Biblical foundation for life
We are in the season of Advent. I have often viewed Advent simply as the time leading up to Christmas. Advent is the time every year that we study Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2. We meditate on John 1:14 about the Word becoming human. We focus on the incarnation. However, I have spent the past … Continue reading Advent Part One: Season of Darkness, Death, Exile, and Longing
Our family decorated our Christmas tree yesterday evening. It is always fun to take out ornaments from years gone-by and add new ones to the collection. This year I did something new. It was unplanned, but it turned into a great blessing. It is something I hope becomes a tradition in a good sense. This … Continue reading Ornamental Prayer Prompts
Paul has called Titus to teach believers how to behave in a way that matches the Gospel (2:1-10). This behavior is not just for goodness sake; it is not to earn a place in God's family. This behavior matches the Gospel and is based in the Gospel. The foundation for right behavior is the Good … Continue reading The Grace of God Has Appeared (Titus 2:11-14)
“Yourself” is the next category in Titus 2:2-10, and it refers to Titus. Titus was to show himself to be an example of good works in every way (2:7-8). He was to "teach what accords with sound doctrine" (2:1). He was to behave in a way that matched the Gospel as a model to follow. … Continue reading Gospel-Matching Behavior for Leaders (Titus 2:7-8)
Last week, we studied Titus 2:1-10. There we studied “Behavior that Matches the Good News of Jesus Christ.” Titus was called to teach the believers on Crete the kind of behavior that matches the Good News of Jesus Christ (2:1). We studied the kind of behavior that is consistent with the Good News (2:2-10). We … Continue reading Sermon Intro – Grace and Glory (Titus 2:11-14)
The posts this week have been focusing on Titus 2:1-10. Paul told Titus to "teach what accords with sound doctrine" (2:1). Titus was to teach the churches of Crete to live in a way that is consistent with the Good News of Jesus. What kind of behavior matches the Good News? What kind of behavior … Continue reading Gospel-Matching Behavior for Women (Titus 2:3-5)
In this series of posts we have been looking at Titus 2:1-10. You can find links to the other posts in this series below. Paul has instructed Titus to teach behavior that is consistent with the Good News of Jesus (Titus 2:1). The kind of behavior that is appropriate for believers in Jesus is a … Continue reading Gospel-Matching Behavior for Men
Titus 2:1 begins with a strong contrast. Literally, the verse begins, “But you…” Paul was calling Titus to be different than the false teachers that opposed him on Crete. The closing charge against these false teachers is that “they profess to know God, but they deny him by their works” (Titus 2:1). They acted in … Continue reading Teaching Gospel-Matching Behavior
My five year old daughter gave me this painting. Here is how she explained it to me: In the bottom right, the orange and red is Jesus dying on the cross. At the top, that is a dragon, which is actually Satan. His head is red because Jesus smashed Satan's head at the cross. "I … Continue reading Jesus Smashed Satan’s Head
Father, As I continue to meditate on Titus 1:6-9, I pray that we would not be arrogant. May we not be self-willed. Bend our will to Your will in all things. Conform our wills to be like the Lord Jesus; in His agony He prayed, "Not as I will, but as you will." Amen (Titus … Continue reading May We Not Be Self-Willed
