My sermon notes from Sunday, December 11th as we continue our study through Titus. Remember, these are my study notes and not a manuscript of the sermon.  To see the sermon each week please visit http://www.fbcap.net.

Titus 1:9-16

Who are we?  We are the Church.

 

Dealing with issues, false teachings, and stuff within the church.

 

Titus 1:9-16

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.

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. 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.

 

Churches are not perfect because people are not perfect.  That is one reason that God has given us leadership within the church.  It is why their calling and character is so important.  God knows that when people are involved that there will be issues/things.  The key is how do we deal with it.  Thankfully, as always, God has a plan.

 

Remember the role of an elder/pastor

He loves, He feeds, He leads, He guides, He protects, He serves & cares

 

We must expect it – v. 10a (look for it)

• Attacks/Problems will come.  All churches face issues, problems (big and little)
• From the inside and the outside
• Matthew 24:4-5, 11
• 2 Peter 2:1-3

Matthew 24

⁴ And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

¹¹ And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

 

2 Peter 2:1-3

2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep

• If we are to expect it then we come to understand why the call for church leaders is so important (vv. 1 & 9) THERE IS A REASON FOR THE CALL….FOR HIS CHURCH.

 

• We are His, He loves His Church, He gave His life for His Church!!!!! ALL IN….FOR THE CHURCH

 

 

We must recognize it – v. 10b (see if for what it is. The seriousness of it

• Insubordinate – haters of authority. God’s authority.
  • Opposite of submit.  Rebellion is always against God.
• Empty talkers – no meat (of the work). Nothing.
• Deceivers – Liars, frauds. Ultimate goal of Satan…DECEPTION
• Hypocrites – mouth and the life do no match. (v. 16)

 

 

We must deal with it – vv. 11-16

 

• Christian differences. Things Christian can disagree with, but unity may still be at stake.
  • Theological/philosophical
• Confusion…Lack of information. Sometimes someone is wrong because they have never been taught.
• Sometimes someone is just wrong.  They are wrong and have no desire to change.

 

• Totally silenced – Stop them
  • Danger of spreading – yeast in the bread…Infection in the body
    • Entire families.  DO NOT LET IT CONTINUE.  FAR REACHING CONSEQUENCES

 

• Sharply rebuke them – directly, no beating around the bush.
  • Correct them (the Bible is the truth…standard)
  • So that they may see the truth.

 

2 Tim. 4:1-5

Preach the Word

 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

 

1. Reprove – expose,
2. Rebuke – criticize sharply
3. Exhort – encourage
4. With patience. Speak the truth with a heart of love.  Bold yet compassionate.