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.
• Colossian chapter 4 verse 8 tells us;
• He was sent to find out how they were doing and then to reassure them
• One way he encouraged them was becoming Paul’s mail man;
• He hand delivered three New Testament letters:
• i.e. Philemon (Colossians chapter 4 verses 7-9)
• i.e. Colossians (Colossians chapter 4 verses 7-8)
• i.e. And Ephesians (Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21)
Tychicus was a man you could trust:
• There is no record of any great spiritual feats or miracles that he did.
• He was not an apostle, he was not a pastor,
• And - to our knowledge - he held no position of any kind in any church.
• He was simply a man that was a tremendous a tremendous help;
• And blessing to the apostle Paul.
• Paul obviously thought the world of Tychicus, and respected him greatly.
Quote:
“Someone has said that the greatest ability in the world is dependability”,
• Paul could always depend on Tychicus.
• He was a man who supported him and got the job done.
Ill:
• General Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961
• During World War II, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe
• With responsibility for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa;
• In Operation Torch in 1942–43;
• And the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45, from the Western Front.
• In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO.
• General Eisenhower once rebuked one of his own Generals;
• He rebuked him for referring to a soldier as "just a Private."
• He reminded him that the Army;
• Could function better without its Generals than it could without its foot soldiers.
• "If this war is won," he said, "it will be won by Privates."
Ill:
• As you know we run summer camps for young people.
• I may play the Paul role – that is up front speaker and Padre.
• But camp would not function without a good team of dependable privates;
• Those who clean and make sure the toilets and showers are fit for use.
• Those who are ‘gofers’;
• Going to get fresh supplies each day of bread and milk etc.
• There is a list of team members who the Campers don’t even know what they do;
• But these folks keep camp running.
• Without them we could not do the so called ‘spiritual’ work.
• On camp what we need more than anything is “dependability”,
Note: Verse 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”
• Paul was going to send either Artemas or Tychicus to Crete;
• So that Titus could travel to Nicopolis and be with Paul.
• At the time of writing he could not make up his mind.
• Later on it would appear that Artemas went to Crete;
• Because Tychicus appears to take over from Timothy in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12)
• When Artemas arrived in Crete;
• Titus was urged to ‘make every effort’ to get to Nicopolis;
• Paul’s words reveal a sense of urgency;
• Although his faith was strong – we all need good friends around us in difficult times.
Although Paul’s plan was to spend winter in the Adriatic town of Nicopolis;
• It is most likely that he never made it there.
• Or if he did make it he was only there for a short time.
• No-one knows where Paul was when he wrote these words to Titus;
• It would appear that at this time he was not in prison.
• Later on he used the exact same words to Timothy (2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 21);
• By that time Paul had been thrown into the Marmertine dungeon in Rome.
• Though he longed for the companionship of his friends;
• Many believed he never saw their faces again.
• According to one tradition;
• Paul may never have seen winter again.
• Because he was beheaded by an official of Nero on the Ostian Road outside of Rome;
• Shortly after he sent his second letter to Timothy.
(2). Helping others (vs 13)
“Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.”
Once again in this verse Paul names two people:
• Zenas the lawyer who like Artemus his name only appears here;
• And we know nothing else about him.
• And Apollos who we know from Acts chapter 18 verses 24-28;
• He was an eloquent preacher with a great knowledge of the scriptures.
• These two were chosen by Paul;
• To carry this letter to Titus on their way to other missionary assignments.
Note: Paul’s advice to the Church at Crete is simple:
• “Do everything you can” to help these two men in their ministry.
• Paul understood the truth that life is enriched by helping others!
Ill:
• A three year old girl shouted down stairs;
• “Can you help me get undressed and ready for bed?”
• Mom replied:
• “I will be up in a minute, but you know how to undress yourself – get on with it!”
• The little girl then answered: “I do, but sometimes people need people anyway,
• Even if they do know how to do things by themselves.”
• Paul’s advice to the Church at Crete is simple:
• “Do everything you can” to help these two men in their ministry.
• Paul understood the truth that life is enriched by helping others!
• And as we have said already: ‘T.E.A.M.’ = ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’
(3). Doing Good (vs 14):
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
There are three observations in this verse about doing good works:
FIRST: It is not natural; it is a learnt trait.
• According to this verse doing good is something we must ‘learn’.
• The example of Titus doing good to Zenas and Apollos;
• Would serve as a living model for his congregation to ‘engage in good works’.
Ill:
• According to the experts this is how we learn:
• 1% through taste
• 1.5% through touch
• 3.5% through smell
• 11% through hearing
• 83% through sight
• Paul wanted the Christians to see Titus helping Zenas and Apollos;
• And to copy them!
SECOND: Paul instructed Titus to teach people how to take care of ‘urgent needs’.
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
Paul has already said two other things in this letter regarding good works:
• Love what is Good (chapter 1 verse 8)
• Teach what is Good (chapter 2 verse 3)
• And now in this verse he says:
• Do what is Good (chapter 3 verse 14)
The apostle Paul’s emphasis is on ‘urgent needs’;
• Because some things need our attention right away;
• If you do not seize the opportunity it will be gone.
• i.e. help these Zenas & Apollos while they are with you;
• Because you can’t help them after they have gone!
Quote: Thomas Edison
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”.
THIRD: Titus was to encourage the Christians that meeting needs brings a reward.
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
• These Christians in Crete would have ‘unproductive lives’.
• Said the apostle unless they engaged in ‘good works’.
• And the opposite of course is true;
• If they became occupied in good works it would bring a reward in their lives.
Ill:
• A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day;
• When the local cop walked in to get a haircut.
• And the barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the cop...
• "Since you do such a good job protecting us, and watching over us... today’s haircut is free."
• The cop said he appreciated that,
• And the next day when the barber showed up at his shop,
• There were a dozen donuts waiting for him.
• Later that dad in walks a local florist.
• The barber tells him how much he appreciates all the work that he has done around town,
• Planting bushes and flowers and making the town look real nice,
• So he gives him a free haircut.
• The next day, the barber shows up at his shop and there are a dozen flowers waiting for him.
• Later on that day in walks the local preacher,
• The barber tells him how he is feeling generous that day,
• And how much he appreciates all his hard work in the community;
• So the preacher gets a free haircut.
• The next the barber shows up at his shop,
• And there are a dozen preachers all queuing up waiting for a hair-cut!
• If we as Christians become occupied in good works;
• It will says the apostle bring a reward, a richness, a blessing into our lives.
• But if we do not engage in good works:
• We will lead ‘unproductive lives’.
In conclusion:
• Love what is Good (chapter 1 verse 8)
• Teach what is Good (chapter 2 verse 3)
• Do what is Good (chapter 3 verse 14)
Ill:
• Some people are like good watches.
• They’re pure gold, open-faced, always on time, dependable, quietly busy,
• And full of good works.
SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Being together (vs 12).
(2). Helping others (vs 13)
(3). Doing Good (vs 14):
SERMON BODY
• 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.
• Colossian chapter 4 verse 8 tells us;
• He was sent to find out how they were doing and then to reassure them
• One way he encouraged them was becoming Paul’s mail man;
• He hand delivered three New Testament letters:
• i.e. Philemon (Colossians chapter 4 verses 7-9)
• i.e. Colossians (Colossians chapter 4 verses 7-8)
• i.e. And Ephesians (Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21)
Tychicus was a man you could trust:
• There is no record of any great spiritual feats or miracles that he did.
• He was not an apostle, he was not a pastor,
• And - to our knowledge - he held no position of any kind in any church.
• He was simply a man that was a tremendous a tremendous help;
• And blessing to the apostle Paul.
• Paul obviously thought the world of Tychicus, and respected him greatly.
Quote:
“Someone has said that the greatest ability in the world is dependability”,
• Paul could always depend on Tychicus.
• He was a man who supported him and got the job done.
Ill:
• General Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States from 1953 until 1961
• During World War II, he served as Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe
• With responsibility for planning and supervising the invasion of North Africa;
• In Operation Torch in 1942–43;
• And the successful invasion of France and Germany in 1944–45, from the Western Front.
• In 1951, he became the first supreme commander of NATO.
• General Eisenhower once rebuked one of his own Generals;
• He rebuked him for referring to a soldier as "just a Private."
• He reminded him that the Army;
• Could function better without its Generals than it could without its foot soldiers.
• "If this war is won," he said, "it will be won by Privates."
Ill:
• As you know we run summer camps for young people.
• I may play the Paul role – that is up front speaker and Padre.
• But camp would not function without a good team of dependable privates;
• Those who clean and make sure the toilets and showers are fit for use.
• Those who are ‘gofers’;
• Going to get fresh supplies each day of bread and milk etc.
• There is a list of team members who the Campers don’t even know what they do;
• But these folks keep camp running.
• Without them we could not do the so called ‘spiritual’ work.
• On camp what we need more than anything is “dependability”,
Note: Verse 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”
• Paul was going to send either Artemas or Tychicus to Crete;
• So that Titus could travel to Nicopolis and be with Paul.
• At the time of writing he could not make up his mind.
• Later on it would appear that Artemas went to Crete;
• Because Tychicus appears to take over from Timothy in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12)
• When Artemas arrived in Crete;
• Titus was urged to ‘make every effort’ to get to Nicopolis;
• Paul’s words reveal a sense of urgency;
• Although his faith was strong – we all need good friends around us in difficult times.
Although Paul’s plan was to spend winter in the Adriatic town of Nicopolis;
• It is most likely that he never made it there.
• Or if he did make it he was only there for a short time.
• No-one knows where Paul was when he wrote these words to Titus;
• It would appear that at this time he was not in prison.
• Later on he used the exact same words to Timothy (2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 21);
• By that time Paul had been thrown into the Marmertine dungeon in Rome.
• Though he longed for the companionship of his friends;
• Many believed he never saw their faces again.
• According to one tradition;
• Paul may never have seen winter again.
• Because he was beheaded by an official of Nero on the Ostian Road outside of Rome;
• Shortly after he sent his second letter to Timothy.
(2). Helping others (vs 13)
“Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.”
Once again in this verse Paul names two people:
• Zenas the lawyer who like Artemus his name only appears here;
• And we know nothing else about him.
• And Apollos who we know from Acts chapter 18 verses 24-28;
• He was an eloquent preacher with a great knowledge of the scriptures.
• These two were chosen by Paul;
• To carry this letter to Titus on their way to other missionary assignments.
Note: Paul’s advice to the Church at Crete is simple:
• “Do everything you can” to help these two men in their ministry.
• Paul understood the truth that life is enriched by helping others!
Ill:
• A three year old girl shouted down stairs;
• “Can you help me get undressed and ready for bed?”
• Mom replied:
• “I will be up in a minute, but you know how to undress yourself – get on with it!”
• The little girl then answered: “I do, but sometimes people need people anyway,
• Even if they do know how to do things by themselves.”
• Paul’s advice to the Church at Crete is simple:
• “Do everything you can” to help these two men in their ministry.
• Paul understood the truth that life is enriched by helping others!
• And as we have said already: ‘T.E.A.M.’ = ‘Together Everyone Achieves More’
(3). Doing Good (vs 14):
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
There are three observations in this verse about doing good works:
FIRST: It is not natural; it is a learnt trait.
• According to this verse doing good is something we must ‘learn’.
• The example of Titus doing good to Zenas and Apollos;
• Would serve as a living model for his congregation to ‘engage in good works’.
Ill:
• According to the experts this is how we learn:
• 1% through taste
• 1.5% through touch
• 3.5% through smell
• 11% through hearing
• 83% through sight
• Paul wanted the Christians to see Titus helping Zenas and Apollos;
• And to copy them!
SECOND: Paul instructed Titus to teach people how to take care of ‘urgent needs’.
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
Paul has already said two other things in this letter regarding good works:
• Love what is Good (chapter 1 verse 8)
• Teach what is Good (chapter 2 verse 3)
• And now in this verse he says:
• Do what is Good (chapter 3 verse 14)
The apostle Paul’s emphasis is on ‘urgent needs’;
• Because some things need our attention right away;
• If you do not seize the opportunity it will be gone.
• i.e. help these Zenas & Apollos while they are with you;
• Because you can’t help them after they have gone!
Quote: Thomas Edison
“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work”.
THIRD: Titus was to encourage the Christians that meeting needs brings a reward.
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.”
• These Christians in Crete would have ‘unproductive lives’.
• Said the apostle unless they engaged in ‘good works’.
• And the opposite of course is true;
• If they became occupied in good works it would bring a reward in their lives.
Ill:
• A barber in a small town was busy cutting hair one day;
• When the local cop walked in to get a haircut.
• And the barber was feeling a bit generous that day, so he said to the cop...
• "Since you do such a good job protecting us, and watching over us... today’s haircut is free."
• The cop said he appreciated that,
• And the next day when the barber showed up at his shop,
• There were a dozen donuts waiting for him.
• Later that dad in walks a local florist.
• The barber tells him how much he appreciates all the work that he has done around town,
• Planting bushes and flowers and making the town look real nice,
• So he gives him a free haircut.
• The next day, the barber shows up at his shop and there are a dozen flowers waiting for him.
• Later on that day in walks the local preacher,
• The barber tells him how he is feeling generous that day,
• And how much he appreciates all his hard work in the community;
• So the preacher gets a free haircut.
• The next the barber shows up at his shop,
• And there are a dozen preachers all queuing up waiting for a hair-cut!
• If we as Christians become occupied in good works;
• It will says the apostle bring a reward, a richness, a blessing into our lives.
• But if we do not engage in good works:
• We will lead ‘unproductive lives’.
In conclusion:
• Love what is Good (chapter 1 verse 8)
• Teach what is Good (chapter 2 verse 3)
• Do what is Good (chapter 3 verse 14)
Ill:
• Some people are like good watches.
• They’re pure gold, open-faced, always on time, dependable, quietly busy,
• And full of good works.
