1/03/2010
Telling your story
Titus 3:1-9
Here we are 2010. We talked last week about two things we need to do in 2010.
1. Forgive- not carry old baggage into the new year, disguised because we put them in a new bag.
2. Forget the past-
change only the things we can change.
Don’t dwell on the past failures.
Forgiving doesn’t mean forget. Because you don’t forget, does not mean that you have not forgiven. It just means that you must get past it.
Learn from your mistakes, but don’t keep reliving them.
We can only do that by what Christ has done, is doing, or what He will be doing in our lives.
If it were easy- we would have done it already.
If it was easy- it would not be a problem.
The book of Titus this morning will continue that thought of dependence of God.
So much so I am praying that it will spur you into action with those you come in contact with
Listen to military sayings we can apply to our lives:
1. Instructions on a US Rocket launcher- “Aim towards the enemy”
2. “When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not your friend”
3. “Don’t draw fire; it will irritate the people around you”
4. “Five second fuse lasts only 3 seconds”
Comment:
Were not fighting the enemy, we are usually fighting each other.
Pull the pin on the grenade and we hold it, thinking we have 5 seconds and it lasts 3 seconds and we wonder why our life is a mess.
We have all been through a lot. We could take up a hour or better with people standing up and telling us the things God has done for us in our lives.
We all have a story to tell.
Those that know Christ as savior can recount times where the Lord has:
helped us, encourages us , protected us, supplied our needs, answered prayer, blessed us, gave us what we needed, and by grace, did not give us what we deserved.
Paul writing to Titus, could be talking to each one of us.
He tells us to be subject to the rulers and authorities (model citizens)
Be ready to do good, be kind and considerate, and be humble.
Why (v3)
“At one time we 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. But when the kindness and love of God our savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteousness things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Each one of us has a story- each of us has something to say about our relationship with God.
Each of us needs to know our story. Be able to share it.
Most Christians cannot tell others what God has done.
Most Christians forget where they came from.
Most Christians do some of the following:
They disengage from unbelievers- they stop hanging with them.
They forget where they came from- and appear (They think) like they have never struggled with anything.
They don’t avoid foolish conversations, but that is what they like to engage in.
“Unprofitable and useless arguments and quarrels.”
Churches have split over useless quarrels that even the unsaved have thought foolish and stupid.
John 13:35
“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another”
Matthew 22:37-40
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment and the second is like it; love your neighbors as yourselfs”
Preacher What does that have to do with Titus 3- everything
Love the Lord your God, Love your neighbors,
Be a representative of Christ where you live.
This message is really a one point message looked at in several ways.
We need to tell our story. What does God mean to you?
Most of us have come to Christ because of someone else that played a part in our lives.
Some personally, some by t.v., preachers.
There was a factor that caused us to stop going in the direction we were going and stop and turn around.
Illustration-
If someone could be changed if only you walked across the room, made a phone call, or made yourself available; would you do it?
First thing you thought- I wouldn’t know what to say.
I would, but I don’t know what to say.
It is not about technique and methods, it has everything to do with taking a genuine interest in someone else but you.
All you need is to venture out of your comfort zone and allow the Holy Spirit to direct and guide you.
Bill Hybels estimates that we walk about 115,000 miles in our lifetime. He says what if walking about 20 feet, 10 steps meant eternity to someone. Would you put away your pride, conquer being scared and impact the kingdom of God.
How would you have to answer that?
Yes I would.
No I would not.
Most people believe they have to be a Biblical scalar.
What if they ask a question I don’t know? What if they make fun of me?
There are 2 stories you should be telling, each of you.
Your faith story.
God’s good news story.
Jesus, the greatest story teller was able to take our fascination of stories and apply principals to our lives.
Kids love stories Good stories anyway. Read it again
Because it takes them to a new place they’ve never been.
They pretend to be their favorite character.
The story draws us to conclusions which in turn into principals in our lives.
Jesus takes stories of mustard seeds, trees that bear fruit, missing sheep, lost coins to deliver principals and life changes and things that point us to god’s greater plan- God’s greater story.
I can be found like the lost son.
God really is the good shepherd.
God really can and will meet our needs like the widow.
If God can do that for others, he can do that for me.
God can heal.
God can transform.
God can change circumstances.
Do you get it? The greatest thing you can do for someone is not show them how smart you are in the Bible. Even though we should know our Bibles.
The greatest thing we can do for them is share our faith, share God’s good news story.
Good stories are great to listen to, but have you ever heard a bad one? What made it bad?
being unprepared about the story
No enthusiasm or belief in your story as you tell it.
It’s too long, 10 stories all rolled up into one boring conglomeration of words that put you to sleep.
Your story, your greatest gift to others should be:
brief
No Bible jargon they don’t understand
No story about how you became a super saint.
Story should be :
How you were before Christ (brief)
How you came to Christ (brief )
What Christ is doing in your life (Main) ....brief, understandable, enthusiastic.
Most Christians never impact others because they feel they have to show Bible wisdom.
People want to understand what difference Jesus has made in your life.
They watch your life, they like what God is doing in your life, they want to know how to get it in their life.
1 Corinthians 2:14
“The man without the spirit does not accept the things that come from Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
God uses people to share their story, and while they are listening to your story, God begins to break down those barriers that hinder them from receiving from God.
You share your faith story, transition into being able to tell them how they can also fit into God’s greatest plan for their lives. It becomes personal because you have made it personal.
If you get nothing else - get this this morning. Write it down.
The greatest witness you can be to others is to tell tem briefly, clearly, enthusiastically, what God has done in your life.
You say you don’t know what to say- that is why we must be prepared.
when God puts someone in your path isn’t the time you wonder what to say or freeze up. You share the story you know.
It’s not the time you tell the weirdest God story and how you saw an angel in a piece of toast.
You tell them what Christ means to you.
Paul tells us to be model citizens, make the gospel attractive to those that do not know Christ.
He tells you to devote yourselves to doing what is good.
Devote means “make something your primary concern”.
He tells us to avoid foolish conversations. :”restrain yourself from foolish things”.
One translation says that we should be good so that we might not lead useless lives. Ready to show the love of Christ to the community. We won’t be useless. Be useful to the kingdom in spreading the gospel.
Romans 12:3
“Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought to”
Romans 5:8
“God loved us while we were yet sinners, not what we have done or accomplished”
Illustration
Did you hear about the man that died and went to heaven and met the angel Gabriel at the entrance. The angel said, here’s how it works. You need a hundred points to get in. I’ll give you points for the good things that you have done and we will add them up. Okay, the man said, I was married for fifty years. The angel said that’s wonderful. I’ll give you two points. Two points, I thought that would be worth 80 or 90 points. Nope, just two. What else you got? I went to the same church for seventy five years and tithed for 50 of those years. Great, one point. What else did you do? At this rate, the only way I’ll get into heaven is by the grace of God. Exactly I’ll give you 97 points for that one- enter in
Listen I’m closing
In your bulletin is the church e-mail address. I want you this week to write your story in 125 words or less. Be brief and to the point. How you were before Christ, when you met Christ, and how Christ has changed your life now. Send it to me. Subject line write “My story”
I am all ears, I want to hear it.
250 words or less- windy letters won’t be read.
To long, to weird, how you are a super saint- I will tweet and offer suggestions.
Give me some time. Hopefully a lot of you will take my challenge.
If you do not have e-mail. Hand write it - still 250 words.
When you get your story.
When you are comfortable telling your story.
When you know your story. Go impact those around you. Make an impact
How many will take my challenge
Altar call
