The Transforming Appearance

REFLECTION QUOTES

“Despite the frequent claim that we are living in a secular age defined by the death of God, many citizens in rich Western democracies have merely switched one notion of God for another —abandoning their singular, omnipotent (Christian or Judaic or whatever) deity reigning over all humankind and replacing it with a weak but all-pervasive idea of spirituality tied to a personal ethic of authenticity and a liturgy of inwardness…. At the heart of the ethic of authenticity is a profound selfishness and callous disregard of others.”
~Simon Critchley and Jamieson Webster in The New York Times

“It is not a question of whether we worship, but what we worship.”
~James K.A. Smith, Canadian-American philosopher

“You can never get enough of what you don’t need to make you happy.”
~Eric Hoffer (1902-1983), social philosopher

“It is well said, then, that it is by doing just acts that the just man is produced, and by doing temperate acts the temperate man…But most people do not do these, but take refuge in [mere] theory…, behaving somewhat like patients who listen attentively to their doctors, but do none of the things they are ordered to do.As the latter will not be made well in body by such a course of treatment, the former will not be made well in soul by such a course of philosophy.”
~Aristotle (384 BC-322 BC), ancient Greek philosopher

“Such is the grasping power of the human heart, that it must have something to lay hold of—and which, if wrested away without the substitution of another something in its place, would leave a vacancy as painful to the mind as hunger is to the natural system.”

“…in the gospel do we so behold God as that we may love God. It is there, and there only, where God stands revealed as an object of confidence to sinners—and where our desire after Him is not chilled into apathy by that barrier of human guilt…”
~Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), Scottish minister and professor

SERMON PASSAGE

Titus 2:11-3:8 (NASB)

Titus 2

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Titus 3

1 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. 3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.