Lessons From Titus
Titus 1:9, 2:1-11 (10/26/17)
October 26, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* Paul taught Titus the qualifications for spiritual leaders: * 1) They hold fast to the Scripture. * They have a death grip on Scripture like you would hold onto a pole against an 80mph wind. * 2) They can exhort in sound doctrine. * AND…… * 3) They can refute those who contradict it. * Titus 2:1-11 - this is what Titus was to teach the people.
Titus 1:15 (10/28/17)
October 26, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* The Cretan were liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons (vs 12). * In this verse Paul is talking about motive. * Here’s two ways to see this: * 1) When motive is pure then even a wrong action can be pure. * But you’ll still have to suffer the consequences. * Like a kid putting a fork in an outlet cuz he’s never been told not to - he’ll get shocked but he hasn’t sinned. * But a kid who knows it’s wrong and does it anyway, he’ll not only get shocked but he’s also sinned. * 2) When a motive is impure then even a right action is impure. * A person inviting you to lunch to manipulate you for money - this is impure. * Think about Jesus and a person with leprosy. * The leper is impure, but Jesus is pure. * When Jesus touched the leper He didn’t become impure - the leper became pure. * Likewise, a pure motive springing from a love for Christ makes all things pure. * You can go into a bar with the motive to get people out and that impurity won’t touch you. * But if you go in with a motive to just hang out you’ll find yourself impure. * What’s your motive?
Titus 2 (10/31/13)
October 31, 2013 • Benham Brothers
He mentions four groups of people To all four he encourages them to be self-controlled Psalm 119:9-11 - Purity Matt 5:8 - "Blessed are the pure in heart......" We all want VISION Vision is two-fold: 1) We want God's vision, not ours 2) We get God's vision by PURITY Only pure water can nourish Ps 119:72 - when you "see" God by being pure you now hold His Word more precious than riches!
Titus 2:9-10 (10/28/16)
October 28, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Today we hear many pastors talk about making the gospel attractive. • But this typically leads to a focus on relevance and not reverence. • We begin to focus on the BAIT (message) instead of the FISHERMAN (man). • We attract with a lure (fake food) instead of light (the real deal). • Paul’s focus was on the person, not the message. • If the person (slave) operated under authority (servant) it would make the message attractive. • The way we become attractive is by serving people out of love - we are the real-deal. • Attractiveness is a by-product of that. • We don’t have to try to be attractive - it will happen automatically.
Titus 3:4-5 (10/25/18)
October 25, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Notice the two keys Paul lays out as to how Jesus saves us: * 1) Regeneration - this is being born again. * When we surrender to Jesus we are “regenerated” into God’s kids. * Our spirits come alive and we become brand new people. * This is justification - God looks at us “just as if” we never sinned. * 2) Renewal - this is where our minds catch up with our new identities. * We replace the lies of the devil with the truth of God’s Word. * It’s when we allow our reborn spirits to lead our souls (mind, will, emotions). * This is sanctification - we become more like Jesus every day. * Salvation isn’t just a one time event - it’s also a process whereby we grow in our understanding of who we are as saved people.
Titus 3:14 (11/2/22)
November 2, 2022 • Benham Brothers • Titus 3:14
* Paul is telling his protege, Titus, to teach people that they are saved in order to do good. * It’s not enough to just “not sin” - you have to be productive. * Vs 8 - “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.” * Then he describes what doing good looks like. * Vs 14 - “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.” * Doing good = being productive. * Being productive = helping others. * Be the producer who can provide for others’ urgent needs. * Don’t be the unproductive person who needs others to care for their needs. * God saved you to be a producer and not a consumer. * Producers think about what they can give. * Consumers think about what they can get. * In the military, you have to be strong enough for two people. * 1 Thessalonians 4:11 - “…you should mind your own business and work with your hands…so your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” * When you’re a producer, these things are true of you: * You’re not beholden to anyone. * You’re not a burden to anyone. * You can bless everyone. * Matthew Henry - “Let believers set up and maintain some honest labor and employment, to provide for themselves and their families, that they be not unprofitable burdens on the earth. Let them not think that Christianity gives them a writ of ease; no, it lays an obligation upon them to seek some honest work and calling, and therein to abide with God. This is of good report, will credit religion and be good to mankind; they will not be unprofitable members of the body, not burdensome and chargeable to others, but enabled to be helpful to those in want. To maintain good works for necessary uses; not living like drones on the labors of others, but themselves fruitful to the common benefit." * To be productive you have to begin with the end in mind. * Psalms 90:12 - “Teach us to number our days…” * Align your decisions today based on what you want to accomplish in the future.”