The Grace-Shaped Church
Troublemakers and Team-Members
Troublemakers and Team-Members – Titus chapter 3 verses 9 to 15 Troublemakers verses 9-12 Controversy is not wrong. Jesus Himself was very controversial, but about things that were vital for us humans to be restored to our proper relationship with God. The test: is this issue something important to help us know him better? Is it at the core of the Gospel? If not, it is a foolish controversy. The remedy? Warn someone who persists in foolish controversy. Warn them…
What Grace Does
What Grace Does Titus chapter 2, verses 11 to 12 “Why do I have to do …?” Kids often say it. Adults too. Because God is concerned for our well-being, eternally. Grace, what is it? Merit is the almost universal answer, except for Biblical Christianity. There we find the way to reconciliation with God is all through what He has done, not the man-in-the-street’s “Just be good”. Grace saves us, verse 11 Grace trains us, verses 12 to 14 Grace…
A Grace Shaped Community
Titus chapter 2, verses 1 to 10, Grace shaping the church into a Grace-Shaped Community. A Christian asked a Hindu what he thought of the church. He replied “Your Christ is beautiful, glorious, but your church is despicable.” SAdly it is often true, and the church little different from the world. Three things:- God’s Word is to be the foundation. Honouring God before the world is to be the motivation. Learning to encourage other is to be the application.
Guarding against what is false
What to do about false teachers: Titus chapter 1, verses 10-16 Little Red Riding Hood teaches us to beware of appearances – a wolf can appear in Grandma’s clothes! Paul’s strategy for Crete – that the Cretan believers be in the Cretan society, but not like it. Salt and light: lives showing the grace of the Gospel. Church leaders are to Silence false teachers by teaching the truth, verses 10-11 Encourage sound teaching and godly living, verses 12-14 Understand how…
Leadership Shaped By Grace
Titus chapter 1, verses 5-9 What should leadership in the church look like in our culture? Leadership – Personal character and conduct. Titus 1:5-8 Leadership – Personal conviction and courage. Titus 1:9
Why Do Grace and Truth Matter?
Titus chapter 1, verses 1 to 4 Christ-centred living in a self-centred world. Why do Grace and Truth Matter? The Messenger of God; verse1 The Message of God verses; 1-4
The Grace Shaped Church
Titus chapter 1 A world of change. Faith in Jesus is in the margins. “I can live without God” is the common ethos. Information When? Where? How? Titus on Crete as the man of God. Cretans were in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, when when Peter preached the first Christian sermon to thousands. Now some hear Paul describing what someone said of the Cretan character, and say “Yes, that’s what we were like!” Real people, real place, in real…