lead the church God has given them.

Knowing that Jesus came causes us to live as Paul told us in

2 Corinthians 6:17 NKJV

17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”

God expects us to live a HOLY, meaning set apart life. We cannot do this through self-help or good motives, it requires the work of the Holy Spirit sanctify us. When we were saved, we were sanctified, now we are in the process of being less like the world and more like the Lord.

Before the church can live a holy life, the Paul wanted Titus to lead the way. What motivation is there in living a sanctified life?

Knowing that Jesus is coming soon changes everything:

Knowing that Jesus is coming soon changes everything:

how we live

how we talk

what we do

why we forgive

who we tell about Jesus

and what we do in church

Dr. James Brown of AGTS believed, “The greatest danger facing the Assemblies of God is not church government or modern trends, the greatest danger facing the Assemblies of God is if we lose sight of the second coming.”

If we truly believe Jesus could come at any moment, it will cause us to live different. We will forgive quicker, be more careful in what we say, and pay more attention to what is going in our lives, family, and world.

As pastor of the church in Crete, Titus could not afford to forget that Jesus came to redeem us from this life of sin, as His special people, we need to be zealous for every good work.

When I hear the word zealous, I remember holding one of my first revivals. It went nine days and I was passionate in my preaching. I may not have had much content, but what I did know I declared loudly and fast!

Toward the end of the revival, the pastor told the church we have a zealous evangelist. As an uneducated eighteen year old, I was offended. I thought it was a put down until I looked up zealous in the dictionary- the definition I found was:

committed to a certain ideal or goal, fervent, devoted, and diligent. After I read that, I chose to take it as a compliment.

Paul wanted those who lead the church to be passionate about their call and message.

Pastors who are passive create congregation that are passive

Pastors who do not pray create congregations that do not pray

Pastors who are not interested in the Holy Spirit create congregations who are not interested in the Holy Spirit

Pastors who are not concerned about the coming of the Lord create congregations who are not concerned about His coming

Therefore, Titus was to lead the way, speak the truth in the love, and do not become intimidated or discouraged with criticism. Instead, he was to live a life that people wanted to follow. Why, because people not only watch people, they watch the pastor.

Close:

To finish my story from my introduction, I am so glad I moved to a smaller community. I learned lessons I would not have learned living where I lived.

In the city, I could act how I wanted, say what I wanted, and do what I wanted because I was virtually unknown. Many people thought this way. In their minds, I may never see this person again, what does it matter?

It matters because people are watching. Everywhere we go, we are an example for Jesus. How we live, what we do, what we say, and how we act determines if we are a good or bad example for Him.

As a pastor, I keep this in mind with everything I do. Do I always succeed, no. There have been times I have misstepped or misspoke, and after I do it, I feel deep conviction, because I know I was not a good example for the Lord.

But people do not only watch the pastor, the watch people who say they are Christians. We have to ask ourselves, when they see us, do they see Jesus?

How is it possible to live a life worth following?

We remember that the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men!

God’s grace has got us this far, and His grace will help us make it through all that we say and do!