Podcasts about god titus

Pastor Chris Waldvogel  ~  Christmas Day Service   Old Testament:  Isaiah 52:7-10 Epistle:  Hebrews 1:1-12 Gospel:  John 1:1-18 The post December 25, 2024 ~ “The Goodness and Loving Kindness of God” ~ Titus 3:4-7 appeared first on Beautiful Savior Fargo.

The Heart of God: Titus 3:1-7 // Ray Woodie by Coral Hill Baptist

What do you need to see real, long-term change in your life? Just trying harder won't do it. Guilt and shame won't work long-term. It's only God's grace that can do it… This week we look at our next Big Word in God's Big Plan: Redemption – Sinners Bought by God. We see from Titus 2:11-14 that in Jesus, God paid the price to redeem us from sin so we live for Him, able to turn away from sin and grow in Godliness by his grace.

A Study in the Book of Titus - The Grace of God - Titus 2:11-15

Titus 2:11-14

Sunday night 06/09/24 - The title of tonight's message is "The Amazing Grace Of God" - Titus 2:11-15 - by Associate Pastor Josh Eakins

2024-06-09 Morning Sermon

Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Joined Together, Growing TogetherEphesians 6:13-18, Titus 3:3-7 (ESV) 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 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. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Sermon OutlineWhenever we put on the helmet of salvation it reminds us of three things: 1. We were once in bondage – Titus 3:3For 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. 2. We have been freed – Titus 3:4-6But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior 3. We are now heirs of God – Titus 3:7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal lifePrayer of ConfessionHeavenly Father, each day we are afflicted by the evil one, who desires to keep us in bondage. Too often, we do not put on your armor, we do not trust in your work of salvation, we doubt your character. By the power of your Spirit, help us to see that your goodness and loving kindness is fully present in Jesus, the one who saved us according to his rich mercy and made us co-heirs with him. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat connected with you from the sermon or the passage?Which tactic of the evil one have you struggled with: I don't need God's salvation… Am I truly saved?… I will never have God's salvation.What has given you assurance of salvation in Jesus?Salvation in Jesus depends on his character and not on how worthy we are. How is this reassuring? How might this be difficult to receive?Christians are not only saved and rescued by Jesus, but they are co-heirs with him. What does this look like in day-to-day life? What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?

Audio Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. Scott StrickmanSermon Series: Joined Together, Growing TogetherEphesians 6:13-18, Titus 3:3-7 (ESV) 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 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. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.Sermon OutlineWhenever we put on the helmet of salvation it reminds us of three things: 1. We were once in bondage – Titus 3:3For 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. 2. We have been freed – Titus 3:4-6But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior 3. We are now heirs of God – Titus 3:7so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal lifePrayer of ConfessionHeavenly Father, each day we are afflicted by the evil one, who desires to keep us in bondage. Too often, we do not put on your armor, we do not trust in your work of salvation, we doubt your character. By the power of your Spirit, help us to see that your goodness and loving kindness is fully present in Jesus, the one who saved us according to his rich mercy and made us co-heirs with him. Amen.Questions for ReflectionWhat connected with you from the sermon or the passage?Which tactic of the evil one have you struggled with: I don't need God's salvation… Am I truly saved?… I will never have God's salvation.What has given you assurance of salvation in Jesus?Salvation in Jesus depends on his character and not on how worthy we are. How is this reassuring? How might this be difficult to receive?Christians are not only saved and rescued by Jesus, but they are co-heirs with him. What does this look like in day-to-day life? What do you sense God calling you to do from this passage?

A message by Pastor Trevor Killip

Do you believe in Jesus Christ? If not, why?

Do you know and love God? God is always on a mission to get all His creation that do not know and love Him...

Series: Guest Speakers | Passage: Titus 3:1-8

rockhillbc.com

God - Titus 2:11-14 ; John 20:25-28 Man- 1 John 4:2-3 ; 2 John 7. Conceived by the Holy Spirit born of the Virgin Mary .

The post Faithfulness to God (Titus 1:1-4) appeared first on First Baptist Church of Olney.

On Sunday, May 28, Reverend Charles Lee delivered the sixth sermon in the series Called Out for God's Mission: People Who Attract Others to God - Titus 2:1-14 (NIV)

February 28, 2023 Daily Devotion: “Future Life with God" Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. Life is a glorious opportunity, if it is used to condition us for eternity. If we fail in this, though we succeed in everything else, our life will have been a failure. There is no escape for the man who squanders his opportunity to prepare to meet God. Our lives are also immortal. God made man different from the other creatures. He made him in His own image, a living soul. When this body dies and our earthly existence is terminated, the soul lives on forever. One thousand years from this day, you will be more alive than you are at this moment. The Bible teaches that life does not end at the cemetery. There is a future life with God for those who put their trust on Him. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gerzon-etino/message

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What makes Christianity different than other religions? While every other religion in the world speaks of salvation through works, Christianity teaches about salvation as a free gift of God. As a result, Christians are called to humility and love, to be peaceable and considerate, to remember their status before God was not earned but given. But why is it so easy to feel self-righteous? Why is it so easy to be proud or boastful? This week we look into these questions and see how God's free gift of eternal life sets us free to live humbly in love towards God and others.

Transcript:Hello, this is Pastor Don of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective.Titus was a young pastor that the Apostle Paul had stationed on the First century island of Crete. Crete was a place of many challenges because of the unsavoriness of its public life. The people of Crete were known for their self-indulgence, arrogance and deception. Paul cites one of the Cretan writers who describes his own people: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). It was a society marked by what we might call “truth decay”. Not tooth decay, but “truth decay”.First century Crete, you could say, was a lot like our modern America.How can a Christian operate in a society like this? Well, because of the nature and power of the Gospel, the Christian does not need the support of a surrounding society to be cheered on to greater levels of truth and justice. No. Society doesn't bring this support to the Gospel and to the church. The Gospel and the church bring this support to society.In the face of such “truth decay”, Pastor Titus is called to encourage his people to live lives marked by self-control, sensibility, love, perseverance in good works, family faithfulness, reverent speech, purity, etc. In other words, the Gospel allows us not to be thermometers of society, but thermostats—to set the temperature of social engagement, not to be set by it. We must seek to adjust the social climate, not acquiesce to it.The Gospel works this in us not so much by what it demands from us, but rather by what it did for us in Christ. It is the gospel of “Grace and peace from God” (Titus 1:4)—not what we do for Him but what He's done for us. And it is this grace that changes us, and it is this grace we are called to give to others.Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective.Titus 1 (ESV)1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained….10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true.

One Off | The Grace of God | Titus 2:11-14 | Maddie De Soyza by Grace Church Nottingham

Heyyyyyy guys! Are you an overachiever? Today we'll discuss why finals week could be harder for you, and how to let go and let God! I get it! I was often a stressed overachiever in college. There is a time to go above and beyond expectations. That's great! Yet sometimes overachieving can become toxic and draining and overwhelming. Not being able to sleep or getting physically ill equals TOO MUCH overachieving stress on your body. Let's sit with God today and hear His encouragement on how to release the pressure. So you might not have finals quite yet, but when I was researching finals schedules this week, the earliest I found was one school starting today, December 9th, so I thought this was a perfect time to get started! But if your finals are still a week or two away, don't worry! I'll be dropping some more tips and tricks in the coming weeks(: Enjoy devotions daily from Our Daily Bread here: https://odb.org  Today's particular devotional can be found here: Walk with Me | Our Daily Bread (odb.org) Let's get it! Grab your cold brew and TI-89, because class is now in session.   P.S. Come join our FB Christian College Girls Community, and tell us what traditional degree you're getting, and how you want to use it in an unconventional way(: Facebook --> Christian College Girl Community ~ Scholarships & Graduate Debt-Free | Facebook Instagram --> @moneyandmentalpeace Email --＞ info@moneyandmentalpeace.com Website --> Home (moneyandmentalpeace.com) Online course The Debt-Free College Blueprint --> debtfreecollegeblueprint.com   ** Find God's Path for College and Graduate Loan and Debt-Free **   Do you want guidance on where to go and what to study… wonder if you should change majors? Do you find yourself up late at night searching for scholarships, and ways to pay for college without parental help? Do you wake up worried about everything, and just want to make sure you're following God's plan for your life?   In this podcast for Christian college girls, you will learn to find GOD'S path for your college journey, and graduate with no loans or debt!   I get it! It is so tough doing things the world‘s way, when everybody else is doing life without God and in their own strength, making poor choices, and taking out loans. So, if you're ready to stop dreading making decisions, and find EASY solutions to help you pay for college while following His path for your life, this podcast is for you!   Hey there! I'm Kara Walker, a twenty-something entrepreneur, amateur snowboarder, recovering over-achiever, and debt-free college graduate. In college, I too was a stressed college student, looking for money and mental peace. I wondered if there were other ways to pay for college besides loans, and wished for clear direction on how to make college and career decisions! Not only was I worried about drowning in debt, but also afraid I hadn't heard Jesus correctly. Was I studying the wrong thing? Was I completely off track?   I felt semi-out of control and was spiraling, until I learned how to hear from God and follow His direction. He guided me and gave me the stepping stones to pay for college.  Scholarships, grants, testing out of classes, and other weird school hacks got me through debt-free!   And, I'm here to teach you HOW to do this, too.   If you are ready to find answers about your future, have an intimate and fruitful relationship with Jesus, and have enough money to KILL it at college, this pod is for you! So grab your cold brew and TI-89, and listen in on the most stress-free and debt-free class you've ever attended: this is Money and Mental Peace.    ** Scholarships, Student Loans, Christian College Girls, Pay for College, College Major, Declare Major, Student Loan Forgiveness, Federal Student Loans **   ** Debt-Free College Coach, College Financial Strategist, College Money Mentor, College Budget, Scholarship Coach, Debt-Free Degree **

“We live in light of the past appearing of grace, and we live in light of the future appearing of glory that will bring us home.” This sermon was delivered by Pastor Steven Leatherbury on 12/4/2022 at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.lbcliberty.org.

Calibrated 10 || ”The Grace of God” (Titus 2:11-15), by Jasper Swaney, November 20, 2022. Visit summitwestolive.org for more info about SUMMIT CHURCH in West Olive, MI.

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"Paul endured stonings and shipwrecks, scorn and shame, because his hope was not in this life but in the next, and that hope had as its sure and steady anchor the eternal word of the un-lying God." This sermon was delivered by Pastor Jacob Wright on 11/6/2022 at Liberty Baptist Church in Liberty, Missouri. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.lbcliberty.org.

Listen along as we wrap up the pastoral epistles. Notes/Quotes: Titus 2:11-3:11 Titus 1:5 Crete Pic 1:10-16 “In verse 12, Paul calls the Cretans “evil brutes.” It is a damning indictment, and probably not something you would want to say of a group of people unless you were able. To cite one of their own as the source—which is precisely what Paul is doing here. “One of Crete's own prophets” - The philosopher Epimenides - thinks this of his countrymen. In the Greek language, “Cretan” became a by-word for dishonesty: “To Crete” was to lie. The phrase translated “evil brutes” is literally “dangerous animals.” Crete was famous for having no dangerous animals, but the saying was that the human inhabitants more than made up for this lack of wildlife.” - Tim Chester, Titus For You  “The laws allow them to possess as much land as they can get with no limitation whatever. Money is so highly valued among them, that its possession is not only thought to be necessary but in the highest degree creditable. And in fact greed and avarice are so native to the soil in Crete, that they are the only people in the world among whom no stigma attaches to any sort of gain whatever. Again all their offices are annual and on a democratical footing…the Cretans by their ingrained avarice are engaged in countless public and private seditions, murders and civil wars, they yet regard these facts as not affecting their contention, but are bold enough to speak of the two constitutions as alike”. Polybius, Greek Philosopher, 150 B.C. Titus 1:5-9 “The vocation of pastor(s) has been replaced by the strategies of religious entrepreneurs with business plans.” - Eugene Peterson “My job is not to solve people's problems or make them happy, but to help them see grace operating in their lives…Congregations are composed of people, who, upon entering a church, leave behind what people on the street name or call them. A church can never be reduced to a place where goods and services are exchanged. It must never be a place where a person is labeled. It can never be a place where gossip is perpetuated. Before anything else, it is a place where a person is named and greeted, whether implicitly or explicitly, in Jesus's name. A place where dignity is conferred.” Eugene Peterson Titus 2:1 Titus 2:11-15 Titus 3:1 Titus 3:2 Titus 3:3 Titus 3:4-7 Titus 3: 8-11

Scripture: Titus 2:1-8 / Zack Thurman

Sunday Service "Finishing Well" To contact, tithe, or inquire...please go to www.ToddCoconato.com Finishing well: Notes for this Sunday's service. (2 Timothy 4 6-8 verses for this teaching) Let's face it: starting well is relatively easy. Finishing well is a different matter! Starting that new diet or exercise program is kind of fun, but hanging in over the long haul is the real test. Getting married is exciting and relatively easy. Staying married through struggles, adjustments, and trials is not always an easy matter. The same is true of the Christian life. Becoming a Christian is relatively easy: acknowledge to God that you are a sinner and receive by faith the free gift of eternal life that Christ provided by His shed blood. You cannot work for salvation nor do anything to qualify for it. God gives it freely to all that recognize their need and trust in Christ alone. But then comes the hard part—hanging in there as a Christian in a world that is hostile towards God and His people. The world constantly dangles in front of you all that it has to offer in opposition to the things of God. From within, the flesh entices you to forsake Christ and gratify your sinful desires. The enemy hits you with temptation after temptation. The real test of your faith is, will you endure? Genuine faith in Christ perseveres to the finish line. The Christian life is a marathon, not a 100-yard dash. Since finishing a marathon well is not easy, when you see a man who sprints across the finish line, you ought to try to find out his secret. The apostle Paul was such a man. It's as if he has crossed the finish line with energy to spare. He jogs back to where Timothy seems to be losing steam and exhorts him to keep running well. In the Bible, it is clear that Paul is looking death in the face. His words must have caused Timothy to burst into tears when he first read them. And, these words must have sobered Timothy with the reality that Paul had handed off the baton to him. Now, he had to finish well. Paul's words are not those of a discouraged, broken old man. There is no despair, no defeat, no cynicism, and no fear as he faces imminent execution. His calm assurance is all the more startling when you consider his circumstances. He was in the Mamertine Prison in Rome. Even the worst of our prisons today would be like the Hilton in comparison to the Mamertine. Paul's cell was a dark, damp dungeon, reached only by a rope or ladder from a hole in the floor above. He had no windows, no lights, no toilet, no furniture, and no running water. As Paul sat on the hard floor in the cold darkness, enduring the stench of his own urine and excrement, the circumstances outside were not encouraging. Many seemed to be turning away from the aged apostle, and even from the faith, following false teachers. Paul had labored for the past thirty years or more to preach the gospel around the Roman Empire, but at this point, it was at best a tiny sect, scattered here and there. Paul was not the world-famous apostle, appearing on TV talk shows, and autographing books, with invitations pouring in from around the world for him to speak. And yet, the man was clearly at rest, confident in the way he has spent his life, and calmly assured as he faces death by decapitation. What does the apostle have to teach us about finishing well? Note that verse 6 speaks about Paul's present: “I am.” Verse 7 refers to his past: “I have.” Verse 8 begins, “In the future…” To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present, the past, and the future. 1. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present (4:6). Three key words here will help us finish well: reproduction, sacrifice, and departure. A. REPRODUCTION: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE HAD REPRODUCED HIMSELF IN OTHERS. In the Greek text, verse 6 begins with the emphatic pronoun “I,” which contrasts with the “you” of verse 5, along with the connective “for.” The flow of thought is this: “Timothy, you preach the Word even in the face of opposition because I am about to die. I'm handing you the torch to carry!” Dying is easier when you know that you're leaving behind a number of people who can carry on with Christ because of your influence. Each of us needs to ask ourselves, “Am I working on that task?” I am talking about obeying Jesus' Great Commission, to make disciples of others. That Commission applies to every Christian at some level. If you know Christ as Savior and are walking with Him, then He calls you to make disciples of others. You can begin at home. Every Christian parent ought to be waging an all-out campaign to train up his or her children to know Christ and walk with Him. It doesn't happen by accident. It begins by setting the example: you must walk in reality with Jesus Christ if you want to impart that to your kids. Beyond that, dads, are you taking the time to read the Bible and pray with your family? Are you making sure that your family gathers with the Lord's people on the Lord's day for worship and teaching? Do you talk openly at home about spiritual things? Do you apply God's Word when there are tensions or trials on the home front? Beyond your immediate family, you ought to have a vision for reproducing yourself in the lives of others. Godly men should be handing off the faith to younger men in the faith (2 Tim. 2:2). Godly women should be training younger women in the things of God (Titus 2:3-5). When you're gone, there should be others who will carry on with Christ because of your influence. B. SACRIFICE: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE VIEWED HIS LIFE AS AN OFFERING TO GOD. Paul did not view his execution as a cruel tragedy or as unfair treatment in view of his many years of dedicated service. Rather, he saw it as the culminating offering of a sacrificial life. After the sacrificial lamb had been placed on the altar, and just before it was lit on fire, the priest poured out on it about a quart of wine (Num. 28:7). It was the final sacrifice poured out on the existing sacrifice. That was how Paul viewed his own death. His whole life had been a living sacrifice presented unto God. Now, his death would be the drink offering poured on top of that (Phil. 2:17). This means that to finish well, you need to view all of your life as an act of sacrificial worship to God. As Paul put it (Rom. 12:1), “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” You don't serve Christ in order to get praise and acclaim from others. You serve Christ as an act of worship towards Him. If others turn away from you or badmouth you (as they were doing toward Paul), or if your earthly reward for a lifetime of dedicated service is to get your head cut off, it's okay, because all of your life has been an offering to God. This also means that to finish well, you view yourself as expendable in God's service. Here is the great apostle to the Gentiles, the man who did more for the spread of the gospel than any other man in church history. His influence was incalculable. Yet he could finish well because he saw himself as expendable, a drink offering. In language similar to our text, Paul told the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:24), “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” If you have inflated notions of your own importance, you will not finish well. All of us should view ourselves and all of our service as a sacrificial offering to God. C. DEPARTURE: PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE VIEWED HIS IMPENDING DEATH AS A DEPARTURE. “The time of my departure has come” (4:6). In the Bible, death is never cessation of existence, but rather, a separation of the soul from the body. It is departure. The Greek word that Paul used was a vivid one. It was used to describe the unyoking of an animal from a plow or cart. Death means the end of our labors and toils in this life. It was also used for loosening the bonds of a prisoner. Death is a release from the bonds of this corruptible body. It was also used for loosening the ropes of a soldier's tent. This suggests that at death, the battle is over, victory is won, and we are headed home. The word was also used for loosening the mooring ropes of a ship. At death our earthly ship leaves the shores of this stormy earth and puts in at the always-calm port of heaven. (These examples are in William Barclay, The Letters to Timothy, Titus, and Philemon [Westminster Press], revised edition, p. 209.) If you have Paul's view of death as departure, you will be able to finish without fear and even with anticipation, knowing that to depart and be with Christ is much better (Phil. 1:23). You will be able to say with him (Phil. 1:21), “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” So to finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the present: present ministry is reproduction; present life is a sacrifice to God; and, impending death is a departure to be with Christ. 2. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the past (4:7). Paul was able to look back on his past in Christ and say confidently that he had done well. He is not implying that there had not been mistakes or times of discouragement—of course there had been. But through all of the problems and trials, Paul had stayed in the race. He could say, “I've done what God called me to do!” To be able to join Paul in saying that at the end of our lives, we must be able to make his three statements in verse 7: A. “I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT” (4:7A). When you come to the end of your life, will you be able to look back and say, “I have been involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ”? Paul is using an athletic metaphor, either of a wrestling match or a race. It conveys that the Christian life is not a Sunday School picnic, but rather, a struggle against the forces of evil. It is not just any fight, but the good fight, the fight of the gospel of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Can you say, “I am currently involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ?” Let me help you answer that question. You cannot say so if you are living primarily for your own comfort and affluence, spending your time and money on your pursuit of the American dream. You may attend church every week. You may profess to know Christ as your Savior. But if your purpose in life is to be as comfortable and affluent as you can be, then you are not seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. You're not involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ. If, on the other hand, you live for the purpose of building up the body of Christ and extending His kingdom through your labors, your time, and your money, in accordance with the gifts and opportunities that God has given you, then you are involved in that struggle. What a fulfilling thing when it comes time to die, to look back on your past and be able to say, “I've been involved in that great struggle for the cause of Christ!” B. “I HAVE FINISHED THE COURSE” (4:7B). “I have not dropped out of the race.” Paul is referring to a long race. The word “marathon” comes from a geographic place where a decisive battle took place between Greece and Persia in 490 B.C. If the Persians had won, world history would have been much different. The glories of ancient Greece would not have happened. The legend is that after the battle, a Greek soldier ran the distance from Marathon to Athens (21-25 miles, depending on his route) with the news of the victory, and then fell dead. Based on that legend, the modern marathon race began between Marathon and Athens in the 1896 Olympics, and was lengthened to the present 26.2 miles in the 1908 Olympics. We all know those who began the Christian life with a flourish of activity and enthusiasm. Maybe they even went into full-time ministry. But when trials and disappointments hit, they dropped out. Sometimes, we need to take a break from serving to be refreshed and renewed. But then we need to get back in the race. Of course, we never should take a break from walking with the Lord. I've never ran a marathon, but I know that there's no such thing as an easy marathon. We need to get out of our heads that the Christian life is all glory and effortless bliss. There is joy, but there also are many trials that require endurance (Acts 14:22). So make up your mind to hang in with the Lord through the tough times, so that you can look back at the end and say with Paul, “I have finished the course.” C. “I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH” (4:7C). “I have guarded the truth about Christ.” Several times in these letters to Timothy, Paul has talked about “the deposit” that Timothy is to guard (1 Tim. 6:20; 2 Tim. 1:12, 14). He was referring to the truth of the gospel, the core doctrines of the Christian faith. When Paul says that he has kept the faith, he means that he has carefully guarded the truth about Jesus Christ that God had entrusted to him. He had not bought into any of the many errors about Christ that were circulating in his day. His life and his teaching had held to sound doctrine. You can't keep a faith that you are unclear about. To be able to look back on your life and echo Paul's words, “I have kept the faith,” you need to be clear on the essentials of that faith. It is just as much under attack in our day as it was in Paul's day. So sink down some roots in sound doctrine. Know what you believe so that you are not tossed around by all of the winds of false doctrine. Thus Paul could finish well because he could look at his present: he saw his present ministry as reproduction, his present life as a sacrifice, and his impending death as departure. He could look at his past: he saw that he had been involved in the struggle for the cause of Christ, he had not dropped out of the race, and he had guarded the truth of the gospel. But he also looked to the future: 3. To finish well, keep in focus Paul's view of the future (4:8). Paul could finish well in spite of his dismal circumstances because he had secure hope for the future. There are two aspects of Paul's future hope: A. PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE HOPED TO MEET THE LORD, THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE. You may think that that sounds more like dread than hope! While there ought to be an element of awe and fear when we think of standing before the Lord, the prevailing emotion that we should have is expectant hope. The world, if they even think about standing before the righteous Judge, should be filled with dread. But Christians should love His appearing. Here's why: Paul wrote (Rom. 8:1), “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Jesus said (John 5:24) that the one who believes in Him “does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” Salvation is God's free gift given by His grace apart from any merit on our part. If your trust is in Jesus Christ as Savior, you do not need to fear the final judgment. The reason that you will not be condemned on judgment day is not because you have earned it by being a good person. Rather, it is that by His death on the cross, Jesus Christ satisfied God's perfect righteousness. When you trusted in Him, God imputed Christ's righteousness to your account (Rom. 3:21-26). That hope of meeting the Lord, the righteous Judge, who will welcome us into heaven on the basis of His perfect righteousness, should help us now to run the race with endurance. B. PAUL COULD FINISH WELL BECAUSE HE LIVED IN VIEW OF THAT DAY. It is difficult to interpret what Paul means by “the crown of righteousness.” Is this a special reward given only to some believers who have lived especially righteous lives, but not to all? Or, is it the reward of eternal righteousness, given to all believers, who have already been justified by faith? In favor of the view that it is a special reward is that the word “crown” refers to the wreath that was given to the victor in the games. Not all received this crown, but only those who won (1 Cor. 9:24-25; 2 Tim. 2:5). The Bible teaches that while salvation is a free gift, God will reward us on the basis of our service for Him (Rom. 14:10; 2 Cor. 5:10), and these rewards will differ among believers. Some will have their works burned up, because they were not founded upon Christ, but they will be saved yet so as through fire. Others will receive a reward for their works (1 Cor.3: 10-15). In favor of the view that the crown of righteousness is given to all believers is that the phrase, “all who have loved His appearing,” seems to be a description of all believers. In this sense, it would be parallel to the crown of life that is given to all who love Christ (James 1:12). If Christ has saved you by shedding His blood for your sins, you long for the day when you will see Him. Perhaps Paul's meaning here is simply that even though his earthly judge (the evil Nero) had wrongly condemned him, he knew that the righteous Judge would vindicate him when he stood before Him. This is the third time that Paul has used “that day” in this letter (1:12, 18). Clearly, he lived in view of that day, when he would stand before Christ. So should we. The fact that we will stand before the Lord, the righteous Judge, on that day should motivate us to live righteously on this day. I read of a journalist who was in charge of the obituaries. One day when he didn't have any deaths to record, he put a sheet of blank paper in his typewriter and wrote his own name at the top. He then found himself writing his own obituary: “I have been a good husband and a fine father. I have contributed to a number of worthy causes. I have left a reputation of absolute integrity. My friends are many.” By the time he had finished the page, he had already committed himself to the task of living up to his own obituary (told by Robert Mounce, Pass it On [Regal Books], p. 153). Conclusion Perhaps your circumstances seem pretty dismal today. Maybe you're considering dropping out of the Christian race. From his dungeon, the aged apostle calls out to you: “Don't quit! Keep going! You can finish well! “Keep in focus my view of the present: You can reproduce yourself in others to carry the torch after you. View your life as a sacrifice to God. Your death will be a departure to be with Christ. “Keep in focus my view of the past, so that one day it will be your past. You will be able to look back and say that you engaged in the struggle for the cause of Christ. You didn't drop out of the race! You guarded the truth of the gospel. “Keep in focus my view of the future. Soon you will stand before the Lord, the righteous Judge, vindicated by His grace. Live in view of that day!” If you live with Paul's focus, you will finish well!

There is only one offensive tool that God has given us in our fight against our flesh and His enemies, the truth. It is not only the foundation of a godly life, but it is also the means that God has given us to push back against the threats of cultural pressure and false teachers who prey on the people of God. In this lesson, Pastor Philip Jackson teaches on the application of truth in the life of the church and the importance of scriptural leadership for God's people. Get Connected! https://linktr.ee/reachtulsa

Titus 3 (1) Kindness is contagious (2) Kindness is attractive (3) Kindness is Christ-like

Three reminders of how to relate to a hostile world. Pastor Lloyd Murphy.

Churches are led by pastors, elders, and deacons. But what do they do? In this episode, we discuss each of these leadership roles in the church. JOIN the NEWSLETTER SUPPORT Binmin with a tax-deductible gift HERE 0:00 – INTRODUCTIONS 3:00 - HOW THE DIFFERENT CHURCH LEADERSHIP ROLES EVOLVED 2 leadership roles: elders (Acts 14:23) & deacons (Acts 6) 4:35 - DUTIES OF AN ELDER “Elder,” “Pastor,” “Overseer,” or “Shepherd” are interchangeable titles Elders are under-shepherds to the Shepherd Jesus (1 Pet. 5:1-4) Elders are the highest office in the church 6:40 - ELDERS OR SHEPHERDS NEED TO LEAD, FEED & PROTECT THE CHURCH 7:00 - QUALIFICATIONS TO BECOME AN ELDER (1 Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9) Elders must live godly lives (1 Pet. 5:3) & have an intimate relationship with God (Titus 2:7) 7:50 - AN ELDER MUST BE: Self-controlled, Able to teach & defend the gospel, Not greedy, Have integrity & good leadership over his family 8:30 - CHURCH MEMBERS SHOULD HONOR & OBEY ELDERS 9:50 - A PASTOR IS A PAID ELDER AT THE CHURCH, PREACHES, AND LEADS MINISTRIES 12:03 - QUALIFICATIONS FOR PASTOR Same as elders. Some teach more. Some churches require pastors to have a bachelor's or master's degree 12:40 - ROLE OF THE “LEAD” PASTOR 14:00 - ADDITIONAL PASTORS HELP LEAD THE MINISTRY 14:15 - WHAT IS A DEACON? Deacon means “to serve" and is “Assistant to the Elder.” The first group of deacons were established in Acts 6:1-6 15:10 - QUALIFICATIONS OF DEACON (1 TIM 3:8-13) Not greedy, sober-minded, faithful to their wife & family 15:35 - DEACONS UNLIKE ELDERS: Can be younger in the faith Do not need to teach or defend Scripture in same ways 16:15 - DEACONS ROLE IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH Humbly serve the elders. Tend to practical & logistical church needs 17:20 - SO WHAT? UNDERSTAND THE ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITIES THESE LEADERS CARRY. 18:42 - “WHAT'S YOUR NEXT STEP?”: PRAY FOR YOUR LEADERS Get a list of your pastors, elders, & deacons: Pick two & pray for them this week! Email them to thank them for leading & ask how you can pray for them! 19:35 - THANK YOU & WRAP UP For more info about Binmin & more resources for your spiritual life, visit www.Binmin.org CONNECT WITH THE BINMIN TEAM Instagram: Binmin Instagram Linkedin: Binmin Linkedin Twitter: Binmin Twitter Ask Questions: info@binmin.org PODCAST RESOURCES More from Binmin: Binmin.org Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Subscribe on AnchorFM Subscribe on YouTube PLEASE CONSIDER LEAVING A REVIEW If this podcast is helping you make your spiritual life more important to you, help share it by leaving an Apple podcast review in the “Ratings & Reviews” section at the bottom of the podcast's page. Thank you for sharing!

Holding fast to sound doctrine, while protecting it, preaching it and reminding God's people of it, will produce godliness in the lives of God's people.

In this sermon, Pastor Mike introduces us to Titus and teaches us what it looks like to live a Godly life.

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to The Kingdom Perspective. Titus was young pastor that the Apostle Paul had stationed on the First century island of Crete. Crete was a place of many challenges because of the unsavoriness of its public life. The people of Crete were known for their self-indulgence, arrogance and deception. Paul cites one of the Cretan writers who describes his own people: “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons” (Titus 1:12). It was a society marked by what we might call “truth decay”. Not tooth decay, but “truth decay”. First century Crete, you could say, was a lot like our modern America. How can a Christian operate in a society like this? Well, because of the nature and power of the Gospel, the Christian does not need the support of a surrounding society in order to be cheered on to greater levels of truth and justice. No. Society doesn't bring this support to the Gospel and to the church. The Gospel and the church bring this support to society. Though the world may be reactionary, we need not be. In the face of such “truth decay”, Pastor Titus is called to encourage his people to live lives marked by self-control, sensibility, love, perseverance in good works, family faithfulness, reverent speech, purity, etc. In other words, the gospel allows us not to be thermometers of society, but thermostats—to set the temperature of social engagement not to be set by it. We must seek to adjust the social climate not acquiescing to it. The Gospel works this in us not so much by what it demands from us, but by what it did for us in Christ. It is the gospel of “Grace and peace from God” (Titus 1:4). Not what we do for Him but what He's done for us. And it is this grace that changes us, and it is this grace we are called to give to others. Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior; To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained…. For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” This testimony is true.” ~ Titus 1:1-5, 10-13