The Hard-To-Snub Gospel

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Question:

Paul’s letter to Titus telling him what to teach.

Conundrum? If you exhort / rebuke with all authority, many will despise you.

B. Good Questions - How many feel despised / No one listening, rejection? etc.

II. DESPISE

Greek = Perifroneitoo -- Compound Word

1. “Peri” = like a periscope – look around - to go around – walk around

2. “Proneitoo” = to think

Means = To Think + Beyond - ignore – pretend your not there – depreciate, pretend “it’s nothing”

How many times have you felt ignored, gospel you were trying to share depreciated?

III. LOOK AT THIS FROM STANDPOINT OF PAUL SPEAKING TO EACH OF US

Not Just Pastors - We Are Each Ministers – Each Of Us Are A Titus

IV. “LET NO ONE DESPISE YOU”… But How?

Strong-arm people? Force people to respect you? Be controlling, demanding?

That, in our culture, will cause people to despise you even more!

V. FOUR (4) KEYS: THE HARD-TO-SNUB WITNESS

A. Get Under God’s Authority

1. “Authority” is not about being a know it all or condescending, controlling

2. Not authoritarianism, but authority – huge difference

a. authoritarianism = imperative, controlling, holier than thou – you will be inviting people to despise you

b. authority = calms your attitude – rider is calm, horse is calm

c. as much as people seem to want relativism – situational ethics – people do want something reliable, foundational, unmoving, that they can hang their hat on as well!!! We have that to offer

3. Know your authority – God & His word –

a. not just head knowledge, but heart knowledge

b. intimately knowing & being known by Him & His Word

c. fully trusting, inner security, no need for an emotional meltdown when you’re challenged – that too will invite despise

B. “Speak” or “Teach” Under That Authority

1. Greek word speaks to reading the scriptures publically

2. Becoming a mouth for the scriptures

3. Let others see the Bible – by your words as well as your deeds and life-style (your actions teach louder than your words)

4. If your deeds do not match your words – you will be despised

C. Exhort Under That Authority

1. Greek word = repetition

2. Consistency in the things you say & do

3. Let your yes be yes, no be no – consistency, not incongruencies

4. With the design of calling for others to draw nearer to the word

5. Draw others into trust & obedience

6. If you are not consistent – you will be despised

D. Rebuke Under That Authority

1. To convict –show someone who wrong – out of obedience to the Word

2. People don’t have to automatically despise you on this point

3. Solution: speak the truth with love

a. truth without love = legalism = grounds for them to despise you

b. love without truth = permissivism = grounds for them to despise

4. Balance of truth & love = respect, honor – minimize despise, maximize that they may just listen, be drawn to God

5. Love is patient & kind (1 Cor 13); never haughty or selfish or rude not demanding, believes the best, unfailing

VI. WRAP-UP

A. No One Wants To Be Snubbed

B. Four (4) Keys

1. Get Under God’s Authority

2. Speak Under God’s Authority

3. Exhort Under God’s Authority

4. Rebuke Under God’s Authority

C. Approach People With 1-4 Above…

1. Then really becomes more difficult for them to despise you

2. May still choose to despise you – but really despising the gospel

3. Approach people w/ 1-4 above – more likely they’ll respond positively