A Model To Follow Series

a model to follow

Titus 1:5-9

INTRODUCTION

In 2003, two very interesting quotes were in the newspapers. Parents had been poled and ask who they thought the most influential role models were in the lives of their preteen sons. Who was it bad boy Bart was named the top role model. Parents of children under 12 were asked which made-up character had the most influence on their kids. And spiky-haired Bart came out on top, with 37% of parents reckoning that their children looked up to Bart.

Also in 2003 a rising pop start was attracting a lot of attention, and parents were concerned as they saw their daughters emulating her. So this disclaimer appeared in the press. Brittney Spears the pop princess told British audiences that parents should not fear if their kids emulate her.

T.S. Everyone has Models. Each of us follows the examples of others. And role models had a huge impact upon society. The Apostle Paul understood this. That¡¦s why when he was challenging Titus to address the issue of the spiritual formation of the Christians on Crete, he instructed him to appoint the right type of models.

T.S. Turn with me to. . .

Titus 1:5-9

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished (the things that are wanting you might set in order) and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless-not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

UNDERSTANDING THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THEIR ROLE, WE NEED TO RAISE UP MENTORS OF INTEGRITY.

The first steps in building lives of integrity,

Recognize the Need for Mentors

(Elders, Overseers)

(We associate them with Church Leadership, Paul was seeing something more)

Things were left undone.

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished (the things that are wanting you might set in order) and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Just knowing the Forgiver wasn¡¦t the end of the mission.

Ill: Imagine building a house but never seeing it through to the end. Oh you might get it finished enough that it looks like a house, but instead of finishing the work the house remains undone for years until it becomes an eyesore.

Intentional discipling was needed

Titus was expected to take a direct role in addressing the needs in Crete. (Straighten Out) to straighten further, i.e. (figuratively) arrange additionally:

The scope was larger

This was a reproducible pattern, not just a fix of one place.

Programs are great, but limited toe one place. Strategies can be universally applied.

Churches, when they think of discipleship often think about starting programs, but what worked in one place might not work in another.

A church in an urban center runs an afterschool nursery program where young teenage mothers are taught how to cook, bake, sew, pay bills. The also have a Bible study together and pray for one another. It¡¦s a huge. Hundreds of women are ministering to young women. We should start an afterschool program for unwed mothers right? BUT they are mentoring young women on what it means to be Godly mothers should we? YES

Promise Keepers Men meeting to hold each other accountable

MOPS Women encouraging and support young mothers

Wednesday Prayer Meeting Meeting with others to pray

Senior Lunches Encouraging older believers to remain faithful and involved.

Sunday School, Bible Fellowship, House Churches Gathering together to study the word of God.

Programs serve the strategy. The strategies are timeless. Programs come and go. Usually there are a multitude of programs that can fit each strategy.

Appl: Have you every fallen in to the trap of making a program more important than the strategy?

T.S. The first steps in building lives of integrity,

1. Recognize the Traits of a Mentor

Paul just doesn¡¦t say pick anybody, because you can have the wrong type of person as a mentor.

Unhappy with a series of calls throughout the game, parents and fans in attendance at a Concord, N.H., little league baseball game last Wednesday expressed their displeasure with the umpires by showering them with vulgarities, threatening them and confronting them face-to-face after the game, FOX affiliate WFXT-TV reported.