A Man After Christ's Own Heart
Notes
Transcript
2010 I lost 50 lbs. I was overweight, tired, and living a lifestyle that wasn’t healthy.
I was not a good testimony my kids and the church I served and so I decided it was time for a change.
I took some steps in the right direction and the transformation began. It took about 8 or 9 months until I reached my goal.
It was hard because I love food and did not love working out. But I realized something needed to change.
I’ve had my (weight) ups and downs since then, but for the most part I stayed on track.
The point is this. I recognized a deficiency in my life and I made changes to corrected it.
Today is Father’s Day and the focus of this sermon is for the Fathers, the men of this Church. The text I have chosen has nothing to do with Fathers, but it does for men in general.
Perhaps as a Father, or a someday dad, you are thinking, “Man, I am not where I need to be spiritually! I’m not the spiritually leader I’m supposed to be, I don’t know the scriptures like I should, I’ve grown cold to God and His truth. Something needs to change! If I stay on this path, I’ll just grow in apathy and fill my life up with superfluous activities that will have zero impact for God’s Kingdom! Something has to change!
Honestly, I pray the Spirit opens the hearts of all the men in ABC to transformed into the image of Christ.
I believe the text I’m about to share with you will transform you if you believe and do what it says.
You, by God’s grace and by His power, change!
This sermon isn’t a motivational speech on how to lose weight. If that’s all that you get out of this, you’ve missed the point. This sermon is about you, men, losing the weight of sin and being transformed more and more into the character of Jesus.
We are in the letter of Titus today. Our main focus will be chapter 2:1-2. But first, let me give you a little context...
Titus, Paul’s “true child in a common faith,” was sent on a mission. A mission of transformation!
His responsibility was to transform the island of Crete.
How was he do this?
Look at verse 5...
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
So the first thing he needed to do was appoint Elders. Men who exude godliness. Paul gives a list of characteristics of an elder. Combined, these traits represent righteousness, christlikeness - They are not so much abilities as they are issues of Character. Take a look...
6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
I don’t want to spend much time on these characteristic (we could)! However, I just want us to see that Titus’ responsibility was to find men that demonstrated these characteristics and appoint them elders in the local church on this island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea!
Men of Allendale Baptist Church - If Titus were to show up here in our midst, would he find men who demonstrate these characteristics.
Would he, after careful analysis see of your life see you acting as one who has no credible accusation against him?
Would he see someone who is not proud but humble?
Not easily angered but patient?
Not living for your own pleasure, but for the needs of others?
Not selfish, but willing to open your home to others?
Not someone who is sinister, but dignified?
Not lazy but disciplined?
Someone who relentless holds to God’s Word in all all that you do, to be able to explain God’s word to those whom God has made you responsible?
If Titus were to show up here would he find the Men of Allendale Baptist Church, would he find you qualified to be an elder? If not, why not?
By the way, being an elder and being qualified to be an elder are two different things. All of us men should be pursuing the qualification regardless if we ever officially become one.
And you never know when God may call you to the office! Be ready, Men!
Okay, so Titus had some transformational work to do in the spiritual lives of the churches on the island of Crete and there was one thing Paul admonished to use in order to make this spiritual transformation possible.
Do you know what it was? I’ll tell you this much men, it was powerful!
Main Sermon Idea: Men - Do Not Underestimate the Transformational Power of Sound Doctrine!
Main Sermon Idea: Men - Do Not Underestimate the Transformational Power of Sound Doctrine!
Now, we are going to look at this passage through a transformational lens.
What does that me?
Before the transformation
At the point of transformation
After the transformation.
Okay, lets take a look at the first step in the transformation...
1. A Grotesque Before Picture (vs. 10-16)
1. A Grotesque Before Picture (vs. 10-16)
Lead in…We all love to see the before and after pictures of people who lose a lot of weight. You’ve got to see the before to appreciate the after.
When it comes to the spiritual life, a picture doesn’t work - But you can see, over time, someone’s character change.
I want you to see the character of the people of Crete so we can appreciate what Titus was up against.
Titus had quite a job before him. He was not single handedly to go in and “put what remained into order...” No! He was to build a team! A team of godly men in every town of this island!
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
These qualified men (vs. 6-9 give the qualifications of an elder) would be placed in charge as overseers in the local churches throughout Crete. By the way, the tools for cultural transformation are local churches!
15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
The Local church and its leadership Gods agents of cultural change back in the day of Titus and in our day as well. Nothing has changed over the last 2000 years.
How does God use the Local church and her leadership to change a culture? ONE LIFE AT A TIME through the powerful word of God! Look at what Paul tells Titus in verse 9...
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
The local church is the pillar and buttress of the TRUTH. The Elder is a righteous and holy man who is a competent practitioner of God’s truth. Their mission? To transform the culture, not through social justice, but through the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
We lament about our culture. And, if we are going to be honest, it’s not great our there...
But take a look at the culture that Titus had to contend with. Just after verse 9 where Paul explains to Titus that the Elder must hold fast to the word of God, teach it and rebuke those who are against it, Paul describes the Cretan culture in very blunt and even harsh terms...
Notice there are two interesting aspects happening in this culture...
First we see false teachers...
10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party.
Polar opposite to the characteristics of what an Elder of the church of Jesus Christ should be, we see the character of the false teachers that Titus must contend with.
Their character is one of insubordination or rebellion
Their speech was empty or meaningless and even deceptive. They were not truth tellers. They were liars!
Their teaching was false! Those who were the worst offenders were of the circumcision party. These were “Jews that taught that salvation required the physical cutting of circumcision and adherence to Mosaic ceremonies (MSB).”
And Paul has very clear instruction for Titus on how he should deal with them. Look at verse 11...
11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.
Titus needed to silence them! He, with the help of the elders he would establish, would silence them. How? by preaching and teaching sound doctrine! More on this in point two...
They needed to be silenced because false teaching in the church can destroy families! This is precisely one of the responsibilities of the Elders of the church. To protect the congregation for people of prominence
So first we see false teachers, but now look at another characteristic of their culture. And this is not a very flattering description at all!
12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.
Paul quotes a Cretan prophet who is not kind to his own people.
Paul verifies this characteristic is true not of everyone but in a general sense.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 1
Crete was proverbial in the ancient world for its moral decadence. The ancient historian Polybius wrote that it was “almost impossible to find … personal conduct more treacherous or public policy more unjust than in Crete” (Histories 6.47). Cicero also stated, “Moral principles are so divergent that the Cretans … consider highway robbery honorable” (Republic 3.9.15).
But for those in the churches in Crete, the culture must not influence, must not infiltrate the church!
The church is to change the culture, the culture is not to change the church!
Those in the churches in Crete needed to make a decision.
Do they want to be CRETAN or a NEW CREATION?
We have the same decision to make. We are inundated by the influence of this world. And the influence of the world is always trying to press into the body of Christ.
And the church and the individual Christian must make a decision to fight back!
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
My dear friends, do you want to act like a CRETAN or do you want to be the NEW CREATION you were called out to be?
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
But then God showed up full of MERCY and GRACE upon GRACE!
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Paul reminds the church at Ephesus who they are. Why? Because they MUST act like it!
The church of Jesus Christ today must start to act like who she has called to be!
Men! It starts with us. We must take the lead.
The point of the “before picture” is to not keep that image, but to change. The question is, do you want to always be the “Before Picture?”
Paul sent Titus to set things right in the churches on Crete. They were succumbing to false teaching and Titus needed to get Godly, holy, righteous and bold Elders in place to help right the ship.
But the most godly, holy, righteous and bold Elders can only do so much. Every individual must make a decision.
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Men - are you tired of your stagnant spiritual state? Are you sick of your apathy toward the things of God? What are you going to do about it?
Confess that you have allowed the worlds influence into your heart.
Thank God for His amazing patience, forgiveness and grace in your life!
Pray for the transformational grace that will make you more like Jesus!
Review - Men - Do Not Underestimate the Transformational Power of Sound Doctrine!
A Grotesque Before Picture
2. A Powerful Plan for Change (vs. 1)
2. A Powerful Plan for Change (vs. 1)
Lead in...When I decided to make the change and drop the weight, I need a way to go about it. The plan I used was this phrase “Eat Less, Move More.”
But what about our goal to become more like Jesus? How does this happen?
Well, for starters, look at what Paul instructs Titus to do to help transform people...
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
So simple, yet so profound.
Titus must teach or proclaim things consistent with sound doctrine or teaching.
This is the plan he has been given and Paul’s emphasis is poignant.
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
Titus is to appoint godly elders and he and they are to be sure that whatever the preach, whatever they teach squares up with, agrees with the sound teaching of the bible.
The word “sound” means “to be correct.” It also means “to be healthy.”
The teaching of the false teachers was not only unhealthy, but it was deadly - eternally deadly.
Those who believed the teachings of false teachers would spend an eternity in Hell! There is nothing more unhealthy than that!
What is the antidote for teaching that pushes people toward hell?
SOUND / CORRECT / HEALTHY DOCTRINE
The one who says that all we need is Jesus, we do not need doctrine is a fool! Jesus Christ is DOCTRINE!
The Bible TEACHES us about JESUS!
Please, please, please put yourself in the way of SOUND TEACHING! It is God’s tool for change.
Illustration - When I decided to lose weight, I needed to implement a plan. I told you my secret tool was eat less and move more. So, that’s what I did. I stopped having my nightly three to four scoops of ice cream. I cut back on my portions, i logged everything that went into my mouth.
also
I started running. I started with a mile, then two, then three, 3-4 times per week.
It worked!
Argumentation - The plan for Spiritual change? Sound doctrine. Paul’s plan for Titus was for him and the elders he would appoint to area churches to TEACH SOUND DOCTRINE.
Sound Doctrine renews our minds - It changes the way we think.
Let’s say I think that I must earn my way to heaven. Well, when I am taught sound doctrine, I soon learn
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
My mind, heart and life is changed accordingly.
Application - Men, what are you doing to put yourself under sound doctrine?
Can I suggest a Micro Group Bible Study? This does two things.
It helps you grow in you understanding
I helps you grow in relationships
You must make a plan! You must follow through! It is your responsibility! What’s your plan?
Review - Do Not Underestimate the Transformational Power of Sound Doctrine!
A Grotesque Before Picture
A Powerful Plan for Change
3. A Glorious After Picture (vs. 2)
3. A Glorious After Picture (vs. 2)
Lead in...
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
What is the result of the consistent teaching of sound doctrine to people who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit? Conviction and a supernatural ability to change.
Paul gives 5 categories of people in these verses. Older men, older women, younger men, younger women and bondservants.
Today we will focus on the first - Older men. It is Father’s Day, after all.
Interesting that the term Older men refers to men 50 and older. But, I think we can all agree, men these are characteristic we all must pursue.
Sober-minded - Temperate “Thinking clearly and living carefully (TRHSB).”
Dignified - “Serious-minded, not clowns (BKC).”
Self-controlled - “self–disciplined in one’s freedom, self–restrained in all passions and desires (TCWSD).”
Notice the triad...
Sound in faith - A healthy faith
Sound in love - A healthy love
Sound in steadfastness - A healthy endurance
Sound doctrine produces healthy living!
When I lost 50 lbs., people noticed the difference...
And that is the point of this passage. When you change spiritually, People will know the difference!!
Titus was commissioned by Paul to appoint godly elders to help transform the churches in Crete to be Christ honoring bodies. How would they accomplish this? By passionately, faithfully and powerfully preaching SOUND DOCTRINE!
We can do no less! And MEN, Husbands! Fathers, Grandfathers, Uncles - you must be men of sound doctrine!
When you, men, determine to pursue Christ by pursuing sound doctrine, you will change. You will no longer look like the world. In fact, your appetite will begin to change. You will no longer crave the junk food this world has to offer.
No, you will begin to crave something much more refined. Much more pure. Much more healthy!
2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
But, men, we do not stay on milk - as good as it is.
11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Men, we must grow up!
12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green,
We must no be the lazy gluttons that they were in Crete!
We have a responsibility to lead our families in the ways of the Lord!
13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Would you rather be known as a Cretan or a New Creation?
Your picture isn’t done yet in this life. There is still time to change!
Listen to the wise words of CH Spurgeon...
“Let us not fall into the error of letting our passions and sinful appetites ride in triumph, while our nobler powers walk in the dust. Grace must reign as a prince and make the members of our bodies instruments of righteousness. The Holy Spirit loves order, and He therefore set our powers and faculties in proper rank and place, giving the highest room to those spiritual faculties that link us with the great King; let us not disturb the divine arrangement but as for grace to keep our body under control and bring it into subjection. We were not made new to allow our passions to rule over us, but in order that , as kings, we may reign in Christ Jesus over the triple kingdom of spirit, soul, and body, to the glory of God the Father.” - C.H. Spurgeon
Review - Do Not Underestimate the Transformational Power of Sound Doctrine!
A Grotesque Before Picture
A Powerful Plan for Change
A Glorious After Picture
Conclusion
Conclusion
In 2010, I decided to make a physical transformation, I’m glad I did...
But more importantly than a physical transformation is a transformation into the Character of Christ!
So let’s get to work!
7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
Imagine if every man, young and old in Allendale Baptist Church determined to be transformed by learning and living out sound doctrine.
Connection Group Reflection Questions
What do these verses teach me about our character?
What do these verses teach me about God and his character?
Because these words are from God, they are TRUTH! What truth is he asking me to believe?
What do I need to do to obey him?
With whom can I share these truths?
“Unbelievers might pay more attention to our gospel message if we gave them something special to notice. We could start by not lying and always speaking the truth. What if we never became angry in a sinful way but always acted in love; never stole but always shared; and never spoke in a coarse manner but always spoke edifying words? Can you imagine how the lost might react if we never were bitter, wrathful, resentful, violent, or slanderous but were always characterized by kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness? Perhaps they would pay more attention then.
Examine your own actions. Do you speak the truth? Do you have control over your anger so that it operates only in righteousness? Do you share your resources with others? Do you speak graciously? Are you kind, tenderhearted, and forgiving? If you are a new man or woman in Christ, you will live like that.” John MacArthur on Colossians 3:17