Reggie concludes our study in Titus with a look at what types of discussions and debates are beneficial to the church family, and what types of actions are profitable for a life that brings glory to God.
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This study in Titus focuses on living in this world in light of the mercy and grace found in Jesus Christ.
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Tom continues our study of Titus with an examination of grace and its intended effects on the life of a believer.
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The continuation of last week’s topic: how healthy doctrine affects younger men and members of the church family who serve others.
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Tom continues The Church as a Family Affair with a look at how healthy doctrine affects older men, older women, and younger women in the church family.
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In-Depth features take you deeper on a particular subject — deeper than we have time to go on Sunday morning — as a supplement to our current series.
Paul instructs Titus to equip the elders to recognize and expose deceptive teachers. These deceptive teachers promoted a Jewish type of legalism that became widespread in the first Century. The presence of the “circumcision” (Jewish Christians who insisted on Gentiles being circumcised and complying with other Jewish practices in order to grow spiritually) caused Paul great concern for the spiritual health of the Christians in Crete.
Legalism promotes a system that requires a person to conform their behavior to a set of standards in order to gain or keep God’s favor. Legalism engenders pride in people. Legalism embraces the idea that a person can only be accepted by God based on his or her goodness or obedience.
However, Paul taught that God accepts us and embraces us, not because of our “righteous behavior”, but because of His love and grace. He gives us a relationship with Him that we do not deserve and could never earn.
When legalism infects the life of a believer or a church, it creates an unhealthy atmosphere. It leads to spiritual arrogance and sinful comparison.
In the first service yesterday (January 17, 2010) I used an illustration by Matt Chandler that I inadvertently left out in the second service. Matt Chandler pastors the Village Church and he demonstrates the difference between how a legalistic preacher views God’s acceptance verses how Christ embraces sinners. The illustration is called “The Rose”.
As a freshman in college, Matt wanted to help bring people to Christ. He developed a friendship with a 26 year-old woman who was divorced and had a child. She had returned to college to get her degree.
One night he invited her to church to hear his friend sing. After the music, the preacher got up and announced that he was going to talk about sex. The preacher had a rose that he smelled and then passed it out among the 1000+ people, mostly high school and college age and told them to smell and touch the rose. He then began a stern message on the dangers of premarital sex and extramarital sex, using legalistic tactics based on fear. Finally, he asked for his rose back.
When the preacher got the rose back, the stem was broken, the petals were crushed and the rose looked pathetic. He then likened this kind of sin to this broken rose and asked, “Who would want this rose? Who wants this rose?” Matt was stunned — Jesus wants the rose!
Christ came to embrace the broken roses of the world and give each of us life in Himself on the basis of his grace. That is how he dealt with the woman caught in adultery and how he offered eternal life to the woman at the well. And that is how He accepts you and me.
He did not make us He make comply to a legalistic system to gain His favor. He died for our sins and rose from the grave on the third day. He offers eternal life to anyone who will believe that when He died and rose again, He did that for them. We only have to believe in Him as Savior and receive from Him the gift of eternal life. Then, we pursue our walk with Him based on trusting the indwelling Holy Spirit to produce in us His qualities and to empower us to obey Him.
Reggie presents the next part of The Church as a Family Affair with a critical look at deceptive teachers, legalism, and the threat they pose to the church.
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Tom continues our new series in Titus, The Church as a Family Affair, with a look at the qualifications for church elders.
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In-Depth features take you deeper on a particular subject — deeper than we have time to go on Sunday morning — as a supplement to our current series.
We studied Titus 1:5-9 this week, and you may like a closer look at the marriage requirements for a church elder. The attached document is authored by Dr. Robert L. Saucy, Professor of Systematic Theology at Talbot Theological Seminary.
The Husband of One Wife – Download PDF
Source: Bibliotheca Sacra
This Sunday, Tom continues our new study in Titus with a look at the qualifications for elders within the church.
Our complete spring schedule is now available online or in the Main Hall. In it you’ll find many options ranging from small group studies to programs designed you to equip you for ministry.
These include the Tuesday Women’s Study Breaking Free by Beth Moore (beginning January 26), and the Wednesday night marriage study Love and Respect (beginning January 13).
Quest is a six-week expedition designed to help you discover God’s unique purpose and plan for your life. It begins at the end of January and is offered on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Sign up in the Main Hall.
There is also a SAM’s Movie Night coming up on January 19.
