WEBVTT

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 The letters to 1st and 2nd Timothy and Titus, as you probably know, are popularly referred to as

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 the pastoral epistles. But to be honest with you, that title can be a little bit misleading.

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 It's only been popularized probably in the last 150 years to even call it that.

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 And if we're not careful, if that's how we're thinking about these books, we'll think that

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 they're basically irrelevant to the everyday Christian, that the purpose of them is really

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 just to inform pastors or church leaders or to give a polity for church structures that bore us to tears

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 and all of those kinds of things. But really, that's not what these books are. That's not at least only

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 what they are. They're relevant for the whole church. And though portions of these letters are

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 indeed personal, they were never intended to be private. And if you think back all the way to when

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 we introduced this book, we talked about this a little bit. This letter to Titus was never

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 meant to be a private letter. Titus is inspired scripture. It is inspired by God for the purpose

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 of instructing his church, of instructing his people. And once Titus received this letter,

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 he wouldn't have kept it to himself. It was read publicly in the churches in Crete. To the congregations

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 of the church, it was there. This message that's given to Titus was intended for them. They were held

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 accountable to it in the same way that Titus was held accountable to it. And then beyond that,

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 they meticulously copied it and then distributed those copies, which is exactly why you have a copy of it

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 today in your hand. Because the early church understood that this letter was not just personal

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 anecdotes written to Paul's colleague. It wasn't that somebody came across it at some point and just

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 decided, hey, this is pretty cool. We should put this into the collection of things that Paul has

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 written and somebody eventually decided, oh, well, let's just call it scripture. That's not what this

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 was. The early church from the earliest days understood that this was inspired scripture. So they

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 meticulously copied it. They distributed it, understanding that this was God's instruction for his people.

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 So its usefulness is not just limited to church leaders. That's the first thing I want you to

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 understand before we even really dig in to this verse that is directed specifically to Titus. The

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 title for pastoral epistles, it stems from this undercurrent of pastoral instruction that courses

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 through all of the doctrinal and practical teaching of the letter. So in addition to Paul saying,

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 this is the truth of the gospel, this is the truth of the gospel, and these are the behaviors that

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 harmonize with it, Paul directed Titus and then by extension, the elders that Titus would appoint to

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 the churches on how they could effectively shepherd the churches in their care. That's the intention of the

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 pastoral instruction. It's not that Paul was saying, I'm just going to give this kind of

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 a church manual to these guys that they'll follow. Now he's writing to the churches, but underneath this

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 doctrine and these practical elements, he's telling these church leaders, this is how to incorporate these

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 truths into the care of the church. And all of this pastoral instruction in Titus ultimately amounts to this.

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 It amounts to an exalted view of scripture that's expressed in word-based ministry. Okay, I'm going to say

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 that again. It amounts to an exalted view of scripture that expresses itself in word-based ministry.

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 And verse 15 in chapter 2 makes that abundantly clear. It's a summary statement that stands on,

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 it's on its own. That's why we're dealing with it on its own this morning. In fact, the translators of

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 the Bible in your hand or the device in your hand, whatever it is you're using, probably even made this

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 visibly distinct. My Bible at least, verse 15 stands on its own. It's its own paragraph.

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 If your Bible is that way, the translators have done that intentionally so that you might understand

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 that this verse stands on its own. It's not that it's irrelevant to the paragraph before it or the

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 paragraph after it. It's actually incredibly relevant to those things. But the passage stands on its own,

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 and that's how we're going to deal with it this morning. Last week, I told you that verses 11 through 14

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 serve as the theological foundation for everything that Paul wrote to Titus.

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 It is the clear gospel message that is the basis of everything Paul was concerned about here.

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 Everything Paul was concerned about in all the other letters as well. It's the truth of the gospel.

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 Well, we might consider verse 15 and the instruction that it contains to be the practical outworking

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 of that gospel message, not only in the ministry of a pastor to the church, but in the church to one

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 another. In our efforts at discipling one another, in our efforts at evangelism, this verse encompasses in

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 a summary form how we are to use the gospel in ministry. In other words, here's what Paul does in

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 verses 11 through 14. He says, here is the gospel message. And in verse 15, he says, here is what you

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 must do with it. Here's the gospel, Titus. Here's what you must do with it. And there's three very

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 straightforward commands given in the verse. Two of them are positive. One is negative. Christians are to

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 speak the word of God. They are to teach it with authority and they are to prevent contempt for the

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 gospel in those who hear them. Okay. Those are the three things we're going to look at. Speak the word,

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 teach it with authority and prevent contempt in the hearers. First, let's look at speaking the word. At

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 the very beginning of the verse, the first phrase, Paul says, declare these things. The word for

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 declare here, it is laleo, is not the typical word for preaching. That's what's interesting about it

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 here. We often would think to the famous verse in 2 Timothy, when Paul finally gets to the end of it,

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 and he just says, preach the word, Timothy. Well, this is not the same word that he uses to Timothy.

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 It just means to speak. Simply speak the word. Speak these things, Titus. But still, the context of the

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 verse gives us this sense of asserting truth. Declare, proclaim, announce. And certainly, the primary

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 task for church elders are prayer and the ministry of the word. But this ministry of the word is not

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 limited to Sunday morning sermons. Paul's not just concerned that Titus would preach this message

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 on the Lord's Day worship. He is intent that Titus would speak the truth of God, that he would speak

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 these things, that he would declare them through the fullness of his ministry in Crete. So that

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 everything pastors do, even in the administrative oversight of the church, is to have communicating

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 the truth of God as its central focus. Just a couple of weeks ago, Shane and Andy and I sat down

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 to work on the new budget for the budget year coming up that will begin in May. And the first thing that

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 we did before we ever met is we rehearsed biblical principles for stewardship, biblical principles for

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 what God expects of us. We watched a lecture about it. Why? Because everything we do, even in formatting

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 a church budget and designating how we're going to steward the resources that God has given us,

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 has the intention from church leadership for communicating the truth of God. It is setting a

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 pattern of looking to God for our sole source of truth and behavior. This is the only way to really,

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 truly shepherd God's people. That's why we say if, you know, at the end of our church covenant,

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 we always say if at any point you move on from this place, you are covenanting that you will,

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 as quickly as possible, join with another church who is faithful to the gospel and is faithful to

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 the things that God says in his word. And part of that, as we're looking for a church, is finding a

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 pastor who's consumed with the Bible, whose ministry is consumed with the word, not his own passions,

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 not his own thoughts and opinions, but the word of God. And as a congregation, we need to make sure that

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 we are encouraging our leaders to prioritize this word-based ministry. We want them to give the majority

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 of their time to preaching, to counseling, to evangelizing, to discipling people in the truth.

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 That's what God has called them to do. We need to hold them to that. You need to hold me to that.

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 Otherwise, I cannot truly shepherd you. But I want to suggest also this morning

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 that this priority of word-based ministry does not only belong to the leaders of the church.

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 It belongs to every Christian, every believer. Now, I'm not talking about giftedness here. I'm not

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 talking about the things that we would say would be the ways that God, by his spirit, gifts us to

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 serve the church. And by all means, many of those ways are not related to speaking gifts or teaching

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 gifts. We're not talking about giftedness. We're talking about responsibility. Every believer,

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 every Christian is responsible for speaking truth to others in obedience to what Christ has commanded

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 us to do. So as Paul is writing this to Titus, he is intent that pastors faithfully speak God's truth,

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 at least in part, because all believers are to do so. And pastors are to lead the way in this evangelism

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 and discipling and counsel. So then my responsibility at Lakeside Bible Church, my teaching in our church

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 is to both shepherd your soul and to train you on how to shepherd the souls of others. It's not just

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 about enlightening your mind. It's about training you to do the work of ministry yourself. This belongs to

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 each of us. And classically, we find this spelled out in Ephesians chapter four. Paul says, and God,

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 Christ gave shepherds and teachers, shepherd teachers, pastor teachers, to equip the saints for ministry.

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 And what is that work of ministry? It's the building up of the body of Christ. And how does he intend for

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 the building up of the body of the Christ to take place? By speaking truth in love, he says. We are to grow

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 up in every way into him who is the head. And we talk about this verse all the time because it is so

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 crucial to what we are to be as a church and how we are to behave as a church. We have a responsibility

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 to one another. Consider Hebrews chapter three and verse 13. The writer says, exhort one another every day.

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 He's not writing to leaders here. He's writing to the church. He says, exhort one another every day,

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 as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

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 Declare these things. Speak to one another these truths. We have a responsibility to it.

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 But what exactly is it that we're commanded to declare? Paul says, declare these things. Well,

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 that's not very helpful. What does he mean? What are the these things? Well, fundamentally,

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 it refers to the gospel message of verses 11 through 14 and the behaviors that accord with the gospel

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 message in verses 1 through 10. Set your eyes on verse 1 again at the beginning of chapter 2.

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 But as for you, Titus, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Sound doctrine primarily being the gospel

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 message. What accords with the gospel message is the behaviors that harmonize with it. In other words,

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 we must be faithful and committed to declaring the doctrines and commandments of the word of God.

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 You see, most of us, the struggle that we have is not speaking. It's not speaking to others.

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 We all have a way. Even if you are the most introverted among us, you still have communication.

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 There are ways that you interact with other people. Even if it's just with the people in your home,

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 you're interacting, you're communicating, you're speaking. Typically, that's not our problem.

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 We're speaking. The problem often is what is the source of that speaking? What is it that we're

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 actually communicating to people typically? When you go to coffee with your friend who's really just

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 going through a particular struggle in their life, be it a struggle in their marriage or a struggle

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 with their finances or a struggle with their health, or maybe they're just down and they need

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 some encouragement, what is it that you give them for that encouragement and that comfort?

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 If it doesn't have anything to do with the word of God, you're not doing it right. That's the point.

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 Declare these things. Let these things, let the word of God be on our lips and in our mouths.

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 So much of Christian discipling seems to be absent of the clear teaching of the Bible.

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 We want to help others, but we're not always looking to the scriptures for the answers to life,

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 for the things that actually bring comfort, for the things that actually do lift up our hearts.

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 Our counsel often can be saturated with emotionalism, maybe self-help ideas,

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 but what we should continually be asking ourselves in these conversations

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 is what does God tell us in the Bible? What does the gospel instruct us on in relation to this thing?

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 Colossians chapter 3. I grew up, I don't know if any of you have ever even heard of this,

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 but I grew up going to Patch the Pirate Club. Anybody go to Patch the Pirate Club?

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 You went to Patch the Pirate Club. That's amazing. We sail with Patch the Pirate.

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 We should sing that on a Sunday.

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 The club verse, I can remember my mom was the, for a few years, was the Patch the Pirate Club

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 leader or captain, whatever it was called.

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 And every week we would stand up and she would say, all right, sailors, club verse.

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 Colossians 3.16 was the verse.

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 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,

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 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, giving thanks in our hearts to the Lord.

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 That's a command to the church that Paul gives.

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 And what is the command? Let the word of God dwell in you richly insofar as you can go to others

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 and you can teach them and you can admonish them in wisdom, true wisdom that's founded on the word of God.

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 And what's one of the ways that we do that most often?

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 In our Sunday worship.

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 As we gather together and we sing Christ, the true and better Adam, son of God and son of man,

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 who when tempted in the garden, never yielded, never sinned.

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 We teach one another that.

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 There is this, Keith Getty talks about this so often, there is this dynamic in our church worship services

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 in just the way even that we set up our seating, where we work against this instruction.

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 I heard him talk about one time, we set up our services, and I've done it,

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 but we set up our services where everything is focused on a platform.

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 He said, but the sense of this verse is that maybe we set up our chairs in a circle

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 so that as we're singing songs of the Lord, we're not singing them to a person that is leading us,

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 we're singing them to one another.

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 We are teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs

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 that inform our hearts and inform our minds.

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 And then when we go to coffee after the service and we're sitting,

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 we're talking with our friend who's going through a particular struggle

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 or maybe has questions about the gospel, we can say,

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 do you remember the song that we sang today?

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 This is what the Bible teaches about it.

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 This is who Jesus is.

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 This is what he has done for us.

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 This is our responsibility, church.

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 Declare these things.

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 Speak these things.

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 We are to be filled with the word of God

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 and routinely speak this gospel to others.

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 Whether it's the pastor in the pulpit,

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 whether it's a parent at the dinner table,

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 whether it's a friend at the coffee shop,

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 our words are to be filled with God's truth,

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 declaring these things to others.

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 So Paul says, declare these things.

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 Speak the word of God.

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 Number two, he says, teach it with authority.

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 Teach it with authority.

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 Look at verse 15 again.

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 Declare these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority.

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 So the terms used in the very first phrase,

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 declare these things, really relate to just speaking truth.

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 But the terms of the second phrase

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 have the nuance of instruction, personal instruction.

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 To exhort means to entreat.

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 It's to earnestly implore someone to do something.

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 Julie, please let me get a milkshake today.

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 It is to entreat.

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 It's to plead with.

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 In this case, it means to plead with others,

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 to believe and obey the gospel,

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 to obey God,

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 to care about the Sabbath,

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 to care about the Lord's day.

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 To rebuke is to admonish or to correct.

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 It's just a different form of teaching.

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 Here it refers to correcting errant teaching

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 and sinful behavior.

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 Both of these actions are absolutely essential

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 for a pastor to faithfully shepherd the church

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 and for all Christians to evangelize

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 and disciple one another.

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 There's no way around it.

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 It's not enough to merely state what the Bible says.

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 We must plead with people to believe and obey it.

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 Because I could come in on it one day

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 and I could say,

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 Jesus rose from the dead.

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 That's important.

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 It's true.

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 But it's different from me coming in and saying,

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 Jesus rose from the dead,

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 therefore bow to him as Lord,

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 receive him as Savior,

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 trust in him.

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 Do you see?

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 There is the speaking of the word,

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 then there's the instructing of the word,

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 the exhortation,

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 the rebuke.

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 Now the third term in this phrase

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 is really what gets at the heart of the instruction.

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 Paul said that Titus was to plead and correct

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 with all authority, he says.

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 And this is where things get a little tricky for us,

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 isn't it?

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 Because none of us want to assume authority over other people.

00:20:32.859 --> 00:20:36.399
 That is without a doubt frowned upon in our modern culture.

00:20:36.939 --> 00:20:38.439
 No one likes to be told what to do.

00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:42.219
 Few people like to be the ones actually telling others what to do.

00:20:42.459 --> 00:20:43.959
 There are some nut jobs out there,

00:20:44.059 --> 00:20:47.199
 but there's few people that actually really enjoy doing that.

00:20:47.200 --> 00:20:50.420
 And yet Paul still tells us right here,

00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.420
 he says,

00:20:52.920 --> 00:20:55.700
 do this with all authority.

00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:58.740
 The word is epitage.

00:20:58.940 --> 00:21:00.440
 It means to issue a command,

00:21:00.539 --> 00:21:01.380
 which makes it worse.

00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:05.039
 It's not just that you have authority to say something,

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.220
 it's that he's saying,

00:21:06.620 --> 00:21:10.039
 do this in such a way as you're commanding people.

00:21:10.580 --> 00:21:13.420
 It's to have a commanding, authoritative tone.

00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:16.140
 Not harsh, but commanding.

00:21:16.960 --> 00:21:18.920
 But the question we have to ask

00:21:18.920 --> 00:21:21.960
 is what is the source of this authority?

00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:23.560
 What's the source of it?

00:21:23.900 --> 00:21:27.120
 What kind of authority are we actually appealing to

00:21:27.120 --> 00:21:29.080
 when we speak to others,

00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:32.019
 when we exhort them and when we rebuke them?

00:21:32.600 --> 00:21:34.120
 And before we get to the answer to that,

00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:36.920
 I want to give you three errant ways,

00:21:37.320 --> 00:21:40.160
 three errant ways of viewing spiritual authority.

00:21:40.460 --> 00:21:41.400
 The first one is this,

00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:47.780
 spiritual authority is not inherent in a church leader.

00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:51.620
 Spiritual authority is not inherent in a church leader.

00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:52.200
 In other words,

00:21:52.400 --> 00:21:55.660
 we have no power and authority in and of ourselves

00:21:55.660 --> 00:22:00.100
 to issue spiritual commands to others.

00:22:01.320 --> 00:22:02.640
 But there's a lot of people

00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.960
 who would have you think otherwise.

00:22:05.100 --> 00:22:08.259
 There are the self-proclaimed faith healers

00:22:08.259 --> 00:22:09.580
 in the Word of Faith movement.

00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:12.579
 They declare that they possess power

00:22:13.179 --> 00:22:16.859
 in and of themselves over disease and demons

00:22:16.859 --> 00:22:19.679
 and that the only way for you to access that power

00:22:19.679 --> 00:22:21.720
 is if you become one of their disciples

00:22:21.720 --> 00:22:23.919
 and contribute to their ministries.

00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:26.059
 They claim the power is in them.

00:22:27.639 --> 00:22:30.559
 They claim the power is in what they can do.

00:22:30.559 --> 00:22:33.679
 It's not the only way that this is demonstrated.

00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:35.679
 Roman Catholic traditions do this.

00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:38.619
 They believe that there is an endowment

00:22:38.619 --> 00:22:41.019
 on the priest in the Roman Catholic Church

00:22:41.019 --> 00:22:44.359
 to actually convey the forgiveness of sins

00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:45.440
 to those who would come

00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:48.919
 and follow the prescribed recipe for penance

00:22:48.919 --> 00:22:50.059
 and whatever that may be.

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.639
 You go and you sit in the confession,

00:22:51.799 --> 00:22:53.419
 you tell the priest what you've done,

00:22:53.480 --> 00:22:55.779
 and then the priest conveys forgiveness

00:22:55.779 --> 00:22:59.220
 based on what he tells you to do

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.399
 in that particular moment.

00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:03.480
 But spiritual authority doesn't belong

00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:04.399
 to the church leader,

00:23:04.559 --> 00:23:05.819
 not in and of himself.

00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:10.839
 But this happens in evangelical circles as well,

00:23:10.899 --> 00:23:11.339
 doesn't it?

00:23:12.619 --> 00:23:13.700
 If you're like me,

00:23:13.779 --> 00:23:15.819
 you've been around a lot of people,

00:23:16.000 --> 00:23:17.559
 legalistic types of people,

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:20.379
 where pastors act as if their authority

00:23:20.380 --> 00:23:21.520
 is in themselves.

00:23:23.080 --> 00:23:25.380
 They issue extra biblical commands

00:23:26.020 --> 00:23:26.760
 to the people,

00:23:27.000 --> 00:23:28.420
 and they believe themselves

00:23:28.420 --> 00:23:29.600
 to be above criticism.

00:23:30.460 --> 00:23:32.380
 They exercise the type of authority

00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:34.500
 over others that isn't actually given

00:23:34.500 --> 00:23:35.380
 to them in the Bible.

00:23:36.760 --> 00:23:38.880
 They demand that before you do anything,

00:23:38.980 --> 00:23:40.180
 you come and get their permission.

00:23:41.340 --> 00:23:43.880
 And if anyone brings criticism to them,

00:23:43.940 --> 00:23:45.080
 they would quote something like,

00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.260
 touch not God's anointed.

00:23:47.360 --> 00:23:49.400
 They put themselves above the word.

00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:51.740
 They put themselves above the truth.

00:23:51.840 --> 00:23:52.660
 But the problem is,

00:23:52.720 --> 00:23:53.780
 in each of these scenarios,

00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:55.600
 these individuals are claiming

00:23:55.600 --> 00:23:56.900
 for themselves a power

00:23:56.900 --> 00:23:58.580
 that only belongs to Christ.

00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:01.080
 And they manipulate others

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:02.060
 to believe it

00:24:02.060 --> 00:24:04.300
 in order that they may assume

00:24:04.300 --> 00:24:05.780
 power over them.

00:24:07.259 --> 00:24:08.340
 But spiritual authority

00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:10.860
 is not inherent in the church leader.

00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.259
 Secondly, spiritual authority

00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:15.500
 is not granted to an institution.

00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:18.340
 It's not granted to an institution.

00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:21.419
 Let's think about Roman Catholicism again,

00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:23.619
 or the Eastern Orthodox traditions,

00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.599
 or various cults.

00:24:24.659 --> 00:24:25.799
 They all elevate

00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:27.480
 their institutional authority

00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:29.240
 as either equal to

00:24:29.240 --> 00:24:30.899
 or above the scriptures.

00:24:31.980 --> 00:24:33.879
 And when there is a conflict

00:24:33.879 --> 00:24:35.339
 between the church

00:24:35.339 --> 00:24:36.639
 and the scriptures,

00:24:37.079 --> 00:24:38.319
 those traditions

00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:40.459
 presume to have authority

00:24:40.459 --> 00:24:42.059
 over the Bible itself,

00:24:42.679 --> 00:24:44.740
 dictating as an institution

00:24:44.740 --> 00:24:46.359
 what people should do

00:24:46.359 --> 00:24:47.059
 and believe.

00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.799
 Some of you,

00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:50.160
 I know you have history

00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.480
 with Roman Catholicism,

00:24:51.480 --> 00:24:52.680
 and the basic understanding

00:24:52.680 --> 00:24:53.519
 of authority

00:24:53.519 --> 00:24:54.640
 in the Roman Catholic Church

00:24:54.640 --> 00:24:56.019
 is like a three-legged stool.

00:24:56.359 --> 00:24:57.099
 There's the scriptures,

00:24:57.779 --> 00:24:58.940
 there's the traditions,

00:24:59.400 --> 00:25:01.039
 and then there's the magisterium.

00:25:01.640 --> 00:25:02.980
 The church traditions

00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.680
 and the magisterium

00:25:04.680 --> 00:25:07.099
 are at least put as equal weight

00:25:07.099 --> 00:25:07.799
 to the scriptures.

00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:09.480
 And whenever the traditions

00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.880
 and the scriptures contradict,

00:25:10.880 --> 00:25:12.480
 the ultimate authority

00:25:12.480 --> 00:25:14.140
 belongs to the magisterium,

00:25:14.500 --> 00:25:15.060
 the pope,

00:25:15.140 --> 00:25:15.680
 and the bishops

00:25:15.680 --> 00:25:16.640
 who surround him

00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:18.340
 in order to pass judgment.

00:25:18.720 --> 00:25:20.980
 He acts as God's representative

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.000
 on earth.

00:25:22.140 --> 00:25:23.880
 That is completely foreign

00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:24.640
 to the Bible.

00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.720
 There is no spiritual authority

00:25:27.720 --> 00:25:29.740
 granted to an institution.

00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:32.980
 Jesus dealt with these people.

00:25:33.120 --> 00:25:34.200
 Mark chapter 7,

00:25:34.280 --> 00:25:34.820
 he said to them,

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:36.320
 well did Isaiah prophesy

00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:37.220
 of you hypocrites,

00:25:37.620 --> 00:25:38.780
 this people honors me

00:25:38.780 --> 00:25:39.760
 with their lips,

00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:41.220
 but their heart

00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.160
 is far from me.

00:25:42.879 --> 00:25:44.480
 In vain they worship me,

00:25:44.640 --> 00:25:46.279
 teaching as doctrines

00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:48.839
 the commandments of men.

00:25:49.579 --> 00:25:51.339
 You leave the commandment of God

00:25:51.339 --> 00:25:53.019
 and hold to the tradition

00:25:53.019 --> 00:25:54.559
 of men, Jesus said.

00:25:55.460 --> 00:25:56.420
 So that's not what Paul

00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.099
 is talking about.

00:25:57.299 --> 00:25:58.039
 He's not saying

00:25:58.039 --> 00:25:58.900
 that the authority

00:25:58.900 --> 00:26:00.180
 belongs to you, Titus.

00:26:00.299 --> 00:26:00.920
 He's not saying

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:02.660
 the authority belongs to you

00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:03.420
 and the elders

00:26:03.420 --> 00:26:05.440
 as an institution, Titus.

00:26:05.700 --> 00:26:06.299
 The third way

00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:08.079
 this is errantly thought of

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.859
 this, spiritual authority

00:26:09.859 --> 00:26:10.799
 does not belong

00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:12.919
 to the individual self.

00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.659
 This is the modern

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:15.599
 secular idea

00:26:15.599 --> 00:26:18.519
 that the only authority

00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.619
 I have is me.

00:26:21.000 --> 00:26:22.899
 I do what I feel is right.

00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:25.099
 I determine for myself

00:26:25.099 --> 00:26:25.619
 what's right

00:26:25.619 --> 00:26:26.259
 and what's wrong

00:26:26.259 --> 00:26:27.740
 and any other authority

00:26:27.740 --> 00:26:28.919
 is by nature

00:26:28.919 --> 00:26:29.960
 oppressive.

00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:31.740
 Well that's not

00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.439
 biblical either.

00:26:32.440 --> 00:26:34.420
 So what then

00:26:34.420 --> 00:26:35.380
 is the source

00:26:35.380 --> 00:26:36.140
 of this authority

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:37.240
 that Paul writes about

00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.400
 in chapter 2

00:26:38.400 --> 00:26:39.320
 in verse 15?

00:26:39.940 --> 00:26:41.400
 There is only one authority

00:26:41.400 --> 00:26:43.019
 from which we can

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:44.580
 exhort and rebuke

00:26:44.580 --> 00:26:47.420
 and it is the very word of God.

00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:48.779
 It's the Bible.

00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:50.039
 Our preaching

00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:50.779
 and our teaching

00:26:50.779 --> 00:26:52.220
 and our evangelism

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:53.000
 and our discipling

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.840
 they're not based

00:26:53.840 --> 00:26:55.019
 on what we think is right

00:26:55.019 --> 00:26:56.940
 or what a religious institution

00:26:56.940 --> 00:26:57.759
 declares is right

00:26:57.759 --> 00:26:59.400
 or certainly what secular ideas

00:26:59.400 --> 00:27:00.259
 think is right.

00:27:00.259 --> 00:27:02.059
 It is based on the scriptures

00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:04.000
 and the scriptures alone.

00:27:04.779 --> 00:27:06.099
 Think about what Paul said

00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:06.900
 to the Galatians.

00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:08.099
 Remember they were beginning

00:27:08.099 --> 00:27:09.599
 to abandon the true gospel.

00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.319
 In Galatians chapter 1

00:27:11.319 --> 00:27:12.259
 in verse 8 he says

00:27:12.259 --> 00:27:13.680
 but even if we

00:27:13.680 --> 00:27:15.379
 speaking of me and my team

00:27:15.379 --> 00:27:17.379
 or even an angel from heaven

00:27:17.379 --> 00:27:19.799
 were to speak to you a gospel

00:27:19.799 --> 00:27:21.740
 contrary to what we've preached

00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.359
 let him be accursed.

00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:24.379
 In other words

00:27:24.379 --> 00:27:25.879
 the truth isn't the truth

00:27:25.879 --> 00:27:27.379
 because I say it is

00:27:27.379 --> 00:27:29.059
 and the truth isn't the truth

00:27:29.059 --> 00:27:30.839
 because an angel says it is.

00:27:30.980 --> 00:27:32.319
 The truth is the truth

00:27:32.319 --> 00:27:34.220
 because God says it is.

00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.940
 The authority lies in the word.

00:27:37.879 --> 00:27:38.579
 Think about this

00:27:38.579 --> 00:27:39.179
 in connection

00:27:39.179 --> 00:27:40.599
 with the great commission.

00:27:41.220 --> 00:27:42.059
 Matthew 28

00:27:42.059 --> 00:27:43.519
 Jesus came to them

00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:43.980
 and said

00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.220
 all authority.

00:27:45.639 --> 00:27:46.980
 Now don't forsake

00:27:46.980 --> 00:27:47.799
 the parallel here.

00:27:48.200 --> 00:27:49.359
 Paul is telling Titus

00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.700
 rebuke with all authority.

00:27:51.119 --> 00:27:51.799
 Jesus is saying

00:27:51.799 --> 00:27:52.779
 all authority

00:27:52.779 --> 00:27:54.379
 in heaven and on earth

00:27:54.379 --> 00:27:55.519
 has been given to me

00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:56.379
 to Jesus

00:27:56.379 --> 00:27:57.399
 not to Titus.

00:27:57.400 --> 00:27:59.120
 Go therefore

00:27:59.120 --> 00:28:00.420
 and make disciples

00:28:00.420 --> 00:28:02.240
 baptizing them

00:28:02.240 --> 00:28:03.180
 evangelizing them

00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:04.380
 teaching them

00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:05.019
 to observe

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:06.280
 all that I have

00:28:06.280 --> 00:28:07.280
 commanded.

00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.660
 Now

00:28:08.660 --> 00:28:10.220
 Jesus' authority

00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.620
 is intrinsic

00:28:11.620 --> 00:28:13.420
 because he is

00:28:13.420 --> 00:28:14.780
 by his very nature

00:28:14.780 --> 00:28:15.759
 divine.

00:28:16.360 --> 00:28:17.140
 He is God.

00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.780
 He is the source of truth.

00:28:19.140 --> 00:28:19.940
 He is the source

00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:21.180
 of authority.

00:28:21.960 --> 00:28:23.040
 He commissioned

00:28:23.040 --> 00:28:23.700
 the apostles

00:28:23.700 --> 00:28:24.480
 to go

00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:26.819
 but their authority

00:28:26.819 --> 00:28:27.519
 was only

00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.599
 an extension

00:28:28.599 --> 00:28:30.599
 of their responsibility

00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.500
 to preach

00:28:31.500 --> 00:28:32.680
 his gospel.

00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.059
 To preach

00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:34.980
 his message

00:28:34.980 --> 00:28:36.319
 not their own.

00:28:38.019 --> 00:28:38.860
 Jesus says

00:28:38.860 --> 00:28:39.660
 I say

00:28:39.660 --> 00:28:40.279
 unto you

00:28:40.279 --> 00:28:41.980
 we say

00:28:41.980 --> 00:28:43.240
 thus says

00:28:43.240 --> 00:28:43.779
 the Lord.

00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:45.019
 There is a difference

00:28:45.019 --> 00:28:45.360
 there.

00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.620
 We are to make

00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:48.120
 disciples

00:28:48.120 --> 00:28:48.720
 by preaching

00:28:48.720 --> 00:28:49.519
 his gospel

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:51.000
 and teaching

00:28:51.000 --> 00:28:52.079
 his commandments.

00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.079
 the authority

00:28:53.079 --> 00:28:54.079
 is not our own.

00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:54.939
 The authority

00:28:54.939 --> 00:28:55.859
 is Christ

00:28:55.859 --> 00:28:56.720
 and we are not

00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:57.159
 to issue

00:28:57.159 --> 00:28:57.899
 our commands

00:28:57.899 --> 00:28:59.220
 but his.

00:29:00.899 --> 00:29:01.799
 And the place

00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.220
 that God

00:29:02.220 --> 00:29:02.899
 has seen fit

00:29:02.899 --> 00:29:03.480
 to reveal

00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.179
 his gospel

00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:05.639
 and his commands

00:29:05.639 --> 00:29:06.819
 is not

00:29:06.819 --> 00:29:07.740
 in an institution

00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:10.299
 and it is not

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.199
 within you.

00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:13.639
 It is in the pages

00:29:13.639 --> 00:29:14.439
 of the Bible.

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.819
 The ultimate authority

00:29:16.819 --> 00:29:18.199
 is the word of God

00:29:18.199 --> 00:29:19.460
 not the one

00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.480
 who preaches it.

00:29:20.480 --> 00:29:23.000
 says MacArthur

00:29:23.000 --> 00:29:24.039
 no matter

00:29:24.039 --> 00:29:24.880
 what his training

00:29:24.880 --> 00:29:25.720
 or experience

00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.819
 or personal abilities

00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.799
 the preacher

00:29:27.799 --> 00:29:28.620
 has spiritual

00:29:28.620 --> 00:29:29.400
 authority

00:29:29.400 --> 00:29:31.180
 only to the extent

00:29:31.180 --> 00:29:32.420
 that what he says

00:29:32.420 --> 00:29:33.779
 conforms to the word

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.240
 of God.

00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:35.319
 And that applies

00:29:35.319 --> 00:29:36.279
 to each of us.

00:29:37.579 --> 00:29:38.519
 Our authority

00:29:38.519 --> 00:29:40.019
 is only an extension

00:29:40.019 --> 00:29:41.460
 of the word of God.

00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:42.319
 So if we're going

00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:43.319
 around commanding

00:29:43.319 --> 00:29:43.980
 and exhorting

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.599
 and rebuking

00:29:44.599 --> 00:29:45.559
 it better be

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.720
 with our Bibles open.

00:29:47.819 --> 00:29:48.799
 Not commanding

00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:49.360
 what we think

00:29:49.360 --> 00:29:50.200
 people should do.

00:29:50.480 --> 00:29:51.660
 But what God

00:29:51.660 --> 00:29:52.900
 demands of them

00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.559
 and what he reveals

00:29:54.559 --> 00:29:55.920
 to us.

00:29:57.680 --> 00:29:58.799
 When we listen

00:29:58.799 --> 00:30:00.000
 to the authoritative

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.039
 teaching of others

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.579
 we need to make sure

00:30:02.579 --> 00:30:03.039
 it's rooted

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:03.640
 in the scripture.

00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.779
 When you receive

00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.480
 that counsel

00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:07.860
 from even a trusted

00:30:07.860 --> 00:30:08.620
 family member

00:30:08.620 --> 00:30:10.279
 make sure it's rooted

00:30:10.279 --> 00:30:10.960
 in the scripture.

00:30:12.660 --> 00:30:13.339
 Someone told me

00:30:13.339 --> 00:30:13.740
 recently

00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.180
 that their

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:16.240
 father told them

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.740
 you need to put

00:30:16.740 --> 00:30:17.400
 the Bible down

00:30:17.400 --> 00:30:18.579
 and put your brain on.

00:30:18.579 --> 00:30:20.619
 that's bad advice.

00:30:21.619 --> 00:30:22.619
 That's the opposite

00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.319
 of what we do.

00:30:23.679 --> 00:30:24.139
 It doesn't matter

00:30:24.139 --> 00:30:24.720
 how trusted

00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.679
 the person is.

00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:26.960
 Make sure

00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.179
 what you heed

00:30:28.179 --> 00:30:29.539
 is the word.

00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:30.679
 So we see

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.359
 speak the word

00:30:31.359 --> 00:30:32.639
 teach it with authority.

00:30:33.139 --> 00:30:33.799
 Thirdly and finally

00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:34.519
 he says

00:30:34.519 --> 00:30:35.039
 prevent

00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.740
 the hearer's contempt.

00:30:37.559 --> 00:30:37.759
 Prevent

00:30:37.759 --> 00:30:38.559
 the hearer's contempt.

00:30:38.699 --> 00:30:39.480
 Verse 15 again

00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:41.299
 declare these things

00:30:41.299 --> 00:30:42.019
 exhort

00:30:42.019 --> 00:30:42.559
 and rebuke

00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.299
 with all authority.

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:45.220
 Let no one

00:30:45.220 --> 00:30:46.679
 disregard you.

00:30:47.279 --> 00:30:47.839
 Let no one

00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:48.639
 disregard you.

00:30:50.480 --> 00:30:50.879
 So in this

00:30:50.879 --> 00:30:51.619
 final imperative

00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:53.740
 it's the negative.

00:30:54.700 --> 00:30:55.279
 The first two

00:30:55.279 --> 00:30:55.619
 he says

00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:56.079
 do

00:30:56.079 --> 00:30:56.799
 do

00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.519
 now he says

00:30:57.519 --> 00:30:58.159
 do not

00:30:58.159 --> 00:30:59.119
 do not let

00:30:59.119 --> 00:30:59.859
 do not permit

00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.359
 something.

00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:01.839
 He's telling him

00:31:01.839 --> 00:31:02.440
 to prevent

00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.519
 his hearers

00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:05.259
 from holding

00:31:05.259 --> 00:31:06.259
 the gospel message

00:31:06.259 --> 00:31:07.099
 in contempt.

00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:09.200
 Titus was to

00:31:09.200 --> 00:31:10.259
 authoritatively

00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:11.079
 preach the Bible

00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.460
 in such a way

00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:13.859
 that no one

00:31:13.859 --> 00:31:14.599
 could escape

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.279
 its truth.

00:31:16.639 --> 00:31:17.000
 Now Brian

00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:18.179
 Chappell helps us

00:31:18.179 --> 00:31:18.319
 here.

00:31:18.399 --> 00:31:18.699
 He says

00:31:18.699 --> 00:31:19.859
 this reminds us

00:31:19.859 --> 00:31:20.559
 that our teaching

00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:21.599
 may be made

00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.339
 ineffective

00:31:22.339 --> 00:31:23.599
 either

00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:25.079
 by failing

00:31:25.079 --> 00:31:25.659
 to speak

00:31:25.659 --> 00:31:26.299
 with authority

00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.899
 or by failing

00:31:27.899 --> 00:31:28.460
 to live

00:31:28.460 --> 00:31:29.159
 in accord

00:31:29.159 --> 00:31:30.099
 with the scriptures

00:31:30.099 --> 00:31:30.720
 ourselves.

00:31:31.720 --> 00:31:32.279
 So let's think

00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:32.679
 about that

00:31:32.679 --> 00:31:33.179
 for a moment

00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:34.119
 before we finish.

00:31:34.939 --> 00:31:35.679
 In one sense

00:31:35.679 --> 00:31:36.259
 the statement

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.019
 reflects what

00:31:37.019 --> 00:31:37.699
 will happen

00:31:37.699 --> 00:31:39.539
 if we speak

00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:40.039
 the truth

00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.679
 but not

00:31:40.680 --> 00:31:41.060
 in an

00:31:41.060 --> 00:31:41.720
 authoritative

00:31:41.720 --> 00:31:42.500
 way.

00:31:43.000 --> 00:31:43.400
 Again we're

00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:43.740
 not talking

00:31:43.740 --> 00:31:44.600
 about harshness.

00:31:45.180 --> 00:31:45.759
 We're not

00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.460
 talking about

00:31:46.460 --> 00:31:47.220
 speaking truth

00:31:47.220 --> 00:31:48.060
 without grace.

00:31:48.680 --> 00:31:49.019
 We're not

00:31:49.019 --> 00:31:49.519
 even saying

00:31:49.519 --> 00:31:50.120
 speak it

00:31:50.120 --> 00:31:51.340
 without using

00:31:51.340 --> 00:31:52.140
 or endeavoring

00:31:52.140 --> 00:31:52.620
 to use

00:31:52.620 --> 00:31:53.820
 winsome

00:31:53.820 --> 00:31:54.560
 persuasive

00:31:54.560 --> 00:31:55.560
 words and

00:31:55.560 --> 00:31:55.860
 language.

00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.460
 I even think

00:31:56.460 --> 00:31:56.799
 that that's

00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:57.340
 important and

00:31:57.340 --> 00:31:58.060
 even biblical

00:31:58.060 --> 00:31:58.620
 for us to

00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.000
 understand.

00:31:59.279 --> 00:31:59.680
 That's not

00:31:59.680 --> 00:31:59.920
 what we're

00:31:59.920 --> 00:32:00.299
 saying.

00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:00.940
 We're not

00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:01.299
 talking about

00:32:01.299 --> 00:32:01.640
 going around

00:32:01.640 --> 00:32:02.259
 barking orders

00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:02.680
 at people.

00:32:03.060 --> 00:32:03.840
 We're talking

00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:05.340
 about saying

00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:05.980
 thus says

00:32:05.980 --> 00:32:06.519
 the Lord

00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.519
 engaging with

00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:07.920
 people on

00:32:07.920 --> 00:32:08.240
 the truth

00:32:08.240 --> 00:32:08.700
 of God.

00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.200
 But we

00:32:10.200 --> 00:32:10.680
 must never

00:32:10.680 --> 00:32:11.319
 present the

00:32:11.319 --> 00:32:11.700
 truth of

00:32:11.700 --> 00:32:12.740
 God in

00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.339
 such a way

00:32:13.339 --> 00:32:13.680
 that it

00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.599
 seems optional.

00:32:16.079 --> 00:32:16.920
 As if the

00:32:16.920 --> 00:32:17.519
 word of God

00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:18.359
 is just one

00:32:18.359 --> 00:32:18.599
 of the

00:32:18.599 --> 00:32:20.039
 options in

00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:20.420
 the midst

00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:21.480
 of many

00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:22.400
 options.

00:32:23.299 --> 00:32:23.880
 And in

00:32:23.880 --> 00:32:25.500
 a day of

00:32:25.500 --> 00:32:27.279
 supposed

00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.920
 tolerance

00:32:28.920 --> 00:32:31.099
 people will

00:32:31.099 --> 00:32:31.839
 not appreciate

00:32:31.839 --> 00:32:33.019
 it when you

00:32:33.019 --> 00:32:33.480
 talk about

00:32:33.480 --> 00:32:34.220
 the exclusivity

00:32:34.220 --> 00:32:34.480
 of the

00:32:34.480 --> 00:32:34.880
 gospel.

00:32:35.940 --> 00:32:36.140
 The

00:32:36.140 --> 00:32:36.600
 inerrancy

00:32:36.600 --> 00:32:36.880
 and the

00:32:36.880 --> 00:32:38.160
 authority of

00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.680
 the Bible.

00:32:39.000 --> 00:32:39.259
 They won't

00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:39.960
 appreciate that

00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.339
 but that's

00:32:40.339 --> 00:32:40.600
 what the

00:32:40.600 --> 00:32:41.140
 Bible actually

00:32:41.140 --> 00:32:41.620
 tells us

00:32:41.620 --> 00:32:42.059
 to do.

00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.620
 We command

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.059
 because it

00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.360
 is the

00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:44.819
 truth.

00:32:45.660 --> 00:32:46.339
 We can't

00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:46.640
 leave it

00:32:46.640 --> 00:32:47.100
 optional.

00:32:48.460 --> 00:32:48.980
 It's a

00:32:48.980 --> 00:32:49.620
 warning against

00:32:49.620 --> 00:32:50.339
 limiting the

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.559
 gospel to

00:32:51.559 --> 00:32:52.660
 those who we

00:32:52.660 --> 00:32:53.160
 think would be

00:32:53.160 --> 00:32:53.900
 most tolerant

00:32:53.900 --> 00:32:54.700
 of hearing it.

00:32:55.680 --> 00:32:56.740
 Just because a

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:58.100
 person rejects

00:32:58.100 --> 00:32:58.900
 God's word

00:32:58.900 --> 00:33:00.059
 either blatantly

00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:00.759
 or out of

00:33:00.759 --> 00:33:01.339
 loyalty to

00:33:01.339 --> 00:33:02.019
 another religion

00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:03.120
 doesn't make

00:33:03.119 --> 00:33:04.019
 them any less

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.099
 accountable to

00:33:05.099 --> 00:33:05.299
 it.

00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:07.019
 Do you

00:33:07.019 --> 00:33:07.439
 understand what

00:33:07.439 --> 00:33:07.859
 I mean by

00:33:07.859 --> 00:33:08.119
 that?

00:33:08.879 --> 00:33:09.739
 Just because

00:33:09.739 --> 00:33:10.539
 this person is

00:33:10.539 --> 00:33:10.979
 a Muslim

00:33:10.979 --> 00:33:11.599
 doesn't mean

00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:12.099
 that they're

00:33:12.099 --> 00:33:12.859
 not accountable

00:33:12.859 --> 00:33:13.299
 to the

00:33:13.299 --> 00:33:13.659
 truth of

00:33:13.659 --> 00:33:13.959
 God.

00:33:15.599 --> 00:33:16.279
 God's word

00:33:16.279 --> 00:33:16.799
 is not

00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:18.419
 applicable only

00:33:18.419 --> 00:33:19.099
 to Christians.

00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:20.919
 It's applicable

00:33:20.919 --> 00:33:21.459
 to the whole

00:33:21.459 --> 00:33:22.179
 human race.

00:33:23.139 --> 00:33:24.179
 It is relevant

00:33:24.179 --> 00:33:24.799
 to the whole

00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:25.559
 human race.

00:33:25.979 --> 00:33:26.659
 It must be

00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:27.119
 preached to

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:27.479
 the whole

00:33:27.479 --> 00:33:28.279
 human race.

00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.719
 Not as an

00:33:29.719 --> 00:33:30.459
 option that

00:33:30.459 --> 00:33:30.839
 they might

00:33:30.839 --> 00:33:32.599
 consider but

00:33:32.599 --> 00:33:33.299
 as a command

00:33:33.299 --> 00:33:33.679
 from the

00:33:33.679 --> 00:33:34.039
 God who

00:33:34.039 --> 00:33:34.859
 created them

00:33:34.859 --> 00:33:36.259
 and who

00:33:36.259 --> 00:33:36.939
 demands of

00:33:36.939 --> 00:33:38.279
 them to

00:33:38.279 --> 00:33:38.699
 show his

00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:39.079
 glory.

00:33:40.099 --> 00:33:40.819
 Again, it's

00:33:40.819 --> 00:33:41.339
 God's truth

00:33:41.339 --> 00:33:42.000
 not man's.

00:33:42.259 --> 00:33:42.719
 Therefore, we

00:33:42.719 --> 00:33:43.279
 need to speak

00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.639
 authoritatively

00:33:44.639 --> 00:33:46.419
 to all people.

00:33:47.439 --> 00:33:47.779
 Well, there's

00:33:47.779 --> 00:33:48.539
 another sense

00:33:48.539 --> 00:33:49.339
 here, let no

00:33:49.339 --> 00:33:49.879
 one disregard

00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:51.139
 you, that

00:33:51.139 --> 00:33:53.039
 parallels what

00:33:53.039 --> 00:33:53.719
 Paul said to

00:33:53.719 --> 00:33:54.139
 Timothy.

00:33:54.919 --> 00:33:55.539
 In 1 Timothy

00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:56.179
 chapter 4,

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:56.839
 remember Paul

00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:58.719
 says, let no

00:33:58.719 --> 00:33:59.859
 one despise you

00:33:59.859 --> 00:34:00.779
 for your youth.

00:34:00.779 --> 00:34:02.099
 This is 1 Timothy

00:34:02.099 --> 00:34:03.399
 4.12, let no

00:34:03.399 --> 00:34:04.299
 one despise you

00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:05.200
 for your youth

00:34:05.200 --> 00:34:07.259
 but set the

00:34:07.259 --> 00:34:07.899
 believers an

00:34:07.899 --> 00:34:08.659
 example in

00:34:08.659 --> 00:34:09.239
 speech and

00:34:09.239 --> 00:34:09.800
 conduct and

00:34:09.800 --> 00:34:10.199
 love and

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:10.599
 faith and

00:34:10.599 --> 00:34:10.880
 purity.

00:34:10.980 --> 00:34:11.300
 And he goes

00:34:11.300 --> 00:34:11.559
 on.

00:34:12.960 --> 00:34:13.440
 Well, what was

00:34:13.440 --> 00:34:14.000
 Paul trying to

00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:14.480
 tell Timothy

00:34:14.480 --> 00:34:14.940
 to do?

00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:15.900
 He wasn't

00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:16.460
 saying, Timothy,

00:34:16.539 --> 00:34:17.039
 I know you're a

00:34:17.039 --> 00:34:17.559
 young man so

00:34:17.559 --> 00:34:17.800
 what you're

00:34:17.800 --> 00:34:18.000
 going to have

00:34:18.000 --> 00:34:18.539
 to do is go

00:34:18.539 --> 00:34:19.159
 get the

00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:19.759
 older people in

00:34:19.759 --> 00:34:20.119
 the church.

00:34:20.199 --> 00:34:20.300
 You're going

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:20.500
 to have to

00:34:20.500 --> 00:34:20.900
 strap them

00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.340
 down to a

00:34:21.340 --> 00:34:21.699
 chair and

00:34:21.699 --> 00:34:22.039
 make sure

00:34:22.039 --> 00:34:22.360
 that they

00:34:22.360 --> 00:34:22.940
 listen to

00:34:22.940 --> 00:34:23.279
 what you

00:34:23.279 --> 00:34:23.579
 say.

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.360
 That's not

00:34:24.360 --> 00:34:24.719
 what he's

00:34:24.719 --> 00:34:25.019
 saying.

00:34:25.820 --> 00:34:26.340
 He's saying,

00:34:26.480 --> 00:34:26.739
 Timothy,

00:34:26.960 --> 00:34:29.179
 don't live with

00:34:29.179 --> 00:34:30.119
 behaviors that

00:34:30.119 --> 00:34:30.679
 are typical

00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:31.539
 of young men

00:34:31.539 --> 00:34:34.079
 your age because

00:34:34.079 --> 00:34:34.559
 you're going to

00:34:34.559 --> 00:34:35.199
 discredit the

00:34:35.199 --> 00:34:35.880
 gospel message

00:34:35.880 --> 00:34:36.259
 that you're

00:34:36.259 --> 00:34:36.619
 preaching.

00:34:37.239 --> 00:34:38.539
 Instead, set an

00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:39.400
 example for the

00:34:39.400 --> 00:34:39.839
 church and he

00:34:39.839 --> 00:34:40.500
 gives the list of

00:34:40.500 --> 00:34:41.500
 ways that Timothy

00:34:41.500 --> 00:34:42.139
 has to set an

00:34:42.139 --> 00:34:42.539
 example.

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.480
 That's what he's

00:34:43.480 --> 00:34:44.500
 saying to Titus

00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:44.739
 here.

00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.599
 Let no one

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.460
 disregard you.

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.799
 He's not saying

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:49.079
 keep barking at

00:34:49.079 --> 00:34:49.679
 them and force

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.179
 them to sit in

00:34:50.179 --> 00:34:50.739
 the chair and

00:34:50.739 --> 00:34:51.579
 listen to whatever

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.259
 you have to say

00:34:52.259 --> 00:34:52.739
 to give them a

00:34:52.739 --> 00:34:53.119
 piece of your

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:53.319
 mind.

00:34:53.400 --> 00:34:53.739
 That's not what

00:34:53.739 --> 00:34:54.079
 he's saying.

00:34:54.259 --> 00:34:54.639
 He's saying,

00:34:54.980 --> 00:34:55.639
 live in such a

00:34:55.639 --> 00:34:56.519
 way that you

00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.500
 don't discredit

00:34:57.500 --> 00:34:58.599
 the gospel message,

00:34:58.759 --> 00:34:59.719
 that people can't

00:34:59.719 --> 00:35:02.000
 easily evade the

00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:02.579
 message you're

00:35:02.579 --> 00:35:02.959
 preaching.

00:35:04.239 --> 00:35:05.219
 We can speak

00:35:05.219 --> 00:35:05.659
 God's word

00:35:05.659 --> 00:35:06.699
 routinely, but if

00:35:06.699 --> 00:35:07.299
 our manner of

00:35:07.299 --> 00:35:08.039
 life is not

00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:08.519
 worthy of

00:35:08.519 --> 00:35:10.039
 respect, what

00:35:10.039 --> 00:35:10.879
 good will our

00:35:10.879 --> 00:35:11.719
 preaching be?

00:35:12.619 --> 00:35:13.539
 It will be no

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:13.779
 good.

00:35:14.559 --> 00:35:15.859
 Almost no

00:35:15.859 --> 00:35:16.079
 good.

00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:19.399
 We can speak

00:35:19.399 --> 00:35:20.359
 authoritatively,

00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:21.599
 but who will

00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:23.039
 hear us if our

00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:23.799
 words are harsh

00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:24.419
 and unkind?

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:28.360
 generally, people

00:35:28.360 --> 00:35:29.159
 can see through

00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:30.260
 our hypocrisies.

00:35:31.500 --> 00:35:32.680
 They can tell

00:35:32.680 --> 00:35:33.380
 when our thoughts

00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.340
 of Christ haven't

00:35:34.340 --> 00:35:35.559
 truly gripped us

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:37.440
 and consumed us

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.200
 in our lives.

00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:40.920
 And the last

00:35:40.920 --> 00:35:41.599
 thing people are

00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.220
 interested in

00:35:42.220 --> 00:35:43.860
 listening to is a

00:35:43.860 --> 00:35:44.820
 religious lecture

00:35:44.820 --> 00:35:45.760
 from someone who

00:35:45.760 --> 00:35:46.700
 barely seems to be

00:35:46.700 --> 00:35:47.119
 a Christian

00:35:47.119 --> 00:35:47.680
 themselves.

00:35:48.780 --> 00:35:49.840
 Let no one

00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:50.639
 disregard you,

00:35:50.740 --> 00:35:51.099
 church.

00:35:51.099 --> 00:35:52.900
 don't make

00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.839
 God's message

00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:55.960
 optional and

00:35:55.960 --> 00:35:57.139
 live a life that's

00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:57.799
 worthy of the

00:35:57.799 --> 00:35:58.179
 gospel.

00:35:58.880 --> 00:35:59.460
 That's why Paul

00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.000
 says to the

00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:00.679
 Philippians, isn't

00:36:00.679 --> 00:36:00.880
 it?

00:36:01.759 --> 00:36:02.799
 Live worthy of

00:36:02.799 --> 00:36:03.299
 the gospel.

00:36:04.920 --> 00:36:05.799
 Show obedience

00:36:05.799 --> 00:36:06.420
 and love.

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:08.119
 Observe the

00:36:08.119 --> 00:36:09.759
 Lord's day to

00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.460
 show that you

00:36:10.460 --> 00:36:11.799
 actually love the

00:36:11.799 --> 00:36:12.000
 Lord.

00:36:12.099 --> 00:36:12.539
 You're actually

00:36:12.539 --> 00:36:13.639
 gripped by his

00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:13.839
 truth.

00:36:13.900 --> 00:36:14.679
 You actually care

00:36:14.679 --> 00:36:15.360
 to obey his

00:36:15.360 --> 00:36:15.779
 commands.

00:36:16.440 --> 00:36:17.199
 Live a life that's

00:36:17.199 --> 00:36:17.980
 consistent with the

00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:18.639
 message that you're

00:36:18.639 --> 00:36:18.980
 preaching.

00:36:19.659 --> 00:36:20.519
 Don't render

00:36:20.519 --> 00:36:22.099
 your teaching

00:36:22.099 --> 00:36:23.380
 ineffective.

00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:27.860
 No one teaches

00:36:27.860 --> 00:36:28.519
 the Bible by

00:36:28.519 --> 00:36:28.960
 accident.

00:36:31.000 --> 00:36:31.719
 It takes

00:36:31.719 --> 00:36:32.599
 intentionality.

00:36:32.780 --> 00:36:33.460
 It takes a

00:36:33.460 --> 00:36:34.920
 heart level

00:36:34.920 --> 00:36:36.599
 commitment to

00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.840
 regularly engage

00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:38.480
 in this kind of

00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:39.079
 discipling.

00:36:39.420 --> 00:36:39.900
 And it's a

00:36:39.900 --> 00:36:40.900
 responsibility that

00:36:40.900 --> 00:36:41.780
 belongs to each

00:36:41.780 --> 00:36:42.239
 of us.

00:36:44.539 --> 00:36:45.539
 For you parents,

00:36:45.639 --> 00:36:46.039
 this is a

00:36:46.039 --> 00:36:46.900
 responsibility you

00:36:46.900 --> 00:36:47.480
 have first and

00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.099
 foremost with your

00:36:48.099 --> 00:36:48.480
 children.

00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:48.619
 grandchildren.

00:36:49.619 --> 00:36:50.199
 You're your

00:36:50.199 --> 00:36:50.780
 grandchildren.

00:36:51.940 --> 00:36:52.559
 You have a

00:36:52.559 --> 00:36:53.500
 responsibility to

00:36:53.500 --> 00:36:54.260
 teach the word.

00:36:55.539 --> 00:36:56.380
 And that's not

00:36:56.380 --> 00:36:56.860
 going to happen

00:36:56.860 --> 00:36:57.360
 accidentally.

00:36:57.880 --> 00:36:58.320
 It's going to

00:36:58.320 --> 00:36:59.980
 take you caring in

00:36:59.980 --> 00:37:00.800
 those moments to

00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:02.179
 say, I must give

00:37:02.179 --> 00:37:03.079
 the truth of God to

00:37:03.079 --> 00:37:03.599
 my kids.

00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.740
 I must train them

00:37:05.740 --> 00:37:06.320
 in righteousness.

00:37:07.920 --> 00:37:08.719
 It's also

00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.820
 impossible to speak

00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:10.699
 the truth of God

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:12.039
 if you don't know

00:37:12.039 --> 00:37:12.880
 the truth of God.

00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:14.900
 God, we can't

00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:18.220
 ever expect to

00:37:18.220 --> 00:37:18.960
 obey these

00:37:18.960 --> 00:37:20.500
 commands and to

00:37:20.500 --> 00:37:21.360
 be effective in

00:37:21.360 --> 00:37:22.220
 our ministries to

00:37:22.220 --> 00:37:23.599
 other people if we

00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.300
 don't actually know

00:37:24.300 --> 00:37:24.820
 the Bible.

00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:27.460
 Study the Bible.

00:37:28.800 --> 00:37:29.579
 Read the word.

00:37:30.300 --> 00:37:30.780
 Get all the

00:37:30.780 --> 00:37:31.940
 resources you can to

00:37:31.940 --> 00:37:32.720
 help you understand

00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:33.980
 it the best way that

00:37:33.980 --> 00:37:34.400
 you can.

00:37:34.579 --> 00:37:35.660
 Pray and ask for the

00:37:35.660 --> 00:37:36.640
 Lord to lead you and

00:37:36.640 --> 00:37:37.860
 enlighten you by his

00:37:37.860 --> 00:37:38.700
 Holy Spirit so that

00:37:38.700 --> 00:37:39.539
 you can understand it.

00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:40.700
 Memorize it.

00:37:40.699 --> 00:37:41.679
 Ingrain it in your

00:37:41.679 --> 00:37:42.819
 heart and your mind

00:37:42.819 --> 00:37:43.759
 not only for your

00:37:43.759 --> 00:37:44.679
 own benefit but for

00:37:44.679 --> 00:37:45.919
 the benefit of others

00:37:45.919 --> 00:37:47.219
 that are in your

00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:47.679
 life.

00:37:48.659 --> 00:37:50.359
 Only then will we

00:37:50.359 --> 00:37:51.339
 care to know it and

00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.119
 share it with others.

00:37:52.859 --> 00:37:54.859
 Only then will we be

00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:55.939
 able to sit down with

00:37:55.939 --> 00:37:57.659
 someone, view their

00:37:57.659 --> 00:37:59.639
 circumstance with an

00:37:59.639 --> 00:38:00.960
 open Bible instead of

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:02.079
 just an open mind.

00:38:04.000 --> 00:38:05.259
 And the question is

00:38:05.259 --> 00:38:05.579
 simple.

00:38:06.859 --> 00:38:09.199
 Do you engage in

00:38:09.199 --> 00:38:10.359
 word-based ministry?

00:38:10.699 --> 00:38:13.719
 Tom and I had coffee

00:38:13.719 --> 00:38:14.519
 together the other

00:38:14.519 --> 00:38:16.659
 day in Mooresville and

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.099
 I love it.

00:38:17.159 --> 00:38:17.699
 Every now and then

00:38:17.699 --> 00:38:18.879
 when I do something

00:38:18.879 --> 00:38:20.699
 like this I often

00:38:20.699 --> 00:38:21.299
 wonder, I shouldn't

00:38:21.299 --> 00:38:21.779
 think this way, but

00:38:21.779 --> 00:38:22.480
 I often wonder what

00:38:22.480 --> 00:38:23.299
 are the people around

00:38:23.299 --> 00:38:24.239
 us thinking right now

00:38:24.239 --> 00:38:25.139
 because of two of us

00:38:25.139 --> 00:38:25.599
 we're sitting there

00:38:25.599 --> 00:38:26.539
 with our Bibles open

00:38:26.539 --> 00:38:27.159
 and we're working

00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:27.919
 through Romans chapter

00:38:27.919 --> 00:38:29.699
 six together and we

00:38:29.699 --> 00:38:30.259
 weren't being quiet

00:38:30.259 --> 00:38:31.819
 about it and we're

00:38:31.819 --> 00:38:32.319
 just working through

00:38:32.319 --> 00:38:32.679
 the Bible.

00:38:32.799 --> 00:38:33.099
 You know what we're

00:38:33.099 --> 00:38:33.399
 doing?

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:34.199
 We're saying hey

00:38:34.199 --> 00:38:34.779
 here's what's going

00:38:34.779 --> 00:38:35.439
 on in our lives.

00:38:35.500 --> 00:38:36.319
 How can we process

00:38:36.319 --> 00:38:37.059
 this through the lens

00:38:37.059 --> 00:38:37.559
 of the scripture?

00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:39.599
 That's what you can do.

00:38:40.699 --> 00:38:41.500
 You sit down with

00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:43.279
 one another and open

00:38:43.279 --> 00:38:43.859
 the Bible.

00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:45.339
 Say hey I know you're

00:38:45.339 --> 00:38:45.819
 going through this

00:38:45.819 --> 00:38:46.659
 difficult time.

00:38:47.079 --> 00:38:48.460
 Let's look at some

00:38:48.460 --> 00:38:49.639
 encouragement from the

00:38:49.639 --> 00:38:49.939
 scripture.

00:38:50.980 --> 00:38:52.119
 What is the truth about

00:38:52.119 --> 00:38:53.799
 what Christ has done

00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:54.259
 for us?

00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.419
 We lift each other's

00:38:55.419 --> 00:38:56.399
 hearts up with the

00:38:56.399 --> 00:38:56.659
 truth.

00:38:56.659 --> 00:38:57.859
 Not just by saying

00:38:57.859 --> 00:38:58.839
 they're there.

00:38:59.079 --> 00:39:00.399
 It's going to be okay.

00:39:01.339 --> 00:39:01.819
 Right?

00:39:01.820 --> 00:39:04.039
 Are you engaging in

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.080
 this kind of word

00:39:05.080 --> 00:39:05.740
 based ministry?

00:39:05.900 --> 00:39:06.700
 Engage with others

00:39:06.700 --> 00:39:08.140
 but make sure your

00:39:08.140 --> 00:39:09.180
 speech is saturated

00:39:09.180 --> 00:39:10.900
 with the Bible.

00:39:10.900 --> 00:39:11.599
 Well,

00:39:11.599 --> 00:39:12.900
 let's take a look at some