the Book of Titus: 921 words in total:
Summed up in 2: Do Good
Besides the general themes that Titus shares in common with the other two Pastoral Epistles (1 & 2 Timothy), Titus gives a fine concise summary of how a believer should live out the doctrine of grace with godliness and good works.

“DO GOOD”
ch 1: within yourself (character matters – who you are becoming)
ch 2: within your relationships
ch 3: within your scope of influence in the world

All throughout this letter He is calling on Titus to remind the people of Crete of the transformative power of Christ. And to remind them of the responsibilities that come with this new life.

Luckily for us – we’ve advanced beyond political & faith tension in our day :)

Christians may understand obedience to the government in different ways; All Christians agree that we are to live at peace with the state as long as the state allows us to live by our religious convictions.

Believers must be responsible citizens, as well as responsible Christians.
But above all we must remember our true citizenship. According to Philippians 3:20, we are actually citizens of heaven rather than of the United States of America. In 1 Peter 1:1, 17 and 2:11, we are called strangers and sojourners (or tourists and resident aliens) of our own nations on earth.

We can be proud of our country of origin – but we’re to be citizens of heaven first! Nationalism is to never rise above our allegiance to the kingdom of God.

Paul looks backwards and says, “At one time WE too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures…”

Our first reaction to this is to maybe feel offended. “I’m not that bad.” We tend to think in comparison mode’ – "I’m not as bad as “so-and-so”".

Then it dawns on me that the man who wrote this includes himself in the description.

When this man writes, he’s looking upon a life that didn’t look so bad on the surface. Paul probably had memorized almost all the Old Testament and lived a very righteous way of life. But there came a moment when he lifted up the rug – and looked under all the religiosity, all of the do-good stuff, and saw the condition of his real humanity—he saw foolishness and disobedience and self-deception.

REMINDER:
Jesus didn’t come to make bad people, good.
Jesus came to make ‘dead people’, alive.

But notice what Paul says in verse 4 -“But after that ...the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared...”

This means, in spite of who you are and what you have done, God loves you!

Everything that we received in salvation came through God’s sacrifice of His Son.

All those who have called on the name of Jesus are saved; we’ve been delivered from separation and from God’s condemnation.

Being good or Doing good isn’t what makes you right with God, but when you’re right with God – it always produces a life that does good!

We are to be people who continually have a focus on how we can ‘do good’ within our scope of influence. Every day we can and in Every way we can.

Quote:
Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.
-John Wesley

N.T. Wright (modern day theologian/scholar/author) talks about us (as followers of Jesus) have been sent as "ACTIVE AGENTS” into this world!

Active Agents sent to do God’s good in this world and point people back to the ONE who has saved us, sent us! When we said yes to Jesus – we were brought into relationship with Him; but we were also SENT into this world for Him.

You cannot follow Jesus and not live on mission.

Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, a prominent international relief organization. He tells the story of being called from his comfortable and lucrative position as CEO of a prestigious company to take the helm of a struggling non-profit that was focused on serving the neediest people in the world.

...he tells the story quite honestly in his book. Listen to what he writes:

“Being a Christian requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God. It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world. If your personal faith in Christ has no outward expression, then your faith has a hole in it.”

Jesus didn't say, "Follow me, and I'll take you to heaven." He said, "Follow me, and I will send you out into the world."

Live intentionally to do God’s good in this world. Always keep this on your radar as you live and go about your day.

HOW? (a simple way) Live alert to godly interruptions

Jesus was busy, but never hurried.
We live in a hurried world, that doesn’t have ‘time’ for interruptions
Most of the ministry you read about in Jesus’ life flowed out of God ordained interruptions - it’s where he was able to do good!

Quote:
Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special regard to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you.
-St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century

This month: pay attention to the ‘interruptions’ in your life – they may just be the best place & space for you to DO GOOD for God.

In Titus chapter 3, Paul stressed good works. Verse 1 says, “Be ready for every good work.” Verse 8 says, “Be careful to devote themselves to good works.” Verse 14 says, “Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good.”

While good works can’t save us or even increase God’s love for us, they are true indications of our faith and love for Christ.

Paul did not make this aspect of discipleship “optional.” Service to others is a requirement - an overflow of faith. Everyone who is a Christian is to be involved.

IF YOU'RE NEW:
We throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room. If you're new, we'd love to meet you and we have a small gift for you! We also want invite you back with us next Sunday at 5pm as we continue our series together.