WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960 Well, good morning, church. If you brought a 00:00:01.960 --> 00:00:04.240 Bible, and I hope you did, go ahead and grab 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.919 it. We're going to jump right in, turn over to 00:00:08.919 --> 00:00:11.660 Titus chapter 2, and find the very last verse 00:00:11.660 --> 00:00:14.339 of that chapter, verse 15. This is the verse 00:00:14.339 --> 00:00:17.440 I left out of last Sunday's message. And I got 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:19.320 a bunch of questions like, why would you do that, 00:00:19.420 --> 00:00:22.719 Jeff? It's because I ran out of time. But also, 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:25.600 it really fits well with what we're talking about 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.699 this morning. So I promise to touch on it. Let's 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:33.820 look at it. Titus 2, verse 15. So this morning 00:00:33.820 --> 00:00:36.259 what we're going to see is Paul making an interesting 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:41.140 transition in subject matter from chapter 2 to 00:00:41.140 --> 00:00:45.219 chapter 3. And for scholars who love the text 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:47.079 of Scripture, these are always exciting things. 00:00:47.159 --> 00:00:50.939 We can break up what we call pericopes or units 00:00:50.939 --> 00:00:53.399 of thought between Paul doing this and then doing 00:00:53.399 --> 00:00:56.460 that. Now, having said that... It might be important 00:00:56.460 --> 00:00:58.340 for me to remind you, if you didn't know this, 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:01.740 the chapter divisions in our modern -day Bibles 00:01:01.740 --> 00:01:06.640 were first proposed 800 years ago, in the early 00:01:06.640 --> 00:01:09.879 13th century. It wasn't until Wycliffe's English 00:01:09.879 --> 00:01:13.700 translation in the year 1382 that the chapter 00:01:13.700 --> 00:01:15.840 divisions that we have today were standardized. 00:01:16.730 --> 00:01:18.790 So obviously they weren't part of the original 00:01:18.790 --> 00:01:23.769 text. So when we look at changes in biblical 00:01:23.769 --> 00:01:26.609 subject matter between one chapter to the next 00:01:26.609 --> 00:01:29.170 in our modern Bibles, we have to be careful that 00:01:29.170 --> 00:01:32.769 we don't bifurcate what the author of scripture 00:01:32.769 --> 00:01:37.209 was trying to do. Because when Paul wrote this 00:01:37.209 --> 00:01:39.489 letter to Titus, it was exactly that. It was 00:01:39.489 --> 00:01:41.269 a letter, meaning there was a flow of thought 00:01:41.269 --> 00:01:44.930 taking place here. And what he finished up with 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:48.939 in chapter two, is only one stroke of the pen 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:50.840 away from what he wrote at the beginning of chapter 00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:53.200 three. So we need to make sure that we recognize 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.040 that. So here in verse 15, what Paul's about 00:01:56.040 --> 00:01:59.799 to do is sort of finish his thoughts about these 00:01:59.799 --> 00:02:03.299 five categories of believers in the churches 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:08.060 of Crete. Remember, he talked about older, men, 00:02:08.360 --> 00:02:14.240 good, younger, men, younger, good, older women, 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:17.840 and then, slaves and household servants. Very 00:02:17.840 --> 00:02:20.319 good. And the focus there in chapter two was 00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:23.199 on the development of their character and how 00:02:23.199 --> 00:02:25.379 they relate to one another within the body of 00:02:25.379 --> 00:02:30.139 Christ. But also there was sort of a subtle focus 00:02:30.139 --> 00:02:33.759 on with an eye to their witness to the world, 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:35.960 that the way that they function within the body 00:02:35.960 --> 00:02:37.819 of Christ, and this is important for us today, 00:02:37.960 --> 00:02:40.860 how we function in the body of Christ. Does it 00:02:40.860 --> 00:02:45.099 dishonor God's word? Or does it adorn the beauty 00:02:45.099 --> 00:02:47.319 of the gospel? Does it show how the gospel actually 00:02:47.319 --> 00:02:50.080 transforms lives? So that's what Paul's been 00:02:50.080 --> 00:02:52.780 doing here in chapter two. So you might look 00:02:52.780 --> 00:02:55.699 at this as here in verse 15, he's wrapping up 00:02:55.699 --> 00:02:59.080 an internal discussion, a inter -family discussion 00:02:59.080 --> 00:03:02.400 between fellow believers. Then when we get to 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:04.560 chapter three, Paul's gonna start looking outside 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:07.120 the walls of the church and he is going to address 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:10.620 a very interesting question. How should the believers 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:14.129 on that island in Crete How should they function 00:03:14.129 --> 00:03:18.210 in the midst of the pagan society that they live 00:03:18.210 --> 00:03:20.770 in? So we're going from an internal discussion 00:03:20.770 --> 00:03:23.909 to an external discussion. But before we jump 00:03:23.909 --> 00:03:26.409 into chapter three, let's briefly look at this 00:03:26.409 --> 00:03:30.289 verse 15. Everybody there? He says, these things, 00:03:30.370 --> 00:03:32.330 Titus, meaning all the things that I've just 00:03:32.330 --> 00:03:35.530 written about in this chapter, these things speak 00:03:35.530 --> 00:03:39.069 and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let 00:03:39.069 --> 00:03:42.689 no one disregard you. Now, this kind of instruction 00:03:42.689 --> 00:03:45.669 is common in the pastoral epistles that are written 00:03:45.669 --> 00:03:48.069 to both Timothy and Titus. And you see there 00:03:48.069 --> 00:03:54.270 three actions commanded. Speak, exhort, and reprove. 00:03:55.069 --> 00:03:57.969 Speak, exhort, and reprove. So both Timothy and 00:03:57.969 --> 00:04:00.610 Titus were commanded by their mentor, Paul, to 00:04:00.610 --> 00:04:03.229 do all three of those things in every place that 00:04:03.229 --> 00:04:05.969 they were sent. Number one, speak the truth. 00:04:07.270 --> 00:04:10.530 Declare it. Proclaim it. Preach it. Number two, 00:04:10.629 --> 00:04:13.389 exhort the people, meaning make sure that they're 00:04:13.389 --> 00:04:15.729 paying close attention to your teaching and make 00:04:15.729 --> 00:04:18.149 sure they're not just hearers of the word, but 00:04:18.149 --> 00:04:20.850 doers of the word. And number three, when necessary, 00:04:21.069 --> 00:04:23.629 when the folks aren't responding, when they're 00:04:23.629 --> 00:04:26.589 not listening, then reprove them or rebuke them. 00:04:27.290 --> 00:04:29.170 And what's interesting in the original Greek, 00:04:29.230 --> 00:04:31.329 each of those three verbs that you see on the 00:04:31.329 --> 00:04:34.160 screen. are written in what we call the present 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:37.519 active imperative, meaning they are commands, 00:04:37.579 --> 00:04:40.019 first of all, and secondly, they're commands 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:42.860 that should be lived out, keyword, continuously. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:46.860 So literally, it should read, these things, Titus, 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:51.139 keep on speaking, keep on exhorting, and keep 00:04:51.139 --> 00:04:55.040 on reproving. Just keep doing it over and over 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:58.500 again. And then Paul adds, keep on doing these 00:04:58.500 --> 00:05:01.709 things with all authority. and don't let anybody 00:05:01.709 --> 00:05:05.069 disregard you. Now, that's a heavy thing to lay 00:05:05.069 --> 00:05:08.290 on a young pastor like Titus. Paul says, look, 00:05:08.350 --> 00:05:10.550 when you instruct the people, Titus, your words 00:05:10.550 --> 00:05:13.610 carry authority. Not just because you represent 00:05:13.610 --> 00:05:17.350 me and my apostolic authority, but the very authority 00:05:17.350 --> 00:05:19.750 of the Lord himself when you teach from his word. 00:05:21.410 --> 00:05:23.810 Now, give me a moment to unpack some of the implications 00:05:23.810 --> 00:05:26.949 of what Paul's saying in this verse. First of 00:05:26.949 --> 00:05:29.959 all, let me say for some churchgoers, This idea 00:05:29.959 --> 00:05:32.360 of authority might bring back bad memories from 00:05:32.360 --> 00:05:35.819 your past because abuse of authority in the church 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:38.399 is a very real thing. We all probably know somebody 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:42.220 who has been hurt in the past. And far too often, 00:05:42.259 --> 00:05:45.839 unqualified men who have character flaws somehow 00:05:45.839 --> 00:05:48.660 are able to grab the reins of power and they 00:05:48.660 --> 00:05:51.339 end up damaging churches and hurting people. 00:05:51.899 --> 00:05:56.079 And if that describes you at some place somewhere 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:58.769 in your past, When you hear an instruction like 00:05:58.769 --> 00:06:01.670 this, wield your authority and don't let people 00:06:01.670 --> 00:06:05.329 disregard you, it might like feed that fear of 00:06:05.329 --> 00:06:08.430 submitting to church leadership. But we have 00:06:08.430 --> 00:06:10.629 to realize that just because some men have abused 00:06:10.629 --> 00:06:13.089 their power, it doesn't mean that we can ignore 00:06:13.089 --> 00:06:15.629 all of the New Testament instructions we have 00:06:15.629 --> 00:06:18.910 about how leadership is established. Because 00:06:18.910 --> 00:06:21.819 God does call men like Titus. to do these things, 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.980 to teach and to shepherd, and yes, to correct 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:27.600 church members using the authority of Scripture. 00:06:28.319 --> 00:06:30.819 And he calls church members to submit to that 00:06:30.819 --> 00:06:34.600 leadership and not disregard those that he put 00:06:34.600 --> 00:06:38.060 in place. Both those things have to happen at 00:06:38.060 --> 00:06:41.120 the same time, right? Here's the thing. When 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.759 authority in the church is stewarded properly 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.560 and when it's executed with care, it blesses 00:06:47.560 --> 00:06:51.279 and protects the people that it covers. And that 00:06:51.279 --> 00:06:53.620 is the goal we see in scripture and that is what 00:06:53.620 --> 00:06:56.120 we strive to do in our leadership here at Oak 00:06:56.120 --> 00:06:59.120 Hill. So what this requires is for churches to 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:02.100 show great care and great discernment when they 00:07:02.100 --> 00:07:04.500 examine the character of the men they're considering 00:07:04.500 --> 00:07:07.600 for leadership positions. That is a process that 00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.420 needs to move slowly and carefully. Too many 00:07:10.420 --> 00:07:12.959 times in church life I've seen people get rushed 00:07:12.959 --> 00:07:15.459 into positions for all the wrong reasons and 00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:18.279 it doesn't end well. This is why I think Paul 00:07:18.279 --> 00:07:20.319 is, what he's getting at here when he says to 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:23.060 Titus, don't let anyone disregard you. This is 00:07:23.060 --> 00:07:26.920 actually a character thing. Some have misconstrued 00:07:26.920 --> 00:07:28.740 this statement, I think. Some people think that 00:07:28.740 --> 00:07:31.079 Paul is saying, hey, Titus, as you're teaching, 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:33.959 don't let people push you around. I don't think 00:07:33.959 --> 00:07:36.720 that's what he's saying. The way I read it is 00:07:36.720 --> 00:07:40.879 this. Titus, be such an example of godliness 00:07:40.879 --> 00:07:44.819 that people won't be able to disregard you because 00:07:44.819 --> 00:07:47.699 your life backs up your teaching. They'll have 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:50.920 nothing to accuse you of. And the reason I think 00:07:50.920 --> 00:07:52.879 that's the right interpretation is because Paul 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:55.699 writes something similar to Timothy in 1 Timothy 00:07:55.699 --> 00:08:00.639 4. He says, let no one look down on you or disregard 00:08:00.639 --> 00:08:04.360 you, Timothy, because of your youthfulness. Now, 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:06.459 how is a young pastor supposed to make sure that 00:08:06.459 --> 00:08:08.779 doesn't happen? Is he supposed to run around 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:11.399 and thump his chest and say, stop disregarding 00:08:11.399 --> 00:08:14.300 me? That's not what Paul says because in the 00:08:14.300 --> 00:08:16.720 very next sentence he says, in your speech, your 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:18.959 conduct, your love, your faith, and your purity, 00:08:19.319 --> 00:08:23.300 show yourself to be an example. That's how you 00:08:23.300 --> 00:08:25.120 make sure that people don't disregard you as 00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:29.180 a leader, your life. When church leaders are 00:08:29.180 --> 00:08:31.199 men of character and it shows up in their lives, 00:08:31.339 --> 00:08:34.159 then submission to them becomes easy and it becomes 00:08:34.159 --> 00:08:37.039 desirable because then church members feel cared 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:40.659 for and protected. And that's the goal. So that's 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:43.259 one side of the coin related to this verse. The 00:08:43.259 --> 00:08:45.220 other side of the spectrum is this. While there 00:08:45.220 --> 00:08:48.220 are certainly unqualified and even abusive leaders 00:08:48.220 --> 00:08:51.220 in churches today, there are far more congregants 00:08:51.220 --> 00:08:54.059 out there who flat out have no respect for authority. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:08:57.059 And they have no intention of submitting to the 00:08:57.059 --> 00:09:00.799 leaders that God has placed over them. Too many 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:03.399 churchgoers today act as if they are the customer 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:06.970 to be served by the elders. And that they're, 00:09:06.970 --> 00:09:10.090 not that they're called to engage or to serve 00:09:10.090 --> 00:09:12.370 or to follow themselves. No, they're to be served. 00:09:12.509 --> 00:09:15.690 And the elders are supposed to just give in to 00:09:15.690 --> 00:09:18.389 all of their whims. That is very common. If you 00:09:18.389 --> 00:09:20.070 go around churches in America, you will find 00:09:20.070 --> 00:09:23.110 congregants who say, no, this is my church. We 00:09:23.110 --> 00:09:26.070 tell the elders what to do. And so we get it 00:09:26.070 --> 00:09:29.220 all backwards. So when their leaders speak, exhort, 00:09:29.240 --> 00:09:32.299 and reprove as commanded in Scripture, too many 00:09:32.299 --> 00:09:35.139 congregants today feel comfortable just disregarding 00:09:35.139 --> 00:09:39.639 them. Just disregarding them. It's all optional, 00:09:39.639 --> 00:09:41.620 they believe. I can listen to that teaching or 00:09:41.620 --> 00:09:45.399 not. I can apply it or I can ignore it. And by 00:09:45.399 --> 00:09:47.659 disregarding those in authority, they actually 00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:51.460 disregard God's Word. And that means in reality, 00:09:51.600 --> 00:09:53.940 they're not in submission to God himself. And 00:09:53.940 --> 00:09:56.399 in order to dodge that serious implication of 00:09:56.399 --> 00:09:58.519 that truth, what they do is they look at that 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:00.679 man in authority and say, well, I'm not sure 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:03.639 I want to follow that guy. And we call that spiritual 00:10:03.639 --> 00:10:07.299 rebellion. And it's a destroyer of unity in the 00:10:07.299 --> 00:10:11.039 church. So when it comes to leadership, And when 00:10:11.039 --> 00:10:13.580 it comes to congregations, there's this important 00:10:13.580 --> 00:10:15.940 balance that we have to find. There's a, I call 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:18.360 it a delicate dance that everybody has to agree 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:22.019 to and live out. First of all, God calls and 00:10:22.019 --> 00:10:25.659 establishes leaders in his church. Second, those 00:10:25.659 --> 00:10:28.460 leaders are commanded to employ God's word in 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.759 doing those three things, speaking, exhorting, 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:33.299 and reproving. That's not optional for a leader. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:36.500 Third, church members are called to respect the 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:39.669 office of elder. and to follow after their shepherds 00:10:39.669 --> 00:10:42.909 without grumbling or rebellion. And finally, 00:10:42.929 --> 00:10:45.950 in return, those leaders are to continually let 00:10:45.950 --> 00:10:48.629 their godly character show forth so that they 00:10:48.629 --> 00:10:51.830 build trust in the congregation and they function 00:10:51.830 --> 00:10:54.809 as good stewards of the responsibility given 00:10:54.809 --> 00:10:58.450 them by the Lord as under shepherds under the 00:10:58.450 --> 00:11:00.970 great shepherd. All of those things have to happen 00:11:00.970 --> 00:11:03.470 at one time. That is the delicate dance that 00:11:03.470 --> 00:11:05.470 we walk. And I have to tell you, here at Oak 00:11:05.470 --> 00:11:07.929 Hill, you guys are doing an amazing job. Every 00:11:07.929 --> 00:11:10.990 elder here would affirm that for the last 18 00:11:10.990 --> 00:11:13.470 years, this has been done beautifully, and we 00:11:13.470 --> 00:11:17.629 need to continuously talk about these things 00:11:17.629 --> 00:11:19.990 and make sure that we're all on the same page. 00:11:20.929 --> 00:11:23.330 Okay, so much more can be said about authority 00:11:23.330 --> 00:11:24.850 and leadership, but I have to leave it there 00:11:24.850 --> 00:11:27.330 because we have to get on to chapter three. So 00:11:27.330 --> 00:11:30.649 if you're not there yet, Turn over to chapter 00:11:30.649 --> 00:11:36.710 three. Oh, it's right there. Okay, good. Chapter 00:11:36.710 --> 00:11:39.029 three. Okay, now as I shared earlier, Paul's 00:11:39.029 --> 00:11:41.230 about to make this shift in direction. Having 00:11:41.230 --> 00:11:43.309 dealt with internal matters among the believers, 00:11:43.549 --> 00:11:45.909 he's now gonna look outside the walls of the 00:11:45.909 --> 00:11:49.590 church. How should the believers in Crete, and 00:11:49.590 --> 00:11:51.990 we looked at, remember the character of Cretans? 00:11:52.309 --> 00:11:55.250 What that society was like? How are these newer 00:11:55.250 --> 00:11:57.730 believers, because the gospel would have just 00:11:57.730 --> 00:11:59.610 come there recently, how are they supposed to 00:11:59.610 --> 00:12:02.929 function in the midst of this very pagan society? 00:12:03.330 --> 00:12:05.509 Now, the section we're going to read, actually 00:12:05.509 --> 00:12:08.009 the pericope runs all the way through verse 8. 00:12:08.649 --> 00:12:11.470 But as I was looking at it this week, verses 00:12:11.470 --> 00:12:15.149 4 through 7, guys, some of the richest language 00:12:15.149 --> 00:12:18.450 in the entire New Testament. So I couldn't just 00:12:18.450 --> 00:12:20.990 skim over it. So what we're going to do today 00:12:20.990 --> 00:12:23.799 is focus on just the first three verses. We'll 00:12:23.799 --> 00:12:25.840 come back to verses four through eight next Sunday 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:28.460 and give them the attention that they really 00:12:28.460 --> 00:12:30.659 deserve because they are beautiful. But let's 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:33.320 read together all the way through verse eight. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:39.039 Verse one, remember or remind them, Titus, to 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:43.360 be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, 00:12:43.500 --> 00:12:46.539 to be ready for every good deed, to malign no 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:50.460 one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration 00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:55.580 for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, 00:12:56.080 --> 00:13:00.519 disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts 00:13:00.519 --> 00:13:03.320 and pleasures, spending our life in malice and 00:13:03.320 --> 00:13:07.980 envy, hateful, hating one another. But, but, 00:13:08.019 --> 00:13:10.919 when the kindness of God our Savior and His love 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:14.940 for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:17.600 basis of deeds, which we have done in righteousness, 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:23.610 but according to what? His mercy. By the washing 00:13:23.610 --> 00:13:25.929 of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 00:13:26.129 --> 00:13:29.549 whom he poured out upon us richly through Jesus 00:13:29.549 --> 00:13:32.350 Christ our Savior, so that being justified by 00:13:32.350 --> 00:13:35.590 his grace, we would be made heirs according to 00:13:35.590 --> 00:13:38.230 the hope of eternal life. That may take me two 00:13:38.230 --> 00:13:41.610 Sundays. I'm just saying. I mean, the language, 00:13:41.649 --> 00:13:45.149 right, is so beautiful. Verse 8, finishing, this 00:13:45.149 --> 00:13:47.830 is a trustworthy statement. And concerning these 00:13:47.830 --> 00:13:51.009 things, I want you to speak confidently. so that 00:13:51.009 --> 00:13:53.809 those who believe God will be careful to engage 00:13:53.809 --> 00:13:56.830 in good deeds. These things are good and profitable 00:13:56.830 --> 00:14:00.730 for men. So just a quick outline on these eight 00:14:00.730 --> 00:14:02.730 verses. The first thing you see there, verses 00:14:02.730 --> 00:14:05.610 one through two, is our obligation to the public 00:14:05.610 --> 00:14:09.789 good and our posture towards unbelievers. Very 00:14:09.789 --> 00:14:12.309 important. The second thing you see there in 00:14:12.309 --> 00:14:14.309 verse three is a reminder of what you and I used 00:14:14.309 --> 00:14:17.620 to be before we met Christ. And that's important 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:19.720 to understand. Then in verse four through seven, 00:14:19.820 --> 00:14:22.340 this incredibly rich statement about how God 00:14:22.340 --> 00:14:25.139 has saved us. And then finally in verse eight, 00:14:25.159 --> 00:14:28.059 we have this instruction about going out as witnesses 00:14:28.059 --> 00:14:31.000 in the power of the gospel, both speaking truth 00:14:31.000 --> 00:14:35.360 and backing up what we say with good deeds. So 00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:38.000 it's a beautiful outline. Friends, this is how 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:40.399 we're to live in the midst of a pagan culture 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:44.980 like Crete or Southern California. Are we under 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:47.279 the impression that our culture in Southern California 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:50.600 is any better than Crete? This is incredibly 00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:54.259 practical for us. With all the opinions out there 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:56.940 about this strategy or that strategy to reach 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:59.559 people for Christ, it's actually not complicated 00:14:59.559 --> 00:15:02.940 and it hasn't changed since the days of the apostles. 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:06.539 And as you look at these eight verses, you look 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:10.320 at that outline, take note of this. It's not 00:15:10.320 --> 00:15:14.320 about political candidates. And it's not about 00:15:14.320 --> 00:15:18.340 passing laws. It's not about planning protests 00:15:18.340 --> 00:15:22.159 or fighting culture wars. It's not about us trying 00:15:22.159 --> 00:15:24.740 to impose our moral values upon the culture. 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:28.659 It's about sinners being transformed by the gospel 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:31.639 and over time then seeing culture change from 00:15:31.639 --> 00:15:34.220 the inside out. That has always been the strategy. 00:15:34.940 --> 00:15:37.600 And that should be our strategy today. Amen? 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:40.679 Okay, let's dig in. I'm actually gonna start 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.700 a little bit out of order here. I actually wanna 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:46.480 start with verse three, okay? That's the description 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:50.659 of who every one of us used to be in varying 00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:54.700 degrees before Christ drew us to himself and 00:15:54.700 --> 00:15:57.360 saved us and began this sanctifying work in us 00:15:57.360 --> 00:15:59.659 by his spirit. So look at verse three. These 00:15:59.659 --> 00:16:03.179 are six characteristics listed there. that describe 00:16:03.179 --> 00:16:07.399 just the average unredeemed man or woman. These 00:16:07.399 --> 00:16:10.340 things describe the average person that you're 00:16:10.340 --> 00:16:13.240 gonna bump into in daily life in Santa Clarita. 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:16.240 We don't often think in these terms, but this 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:20.340 is the theological truth. They are foolish and 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:24.200 disobedient, and they're deceived or led astray. 00:16:24.220 --> 00:16:27.759 They're enslaved by lust and pleasure. They live 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:30.419 in malice and envy, and they are filled with 00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:33.519 hate. Now, this morning, I'm not going to walk 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.259 through those six things. We'll do that next 00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:37.700 Sunday. But for today, it's important that we 00:16:37.700 --> 00:16:40.179 acknowledge the truth of this verse for two reasons. 00:16:40.820 --> 00:16:43.799 Number one, we have to remember who we used to 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:46.899 be so that when we now go out into the culture 00:16:46.899 --> 00:16:49.320 as believers, we know exactly what to expect 00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:53.100 because we were once there. Does that make sense? 00:16:54.059 --> 00:16:58.690 I mean, how easy is it for us today? To go online 00:16:58.690 --> 00:17:01.210 and look at the news and to get frustrated and 00:17:01.210 --> 00:17:04.430 get angry and be filled with a sense of disgust 00:17:04.430 --> 00:17:07.890 about what's happening in our culture. It's a 00:17:07.890 --> 00:17:10.769 world of confusion and criminality and perversion 00:17:10.769 --> 00:17:13.710 and selfishness. It is an absolute mess, we all 00:17:13.710 --> 00:17:16.509 agree. But of all people, why would we be surprised 00:17:16.509 --> 00:17:20.349 by that? Of all the people, why would we be surprised 00:17:20.349 --> 00:17:24.430 by that? Paul says, that used to be you. That 00:17:24.430 --> 00:17:26.569 used to be you. Before Christ plucked you out 00:17:26.569 --> 00:17:29.490 of darkness, that used to be you. So why are 00:17:29.490 --> 00:17:32.450 you surprised by the depravity all around you? 00:17:33.250 --> 00:17:35.130 That's the first reason we need to acknowledge 00:17:35.130 --> 00:17:39.789 who we used to be. The second reason is because 00:17:39.789 --> 00:17:42.869 remembering who we once were helps us to see 00:17:42.869 --> 00:17:46.809 sinners in a different light. It enables us to 00:17:46.809 --> 00:17:49.670 treat ungodly people with grace and compassion 00:17:49.670 --> 00:17:54.079 instead of anger and resentment. Which doesn't 00:17:54.079 --> 00:17:57.880 please God. Because we know why they act out 00:17:57.880 --> 00:18:00.500 like they do. We look at the world, we know why. 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:02.660 It's because people are spiritually blind. They're 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:05.500 dead in their sins. They live according to their 00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.400 own will and their own desires. That's why they 00:18:08.400 --> 00:18:11.619 need the gospel. So we're not surprised by it. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.759 So keeping this in mind will help us to respond. 00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:16.940 to sinners with love and good deeds. Even if 00:18:16.940 --> 00:18:19.680 they mistreat us or they make fun of us or they 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:22.720 falsely accuse us of things, in those moments 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:25.700 as they do that, we can simply remember who we 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:29.559 once were and say, yep, I get it. I get it. That 00:18:29.559 --> 00:18:33.220 used to be me. So verse three is important for 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:36.640 us, for our mindset, our heart set as we look 00:18:36.640 --> 00:18:40.140 out at our world. Does that make sense? Okay, 00:18:40.220 --> 00:18:42.180 so now let's go back up to the top, back up to 00:18:42.180 --> 00:18:45.819 verse one. And let's see exactly what God calls 00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:52.339 us to be and do in our pagan society. Now, fair 00:18:52.339 --> 00:18:56.339 warning, some of you may be upset by what Paul 00:18:56.339 --> 00:19:01.160 prescribes here. It may not line up with the 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:03.779 way you see things in our culture right now. 00:19:04.500 --> 00:19:07.339 Because I know that many of us are passionate 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:10.220 about seeing our society and our culture turned 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:12.950 in a more politically and socially conservative 00:19:12.950 --> 00:19:18.390 direction. We want to see sanity return to our 00:19:18.390 --> 00:19:21.849 culture. We want to see crime actually punished. 00:19:22.069 --> 00:19:24.190 We want to see our immigration laws enforced. 00:19:24.710 --> 00:19:27.349 We want to see people acknowledge and live by 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:31.170 their biological gender. We all want that. I 00:19:31.170 --> 00:19:33.890 get it. I want those things too. Frankly, if 00:19:33.890 --> 00:19:35.809 those things happened, it would be a net positive 00:19:35.809 --> 00:19:39.130 for me and my family and our church if just basic 00:19:39.130 --> 00:19:42.750 common sense and commonly held values come back 00:19:42.750 --> 00:19:45.549 to America. We can agree on that. But friends, 00:19:45.690 --> 00:19:50.829 that is not the ultimate answer. Turning conservative 00:19:50.829 --> 00:19:54.029 politically or socially is not the ultimate answer 00:19:54.029 --> 00:19:56.430 to our problems. And we need to acknowledge this 00:19:56.430 --> 00:19:59.450 truth because nowhere in the New Testament do 00:19:59.450 --> 00:20:02.509 we see God exhorting us to turn to political 00:20:02.509 --> 00:20:05.950 solutions or to social movements as a means of 00:20:05.950 --> 00:20:08.990 changing culture. You're not gonna find that 00:20:08.990 --> 00:20:13.390 in any of the letters. Not even in pagan Rome 00:20:13.390 --> 00:20:17.349 were first century Christians told to do those 00:20:17.349 --> 00:20:19.650 things. Not even under the wickedness of Nero 00:20:19.650 --> 00:20:23.029 were first century Christians commanded to try 00:20:23.029 --> 00:20:27.390 to impose a moral code on all of society. That 00:20:27.390 --> 00:20:29.910 is not the emphasis in the pages of scripture. 00:20:30.910 --> 00:20:33.809 And so looking back at, I don't know, the last 00:20:33.809 --> 00:20:36.809 eight years in America, It's interesting to consider 00:20:36.809 --> 00:20:39.430 the questions about how things have shifted left 00:20:39.430 --> 00:20:42.349 and right in our world. Ask the question, has 00:20:42.349 --> 00:20:45.309 the political cult of Trumpism helped or hurt 00:20:45.309 --> 00:20:50.930 our witness among unbelievers? Has the Christian 00:20:50.930 --> 00:20:52.769 nationalist movement of the last couple years 00:20:52.769 --> 00:20:55.289 aided in our sharing of the gospel or scared 00:20:55.289 --> 00:20:59.259 people away from it? How's the growing trend 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:02.200 of hatred for Jews and immigrants among professing 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:04.299 Christians in right -wing circles being interpreted 00:21:04.299 --> 00:21:08.880 by those outside the walls of the church? These 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:11.279 things are happening out there. Has it helped 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:13.680 us or has it hurt our witness? I think you know 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:16.660 the answer to that question. And listen, I'm 00:21:16.660 --> 00:21:18.519 all for winning hearts and minds in the public 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:21.539 square of ideas. I love that. And I love to see 00:21:21.539 --> 00:21:24.420 true biblical principles put out into the public 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:27.569 square to give them a fair hearing. But what's 00:21:27.569 --> 00:21:30.309 happening so much right now is we are mixing 00:21:30.309 --> 00:21:34.690 Christianity with political ideologies. And by 00:21:34.690 --> 00:21:36.589 doing that, we're muddying the waters and we're 00:21:36.589 --> 00:21:38.690 creating confusion in the minds of unbelievers. 00:21:38.950 --> 00:21:40.869 They don't even know what true biblical Christianity 00:21:40.869 --> 00:21:44.450 is anymore because it's so closely now associated 00:21:44.450 --> 00:21:47.789 with these political and social movements. We've 00:21:47.789 --> 00:21:50.609 muddied the waters. I also think that political 00:21:50.609 --> 00:21:53.670 ideologies can lead us down all kinds of rabbit 00:21:53.670 --> 00:21:56.599 holes that end up in sin. especially online, 00:21:56.880 --> 00:22:02.579 where ungodly things and ungodly ideas fester 00:22:02.579 --> 00:22:07.720 and grow if we're not careful. The truth is, 00:22:07.799 --> 00:22:11.619 what our perverted, crime -ridden, sinful society 00:22:11.619 --> 00:22:16.680 needs is a changed heart. It needs new life and 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:19.640 a new nature and new affections. And that only 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.359 happens, friends, when we introduce them to the 00:22:22.359 --> 00:22:27.849 Savior. That's the only way. So, like I said, 00:22:27.970 --> 00:22:33.009 you may be upset at that. That may bug you. You 00:22:33.009 --> 00:22:36.470 may think, ah, hold on a second. I don't know 00:22:36.470 --> 00:22:38.289 if I want to look at Paul's prescription for 00:22:38.289 --> 00:22:41.109 this, but we have to look at it. Let's see what 00:22:41.109 --> 00:22:43.690 he says. Look at verse 1 here in chapter 3. Here's 00:22:43.690 --> 00:22:47.289 Paul's recommendation to Titus about how we should 00:22:47.289 --> 00:22:50.710 live in a pagan society. And the first verse 00:22:50.710 --> 00:22:53.740 could make you angry. It could frustrate you 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:55.799 because of what we're dealing with in America. 00:22:56.460 --> 00:22:58.859 He says, remind them to be subject to the rulers, 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:02.960 to the authorities, and to be obedient. Right? 00:23:04.119 --> 00:23:06.660 That sort of hurts. Like, really? These guys? 00:23:07.880 --> 00:23:11.819 Yeah. And notice he says, remind them. So this 00:23:11.819 --> 00:23:14.119 wasn't a new teaching for the believers in Crete. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:16.619 By the way, that's what we're called to do as 00:23:16.619 --> 00:23:20.230 church leaders, constantly remind you guys. about 00:23:20.230 --> 00:23:22.650 our obligations, right, to the Lord and obligations 00:23:22.650 --> 00:23:25.710 to our culture. Constantly reminding. This is 00:23:25.710 --> 00:23:28.150 what Paul's doing. And in this case, it's a reminder 00:23:28.150 --> 00:23:30.750 for the believers in Crete to seek the public 00:23:30.750 --> 00:23:35.369 good. To seek the public good in obedience as 00:23:35.369 --> 00:23:40.390 good citizens. Right? That's what it says. And 00:23:40.390 --> 00:23:42.390 it's the same call that goes out to us here in 00:23:42.390 --> 00:23:46.130 Santa Clarita as citizens of America. Right? 00:23:46.509 --> 00:23:49.369 We're to seek the public good. By obediently 00:23:49.369 --> 00:23:52.849 submitting to the governing authorities. But 00:23:52.849 --> 00:23:56.289 listen and know this, as Christians, we're always 00:23:56.289 --> 00:23:58.650 going to be frustrated and disappointed by government. 00:23:59.769 --> 00:24:06.190 100 % of the time. If you haven't dealt with 00:24:06.190 --> 00:24:08.829 that in your heart, do it today. You're going 00:24:08.829 --> 00:24:11.450 to be frustrated and disappointed. Why? Because 00:24:11.450 --> 00:24:14.049 no administration on either side of the aisle 00:24:14.049 --> 00:24:17.950 is ever going to govern righteously. It's just 00:24:17.950 --> 00:24:20.410 not going to happen. But think about this. In 00:24:20.410 --> 00:24:22.349 Paul's day, it was so much worse than anything 00:24:22.349 --> 00:24:25.210 we've seen. In spite of all the craziness in 00:24:25.210 --> 00:24:27.769 the last couple decades, that was so much worse. 00:24:28.369 --> 00:24:30.950 We're talking about Roman rulers were absolute 00:24:30.950 --> 00:24:34.690 tyrants. A legal code that was completely arbitrary 00:24:34.690 --> 00:24:38.230 and unfair. All of society was governed based 00:24:38.230 --> 00:24:42.750 on power and wealth and class. And yet still 00:24:42.750 --> 00:24:45.410 consistent all the way through the New Testament. 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:50.200 is this command to be subject to rulers. How 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:53.640 do you explain that? Even Jesus, remember? They 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:57.480 handed him a coin. What did he say? Get that 00:24:57.480 --> 00:25:01.640 trash out of here. Slapped it out of the guy's 00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:06.720 hand, right? No. He looked at it and he said, 00:25:06.880 --> 00:25:11.920 pay your tax to the state. But wait, hold on 00:25:11.920 --> 00:25:15.180 a second. Isn't that the image on that coin idolatrous? 00:25:17.039 --> 00:25:19.140 Yeah, from a Jewish perspective, yeah, pay your 00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:22.640 tax. But wait, the Roman authorities are going 00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:24.960 to collect that tax and use it for ungodly things. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:29.000 True. But still, render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:32.440 Jesus said. I don't have time to go deep into 00:25:32.440 --> 00:25:35.460 it, but the first seven verses in Romans 13 are 00:25:35.460 --> 00:25:38.660 really instructive for us. Government is designed 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:41.480 and established by God, so when you resist that 00:25:41.480 --> 00:25:44.900 authority, you're resisting God. So let government 00:25:44.900 --> 00:25:47.359 do what God designed it to do, Paul says. Let 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:51.740 it restrain evil and punish wrongdoers. But wait, 00:25:51.799 --> 00:25:53.460 Jeff, it's not doing their job. They're not doing 00:25:53.460 --> 00:25:55.359 their job. They're not doing it well. Again, 00:25:55.519 --> 00:25:58.220 that is always going to be the case, friends, 00:25:58.240 --> 00:26:02.859 because it's imperfect. It's people. But Paul 00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:06.579 made no exceptions to this principle in Titus 00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:09.900 3 or Romans 13, not even for a godless psychopath 00:26:09.900 --> 00:26:15.150 like Nero. No exception. Not even all the Greek 00:26:15.150 --> 00:26:17.269 lands that Paul was traveling to where governments 00:26:17.269 --> 00:26:20.730 were known for corruption. So I think here's 00:26:20.730 --> 00:26:22.450 the bottom line, and let me just say this clearly. 00:26:22.769 --> 00:26:26.509 We as Christians should not be lawbreakers. And 00:26:26.509 --> 00:26:28.549 we should not be living in rebellion against 00:26:28.549 --> 00:26:30.630 authority. Number one, because it's displeasing 00:26:30.630 --> 00:26:33.269 to God. And number two, because we're to be a 00:26:33.269 --> 00:26:36.630 blessing in the place that God has put us. We're 00:26:36.630 --> 00:26:39.829 to be a blessing. And if we're lawbreakers and 00:26:39.829 --> 00:26:42.609 if we're rebels, then we are not a blessing. 00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:45.339 to the place that God has planted us. In fact, 00:26:45.380 --> 00:26:48.140 we become quite the opposite. I think that's 00:26:48.140 --> 00:26:50.880 what Paul's getting at here. Now, is there a 00:26:50.880 --> 00:26:52.920 time for us to disobey government? Of course. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:26:55.380 We know this principle, right? We know this. 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:57.640 When we're commanded to do something that would 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:00.619 cause us to disobey God, we have to say no. And 00:27:00.619 --> 00:27:03.640 we have this archetypal example in Acts chapter 00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:07.539 five to guide us on this, right? The religious 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:09.799 authorities in Jerusalem, they arrest John and 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:12.220 Peter and they say, we told you to stop preaching 00:27:12.220 --> 00:27:15.779 about this Jesus guy, so stop it. And they said 00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:20.160 what? Sorry, we have to obey God rather than 00:27:20.160 --> 00:27:23.619 men. And then what happened? They were punished. 00:27:24.380 --> 00:27:28.240 They were flogged. And yet they rejoiced in their 00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:30.359 punishment. Why? Because they honored the Lord. 00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:33.279 They obeyed God's command and they kept on doing 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:35.420 it. Then they went right back out and went preaching 00:27:35.420 --> 00:27:38.000 in the temple courts because God had commanded 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:41.019 that. So yes, there is a time. And by the way, 00:27:41.039 --> 00:27:44.079 this happened during the COVID era. We saw this, 00:27:44.160 --> 00:27:46.200 right? When the state turns against the church 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:49.200 and begins to tell the church that they can't 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:51.859 do what God has commanded us to do. And in those 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:54.700 cases. What do we do? We stand our ground and 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:58.559 we do what we have to do and be willing to suffer 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:01.039 the consequences. But other than that, we are 00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:03.779 to be subject to the authorities. We are to obey 00:28:03.779 --> 00:28:07.700 in every possible case that we can obey. To be 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:10.819 a blessing to the public, good to the citizenry 00:28:10.819 --> 00:28:15.319 of the place where God has us. Where God has 00:28:15.319 --> 00:28:17.180 you right now, you know this is part of a sovereign 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:19.380 plan, right? It's not an accident that you live 00:28:19.380 --> 00:28:22.619 in this valley. So take a look at where God has 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:28.240 put you and be a blessing. Okay. By the way, 00:28:28.259 --> 00:28:30.819 just to supplement what Paul is saying to Titus, 00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:33.539 how many of you guys listened carefully to the 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:35.680 call to worship this morning that Kenny read 00:28:35.680 --> 00:28:40.119 from 1 Peter 2? Peter makes an interesting case 00:28:40.119 --> 00:28:41.960 in that passage. He starts with this amazing 00:28:41.960 --> 00:28:44.559 statement in 1 Peter 2. He says, did you know 00:28:44.559 --> 00:28:47.319 as the church you're a holy nation and a royal 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:50.559 priesthood? You're all priests. Congratulations. 00:28:52.140 --> 00:28:54.299 You're all priests. That's what the church is. 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:59.440 What's the function of a priest? To bring people 00:28:59.440 --> 00:29:03.480 to God. That's what we do. That's what the body 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:05.380 of Christ is called to do in the New Testament 00:29:05.380 --> 00:29:08.079 era. We usher people into the presence of God. 00:29:09.230 --> 00:29:11.849 And as a royal priesthood, we go out there and 00:29:11.849 --> 00:29:14.569 we proclaim the excellencies of the one who called 00:29:14.569 --> 00:29:16.710 us out of darkness and into his marvelous light. 00:29:16.809 --> 00:29:19.910 It has got to be our goal and desire as priests 00:29:19.910 --> 00:29:22.490 to show others that light that we've received. 00:29:24.069 --> 00:29:27.630 But what happens if we don't do this, if we posture 00:29:27.630 --> 00:29:29.789 ourselves as enemies of the culture that we're 00:29:29.789 --> 00:29:33.890 trying to reach? Who then is gonna usher them 00:29:33.890 --> 00:29:37.710 into the presence of God? Christians do this 00:29:37.710 --> 00:29:42.470 at times, right? We're so harsh, we're so judgmental, 00:29:42.470 --> 00:29:46.289 we forget who we once were, and we posture ourselves 00:29:46.289 --> 00:29:49.430 as enemies of the very people we're supposed 00:29:49.430 --> 00:29:53.910 to reach. So behind the preaching of the gospel 00:29:53.910 --> 00:29:56.430 has to be a posture of grace and compassion, 00:29:56.750 --> 00:29:59.470 knowing that the folks out there are spiritually 00:29:59.470 --> 00:30:03.750 blind and need help to see. And along with that 00:30:03.750 --> 00:30:06.589 posture and proclamation has to come a unique 00:30:06.589 --> 00:30:10.269 way of living. that makes what we say believable. 00:30:10.650 --> 00:30:12.910 We have to build platforms from which we can 00:30:12.910 --> 00:30:16.769 talk about Jesus with integrity. People look 00:30:16.769 --> 00:30:18.990 at our lives. Are you building a platform where 00:30:18.990 --> 00:30:21.269 you can actually speak with integrity about how 00:30:21.269 --> 00:30:25.170 Jesus has changed your life? And to that end, 00:30:25.210 --> 00:30:28.190 Peter writes, keep your behavior excellent among 00:30:28.190 --> 00:30:30.589 the Gentiles. Why? So that they'll see your good 00:30:30.589 --> 00:30:32.630 works, they'll see your good lives, and they 00:30:32.630 --> 00:30:37.259 will glorify God. So in all the places that you 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:39.740 go in this valley, in all the daily contacts 00:30:39.740 --> 00:30:42.660 you have with people, be mindful of your role 00:30:42.660 --> 00:30:48.210 as a priest. Be mindful of that. To bring people 00:30:48.210 --> 00:30:50.769 to God, to show them that light. And then, by 00:30:50.769 --> 00:30:53.009 the way, Peter also hits on the same theme that 00:30:53.009 --> 00:30:56.390 Paul does in Titus 3 and Romans 13 in this particular 00:30:56.390 --> 00:30:59.670 passage. He says, here's one of the ways that 00:30:59.670 --> 00:31:02.150 you can be an effective witness for the gospel. 00:31:02.609 --> 00:31:05.309 Submit yourselves, for the Lord's sake, to every 00:31:05.309 --> 00:31:08.230 human institution, whether to a king as the one 00:31:08.230 --> 00:31:11.130 in authority or to the governors as sent by him. 00:31:12.880 --> 00:31:15.940 This is part of our effective witnessing strategy 00:31:15.940 --> 00:31:20.039 when people see us do this well, when we're good 00:31:20.039 --> 00:31:23.799 citizens, when we obey. He finishes that section 00:31:23.799 --> 00:31:29.700 by saying, honor all people, even sinners. Honor 00:31:29.700 --> 00:31:34.880 all people and honor the king. This is the life 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:37.900 we're supposed to live in the midst of a pagan 00:31:37.900 --> 00:31:40.740 society. These are things we're supposed to be 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:44.529 known for. And then in verse 2, if you look at 00:31:44.529 --> 00:31:48.230 verse 2 in our text in Titus, Paul then piles 00:31:48.230 --> 00:31:50.730 on the teaching by laying out four more commands 00:31:50.730 --> 00:31:54.289 that describe how our posture should be towards 00:31:54.289 --> 00:31:57.450 the world. And these are four things that when 00:31:57.450 --> 00:31:58.630 you look at them, you're like, well, those are 00:31:58.630 --> 00:32:01.130 obvious things. But friends, listen, in our frustration 00:32:01.130 --> 00:32:04.250 and in our anger about the condition of our culture 00:32:04.250 --> 00:32:07.029 right now, it's possible that we can forget these 00:32:07.029 --> 00:32:12.009 things because we get worked up. Because we want 00:32:12.009 --> 00:32:14.490 things to change. We want to see things get better. 00:32:14.609 --> 00:32:17.190 So we sit and we stare at our computer screens 00:32:17.190 --> 00:32:19.630 and we get all worked up and then we forget this 00:32:19.630 --> 00:32:22.609 is how we're supposed to be as believers. And 00:32:22.609 --> 00:32:25.130 the first one is this. Stop maligning people. 00:32:26.470 --> 00:32:29.349 That word means to slander them or to speak evil 00:32:29.349 --> 00:32:34.029 of them. Don't treat people with contempt. Not 00:32:34.029 --> 00:32:36.769 your leaders, not those in authority, not your 00:32:36.769 --> 00:32:40.819 neighbor. We're not to be known for being slanderers, 00:32:40.839 --> 00:32:47.799 treating people with contempt. And sadly, professing 00:32:47.799 --> 00:32:52.660 Christians are sort of known for this. I mean, 00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:54.700 I know it's a bit of a stereotype, but we're 00:32:54.700 --> 00:32:56.779 kind of known for this. I'm not saying those 00:32:56.779 --> 00:33:00.000 of us in this room, but when others who profess 00:33:00.000 --> 00:33:03.339 Christ become this way, it affects all of our 00:33:03.339 --> 00:33:06.799 witness, doesn't it? So whether it's deserved 00:33:06.799 --> 00:33:10.000 or not, we have a reputation for being condescending 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:12.279 and sometimes cruel towards those who don't share 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:15.279 our values. And we do that even though we were 00:33:15.279 --> 00:33:19.339 once one of them. So what does that say? It says 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:22.579 we're arrogant now. God saved us and now we can 00:33:22.579 --> 00:33:25.200 look down on other people. At least that's what 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:27.180 they feel. So you gotta be aware of that as a 00:33:27.180 --> 00:33:31.119 priest. Somehow we forget that the minds of the 00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:33.420 people out there are blinded by the God of this 00:33:33.420 --> 00:33:37.099 world. We forget that we really can't hold them 00:33:37.099 --> 00:33:39.519 to the same standard of values that we have because 00:33:39.519 --> 00:33:43.019 they don't have the Holy Spirit. We forget it. 00:33:44.059 --> 00:33:47.819 Now, we have every right and even an obligation 00:33:47.819 --> 00:33:51.740 in some cases to call sin, sin, to say that is 00:33:51.740 --> 00:33:55.480 wrong, that is sinful. We can name it. We can 00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:58.880 call people to repentance. As long as the motivation 00:33:58.880 --> 00:34:01.519 behind that is love, we can and should call people 00:34:01.519 --> 00:34:05.609 to repentance. But how we approach those folks, 00:34:05.710 --> 00:34:09.389 how we approach that situation matters. Is our 00:34:09.389 --> 00:34:13.409 practice just to rip into people for their lifestyles 00:34:13.409 --> 00:34:19.030 with slanderous words? Or do we graciously seek 00:34:19.030 --> 00:34:21.230 their good by showing them a better way? Those 00:34:21.230 --> 00:34:23.889 are two completely different things. The sin 00:34:23.889 --> 00:34:26.369 is the sin. We can call it out, but how we get 00:34:26.369 --> 00:34:29.570 there, how we approach it, makes a huge difference. 00:34:30.760 --> 00:34:33.340 We're not responsible for the results, but we 00:34:33.340 --> 00:34:36.059 are responsible for what's going on in our own 00:34:36.059 --> 00:34:42.000 hearts as we approach sinners. Amen? So we don't 00:34:42.000 --> 00:34:44.699 malign people. Number two, we're to be peaceable. 00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:47.400 That means we're to avoid quarreling with folks 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:50.460 in the world. The literal translation of this 00:34:50.460 --> 00:34:55.119 word used here is to be not contentious. And 00:34:55.119 --> 00:34:57.119 again, I realize it's hard for us to see the 00:34:57.119 --> 00:35:00.519 world and our culture spiraling down. But we're 00:35:00.519 --> 00:35:03.260 not to respond to that truth by just being combative 00:35:03.260 --> 00:35:06.679 with everyone. We should guard our hearts from 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:09.960 feeling offended by everything that we see because 00:35:09.960 --> 00:35:12.380 unsaved people are gonna act like unsaved people. 00:35:12.820 --> 00:35:16.019 And we should expect that, right? And we should 00:35:16.019 --> 00:35:19.039 seek peace. I'm gonna come back to that in just 00:35:19.039 --> 00:35:20.820 a little bit because here's the thing, you guys. 00:35:21.539 --> 00:35:26.460 If we're gonna be contending for truth in this 00:35:26.460 --> 00:35:28.719 culture, there's gonna be times when we have 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:32.190 to argue. And when we argue, we should argue 00:35:32.190 --> 00:35:35.389 in a godly fashion. So hold that thought. We'll 00:35:35.389 --> 00:35:38.050 come back to it. The third thing here is we're 00:35:38.050 --> 00:35:41.670 to be gentle. We should be patient with sinners 00:35:41.670 --> 00:35:45.349 because we know their nature. One commentator 00:35:45.349 --> 00:35:47.369 sums up the word that Paul uses here. It's a 00:35:47.369 --> 00:35:51.070 very unique word. He calls it sweet reasonableness. 00:35:52.190 --> 00:35:55.769 Think about that. Do the people in your life 00:35:55.769 --> 00:35:59.190 see you with that disposition? Sweet reasonableness. 00:36:00.029 --> 00:36:02.090 Or do they see you as somebody that comes off 00:36:02.090 --> 00:36:04.710 grumbly and argumentative and hostile all the 00:36:04.710 --> 00:36:08.409 time? We should be gentle. Number four, we're 00:36:08.409 --> 00:36:12.030 to show every consideration for all men or all 00:36:12.030 --> 00:36:15.789 people. In some translations that says we should 00:36:15.789 --> 00:36:20.250 show them perfect courtesy, having a mildness 00:36:20.250 --> 00:36:23.750 of disposition. And the idea is that in all of 00:36:23.750 --> 00:36:25.469 our dealings with those in the culture, we should 00:36:25.469 --> 00:36:28.440 be under the control of the Holy Spirit. responding 00:36:28.440 --> 00:36:31.920 graciously and kindly even if we feel like we've 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:36.300 been wronged. By God's grace, we should be gracious 00:36:36.300 --> 00:36:40.380 in return to fellow citizens and neighbors and 00:36:40.380 --> 00:36:42.400 especially towards those who don't yet know Christ. 00:36:44.739 --> 00:36:47.440 So this is challenging, isn't it? In the world 00:36:47.440 --> 00:36:49.280 we live in, this is really challenging. It sort 00:36:49.280 --> 00:36:52.739 of flips upside down all of our feelings about 00:36:52.739 --> 00:36:55.500 what's happening around us and sort of reorients 00:36:55.500 --> 00:36:58.230 us and says, hey, hold on a second. Do you remember 00:36:58.230 --> 00:37:00.849 who you once were? How are you now approaching 00:37:00.849 --> 00:37:04.550 unsaved people? What's your heart posture towards 00:37:04.550 --> 00:37:08.909 them? It's very important. On the final bit of 00:37:08.909 --> 00:37:10.829 time we have left, I want to talk about conflict 00:37:10.829 --> 00:37:13.630 and about disagreement and how we can strive 00:37:13.630 --> 00:37:17.070 to argue with others in a godly way. This is 00:37:17.070 --> 00:37:20.230 a great skill to have, and it takes practice. 00:37:20.269 --> 00:37:24.550 I wrote this last night, and the whole time I 00:37:24.550 --> 00:37:26.800 was writing, I was thinking, I need to get better 00:37:26.800 --> 00:37:28.920 at this. I'm still learning how to do this well. 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:31.579 Because if you're competitive like me, you like 00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:33.719 to win arguments, this is a real temptation. 00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:35.980 But we've got to be able to argue in a way that 00:37:35.980 --> 00:37:38.960 builds that platform so that we can bring the 00:37:38.960 --> 00:37:42.079 gospel to bear. And I should start by acknowledging 00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:45.559 that, guys, we probably live in the most contentious 00:37:45.559 --> 00:37:49.840 period of human history, just interpersonally, 00:37:49.840 --> 00:37:53.320 because we live in the internet age. I'm fully 00:37:53.320 --> 00:37:55.579 convinced that when the new heavens and the new 00:37:55.579 --> 00:37:58.760 earth come into being, there's going to be this 00:37:58.760 --> 00:38:01.519 point where everybody said, that's where it went 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:05.699 all awry, the internet. And I can say that because 00:38:05.699 --> 00:38:08.940 I existed before the internet. Everything changed. 00:38:09.639 --> 00:38:12.480 I mean, honestly, what a crossroads for humanity. 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:17.239 And then on top of that, social media. Again, 00:38:17.340 --> 00:38:21.070 I existed long before social media. So we now 00:38:21.070 --> 00:38:24.750 live every day in a post -truth world where everybody's 00:38:24.750 --> 00:38:28.130 opinion seems to be valid. All you have to do 00:38:28.130 --> 00:38:29.849 is have the right platform and the right number 00:38:29.849 --> 00:38:34.050 of followers, right? We live in a world where 00:38:34.050 --> 00:38:37.110 nothing is any more objectively true, where no 00:38:37.110 --> 00:38:40.150 institution or person can be trusted. We live 00:38:40.150 --> 00:38:42.769 in the age of conspiracy theories. We live in 00:38:42.769 --> 00:38:45.610 the era of outrage over every little thing, the 00:38:45.610 --> 00:38:48.920 era of building brands and getting clicks. Oh, 00:38:48.980 --> 00:38:51.780 and finding mic drop moments rather than having 00:38:51.780 --> 00:38:55.280 extended loving conversations. We just want sound 00:38:55.280 --> 00:38:57.960 bites now. Everything is, man, if you put on 00:38:57.960 --> 00:38:59.659 a video, you're like, oh my goodness, it's six 00:38:59.659 --> 00:39:02.719 minutes long. I don't have time for that. I need 00:39:02.719 --> 00:39:04.960 30 seconds. This is the world we live in right 00:39:04.960 --> 00:39:10.159 now. So in the midst of all that, Christians 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:14.099 have to figure out how to disagree with people 00:39:14.099 --> 00:39:17.840 and have debates in a way that honors the Lord. 00:39:18.860 --> 00:39:21.940 So as we've seen already in today's text, some 00:39:21.940 --> 00:39:27.920 types of arguing are sinful. We sin because we're 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:32.500 not to be quarrelsome, but peaceable. The Bible 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:34.480 also condemns arguing about things that aren't 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:38.960 worth arguing about. Right? They're called foolish 00:39:38.960 --> 00:39:41.400 controversies in the New Testament. Avoid them. 00:39:41.619 --> 00:39:46.860 They're not worth arguing over. And obviously, 00:39:46.940 --> 00:39:50.019 we can fall into ungodly anger, which James condemns, 00:39:50.019 --> 00:39:52.440 right? The type of anger that leads us to engage 00:39:52.440 --> 00:39:57.000 in very unbiblical arguments. But there is a 00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:58.920 way that we can disagree with unbelievers. There 00:39:58.920 --> 00:40:00.960 is a way that we can call them to repentance 00:40:00.960 --> 00:40:04.739 and argue in both a godly way and a productive 00:40:04.739 --> 00:40:08.320 way. And Jesus actually models this for us. In 00:40:08.320 --> 00:40:11.800 all of the challenges that he lays out against 00:40:11.800 --> 00:40:14.440 his opponents, Jesus models this for us. He doesn't 00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:18.090 get angry. But he does challenge people. Paul 00:40:18.090 --> 00:40:20.869 often argued with others about the truthfulness 00:40:20.869 --> 00:40:23.510 of the scriptures. Remember, Peter's the one 00:40:23.510 --> 00:40:26.489 who exhorts us, always be ready to give a defense 00:40:26.489 --> 00:40:31.369 for what you believe. But with what? With gentleness. 00:40:32.489 --> 00:40:35.110 We're told to contend for the faith. Contending 00:40:35.110 --> 00:40:36.909 usually means you're battling for something. 00:40:37.670 --> 00:40:40.030 But we need to do it in a godly fashion. Pastors 00:40:40.030 --> 00:40:42.710 and elders are called to defend biblical doctrine. 00:40:42.889 --> 00:40:45.630 We're called to refute false teachers. That is 00:40:45.630 --> 00:40:49.829 going to require arguing. So at the end of the 00:40:49.829 --> 00:40:51.630 day, I think there's three questions that we 00:40:51.630 --> 00:40:54.449 should be asking whenever we choose to engage 00:40:54.449 --> 00:40:58.170 in an argument. Here they are. Whoop, there it 00:40:58.170 --> 00:41:01.329 is. Number one, ask yourself, what's motivating 00:41:01.329 --> 00:41:07.219 me to want to argue about this? Do I really think 00:41:07.219 --> 00:41:09.840 it's worth arguing over? Is my motivation for 00:41:09.840 --> 00:41:14.320 this right? Or is it selfish? It's a good start. 00:41:14.860 --> 00:41:18.920 Before you jump into the argument, why? And is 00:41:18.920 --> 00:41:21.579 it worth it? Number two, am I arguing from a 00:41:21.579 --> 00:41:24.980 place of humility? Or am I arguing from a place 00:41:24.980 --> 00:41:29.519 of pride and contentiousness? In other words, 00:41:29.519 --> 00:41:32.500 am I after a fight? Or am I approaching this 00:41:32.500 --> 00:41:36.329 with... Not false humility, but real humility. 00:41:37.530 --> 00:41:41.030 To actually have a personal interaction with, 00:41:41.170 --> 00:41:44.250 I'll call them an opponent. To get to know them, 00:41:44.269 --> 00:41:46.670 to hear them, to understand where they're coming 00:41:46.670 --> 00:41:50.510 from in humility. Third, am I arguing for truth 00:41:50.510 --> 00:41:54.309 and for God's glory? Or is there some other reason 00:41:54.309 --> 00:41:57.610 going on that I'm really, really after self -glory? 00:41:58.530 --> 00:42:01.289 Because I really like to win arguments. I really 00:42:01.289 --> 00:42:04.000 like to outthink people. Or out -logic them. 00:42:04.900 --> 00:42:09.099 And I just want to crush them. We can fall into 00:42:09.099 --> 00:42:12.579 that trap. So those are really good questions. 00:42:12.659 --> 00:42:16.059 This is a foundation for why we choose to argue. 00:42:16.260 --> 00:42:18.280 But then I've got a whole bunch of other principles 00:42:18.280 --> 00:42:21.639 here. Are you ready? If you want, you can take 00:42:21.639 --> 00:42:23.039 a picture. Some people take pictures of those 00:42:23.039 --> 00:42:26.800 things if you want to. A whole bunch of other 00:42:26.800 --> 00:42:30.960 things. And by the way, these principles, let 00:42:30.960 --> 00:42:33.539 me just say this carefully. They don't apply 00:42:33.539 --> 00:42:36.280 just to conversations, verbal conversations. 00:42:36.619 --> 00:42:42.639 Also to your typing. In fact, some of you do 00:42:42.639 --> 00:42:48.320 more typing than you do speaking these days. 00:42:48.940 --> 00:42:51.199 And we will give an account for every word that 00:42:51.199 --> 00:42:54.820 we speak and every word that we type before the 00:42:54.820 --> 00:42:57.760 Lord someday. So you know this happens, right? 00:42:57.840 --> 00:43:00.380 There's the real person, then there's the online 00:43:00.380 --> 00:43:03.719 persona. There's the real person who will often 00:43:03.719 --> 00:43:06.980 engage in a more friendly way, and then there's 00:43:06.980 --> 00:43:09.519 the crazy person behind the keyboard who feels 00:43:09.519 --> 00:43:12.239 comfortable saying almost anything. So guard 00:43:12.239 --> 00:43:14.480 your heart in this. This is both about verbal 00:43:14.480 --> 00:43:18.900 and about online. So first principle, treat the 00:43:18.900 --> 00:43:21.920 other person with dignity and respect. If you 00:43:21.920 --> 00:43:25.099 want to argue in a godly fashion, treat that 00:43:25.099 --> 00:43:27.880 person across the table with dignity and respect. 00:43:29.179 --> 00:43:32.090 If we're not in control of our emotions, It is 00:43:32.090 --> 00:43:35.050 so easy to get angry and lose sight of the humanity 00:43:35.050 --> 00:43:37.449 of that person. They are now just a person to 00:43:37.449 --> 00:43:41.050 be overcome. And if we're not careful in that, 00:43:41.150 --> 00:43:44.710 we will end up using ad hominem attacks, using 00:43:44.710 --> 00:43:48.289 slander and name -calling. And so know this principle. 00:43:48.630 --> 00:43:53.630 Attack the issue. Attack the false idea. Attack 00:43:53.630 --> 00:43:57.750 the sinful thing. Don't attack the person or 00:43:57.750 --> 00:44:01.900 their character and inflame that argument. so 00:44:01.900 --> 00:44:06.059 that it becomes something ungodly. Okay? Always 00:44:06.059 --> 00:44:08.079 know who you represent. Christians should be 00:44:08.079 --> 00:44:12.559 better than that. That's number one. Number two, 00:44:12.679 --> 00:44:16.440 be a good listener. Be a good listener for the 00:44:16.440 --> 00:44:19.119 sake of understanding. Nothing shuts down a debate 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:22.579 faster than when a person feels like he's not 00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:24.940 even listening to me. Right, you've probably 00:44:24.940 --> 00:44:27.900 had this experience. Maybe it's a gospel conversation 00:44:27.900 --> 00:44:30.239 and this person is not even listening. They just 00:44:30.239 --> 00:44:33.599 wanna get their next point out. Well, we can 00:44:33.599 --> 00:44:36.159 do that as Christians. Remember, what are you 00:44:36.159 --> 00:44:39.260 trying to win? An argument? You're trying to 00:44:39.260 --> 00:44:43.400 win someone's heart. So listen to them. Listen 00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:45.679 for the sake of understanding. James says this, 00:44:45.739 --> 00:44:49.239 be quick to listen and slow to speak. And actually, 00:44:49.280 --> 00:44:51.320 nothing is gonna win you more respect from your 00:44:51.320 --> 00:44:54.019 opponent. than when they feel you're truly trying 00:44:54.019 --> 00:44:57.719 to understand them. I mean, look, if you just 00:44:57.719 --> 00:45:00.320 want to slam people, then don't listen. But if 00:45:00.320 --> 00:45:03.320 you want to actually win the argument in a way 00:45:03.320 --> 00:45:05.860 that draws them into the truth of the gospel, 00:45:06.139 --> 00:45:08.280 show them that respect. Show them that you're 00:45:08.280 --> 00:45:10.300 really listening and you're trying to understand. 00:45:10.340 --> 00:45:12.780 And sometimes, even when you do this, you will 00:45:12.780 --> 00:45:14.920 find, you know what, we have more in common than 00:45:14.920 --> 00:45:18.079 we thought. And you can build on that common 00:45:18.079 --> 00:45:21.760 ground in your argument. Number three, in a similar 00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:24.400 vein, treat the opposing argument with integrity 00:45:24.400 --> 00:45:29.079 and with charity. Okay? Don't twist their logic 00:45:29.079 --> 00:45:31.460 into something they actually haven't claimed. 00:45:31.760 --> 00:45:33.900 Have you ever seen people do this? They'll make 00:45:33.900 --> 00:45:35.260 a statement, you're like, so what you're saying 00:45:35.260 --> 00:45:37.000 is, and then you twist the logic and make it 00:45:37.000 --> 00:45:40.210 sound really terrible. We call that strawmanning. 00:45:40.250 --> 00:45:42.010 You're gonna strawman other people's positions. 00:45:42.210 --> 00:45:44.369 They haven't said that, so don't put words in 00:45:44.369 --> 00:45:46.329 their mouth. It doesn't make you look good. Actually, 00:45:46.449 --> 00:45:49.670 what it does is it causes you to lose your integrity 00:45:49.670 --> 00:45:52.329 and it hurts your witness in front of unbelievers. 00:45:53.170 --> 00:45:55.230 Honestly, my most common suggestion to anyone 00:45:55.230 --> 00:45:58.230 who finds themselves in a argument situation 00:45:58.230 --> 00:46:02.349 or a debate situation is to ask way more questions 00:46:02.349 --> 00:46:06.190 than you make assertions. Ask people questions. 00:46:07.019 --> 00:46:09.880 Let them share where they're coming from. Oftentimes 00:46:09.880 --> 00:46:12.659 they trap themselves, don't they? You can actually 00:46:12.659 --> 00:46:15.599 politely corner somebody by asking follow -up 00:46:15.599 --> 00:46:17.739 questions to the point where they realize, uh 00:46:17.739 --> 00:46:20.800 -oh, my logic isn't very good. But you've done 00:46:20.800 --> 00:46:23.179 it with grace and with politeness, and then you 00:46:23.179 --> 00:46:26.800 can ease into your assertions in that conversation. 00:46:27.260 --> 00:46:30.059 Ask questions. Don't be the one that's constantly 00:46:30.059 --> 00:46:34.119 lecturing. Ask questions. Seek to understand. 00:46:34.380 --> 00:46:37.940 Make sense? Number four. Stay cool and remember 00:46:37.940 --> 00:46:41.699 who you represent. You are an ambassador for 00:46:41.699 --> 00:46:45.260 Christ in that conversation, in that argument. 00:46:45.900 --> 00:46:49.239 Paul tells Timothy, the Lord's bondservant must 00:46:49.239 --> 00:46:52.639 be patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting 00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:57.300 those in opposition. That's great advice. Now, 00:46:57.320 --> 00:46:59.860 that doesn't mean we're so gentle that we sacrifice 00:46:59.860 --> 00:47:04.559 truth, but we cannot revile our opponent. When 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:06.519 you disagree, you've got to measure both your 00:47:06.519 --> 00:47:10.239 words and your tone, and you've got to pray throughout 00:47:10.239 --> 00:47:12.820 that conversation that the Spirit would prevent 00:47:12.820 --> 00:47:16.239 you from being so combative, so combative that 00:47:16.239 --> 00:47:19.980 you actually drive people away. Keep the goal 00:47:19.980 --> 00:47:22.420 foremost in your mind. You're an ambassador for 00:47:22.420 --> 00:47:25.260 Christ, so how you represent him is actually 00:47:25.260 --> 00:47:28.320 of utmost importance because you're not responsible 00:47:28.320 --> 00:47:31.179 for the results, only the method in which you 00:47:31.179 --> 00:47:35.250 employ. I know so many, If you're a fan of YouTube 00:47:35.250 --> 00:47:38.710 and you watch debates, Christian debates, I've 00:47:38.710 --> 00:47:41.690 watched probably too many of them, but I like 00:47:41.690 --> 00:47:44.929 to hear the arguments. You know what's interesting 00:47:44.929 --> 00:47:47.730 is you have some guys out there who are debaters, 00:47:47.829 --> 00:47:50.929 and they have millions of subscribers, and they 00:47:50.929 --> 00:47:53.329 are super smart, and they're well -equipped, 00:47:53.409 --> 00:47:57.309 but you know what? They're absolute jerks. I 00:47:57.309 --> 00:47:58.989 wouldn't want to be associated with them. They're 00:47:58.989 --> 00:48:02.269 not kind, they're not gentle, and they don't 00:48:02.269 --> 00:48:04.980 reflect Christ well. That's very common. So they 00:48:04.980 --> 00:48:07.199 might win the debate, but based on how they come 00:48:07.199 --> 00:48:10.780 across to the audience, no thank you. That's 00:48:10.780 --> 00:48:12.559 called winning the battle and losing the war. 00:48:13.880 --> 00:48:16.639 It happens all the time. Fifth, remember who 00:48:16.639 --> 00:48:19.719 the real enemy is. For our struggle is not against 00:48:19.719 --> 00:48:22.679 flesh and blood, Paul says in Ephesians 6. There's 00:48:22.679 --> 00:48:25.800 something going on behind the person you're speaking 00:48:25.800 --> 00:48:30.780 with. So if I'm gonna demonize somebody, demonize 00:48:30.780 --> 00:48:33.880 the demons. Not that image bearer who's just 00:48:33.880 --> 00:48:36.460 spiritually blind and struggling. Don't demonize 00:48:36.460 --> 00:48:39.019 him. Demonize the demons. They're the ones who 00:48:39.019 --> 00:48:42.039 are actually exercising authority in that situation. 00:48:42.739 --> 00:48:46.239 Just remember that. And finally, number six. 00:48:46.519 --> 00:48:49.460 This is one that I struggle with. Know when to 00:48:49.460 --> 00:48:54.139 walk away. Know when to walk away. Sometimes 00:48:54.139 --> 00:48:56.420 the attitude of your opponent, his combative 00:48:56.420 --> 00:48:59.800 nature, his utter foolishness is going to be 00:48:59.800 --> 00:49:02.300 a signal to you that, you know what, this argument 00:49:02.300 --> 00:49:06.119 is not going anywhere good. We're not going anywhere 00:49:06.119 --> 00:49:09.619 positive here. And as Jesus once said, there 00:49:09.619 --> 00:49:11.179 are going to be times in your life where you 00:49:11.179 --> 00:49:12.960 say, you know what, I'm not going to throw any 00:49:12.960 --> 00:49:15.860 more pearls before swine. And I'm going to dust 00:49:15.860 --> 00:49:19.579 off my sandals and I'm going to move on, right? 00:49:19.920 --> 00:49:21.940 Because all they want to do is argue. All they 00:49:21.940 --> 00:49:23.920 want to do is trample on these pearls that you're 00:49:23.920 --> 00:49:27.329 trying to throw out. So employ wisdom in those 00:49:27.329 --> 00:49:30.050 scenarios. First, who should I engage with? And 00:49:30.050 --> 00:49:34.269 second, for how long? Is this conversation fruitful 00:49:34.269 --> 00:49:36.429 or not? Those are really important things to 00:49:36.429 --> 00:49:43.690 consider. Okay. There's a lot to learn here, 00:49:43.750 --> 00:49:46.110 isn't there? Good, Minnie's taking a picture. 00:49:46.230 --> 00:49:49.190 I love it. It's great. Now, next week we'll look 00:49:49.190 --> 00:49:52.030 into verses four through eight. For today, I 00:49:52.030 --> 00:49:55.440 just want you to take home just... This important 00:49:55.440 --> 00:49:58.619 thought, simple but important. Ask yourself, 00:49:58.639 --> 00:50:01.900 what is your heart posture towards the culture 00:50:01.900 --> 00:50:07.019 around you today? What do you think of it? How 00:50:07.019 --> 00:50:11.579 do you approach it? Is it marked by hostility 00:50:11.579 --> 00:50:18.559 or anger or judgment? Are we standing apart from 00:50:18.559 --> 00:50:20.960 our neighbors with cold indifference or are we 00:50:20.960 --> 00:50:24.769 just seething inside about what we see? Or do 00:50:24.769 --> 00:50:28.090 we see opportunities? Man, when things get darker, 00:50:28.150 --> 00:50:32.349 guess what? The light gets brighter. These are 00:50:32.349 --> 00:50:35.230 opportunities. Opportunities to draw distinctions 00:50:35.230 --> 00:50:37.530 between people. Opportunities to talk about darkness 00:50:37.530 --> 00:50:39.889 and light. Opportunities to talk about true peace 00:50:39.889 --> 00:50:43.469 and joy in this life and the life to come. Do 00:50:43.469 --> 00:50:48.929 those possibilities excite you? A chance to be 00:50:48.929 --> 00:50:52.059 an ambassador for Christ? to take the very same 00:50:52.059 --> 00:50:54.280 message that saved you and share it with somebody 00:50:54.280 --> 00:50:58.880 else, these things should get us excited. In 00:50:58.880 --> 00:51:01.679 every aspect of our lives as Christians, guys, 00:51:01.699 --> 00:51:04.000 we've got to keep that evangelistic goal in the 00:51:04.000 --> 00:51:07.019 forefront of our minds. Even in the little moments 00:51:07.019 --> 00:51:09.780 of life, you may think that you sit down at a 00:51:09.780 --> 00:51:11.599 restaurant and this waiter or waitress comes 00:51:11.599 --> 00:51:13.500 up, and you may think that's an insignificant 00:51:13.500 --> 00:51:18.599 moment. It might not be. Are you thinking with 00:51:18.599 --> 00:51:21.460 evangelism in mind? in all of your interactions. 00:51:22.800 --> 00:51:25.280 Yes, that means verbally proclaiming Jesus, but 00:51:25.280 --> 00:51:27.880 it also means showing the world in word and deed 00:51:27.880 --> 00:51:33.099 what a redeemed life looks like. What does a 00:51:33.099 --> 00:51:38.219 redeemed life look like this week for you? Where 00:51:38.219 --> 00:51:41.420 you're happily in submission to authority, where 00:51:41.420 --> 00:51:43.760 you're eager to do good deeds in service to others, 00:51:43.880 --> 00:51:47.219 where you're seeking the public good, a life 00:51:47.219 --> 00:51:50.349 where you're not and slandering people, where 00:51:50.349 --> 00:51:53.530 you're seeking peace. You're seeking to be kind 00:51:53.530 --> 00:51:57.250 and gentle to those around you. Even in our disagreements 00:51:57.250 --> 00:52:01.110 with people, in the way we disagree. Can you 00:52:01.110 --> 00:52:02.969 disagree and argue in a way that makes them go, 00:52:03.070 --> 00:52:06.690 you know what? Even though we don't see eye to 00:52:06.690 --> 00:52:08.469 eye, there's something different about the way 00:52:08.469 --> 00:52:12.710 that person just argued with me. What a compliment 00:52:12.710 --> 00:52:15.170 would it be for someone to say that? You know 00:52:15.170 --> 00:52:18.289 what? We don't see eye to eye, but. He or she 00:52:18.289 --> 00:52:22.010 listened to me. They actually cared. That's how 00:52:22.010 --> 00:52:25.710 you win arguments. Ambassadors for Christ, faithfully 00:52:25.710 --> 00:52:29.510 representing the Savior. Amen? I'm gonna send 00:52:29.510 --> 00:52:31.329 you into a time of quiet reflection because I 00:52:31.329 --> 00:52:35.070 know I probably just ruffled some feathers. So 00:52:35.070 --> 00:52:37.630 if you would, bow your heads and I don't know, 00:52:37.630 --> 00:52:40.030 talk to the Lord about anything that came up 00:52:40.030 --> 00:52:43.849 in this passage or in the message that you need 00:52:43.849 --> 00:52:46.429 to confess or you need to just talk to the lord 00:52:46.429 --> 00:52:48.969 about i'll give you a few moments and then grant 00:52:48.969 --> 00:52:49.889 will close us in prayer