Back to the Beginning of the Story

REFLECTION QUOTES

“If churches are to be healthy, then pastors and teachers must be committed to discovering the meaning of Scripture and allowing that meaning to drive the agenda with their congregations.”

~Thabiti M. Anyabwile in his book What Is a Healthy Church Member?

“[K]now, at the end of the day, following Jesus is not necessarily designed to be safe. Safety is a natural desire but it can keep us from being like Jesus in the midst of an unsafe world.”

~The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon

“For the church is not a human society of people united by their natural affinities but the Body of Christ, in which all members, however different, (and He rejoices in their differences and by no means wishes to iron them out) must share the common life, complementing and helping one another precisely by their differences.”

“The Church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, sermons, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time. God became Man for no other purpose.”

~C. S. Lewis (1898-1963), writer and Oxford professor

“The day we find the perfect church, it becomes imperfect the moment we join it.”

~Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892), famed London preacher

“Wherever we see the Word of God purely preached and heard, there a church of God exists, even if it swarms with many faults.”

~John Calvin (1509-1564), leader of the Protestant Reformation in Geneva

“Jesus had the guilty in mind when He hung high and stretched out wide…. He, bare-bodied and face set on joy, became as a slaughtered lamb underneath the wrath of God… Didn’t He know that wrath was mine? It even had my name on it. But He knew… Without asking my permission, a good God had come to my rescue.”

~Jackie Hill Perry, writer, poet and hip hop artist

SERMON PASSAGE

Selected Passages from Titus 1-3 (NIV)

Titus 1

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you…. 9 so that [the elders] can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

10 For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception…. 12 One of Crete’s own prophets has said it: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This saying is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith…. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

Titus 2

1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance…. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us….

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good….

Titus 3

1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy…. 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.

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless….

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.