Take your Bibles this morning and turn to Titus 2:9-15. We’re continuing on this morning in our series from Paul’s letter to his protégé, Titus, called “Grow Church, Grow!”
It’s basketball season. We all have our favorite teams. We get excited about watching them play.
Imagine that you get great tickets at the arena. You’re seated in the lower section a few rows just above the scorer’s table. It’s a great game – back and forth the whole time. The other team is ahead by one point with just under 30 seconds to go. Your team still has two 60 second timeouts remaining. The coach calls the first of those timeouts. You can feel the energy pulsing through the stadium. Everyone knows the next play is crucial. Everybody is wondering what play the coach is going to call.
The horn blows. It’s time for the teams to play out the time left on the clock but your team stays on the sideline gathered around the coach. One of the referees comes over and says that it’s time to get on the floor. The coach calls the remaining timeout. Everybody in the arena is now wondering what the coach is up to. Every person is totally focused on the sideline.
When the horn blows again, your team bursts onto the floor shouting, “What a great play! We’re going to win for sure! We got this!” But then the players on the floor, the team on the bench, and the coaches and the rest of the staff run to the locker room. They grab their gear and go home.
All of the fans look at each other. They can’t believe what they’ve just seen. Everyone is frustrated and angry.
It’s great they huddled together. The irony is that the huddle isn’t the point. The purpose of the huddle is to get the next play. It is designed to strategize for victory and give encouragement to the players that the plan is going to work. It would be ludicrous for a team to huddle together and then just head out the door to do whatever else their lives involve.
Sadly, that very image can be an accurate picture of the church. Once a week we get together to worship. That’s a good thing. In fact, it’s a God thing. Christians should gather for worship. It’s a special time.
The problem is that we see this gathering as an end in itself. We measure how effective our church is by the number of people coming to the huddle each week. We talk about how inspiring our huddle is and then we break and disappear until next week. Our perception is mistaken. As followers of Christ, the game goes on through the entire week, not just on Sunday.
Worship is a time for us to huddle together on Sunday and be encouraged and trained on how to make an impact for Jesus Christ but the effectiveness of the church is not based on the huddle. The effectiveness of the church is based on what happens in the lives of its people throughout the week.
Jesus said in Matt. 5:13 – 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 underfoot.
The purpose of salt in Jesus’ day was more than the enhancement of flavor. It was used to preserve the meat as well. Salt has to penetrate the meat in order to do its job.
The purpose of the church is to make a difference in the world, but we have to penetrate the world to accomplish that goal. The effectiveness of the church is not measured by what goes on in worship, but by what goes on in the lives of the church members throughout the week. So, as we look at our passage from Titus today, we notice some very important principles that make a huge difference in how we view the church and our everyday life.
We Have a Role
Titus 2:9-10 – Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Thankfully, no one in our nation is a slave. We fought a great and terrible civil war over that issue. However, most of us are employed and we do have bosses and managers. The principles are the same.
As employees, we’re to have a compliant spirit to those over us. We are to respect delegated authority over us. If Christian slaves were taught to be compliant, why shouldn’t those of us who accept voluntary work positions?
We should also strive to please our boss. Sometimes we’re afraid that other employees will call us an apple polisher, teacher’s pet, or even more derogatory terms. Our goal should not be to please them or ourselves. Our goal should be to please God.
We’re also to guard our tongues. Literally, “don’t talk back to your boss.” Some employees are sarcastic and critical most of the time. Others engage in office gossip or just complain about how hard their job is. You will always be a good witness for Jesus Christ if you guard your tongue.
Next Paul mentions that we shouldn’t steal from our employers. Some employees steal money, others steal office property, and others steal time. Some steal all three. If you refuse to steal from your employer, you will be in the minority. Your employer will be grateful and you will honor Jesus Christ.
Paul finishes his teaching on work by saying that we should always be trustworthy. Most of us are trustworthy when the boss is watching but what about the rest of the time? We are to be dependable, honest, and reliable in every situation.
Here in Chapter 2 of Paul’s letter to Titus, he has focused on one main theme: our life reflects the reality and validity of our faith. How we walk is just as important how we talk.
In vss. 1-5, Paul gives instruction for older men and women and younger women. The reason for the instruction is found in vs. 5: So that no one will malign the word of God.
In vss. 6-8, Paul gives instruction to the younger men. The reasoning for his instruction to this group is found in vs. 8: So that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
In vs. 10, Paul gives the reasoning for his instructions to workers: So that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. We represent Christ to the world. That means there should be an allure about how we live our lives. Our role is to make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Everyone wants to be attractive. I doubt seriously that anyone got up this morning and thought to themselves, “I'm going to see how bad I can look today.” (Well, maybe a few of you) Our society is obsessed with appearance. That is why we get nipped and tucked and lipo-sucked – in order to look good.
Jesus’ idea of looking good is different than our idea of looking. He really looked good but it wasn’t his physical appearance wasn’t made him look good. He looked good because of the way he lived. Thousands of people were attracted to Jesus. Poor people, rich people, healthy people, sick people; they all were attracted to Jesus.
In the same way, we are to make the teaching of Jesus attractive to the world. There should be a peace about our lives. There ought to be radiant joy. There ought to be a love and strength that causes other people to look at our life and say, “They know something I don’t know. They’ve got something I don’t have.” Then they find out. It’s not WHAT we know. It’s Who we know.
Unfortunately, we don't do this very well. To many people outside of the church, they find nothing attractive about the church. I saw a bumper sticker recently that read: “I’ve got nothing against God. It’s his fan club I can’t stand.”
Over the last several years, there have been several published works concerning this issue. The research shows some interesting conclusions.
The title of one book sums up its findings: They Like Jesus but not the Church. It’s based on interviews with those outside of the church. The conclusion? Somehow there has been some sort of a disconnect between the teaching of Jesus and His followers – and the world notices. If we follow Christ, that should affect our lives 24/7, not just how we act one day a week. Our role is to make the teaching about Christ attractive to the world.
We Have a Responsibility
Titus 2:11-12 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Paul tells us first that we are to refuse to submit to ungodly things. Our fleshly nature makes that instruction difficult to follow.
Paul describes his own struggle in this area in Rom. 7:21-24 – So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?
We can identify worldly passions along three categories: physical pleasure, material possessions, and human pride. 1 Jn. 2:16 – For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.
We are to say no to inappropriate physical pleasures. Our culture is brilliant at stimulating our passions. Commercial advertising offers us stimulating visuals. Internet pornography is rampant. One Christian minister visiting here from another country remarked, “Every day in America it is sex o’clock.”
We are to say no to an overabundance of material possessions. Advertising has perfected ways to make us want something, even if we had no desire for it before we saw the commercial for it. Patrick Henry’s cry was, “Give me liberty or give me death,” but a few generations later we weakened it to just “Give me liberty,” and now our cry is simply, “Give me.”
We are to say no to human pride. This present age is also good at appealing to status-consciousness. Gary Trudeau, creator of the comic strip Doonesbury, gave a commencement speech at Colgate University several years ago. He said, “We live in a world where we’d rather be envied than esteemed. When we reach that place, God help us.”
The second thing Paul tells us is that we are to say, “Yes,” to a godly lifestyle. We’re to say no to godless passions but yes to a godly lifestyle. He says in vs. 12 of Titus Chapter 2 that we are to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Jesus says in Luke 11:24-26 – “When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’25 When it arrives, it finds the house swept clean and put in order. 26 Then it goes and takes seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first.” We can’t just say no to the passions of this world and leave ourselves in a vacuum. We have to say yes to positive living.
The temptation of Jesus by the devil is mentioned in 3 of the 4 gospels. Satan tempts Jesus to succumb to the temptations of physical pleasure, the things of this world, and pride. But we also hear the preaching of Peter in Acts 10 where he says that Jesus went around doing good. In Titus 2:14, we are told that we should be eager to do what is good.
We Have a Reason
We have a reason for living holy lives. That reason is because we have experienced God’s grace. Paul says in Titus 2:11 – For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
God has been so gracious to us. And grace that saves us teaches us to say no. Once we realize how much we have been forgiven, then we realize what that forgiveness cost and we don’t want to go back. You see we have been redeemed from our wickedness. Jesus bought us back.
Suppose you had a son who had developed a terrible gambling habit and as a young man he has stolen thousands of dollars from you to pay for his gambling debts. Suppose he came and admitted his sin and asked for forgiveness and even offered to pay you back. Out of love, knowing he could not possibly afford to repay the debt, you tell him you forgive him and he does not have to pay back a dime. He hugs you and thanks you. But then the next day you catch him gambling on the Internet. You ask him what he is doing and he nonchalantly says, “Oh, it’s no big deal. You’ve got me covered.” How would that make you feel? He has completely taken advantage of your grace and cheapened the sacrifice you made for him. He has not been truly repentant.
Now what if on the contrary he gets a job, begins to work hard, manages his money well and even voluntarily attends a gamblers anonymous meeting. That is when you truly feel he loves you the most.
That describes our relationship with God. We can’t pay back our debt. We shouldn’t even try because it is not possible. But we should, out of gratitude for the debt that was paid, strive to live as good a life as possible for God. When we remember and appreciate God’s grace, we are motivated toward holy living.
I read about a hefty gentleman several years ago who was wearing a T-shirt that read: “I conquered anorexia.” Now that’s a living testimony. Who could deny the truth of his claim? People should look at us and see such a distinctiveness that they can’t deny that the Lord has been working in us.
Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 15:10a – But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. Did you catch that? “His grace was not without effect.” In other words, Paul is saying, “God’s grace changed me.”
That’s exactly what it’s supposed to do! We are God’s workmanship – a work in progress – daily being conformed to the likeness of Christ. He's in the process of perfecting all of us, provided we’re doing our part: reading His Word, submitting to His will, faithfully following his commands.
We do those things not to earn salvation, but so we can be molded into the image of Christ.
Philip Yancey said, “We strive for holiness, not to make God love us, but because He already does.”
We Have a Reward
Titus 2:13 tells us that we do these things while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. You see, knowing the hope of our future can motivate us to live godly lives.
In Joel 2:31, the Bible talks about the end of the world as being “that great and dreadful day of the Lord.” When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, he referred to the same event as being “the great and glorious day of the Lord.” Whether that coming day is dreadful or glorious all depends on your relationship with Jesus Christ. You’ll either be under has wrath or under his grace.
Peter asks in 2 Pet. 3:11-12 – What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
We Have a Route
Anytime you have a destination in mind, a goal to reach, you have to plan a route to follow to reach your intended objective. Please don’t misunderstand me, we are all at different levels of spiritual maturity and there is no series of easy steps to living this pure and holy life. If it was that easy we would all be a lot more spiritually mature than we are now. But I do think we can leave here with some ideas about working toward living holy lives in his grace.
First, we train ourselves. 1 Tim. 4:7b-8 – Train yourself to be godly. 8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
We train ourselves by studying the Bible – the Word of God. The Bible is the message that the Creator of the universe has given to us. It teaches that this Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. We hide these words in our heart so that we won’t sin against God.
Perhaps you want to study God’s Word, but don’t know how, or maybe you tried once but as you read through it you got all confused. I could spend quite a bit of time on this particular subject but just for today, let me give you some simple instruction in this matter.
First, scan through a section of the Scriptures (I suggest the Psalms, the book of Proverbs or maybe even the Gospel of Mark to begin with.) Don’t try to read the whole book at one sitting. Take some time and focus on small sections.
Next, ask yourself, “What does God want me to learn from this passage? You may pick up on several ideas but if you’re new to this procedure, just pick out one that stands out to you. Think about during the day. Let that particular truth sink n.
Then think about application. Now that I know this, how do I do this during the day? What will this truth do to encourage me or change the way that I live? When you break down scripture by studying it that way, it makes it much more understandable and relevant for your life.
The second thing that we do to live holy lives is that we surround ourselves. We surround ourselves with godly friends. 1 Cor. 15:33 – Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” If you spend all of your time with people who don’t share your values, after a while it gets harder and harder to stay strong.
Let me clarify this issue. God did not call us to close ourselves up inside the church and only spend time with other believers. We’re commanded to be salt and light in the world. That means we have to show love and compassion to all people. We need to build bridges with all people. Jesus was known as a friend to sinners. But our best friends, our closest companions, our confidantes need to be people who share our faith.
Close
Maybe you are sitting here today thinking, “I can’t do that. I can’t live that kind of life.” You’re right. I can’t, you can’t and no one else can do so by themselves. There was only one person who ever lived who could do it. His name is Jesus Christ. 1 Jn. 3:5 – But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
The message of Jesus Christ is a message of love. He came to earth, endured the cross, and then rose from the grave because he loves us. He is coming back to bring those who follow him to the heaven because he loves us.
Paul summarizes this love story in Rom. 5:6-8 – You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
