Follow These Instructions Series

Follow These Instructions

Reading: Titus chapter 3 verses 12-15

• The apostle Paul was a great friend-maker,

• There are more than 100 different Christians (named and un-named);

• Associated with Paul in the Book of Acts and in his letters.

• ill: Romans chapter 16 he names 26 different friends alone!

• Paul enjoyed Team Ministry (working with others):

• Obviously you can achieve far more as a team,

• Than you can as an individual.

• ill: One local school that I visit to take their assembly;

• Have the acrostic T.E.A.M.in their school hall.

• T.E.A.M. = Together We Can Achieve More.

ill:

Cartoon - It was a picture of two rowing boats:

• One had a man wearing a dog collar, in his hands was a punting pole,

• Also in the boat were rows and rows of people cheering him on.

• In the other boat, the man wearing the dog collar had in his hands a megaphone,

• He was urging on all the others, who were there as rowers and not passengers.

• This boat was obviously flying past the other one.

• The cartoon punch line said: “Which church is yours?”

If you are a Christian:

• Then you are expected to be part of the crew,

• God calls us all to be active members of the local Church and not just passengers.

ill:

There are 560 members in our church

But 100 are frail and elderly

That leaves 460 to do all the work

But 74 are young people at college

That leaves 386 to do all the work

But 150 are tired businessmen

So that leaves 236 to do all the work

And 150 are housewives with children

That leaves 86

A further 46 have other important interests

That leaves 40 to do all the work

But 15 live too far away to come regularly

So that leaves 25 to do all the work

And 23 say they have done their bit.

So that leaves you and me

And I’m exhausted - Good luck to you!

For a local church to function properly:

• We need to function as a team and work together;

• The old fashioned theological term for this was:

• ‘The Priesthood of Believers’ or ‘Every member ministry’.

In his closing remarks the apostle Paul emphasises a few things:

(1). Being together (vs 12).

“As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there”.

• The apostle Paul names two men in verse 12:

• ‘Artemas’ and ‘Tychicus’.

(A). ARTICHUS.

• We don’t know anything about Artichus beside his name;

• His pedigree, credentials and talents are buried in antiquity.

• ill: Like a meteor in the night sky;

• Artichus appeared and vanished.

• Artichus is a good example of those faithful believers who serve God,

• But whose deeds are not announced for the whole world to know.

Ill:

• Leonard Bernstein, the late conductor of the New York Philharmonic orchestra,

• Was once asked to name the most difficult instrument to play.

• Without hesitation, he replied,

• “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists,

• But to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that’s a problem.

• And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony.”

• The apostle Paul had harmony on his team because of people like Artichus!

• Those who may go unnoticed to the majority of people but who play a major role.

• Artichus as a fellow worker with Paul and a comfort to Paul,

• And that is all we know about him.

• But the Lord has kept a faithful record of this man’s life and ministry,

• And will reward him accordingly.

Ill:

• In the human body;

• It is often the hidden organs i.e. heart, kidneys, liver etc. that are most important.

(B). TYCHICUS:

• In contrast to Artichus who we know nothing about except his name;

• Tychicus is mentioned five times;

• (Acts 20:4; Colossians 4:7; Ephesians 6:21; 2 Timothy 4:12; Titus 3:12).

e.g.

• In Acts chapter 20 verse 4:

• We are told that Tychicus was from the Roman province of Asia

• The Western text indicates that he was an Ephesian.

e.g.

• In Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21:

• Paul calls Tychicus a "dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord",

e.g.

• While in Colossians chapter 4 verse 17:

• Paul calls Tychicus "a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord."

e.g.

• In both Ephesians and Colossians,

• The apostle Paul indicates;

• That he is sending Tychicus to the Christians in those places,

• In order to encourage them.