The Gospel: What We Are & How We Live
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OOS
I. Welcome
A. P. Dustin
II. Opening Prayer
A. Beth B.
III. Worship
A. Song
a. Open Up the Heavens
b. Ancient of Days
c. Lord We Pray
d. Worthy of it All
e. You Deserve the Glory
IV. Announcements
A. Bible Study — Tough Questions
a. Tues 6:30pm starting Jan 19th
b. Bring an un-churched friend & ur tough questions.
V. Sermon
VI. Offering
A. Song: God of the City
SERMON
INTRO
INTRO
I. Where We’ve Been
A. Last Week we asked a simple question:
a. What r the things that should make Jesus Followers unique frm the rest o the world?
1. We found our answer in a letter written by the Apostle Paul
i. who spells out this distinction 2 Titus, the Pastor o a place called Crete, back about 35-40yrs after Jesus resurrection
- & I Believe these words r every bit as imperative 4 Jesus followers 2day as they were some 1950yrs ago.
ii. Paul correctly encourages Titus that
- Based upon the redemptive work o God the Son
- God the Father forgives &
- sends God the H.S. 2 wash away our sins & continually renew us.
- Based on that work we've been made heirs o an eternal life spent in rel. w/ God as this new creation
*the uniqueness o a Jesus follower is GOD’s work in us & how that work practically affects how we live our life
II. Where We’re Going
A. This week we’re going 2 continue addressing our question of what makes the Jesus follower unique.
a. In our main text we’ll c that the work God does in a Jesus follower has practical implications 4 how we live our life in relation 2 the unchurched & other Jesus followers
1. Our Friend Aaron is going 2 read Titus 3:1-11:
III. Main Text — Aaron
A. Titus 3:1-11
III. Prayer — Aaron
IV. Context — P. Dustin
A. In Ch 3:1-11 Paul sandwiches the Jesus follower’s lifestyle w/the Gospel.
a. He clearly makes salvation through Jesus’ death & Resurrection the center piece
1. W/ the truth o the Gospel informing, even determining, how we treat the un-churched & ea. other
i. How we live our life, As Paul sees it, is the practical application o the Gospel in our day-to-day
2. Paul is convinced that the Gospel must saturate & change every part of our life
B. The Change
a. The immediate & ongoing work God did&does in us should change how we live practically
1. If our sins r washed away & we r being continually renewed, there should b some evidence, right?
i. we should ACT new…different than who we were
2. If we’re new, we should live it out as we interact w/the un-churched & 1another
i. so, let’s talk about...
BODY
BODY
I. Living out our new life to the un-churched
1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
A. Be Gracious to the un-churched (Paul starts w/the Gov)
a. Respect gov officials & police officers (b submissive… b obedient)
1. Submit 2 earthly authorities as much as possible w/out compromising our faith
2. Yes, even when we don’t agree w/’em we should respect them & pray 4 ‘em
i. It does the cause of faith NO good if we give Bennington, VT, / USA officials reason to suspect us o breaking the law.
-We will lose all opportunity to share the Gospel
-Look, when persecution comes they will accuse us o wrong by being Christian, let’s not divert the focus from Jesus to politics!!
3. While what is natural for the world is unruliness, disrespect, & upheaval
i. What marks a Jesus follower is respectful submission whenever possible
b. Be prepared for good work (Paul mentions good work 6x in the 3ch letter)
1. Paul encourages 2b ready 4 every good work
i. Ready means 2b completely prepared; in a condition 4 immediate action
-Illust. mil. team in constant preparedness to mobilize & deploy
*What’s the good work Paul is referring to?
2. The good work of practically meeting physical needs
3. The good work of sharing Jesus
i. we need 2b in a state o immediate mobilization 4 sharing the Gospel & meeting physical needs o the un-churched
-Paul continues by saying...
2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.
c. If you have nothing good to say, say NOTHING (speak no evil o)
1. speak no evil: do not slander people
i. A slanderer actively wants 2 attack & hurt someone, so that person is easily identified.
-This is ungracious
-destroys our opportunity to witness
-& makes us look 2-faced
*where we speak horribly about them & preach the gospel to them
ii. another way to slander…Gossip
- Gossip is passive slander, & it is a massive problem in churches 2day.
-Gossipers don’t care whether / not a person is hurt as they pass along incorrect or harmful info.
*”Have u heard o the saying: think b4 u speak”?
*consider THINK as a series o questions 2 ask b4 u say something
* THINK stands for the questions
~Is it True
~Is it Helpful
~Is it inspiring
~Is it Necessary
~Is it Kind
2. How do u speak about people who have done u wrong?
i. What do u say about ‘em behind their back?
ii. Paul encourages that if a Jesus follower doesn’t have something nice to say…don’t say anything at all
d. avoid quarrels w/co-workers employees, employers, cashiers, sales-people
1. even if they’ve done u wrong
i. ok Church, our Facebook quarrels gotta stop!
ii. arguing over political issues does not point people 2 Jesus
-if u make a truthful substantive political statement on policy & some1 picks a fight, calls u a name, etc. b gracious… walk away
-b4 u make a truthful substantive political statement ask urself 1 simple question: WHY am I posting this; what’s the desired affect I want this to have?
*If ur picking a fight, stop
iii. What if we started trying to change US by spreading the Gospel instead o spreading our party’s political agenda??
ii. instead o quarrelling...
e. be gentle & PERFECTLY courteous
1. gentle: tolerant & merciful
2. courteous: even tempered & hospitable
i. who should we be gentle & courteous too— every1 including ur enemy
-what can b said o ur interactions w/
*cashiers
*car salesmen
*clerks
*employees
*employers
*co-workers
~would these folks call u gentle & courteous?
ii. Our words & actions must b mercifully tolerant & completely full o temperate hospitality
-What r the
B. Reasons to act gracious to the un-churched (even when they aren’t that way 2 u)
a. We used to be un-churched
3 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.
1. We used 2 be them
i. We aren’t better than un-churched folks, we once were un-churched
ii. Let’s remember where we come frm
-maybe u’ve heard this statement “but for the grace of God go I”
*Their story is ur story…my story… every Jesus-follower’s story!
*we r all saved by grace through faith…no 1 is saved by her/his good works
2. We aren’t that Good; God is that good in, 2, & through us
i. So, when dealing w/un-churched folks let’s be gracious…we were them b4 Jesus
b. Graciousness lays the foundation for good work
8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.
1. Paul says INSIST on being gracious 2 the un-churched so that Jesus followers (those who have believed in God) may devote themselves 2 good works
i. we r gracious to the un-churched so that when they have a need we can step right in & meet that need which may open the door 4 sharing the Gospel
2. In vs 8 (like in vs 1) Paul emphasizes good work encouraging the need 2b devoted
i. devoted= to make something 1st priority
-Paul is saying that we must b immediately deployable 2 & make our 1st priority sharing the Gospel & meeting the physical needs o the un-churched
C. (Notice) Paul tells Pastor Titus to INSIST on these things
a. This is NOT a suggestion, but expected o EVERY Jesus follower (Why??)
1. Submitting 2 earthly authorities as much as possible w/out compromising our faith
2. being immediately deployable 4 the good work o meeting needs & sharing Jesus
3. speaking no evil, avoiding quarreling, gentleness & PERFECT courtesy r non-negotiable
i. Because that’s how people will come to make Jesus their LORD & Savior.
-That’s the agent o change Bennington, VT, USA, & the world needs &
-That’s the agent o change that’ll have lasting, eternal impact.
i. Now let’s talk about...
II. Living out the new life together (how we interact 2gether)
9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
A. avoid arguing about trivial things
a. some ex. o controversies btwn Christians 2day
1. worship styles
2. the rapture
3. denominational differences
4. which pastor is right over this / that topic
i. If some1 in the church tries to draw u in2 a trivial argument; avoid it!
B. avoid arguing about rules & regs.
a. some ex. o rules & regs btwn Christinas 2day:
1. you gotta dress this way
2. no dying hair purple
3. no tattoos / piercings
i. We r set free from the law…stop it!!
ii. Our faith isn’t about do’s & don’ts
-it’s about fellowshipping w/ & following the promptings, wisdom, & guidance o the H.S.
C. avoid dissension
a. dissension: strife; heated, bitter conflict
b. I found a list o some issues that caused heated bitter conflict btwn Christinas 2day:
1. A deacon accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter
2. A church argument & vote to decide if a clock in the sanctuary should b removed
3. A dispute in the church because communion had cran/grape juice instead o grape juice
4. Major conflict when the youth borrowed a crockpot that had not been used 4 yrs
5. A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing”
6. argument over the appropriate length o the pastor’s beard
i. These are actually arguments in churches
- tell me how dissension, controversies, & quarrelling over the law is going 2 help us reach the lost
-Tell me how these things look anything like humility / Jesus’ character??
ii. Here is how Paul describes the attitude o Jesus
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
I. Practical Advise 2 help us be gracious w/the unchurched & live in harmony w/our fellow Jesus Followers
A. Be humble
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
B. Listen before we speak or act
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
C. Activate church discipline
10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,
11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
a. bring forth gracious correction
Paul isn’t advocating immediate removal
i. He recommends discipleship (warning 2x)
ii. If a person is un-teachable & stiff-necked they have a serious sin problem
OFFERING
OFFERING
I. Invite worship team up
II. Thank u 4 ur generous gifts
A. It’s by your giving that:
a. keep the lights on
b. continue to stream live
c. help those in need
d. continue renovations even through the pandemic
1. God has called us to move forward not hunker down / stall out
III. 3 ways to give
A. online: greenmtn.org
B. text the word “give” to (833) 966-2042
a. already gave via text: just text the amount to that same #
C. mail a check to 440 Main St. in Bennington
IV. A continued need above ur tithe & Offering:
A. Building Fund!
a. lots o maintenance & renovation to b done
1. Can select when u fill out the web based form
2. Or put Building fund in the memo line of ur check
V. Close in Prayer
A. Song: