A Manner to Reflect
Titus 3:1-11
INTRODUCTION
Truth in Advertising is the concept that you should receive what has been advertised. These people seem to understand the principle.
Walmart – 2 for $3.00 Was $1.50
E Store – Where everything is $1 or more
Local store – Stuff for sale here
We all expect people to live up to the truth of advertising concerning their lives. When we have an idea of what a person claims to believe, we expect them to act a certain way.
For instance when you see these two pictures, which person to you expect to have more difficulty dealing with people? Which person do you expect to be more antisocial?
Paul understood this. Paul expected that followers of Jesus would reflect His image in their daily lives.
MENTORED PEOPLE CAN BE EXPECTED TO REFLECT A CHRIST LIKE MANNER IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
Titus 3:1-11
3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. NIV
1. Mentored People Season Society. 1-2
Paul clearly expects that people who are mentored will embody Christ’s teaching in Matthew 5:13.
Matt 5:13
13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. NIV
Jesus challenged his followers to be salt. Salt had two major purposes in Jesus Day. – to season or to preserve. Look how Paul expects followers of Christ to interact with society.
Titus 3:1-11
3:1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.
Preserve
Be subject
Be obedient
Season
Do what is good
Slander no one
Be peaceable.
Be considerate
Show humility
Paul believes that you should be able to expect followers to season their society.
2. Mentored People Live a Legacy. 3-8
Too often we think of a legacy as something we leave behind when we are finished on earth. I think Paul saw it a different way. He seems to think that a Legacy is lived not left behind.
A. Remembering what they were.
3 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
B. Understanding how they were changed
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying.
Appl: mentored people live a different way because they remember what they were like and how they have been changed. Are those two truths changing how you live right now?
3. Mentored People Major on Majors 8-11
Mentored people live lives that. . .
A. Stress the Great Rescue
And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
the kindness and love of God our Savior
he saved us
not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy.
through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit
so that we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Mentored people live lives that. . .
B. Avoid Sidetracks
Sidetrack
a: to turn aside from a purpose : deflect
b: to prevent action on by diversionary tactics
9 But avoid [stand above, shun] foolish controversies and genealogies [genealogies of aeons] and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.
Wordy fights about Mosaic and Pharisaic and Gnostic regulations.
Genealogies – Tripping point.
Genealogies were important to Jews,
2 Chronicles 31:19 -- As for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who lived on the farm lands around their towns or in any other towns, men were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among them and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of the Levites.
Fascinated by the detailed genealogies of aeons (higher spiritual beings) described by the Gnostics.
Appl: Our tripping points become wordy arguments about legalistic issues or traditions. Because our society is fascinated by the Spiritual world, the occult, spiritism, horoscopes, all become tripping points for believers. Do you find your self tripping on legalistic issues or questions? Do you trip over a fascination with the occult, horoscopes, spiritualism?
Mentored people live lives that. . .
C. Are Wary of the Divisive People
10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
Divisive people here were schismatic. They were people who having become sidetracked now became divisive. Pulling apart, rather than uniting around the purpose, the call.
Paul instructs Titus to have little (some, but just a little patience with them).
MENTORED PEOPLE CAN BE EXPECTED TO REFLECT A CHRIST LIKE MANNER IN THEIR DAILY LIVES.
Mentored People Season Society
Mentored People Live a Legacy
Mentored People Major on Majors
How did Titus do in Crete?
Titus led the church in Crete until 105 AD when he died at age 94. The church in Crete experienced many internal and external stresses, much of it due to the friction of the island. These tensions, however, did not impact the religious strength and stamina of the church on the island. In January 250, Trajan Decius issued the edict for the suppression of Christianity. He demanded that the bishops and officers of the church make sacrifices for the Emperor. Crete is famous for their “Ten surmountable martyrs” who were martyred under Decious. So famous and revered are these Cretians, that whenever the Byzantines wrote about the island of Crete, they were almost always mentioned.
Titus produced a church that did not melt!
