Mission Hills Church
We all want to be "good" people; good parents, good friends, good husbands and wives, good citizens. But what does it really mean to be "good"...and how do we get there? Join us for a life-changing study of the book of Titus and find God's heart for the good life.
How we respond to authority tells us a lot about what version of the good life we’re pursuing.
We're going to see four things today:
1. How we’re supposed to respond to authority in our lives
2. Why it matters how we respond to authority in our lives.
3. Why it’s so hard to respond to authority the way God calls us to.
4. How we can respond better to authority in our lives.
Titus 3:1 NIV
Who has authority over me?
Put their demands over our desires.
Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, [so that you can] be ready to do good (Tit 3:1).
Submit to authority so you can stay on-mission.
Titus 3:2 NIV
Our attitude towards authority models for others how we want them to respond to God.
Am I modeling an attitude towards earthly authority that sets the stage for people to submit to God’s authority?
Two things that might be helpful:
1. Talk less about them less..
2. Come up with a “but at least…” statement to use when you mess up.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures (Titus 3:3a)
The main reason it’s so hard to submit to authority is because we’re selfish.
We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3b)
The more we’re driven by personal desires, the more we experience interpersonal conflict.
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. (Titus 3:4-5a)
God didn’t just save us from our sin…He saved us from ourselves.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5b-7)
If you’re no longer a slave to selfishness, why are you still obeying it by your attitude towards authority?
Two reasons:
1. We're surrounded by bad examples.
2. Old habits die hard.
Titus 3:8 NIV
How we respond to authorities either helps our hinders our mission as followers of Jesus.
1. What authority in my life is it hardest for me to have a good attitude towards?
2. What can I do to improve that attitude for the sake of the gospel?
3. What role does my own selfishness play in the conflicts I’m having in my life?