The Call of the Church
Pm Service September 13th 2009
Titus 1:1-4
Introduction
Tonight we will begin a six part series through the book of Titus entitled, “Will the true Church arise!”
Titus is a power packed book, it is one the shortest letters the apostle Paul authored, but as Martin Luther said, “it has everything needed to sustain and build a Church on.”
This letter is addressed to Titus, who the apostle Paul left on the island of Crete to oversee and help organize the churches on the island, this is no small task for a young pastor, but none the less that is what Titus was left on the island to do, and the apostle Paul wrote this letter under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to give Titus instructions on doing his job.
This letter to Titus is a “pastoral epistle” because it deals with pastoral care and oversight in the church, it is a “personal epistle” because it was written to a young disciple who was loved by Paul, he instructs Titus on personal behavior, it is a “Ecclesiastical epistle”, it was written to answer questions about church organization, and doctrine, and church personal behavior, it is an “apologetic epistle” it gives a strong defense of the faith.
My desire for us is to measure our church up against the biblical model for church, and how to “Do Church”, and see where we stand with the Bible. Listen, here in lies the challenge, I believe if there is any area where we don’t measure, we should take steps to measure up. My desire is to follow after traditions, but to follow the Bible.
Tonight from the opening four verses of this book the Holy Spirit doesn’t waste any time in getting strait to the point, from the salutation, I want us to see and learn five calls of the church.
Read Scriptures: Titus 1:1-4
I. Call One: to serve.
Vs. 1 “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect…”
The true church of Jesus Christ is called to serve, we are not called to sit on the sidelines, but we are called to the front lines. We are called to serve in two ways.
A. Serve God.
Paul said he is a “servant of God”.
Every believer has been endowed with spiritual gifts, given by the Holy Spirit, to serve God in some capacity. 1 Corinthians 12:13 “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free and were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
We are called to serve God.
B. Serve people.
“for the faith of God’s elect…”
Paul not only was a servant of God, but he was a servant of God for the faith of the other believers. In other words, he also served people, specifically God’s people.
Not only are we called to serve God in some capacity, but we also called to serve one another. Serve each other by helping each other, by praying for each other, by encouraging each other, by building up each others faith.
II. Call Two: To live Godly lives.
Vs. 1 “for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to Godliness”
In this passage in verse one the apostle Paul describes the process that we should learn and carry out this churches ministry.
The process begins with faith, developed in knowledge, and exercised itself in godliness. Basically what we began with, which is our faith in Jesus Christ, and what we learn from the bible, through bible study weather here or at home, is seen in our lives, by the way we live. Our goal for everything we do at this church is to help develop men and women to become mature in Christ.
As a church we must ask ourselves, the things that we do “do the programs, ministries, and service opportunities bring believers to spiritual maturity?” Do established members reflect good Christian conduct and desire for Christian Service?
The second call of the Church is live Godly lives.
III. Call Three: To live Hopeful lives
Vs. 2 “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,”
The power of hope rest on its foundation. If what I hope for does not have a firm foundation to come to pass, then I my hope may be in vain.
Hope that a house will remain standing that is built on quicksand is a false hope, because it will sink. Our hope is resting on a firm foundation.
The foundation of hope is resting on God, who is from everlasting to everlasting, who is the creator and sustainer of the universe.
The foundation of hope is resting on the Word of God, which will never pass away.
The foundation of hope is resting on the promise of God, when God makes a promise he always keeps it.
We are called to live lives filled with hope, in the face of anything in this life, as the apostle Paul told the Thessalonians, “we are not live as those who have no hope.”
IV. Call Four: To uphold the Bible
Vs. 3 “and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,”
The Bible is the Word of God, and we as follower of Jesus Christ are called to uphold that Word.
We uphold it by Reading and studying it.
We uphold it by reading it to our Children.
We uphold it by striving to live according to its principles.
We uphold it by sharing it with a lost and dying world.
2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”
V. Call Five: To make Disciples
Vs. 4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
One of the main purposes of the church is make disciples, so often we get confused and make converts, but we not called to just have people converted to the faith and then never follow up, we are called to make disciples, and listen disciple making is the job of everyone in the church, we will study that topic deeper in the next couple of weeks as get deeper into this book.
Paul addressed Titus as “My true son in our common faith”, which means that Titus not only was converted under Paul’s preaching, but he was also discipled by Paul.
The lesson for us, to make sure that we afford every opportunity for a new convert to be discipled in the ways of the faith. If we don’t then we are failing as True Church.
Conclusion
Five calls of the True church of Jesus Christ, called to serve, called to live godly lives, called to live hopeful lives, called to uphold the bible, and called to make disciples.
Do you serve in some capacity, are you living a godly life, are you living a hopeful life, are you living a life that upholds the bible, are you actively involved in witnessing and bringing others to saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and then making sure that they are discipled.
