WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:07.320 Okay, well good morning everyone. Happy New Year to you. It is so lovely to welcome so many of you 00:00:07.320 --> 00:00:12.060 back after holidays. Hope you had a great time. Wonderful to see you again and lovely to meet 00:00:12.060 --> 00:00:17.199 some new faces this morning as well. Know that you are so welcome with us here and genuinely know 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:22.839 if there's anything that we can do to serve you as a local church, it would be our delight to be 00:00:22.839 --> 00:00:28.620 able to do that. Let me invite you to come expectantly to the book in the Bible called 00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:35.060 Titus. You might want to grab a Bible, your own Bible that you came with or one in the pew or 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:39.579 maybe you want to scroll on your phone, a little inside tip for finding Titus. It's in the New 00:00:39.579 --> 00:00:46.140 Testament, one of the letters towards the end. It's in among these clusters of T's. So you get 00:00:46.140 --> 00:00:52.060 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. So it's the last of the T's. So if you find yourself 00:00:52.060 --> 00:00:58.200 in one of those T's, you know roughly where to go. As you're turning there, let me give you a big 00:00:58.200 --> 00:01:07.299 invite to our prayer and pizza evening tonight at 6.30. We're going to do a big prayer push this year 00:01:07.299 --> 00:01:12.659 as a church just to embed and try and gather everyone into the prayer life of the church. 00:01:12.780 --> 00:01:17.439 More details on that will come in the next couple of weeks. But for tonight, we're going to stick with 00:01:17.439 --> 00:01:22.340 a time of half past six for some pizza, eat together, and then we're going to move straight 00:01:22.340 --> 00:01:27.620 into a time of prayer, finishing up roughly half seven, maybe just after half past seven. 00:01:28.219 --> 00:01:32.980 If you got one of the prayer cards on the way in tonight, this is supposed to be the focus for the 00:01:32.980 --> 00:01:37.200 month, the things that we're praying for as a church, as well as the usual church activities. 00:01:37.920 --> 00:01:45.100 We want to be a church that just blesses others and gives away prayer. So we are praying tonight for 00:01:45.439 --> 00:01:50.379 Charlotte Chapel, just giving away prayer, praying for another church in our city. They've told us how we 00:01:50.379 --> 00:01:56.539 can pray for them. And we're also going to be praying for, as Ian alluded to, UCCF and their 00:01:56.539 --> 00:02:01.219 events week, which is happening this week. So particularly if you're a student here tonight, 00:02:01.319 --> 00:02:06.640 whether you're at Edinburgh or elsewhere, or maybe particularly you love the work of UCCF, 00:02:06.679 --> 00:02:12.019 it was a huge part in my growth as a Christian. Or if you're just a student, we would love to pray 00:02:12.019 --> 00:02:17.319 particularly for you tonight. So please do come along if you are in those categories. It would just be 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:22.680 lovely to be able to do that with you. So that's 6.30 tonight. Do grab one of those cards 00:02:22.680 --> 00:02:27.599 on the way out. Now I've waggled on the tea long enough that you should have found Titus, hopefully. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:35.939 But this is what we do as a church at the beginning of every single new year. We do it to shake off the 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:42.159 Christmas new year grogginess, and we do it to get the caffeine into our spiritual systems, as it were. 00:02:42.159 --> 00:02:47.699 We do a short sermon series from a book in the Bible that reminds us who we are, 00:02:48.259 --> 00:02:54.719 what we believe as a local church, and why we exist. Have I left the clicker down there? I know 00:02:54.719 --> 00:03:00.560 it's in my back pocket. There we go. So this is Titus chapter 1. So come with me, we'll read it 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:11.180 together, and then we will hear God's voice as we unpack it a little bit together. So Paul writes 00:03:11.180 --> 00:03:17.020 this. This is chapter 1 we're going to take in this morning. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle 00:03:17.020 --> 00:03:24.219 of Jesus Christ, to further the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:33.340 godliness, in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of 00:03:33.340 --> 00:03:41.199 time, and which now at his appointed season, he has brought to light through the preaching entrusted to 00:03:41.199 --> 00:03:53.879 me by the command of God our Saviour. To Titus, my true son in our common faith, grace and peace from 00:03:53.879 --> 00:04:04.199 God the Father and Christ Jesus our Saviour. The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put 00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:13.319 in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town as I directed you. An elder must be 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:20.560 blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:30.100 and disobedient. Since an overseer manages God's household, he must be blameless, not overbearing, 00:04:30.280 --> 00:04:37.259 not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, 00:04:38.319 --> 00:04:47.300 he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy, 00:04:47.300 --> 00:04:55.060 and disciplined. He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, 00:04:55.639 --> 00:05:03.939 so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. For there are many 00:05:03.939 --> 00:05:11.180 rebellious people full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 00:05:11.180 --> 00:05:17.660 They must be silenced because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not 00:05:17.660 --> 00:05:24.139 to teach, and that for the sake of dishonest gain. One of Crete's own prophets has said it. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:33.100 Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons. This saying is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:38.639 so that they will be sound in the faith and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:45.279 merely human commands of those who reject the truth. To the pure, all things are pure, but to 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:51.779 those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences 00:05:51.779 --> 00:05:58.819 are corrupted. They claim to know God, but by their actions, they deny him. They are detestable, 00:05:59.659 --> 00:06:08.360 disobedient, and unfit for doing anything good. And God will add the blessing to his inspired word 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:14.180 this morning. As we get into Titus, let me let you into a conversation that we had with one of our 00:06:14.180 --> 00:06:20.879 children when they came back from school a few months ago. And it was the day after one of those 00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:26.040 Monday school strikes. If you remember, we had lots of them a few months ago. And we asked her, 00:06:26.720 --> 00:06:35.740 what did your friends do yesterday? And she said that one of them had a yes day. 00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:41.340 Now, I don't know if you're familiar with this modern day fad. It's taken from this Netflix film 00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:46.540 that came out in 2021. If you've got a couple of hours, there's better things to do with your time, 00:06:46.620 --> 00:06:54.340 but you can watch it if you go home. But see the strapline of this film. For a whole 24 hours, 00:06:55.160 --> 00:07:01.980 kids make the rules. And the whole thing of the film is that for 24 hours, mum and dad have to say yes 00:07:01.980 --> 00:07:09.460 to everything that their children suggest. And the whole idea behind this film is that life's really 00:07:09.460 --> 00:07:18.100 dull and boring when you just say no. And actually, real fun is to be found when you say yes to whatever 00:07:18.100 --> 00:07:24.879 you desire and whatever you want in the moment. Now, we've actually watched this film. 00:07:24.879 --> 00:07:29.480 And I have to say, if ever you're looking for a film that captures the spirit of our age, 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.180 then you would do a lot worse than capturing the message of that one. See, our ruggedly 00:07:36.180 --> 00:07:44.800 individualistic culture, it prizes self-expression. Now, the bigwigs, the people who get paid tons of 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:52.900 money at Netflix aren't stupid, they know that impulse living is attractive in our world. 00:07:54.139 --> 00:08:00.860 And because this is the air that you and I breathe every day as we live our lives in this world, 00:08:00.860 --> 00:08:09.720 I imagine that like osmosis, some of it has made its way into our systems probably way more than we 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:17.500 realise. Are you like me in that every so often you pause and you think to yourself, 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:24.980 am I missing out? As a believer in Jesus, am I missing 00:08:24.980 --> 00:08:33.779 the whole reason that I'm kind of designed to find joy and happiness in this world? 00:08:33.779 --> 00:08:42.480 Do you know, this letter of Titus has wonderfully reminded me of both the privilege and the joy 00:08:42.480 --> 00:08:50.559 of being able to say no to the way that our culture and our world thinks and lives. Now, 00:08:50.639 --> 00:08:58.439 why on earth would you do that? The answer is that the disciple of Jesus has had their eyes 00:08:58.440 --> 00:09:08.260 opened to something way better. Now, here is Paul, verse 1, come with me to the text. He's writing to 00:09:08.260 --> 00:09:15.920 his son in the faith called Titus, which I always think is a wonderful name, at verse 4. Titus is this 00:09:15.920 --> 00:09:22.040 guy who we meet in a few other places in the New Testament. He's playing his part in the unity and the 00:09:22.039 --> 00:09:29.279 growth of the early church as well as one of Paul's travelling companions. And the two of them likely 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:36.139 preach about Jesus and plant this church on the island of Crete. Now, I tried to put the map up 00:09:36.139 --> 00:09:41.079 there rather than images of the island, lest you get distracted by the thoughts of summer holidays. 00:09:42.419 --> 00:09:49.079 Yeah, there they are on Crete. Now, if you look at verse 12, you'll get a little glimpse into 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:57.060 Cretan culture. What are the people in Crete like? They say the Scots are tight. They say the Irish are 00:09:57.060 --> 00:10:02.180 cheeky. They say Londoners are rude because they never speak to you on the tube, right? What about 00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:10.520 Cretans? Well, see Paul quotes from one of Crete's greatest thinkers, this man called Epimenides. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:16.379 Do you see it in verse 12? He says this about his fellow Cretans. He says, 00:10:16.379 --> 00:10:22.840 Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy glutted. Now, that's a slogan I don't imagine the 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:30.620 Visit Crete Tourist Board are going to use anytime soon. Crete in this day is an island famous for 00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:35.519 having no wild animals, which means that David Attebra and his team aren't going to pitch up 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:43.639 on Crete and shoot a nature documentary. But the joke that they make about Cretans is that the fact 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:49.620 that they have no wild animals is more than made up for the fact that they have tons of wild people. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:57.960 Wildlifes. And this is where Paul pitches up with the gospel. And you think to yourself, 00:10:58.199 --> 00:11:03.240 surely when it comes to people that are going to maybe make lightly converts, 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:06.960 surely there's what we would call lower hanging fruit. 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:13.360 Surely there's easier places to go to make inroads with the gospel in this day. 00:11:14.180 --> 00:11:22.360 But here's the thing that Paul is convinced of, that the only thing that has the power to create 00:11:22.360 --> 00:11:27.660 a spiritual and moral revolution on the island of Crete is the gospel. 00:11:29.000 --> 00:11:34.639 It's the only thing that's going to transform the lives of the people on this island. 00:11:34.639 --> 00:11:38.199 This message about the crucified and risen Jesus. 00:11:40.240 --> 00:11:46.080 And because that's true, I think this letter invites us to pray big gospel prayers 00:11:46.080 --> 00:11:49.919 and have big gospel ambitions this year. 00:11:51.199 --> 00:11:53.819 Here's the question I've been asking myself all week. 00:11:53.820 --> 00:12:04.560 Am I convinced and are you convinced as we look out on our city and all the people and all the businesses 00:12:04.560 --> 00:12:08.860 and all the dreams and all the influence that there is here, 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:16.540 that if there is to be leaders who do the right thing, truth winning over untruth, 00:12:17.100 --> 00:12:21.860 people putting other people first, different generations not just speaking past each other, 00:12:21.860 --> 00:12:26.220 but coming together as one, if there's to be that kind of revolution in our city, 00:12:26.820 --> 00:12:31.300 then the only thing that's going to do it, the only thing that can deliver the goods is the gospel. 00:12:32.800 --> 00:12:39.060 The only thing that's going to transform our society is this message about Jesus Christ. 00:12:40.259 --> 00:12:45.820 And dear friends, know that the church are right at the centre of it. 00:12:45.820 --> 00:13:00.120 Now, here's what I want you to see. 00:13:00.780 --> 00:13:03.980 I want you to see what the church are called at verse 1. 00:13:04.660 --> 00:13:05.400 Do you see it? 00:13:05.820 --> 00:13:06.760 Don't miss the term. 00:13:06.759 --> 00:13:11.340 It's so easy to skip over the introduction to letters like this. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:17.120 But actually, this is one of the most detailed and long introductions we get in Paul's letters. 00:13:17.299 --> 00:13:18.980 He wants Titus to know things. 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.620 He wants him to know things about the church. 00:13:22.059 --> 00:13:22.899 What are they called? 00:13:23.399 --> 00:13:25.700 They are called God's elect. 00:13:25.700 --> 00:13:32.280 Now, let that phrase both stretch you and thrill you this morning. 00:13:33.240 --> 00:13:37.420 Because that means if you are a Christian here today, that that is no small thing. 00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:40.840 How often we just write it off as if it is. 00:13:41.379 --> 00:13:46.340 If it's just another lifestyle choice amongst the thousands of others that we could pick in this world. 00:13:46.759 --> 00:13:47.280 No, no, no, no. 00:13:47.640 --> 00:13:51.740 Paul says, if you're here today, you love and follow this Jesus. 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:53.160 That is an incredible thing. 00:13:53.159 --> 00:13:57.259 As ordinary as you think your life looks. 00:13:58.419 --> 00:14:02.319 Know that it's anything but ordinary as far as heaven is concerned. 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:07.659 It means if you're a Christian here today, this word, it's all caught up in this word. 00:14:08.219 --> 00:14:16.199 That God the Father in eternity past, it was his pleasure to choose you and give you to God the Son. 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:22.480 And at a moment in time, which we've just celebrated at Christmas, God the Son, he came. 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.939 He took on our flesh. 00:14:25.379 --> 00:14:27.600 And at that point, he took a name called Jesus. 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:33.860 Jesus, the man who lived the perfect life, the one that we couldn't live. 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:36.300 The Bible's word for that is his righteousness. 00:14:38.659 --> 00:14:42.639 Jesus, the man who died the death that you and I should have died on the cross. 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.019 The Bible's idea for that is substitution. 00:14:45.019 --> 00:14:49.399 And on the third day, Jesus rises from the dead. 00:14:49.399 --> 00:14:51.120 He later ascends to heaven. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.720 And from heaven, the Spirit was sent. 00:14:54.299 --> 00:15:03.480 And he came and he applied that work of Jesus to our lives as we heard and as we responded to the gospel. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:06.320 Just think about that for a minute. 00:15:07.200 --> 00:15:17.960 That every time eternal life surfaces in Edinburgh, sorry, eternal life surfaces in Edinburgh every time that we talk about Jesus. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:26.980 And the Spirit, he dwells in our hearts so that we can share and know the love that the Father has for his Son. 00:15:27.280 --> 00:15:29.980 And we can live for that purpose. 00:15:30.800 --> 00:15:31.280 Do you see? 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:36.639 To be a Christian is no small thing. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:42.840 And verse 1, Titus is to work to help the disciples on Crete. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:43.759 Do you see? 00:15:44.379 --> 00:15:45.199 What's he to do? 00:15:45.819 --> 00:15:52.399 Help them grow in their knowledge of the truth that will in turn lead to godliness. 00:15:52.879 --> 00:15:53.759 Do you see that word? 00:15:55.740 --> 00:15:56.299 Godliness. 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:58.500 And don't confuse that word with goodliness. 00:16:00.500 --> 00:16:06.059 This is not about our determination to turn over a new leaf. 00:16:07.100 --> 00:16:10.919 This is not about us cleaning up our act on the outside. 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:13.779 You know, there's a woman in the States called Jen Wilkin. 00:16:13.980 --> 00:16:15.919 She's just a brilliant thinker. 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:18.360 Just love reading her work. 00:16:18.439 --> 00:16:20.159 She puts this so much better than I can. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:22.799 I thought about paraphrasing it and I thought, no, we'll just give her the quote. 00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:23.639 Here's what she says. 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:29.080 If we focus on our actions without addressing our hearts, 00:16:29.080 --> 00:16:36.860 we may end up merely as better behaved lovers of self. 00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:41.460 No, godliness is different from goodliness. 00:16:41.460 --> 00:16:47.759 Godliness is how the grace of Jesus transforms us on the inside 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:54.820 and produces Jesus-like fruit for his glory and by his grace on the outside. 00:16:54.820 --> 00:16:58.379 What's going to work on Crete? 00:16:59.100 --> 00:17:02.760 What's going to convince people of the truth of the claims of Jesus 00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:08.480 is when the ordinary people of this island see in Christians 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:12.640 the effect of a transformed life. 00:17:12.640 --> 00:17:15.900 Now, I hope that encourages you here today. 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:17.840 We're going to see this as we travel through this letter 00:17:17.840 --> 00:17:23.160 because you might think, my Christian life is anything but extraordinary. 00:17:24.160 --> 00:17:28.340 You think what you're doing in your life is anything but extraordinary. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:30.300 You think nobody notices me. 00:17:32.480 --> 00:17:36.240 Friends, this tells you that God has got purposes for your life. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.380 Good works is a huge theme in this letter. 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:45.940 Don't underestimate the power and the witness of a transformed life 00:17:45.940 --> 00:17:47.539 wherever you are, whatever you're doing. 00:17:49.579 --> 00:17:51.720 You see, if Cretans are liars, 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:57.240 in other words, if truth is negotiable, if truth is moldable, 00:17:57.579 --> 00:18:00.039 if Cretans are knowing as being evil, 00:18:00.299 --> 00:18:04.160 and I take it that just means people are encouraged to let their passions run wild, 00:18:04.160 --> 00:18:07.880 and if Cretans are knowing as being lazy, 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:10.560 which may well be a reference to their work ethic, 00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:11.259 do you know what? 00:18:11.279 --> 00:18:15.180 It might just also be a fact that people just live for today 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:16.779 and they never think about tomorrow. 00:18:18.140 --> 00:18:21.759 How striking then, throughout this letter, 00:18:21.880 --> 00:18:26.019 that Paul says Jesus' people will be marked by things 00:18:26.019 --> 00:18:27.900 that are completely the opposite of that. 00:18:28.860 --> 00:18:32.000 They will be marked by a love for sound truth, 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:34.599 and sound is just the opposite of diseased. 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:37.339 A love for sound truth, 00:18:38.099 --> 00:18:40.000 a desire for self-control, 00:18:40.619 --> 00:18:42.859 and a zeal for good works. 00:18:44.180 --> 00:18:47.579 Now, how different, strikingly different, 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.480 is a community like that 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:54.619 going to look on an island like Crete? 00:18:54.619 --> 00:18:58.439 How different is a church like that 00:18:58.439 --> 00:19:01.119 going to look in a city like ours? 00:19:02.859 --> 00:19:05.279 It was the late John Stott who said, 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:08.799 it's only dead fish you go with the flow. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.239 And see, crucial to all of this 00:19:12.239 --> 00:19:15.039 is the leaders of this church. 00:19:15.939 --> 00:19:20.079 The Bible's word for leaders of the church is elders. 00:19:20.399 --> 00:19:21.879 That's why you get that word elders here. 00:19:21.880 --> 00:19:24.640 The men who are tasked with being 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:28.180 the Christ-like servant leaders of the church family. 00:19:29.080 --> 00:19:31.460 See, Paul's concern in this letter 00:19:31.460 --> 00:19:34.700 is the passing of the leadership baton 00:19:34.700 --> 00:19:36.180 from him to Titus. 00:19:36.960 --> 00:19:40.400 And also he's concerned for the generation of elders 00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:42.880 who will come both alongside Titus 00:19:42.880 --> 00:19:45.080 and come after Titus. 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:51.060 That's what Titus is to put into order at verse 5. 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:53.240 And as you might expect, 00:19:53.460 --> 00:19:54.700 leadership in the church 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:56.780 is radically different 00:19:56.780 --> 00:19:58.900 from leadership in the world. 00:20:00.180 --> 00:20:01.700 Do you want a little fun fact about Crete? 00:20:02.540 --> 00:20:03.820 Didn't know it until this week, 00:20:04.040 --> 00:20:04.800 so it was really cool. 00:20:05.860 --> 00:20:08.660 Do you know why Cretans are known as liars? 00:20:10.300 --> 00:20:11.120 It's not a joke. 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:12.280 It sounds like a joke, doesn't it? 00:20:12.360 --> 00:20:12.800 It's not. 00:20:13.600 --> 00:20:15.720 It's because they claim to be the place 00:20:15.720 --> 00:20:17.660 where Zeus was born. 00:20:18.900 --> 00:20:19.040 Right? 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.779 Apparently that's where Zeus is born, on Crete. 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:22.500 People love that fact on Crete. 00:20:22.619 --> 00:20:24.139 People outside Crete look in and say, 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.879 no chance. 00:20:26.440 --> 00:20:29.279 Really hot potato topic in this day. 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:31.399 Zeus, the chief Greek deity, 00:20:31.619 --> 00:20:32.799 considered to be the ruler, 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:33.539 the protector, 00:20:33.659 --> 00:20:36.460 and the father of all gods and humans. 00:20:37.259 --> 00:20:39.180 Now, regardless of whether or not 00:20:39.180 --> 00:20:41.039 that fact is a fact, 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:44.039 if that's fake news in our terms, 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:47.759 think about what that potentially means 00:20:47.759 --> 00:20:50.079 for how leadership and how power 00:20:50.079 --> 00:20:51.379 are viewed in Crete. 00:20:52.659 --> 00:20:55.740 If you are breathing the air every day 00:20:55.740 --> 00:20:58.899 of the guy who is famously depicted 00:20:58.899 --> 00:21:02.619 as carrying a thunderbolt in his hand, 00:21:04.119 --> 00:21:05.720 surely on some level, 00:21:05.819 --> 00:21:08.139 that's got to subconsciously work its way 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:10.659 through your system and into the mindset 00:21:10.660 --> 00:21:13.560 as you consider the power and influence 00:21:13.560 --> 00:21:14.519 that you have, 00:21:14.880 --> 00:21:16.600 even as small as it may be. 00:21:17.840 --> 00:21:19.600 Why does Paul have to mention 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:22.400 that Christian elders are not to be arrogant 00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:24.660 and quick-tempered and violent? 00:21:25.900 --> 00:21:27.820 Could it well be that that is just 00:21:27.820 --> 00:21:30.340 what you default to doing with power 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:33.800 and the influence that you have in Crete? 00:21:33.799 --> 00:21:37.899 You know, my brother who works in finance, 00:21:38.019 --> 00:21:39.359 his phone went off the other day. 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:45.299 Someone had liked his post on LinkedIn. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:48.480 Now, some of you will be on that. 00:21:48.759 --> 00:21:50.579 I don't even know whether it's a social media site or not. 00:21:50.779 --> 00:21:52.740 Some of you will have no idea what I'm talking about. 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:53.899 It's a place where you, 00:21:54.919 --> 00:21:57.240 online, you just upload your CV and credentials 00:21:57.240 --> 00:21:59.240 so that the wider world can see. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.460 And I asked him, I said, 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.559 do you like using LinkedIn? 00:22:01.559 --> 00:22:01.720 LinkedIn? 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:04.480 And he said, well, kind of in my field, 00:22:04.619 --> 00:22:05.679 you have to. 00:22:06.059 --> 00:22:07.079 And this was his line. 00:22:07.519 --> 00:22:11.299 He said, it's the app of shameless self-promotion. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:15.500 See, in our world, friends, 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:17.000 you and I are used to composing 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.480 and putting together CVs 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:20.159 that say to a prospective employer, 00:22:20.639 --> 00:22:23.220 this is how high and how willing I am to jump. 00:22:24.960 --> 00:22:27.419 Whereas the CV of a Christian leader says, 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:29.480 not this is how high I can jump. 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:31.420 A CV of a Christian leader says, 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:33.700 this is how low I'm willing to stoop. 00:22:35.779 --> 00:22:38.400 Christian leadership is not about following the man 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:40.519 with a thunderbolt in his hand. 00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:44.660 Christian leadership is about seeking to emulate the man 00:22:44.660 --> 00:22:46.860 who has a cross on his back. 00:22:48.660 --> 00:22:51.099 And when Paul talks about elders here, 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:55.660 do you notice how he doesn't primarily talk about structures? 00:22:55.660 --> 00:22:58.340 You know, as important as they are, 00:22:58.420 --> 00:23:00.340 I take it is pretty context specific 00:23:00.340 --> 00:23:02.100 when you think about structures in a church. 00:23:02.380 --> 00:23:04.040 Nor does he talk about competency. 00:23:05.420 --> 00:23:07.920 He talks here primarily about, 00:23:08.000 --> 00:23:08.759 and you see it, 00:23:09.620 --> 00:23:11.160 he talks about character. 00:23:13.100 --> 00:23:15.140 And what you get here is just a contrast 00:23:15.140 --> 00:23:17.240 between good leaders and bad leaders. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:20.700 The type of which there are clearly many 00:23:20.700 --> 00:23:23.000 who are prowling around the church scene in Crete 00:23:23.000 --> 00:23:26.559 and who are peddling a distorted and a false gospel, 00:23:26.859 --> 00:23:30.220 who are seeking to deny the sufficiency of Jesus 00:23:30.220 --> 00:23:31.299 and his death 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:34.740 and the transforming effect of grace, 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:35.380 who are saying, 00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:37.279 you kind of need to clean up your outside act 00:23:37.279 --> 00:23:38.200 and do stuff. 00:23:38.920 --> 00:23:41.299 Whereas that is not what the gospel of grace says. 00:23:43.799 --> 00:23:44.980 And you might be saying to yourself, 00:23:44.980 --> 00:23:46.480 why should I care about elders? 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:49.220 Let me just say, 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.539 we should all care about this 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:54.079 because the stakes are really, really high. 00:23:55.420 --> 00:23:56.819 You go wrong here, 00:23:57.500 --> 00:23:59.640 you appoint the wrong kind of elders, 00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:02.079 you let the wrong kind of people have influence, 00:24:02.220 --> 00:24:04.360 and there are disastrous consequences 00:24:04.360 --> 00:24:06.700 for the health and the well-being of the church, 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:08.200 not to mention, I think, 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:09.160 particularly in Crete, 00:24:09.920 --> 00:24:11.579 the reputation of the gospel. 00:24:13.120 --> 00:24:14.500 And I had someone tell me the other day 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:19.079 how they refuse to buy brew dog beer anymore. 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:22.240 And the reason is 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:24.140 that they simply detest 00:24:24.140 --> 00:24:26.200 how the owner has abused his power 00:24:26.200 --> 00:24:27.859 and has treated his employees 00:24:27.859 --> 00:24:30.279 now that that whole thing has been made public. 00:24:31.559 --> 00:24:33.039 You understand, don't you, 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:34.019 if you're in leadership 00:24:34.019 --> 00:24:36.480 and it goes wrong there, 00:24:37.180 --> 00:24:38.720 the disastrous effect 00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:39.880 for the renown of Jesus 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:42.040 as it can have on a city. 00:24:43.340 --> 00:24:44.440 Eldership really matters. 00:24:44.540 --> 00:24:46.000 Let me just say there are five of us men 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:47.200 who do this here at Brunsfield 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:48.260 who serve in this role. 00:24:48.800 --> 00:24:49.880 There we are on the screen. 00:24:51.700 --> 00:24:54.920 The reason that Pete and JT's names 00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:55.960 are in white there, 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.260 just to clarify, 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:59.000 is simply just the color contrast. 00:24:59.080 --> 00:24:59.620 They're not special. 00:24:59.619 --> 00:25:00.759 Special, okay? 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:04.259 But consider this 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:06.059 permission 00:25:06.059 --> 00:25:09.619 to keep us accountable 00:25:09.619 --> 00:25:12.539 that we are serving you 00:25:12.539 --> 00:25:14.399 by doing this 00:25:14.399 --> 00:25:16.679 and by being this. 00:25:17.239 --> 00:25:18.739 We should all care 00:25:18.739 --> 00:25:21.239 about leadership in the church. 00:25:21.500 --> 00:25:22.279 Just really quickly, 00:25:22.379 --> 00:25:23.239 there are two things 00:25:23.239 --> 00:25:24.479 that are telltale signs 00:25:24.479 --> 00:25:26.000 that someone is elder material. 00:25:26.239 --> 00:25:27.479 Remember, Paul is saying to Titus, 00:25:27.480 --> 00:25:29.740 you need to appoint men like this 00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.620 to lead the church. 00:25:30.680 --> 00:25:31.779 They're going to give themselves 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.720 for the good of the people. 00:25:33.000 --> 00:25:33.400 Let me just say, 00:25:33.480 --> 00:25:34.220 before we get into this, 00:25:34.240 --> 00:25:35.559 it's our joy to serve you 00:25:35.559 --> 00:25:36.319 as elders here. 00:25:37.019 --> 00:25:37.819 It really is. 00:25:38.539 --> 00:25:39.279 It really is. 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:42.160 I get to do this full-time. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:43.339 These guys do it. 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:45.500 A mixture of part-time. 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:46.500 These guys do it 00:25:46.500 --> 00:25:48.099 on top of full-time jobs, 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.120 looking after children, 00:25:49.279 --> 00:25:50.099 all the rest of it. 00:25:50.180 --> 00:25:50.599 Can I just say, 00:25:50.700 --> 00:25:51.680 don't say this to me, 00:25:52.019 --> 00:25:52.740 but go out of your way 00:25:52.740 --> 00:25:53.700 to thank these men. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:54.920 I see, 00:25:54.920 --> 00:25:57.180 I see how hard they work for you. 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.539 How they labor, 00:25:58.700 --> 00:25:59.500 how they toil, 00:26:00.099 --> 00:26:00.920 how they visit, 00:26:01.500 --> 00:26:02.519 how they write emails, 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.360 how they plan. 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:04.079 They do this 00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:05.140 on top of everything else 00:26:05.140 --> 00:26:05.620 that they do, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:06.440 and they do it 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.779 because they love Jesus 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.220 and they love you. 00:26:10.819 --> 00:26:11.940 Here's the first one 00:26:11.940 --> 00:26:13.420 we were talking about elder material. 00:26:13.579 --> 00:26:15.299 It's the fruit of his life. 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.519 See, the world makes a distinction 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.779 between someone's public 00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:21.019 and private life, 00:26:21.319 --> 00:26:23.220 and I guess that their private life 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:24.839 is considered less important 00:26:24.839 --> 00:26:26.160 than simply their ability 00:26:26.160 --> 00:26:27.099 to do the job. 00:26:28.279 --> 00:26:30.099 When it comes to eldership, 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.200 it is completely the opposite. 00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:34.420 It's completely the opposite. 00:26:35.519 --> 00:26:36.559 And maybe you're here today 00:26:36.559 --> 00:26:38.059 and you're not a Christian. 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.440 We love that you're here. 00:26:40.079 --> 00:26:41.099 Maybe can I just ask you, 00:26:41.160 --> 00:26:41.900 do you see 00:26:41.900 --> 00:26:44.099 the examples 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:44.799 and the effects 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:45.640 of bad leadership 00:26:45.640 --> 00:26:46.799 as you look at our world? 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.120 I want you to know, 00:26:49.200 --> 00:26:50.140 and God wants you to know, 00:26:50.200 --> 00:26:50.860 that in his church 00:26:50.860 --> 00:26:52.200 this should be exactly the same. 00:26:52.440 --> 00:26:53.299 Maybe you're here today 00:26:53.299 --> 00:26:54.180 and you've been burnt 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:55.440 by the church over the years 00:26:55.440 --> 00:26:56.320 by bad leadership. 00:26:57.220 --> 00:26:57.880 How do you say that? 00:26:57.940 --> 00:26:58.799 I'm so, so sorry 00:26:58.799 --> 00:26:59.900 that that has been the case. 00:27:01.100 --> 00:27:03.360 Know how God feels about that 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:05.279 when we see the standards 00:27:05.279 --> 00:27:06.740 that he wants in his leaders. 00:27:08.320 --> 00:27:08.440 You know, 00:27:08.519 --> 00:27:09.140 a good indicator 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.200 that someone is going to be 00:27:10.200 --> 00:27:10.920 good at loving 00:27:10.920 --> 00:27:12.640 and leading the spiritual family 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.299 of God. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.220 Paul says, 00:27:15.220 --> 00:27:16.299 look at how he loves 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:17.279 and leads his 00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:19.419 biological family. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:21.799 And I take it 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.319 that doesn't mean 00:27:22.319 --> 00:27:23.339 that just only elders 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:24.980 are the ones who are married 00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.599 and have a family. 00:27:25.680 --> 00:27:26.159 I don't think that's 00:27:26.159 --> 00:27:27.019 the application here. 00:27:27.099 --> 00:27:28.119 But I think Paul's saying 00:27:28.119 --> 00:27:29.740 if you want a good guess 00:27:29.740 --> 00:27:30.639 at how he's going to be 00:27:30.639 --> 00:27:31.240 at leading the 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:33.879 spiritual family of God, 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.859 look at his own life. 00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.899 If he has one, 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:37.859 does he have children? 00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:38.599 Do his children, 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.720 and I take it the word there 00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:40.319 is talking about 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.839 young children still at home, 00:27:41.839 --> 00:27:43.899 how are they with him? 00:27:45.139 --> 00:27:46.399 Does he take the time? 00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:47.339 Can you see it 00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:49.019 to nurture his children? 00:27:49.299 --> 00:27:50.859 Does he enjoy them? 00:27:50.939 --> 00:27:51.919 Does he see them 00:27:51.919 --> 00:27:53.240 as a blessing in his life? 00:27:54.959 --> 00:27:56.199 Is he bringing them up 00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:57.119 to know Jesus? 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.500 And talking to families, 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:01.839 what does his wife say about him? 00:28:02.599 --> 00:28:04.000 The person who sees him 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:06.079 when no one else is watching, 00:28:06.199 --> 00:28:07.299 the person who sees him 00:28:07.299 --> 00:28:08.799 when his guard is down, 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:12.200 how does he relate to her? 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:14.019 Is it clear to everyone watching 00:28:14.019 --> 00:28:16.299 that he has eyes for her alone? 00:28:17.899 --> 00:28:19.779 Does he seek to show hospitality? 00:28:21.419 --> 00:28:22.619 I take it that's more than just 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:24.460 does he throw a decent dinner party? 00:28:24.720 --> 00:28:26.419 This is more akin to 00:28:26.419 --> 00:28:27.339 does he welcome 00:28:27.339 --> 00:28:29.079 and does he love strangers? 00:28:30.440 --> 00:28:32.200 Is his home a place, 00:28:32.259 --> 00:28:34.639 a safe place of refuge for people? 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:36.480 And why does that matter? 00:28:36.480 --> 00:28:37.539 It matters because 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:39.640 does his heart reflect 00:28:39.640 --> 00:28:42.240 the God of radical hospitality? 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.799 You know, they always say 00:28:45.799 --> 00:28:49.099 that you should dance 00:28:49.099 --> 00:28:50.940 like no one's watching. 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:54.920 Well, an elder friend 00:28:54.920 --> 00:28:56.000 is to be this 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.940 when no one's watching. 00:28:58.180 --> 00:28:59.700 He's not putting it on. 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:01.299 This is not his game face. 00:29:01.759 --> 00:29:02.519 He comes 00:29:02.519 --> 00:29:04.400 and this is just who he is. 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:07.820 Consider the fruit of his life 00:29:07.820 --> 00:29:09.300 and equally consider 00:29:09.300 --> 00:29:10.500 the truth from his lips. 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:11.440 Do you see verse 9? 00:29:11.580 --> 00:29:13.420 Does he hold firmly 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:15.300 to that trustworthy message 00:29:15.300 --> 00:29:16.980 as has been taught? 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.940 Does he know the gospel? 00:29:19.100 --> 00:29:20.040 Does he love the gospel? 00:29:20.180 --> 00:29:21.300 Does he hold the gospel? 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.860 Again, because it's the truth 00:29:22.860 --> 00:29:25.259 that's going to lead to godliness. 00:29:25.460 --> 00:29:26.160 It's the truth 00:29:26.160 --> 00:29:26.700 that's going to lead 00:29:26.700 --> 00:29:28.360 to the flourishing of this church. 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.780 It's not about how well 00:29:29.780 --> 00:29:31.100 we're able to do events. 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:33.180 It's not about how structured we are. 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:34.880 What is going to transform 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:35.480 this church 00:29:35.480 --> 00:29:36.500 and continue to do it 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.299 for God's glory 00:29:37.299 --> 00:29:38.580 is the truth. 00:29:39.560 --> 00:29:40.380 It's the truth. 00:29:40.460 --> 00:29:41.240 Now, in our world 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:42.299 where in 2016 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:43.799 the word post-truth 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:45.340 was declared to be 00:29:45.340 --> 00:29:46.220 the word of the year 00:29:46.220 --> 00:29:47.539 by the Oxford Dictionary. 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.019 And there's a lovely 00:29:50.019 --> 00:29:51.060 little irony there, isn't there, 00:29:51.060 --> 00:29:51.560 in the truth 00:29:51.560 --> 00:29:52.600 that that word 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.779 is actually two words, 00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.799 but we'll let that go. 00:29:55.279 --> 00:29:57.279 Into our post-truth world, 00:29:58.620 --> 00:30:00.660 see when the going gets tough, 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:03.500 an elder who's worth his soul 00:30:03.500 --> 00:30:05.320 is not going to shapeshift 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:08.060 with the changing seasons 00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:08.880 of culture. 00:30:09.300 --> 00:30:10.640 No, an elder will hold 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:12.360 steadfastly to the truth 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.060 of the gospel, 00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:15.580 be willing to take the hit for it 00:30:15.580 --> 00:30:17.440 because he loves it 00:30:17.440 --> 00:30:19.460 and he's convinced of it 00:30:19.460 --> 00:30:21.019 and he loves Jesus. 00:30:21.120 --> 00:30:22.340 He loves Jesus' people. 00:30:22.339 --> 00:30:24.119 And that means 00:30:24.119 --> 00:30:25.559 as elders, 00:30:26.559 --> 00:30:27.679 as we lead through 00:30:27.679 --> 00:30:28.699 our teaching, 00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:31.240 notwithstanding the place 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:32.939 of creativity up here, 00:30:33.699 --> 00:30:35.319 what you will find up here 00:30:35.319 --> 00:30:36.099 is nothing 00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:38.759 but an unashamed commitment 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:40.799 to unoriginality. 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.599 Now, this is Tim Chester. 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.879 He's written a great commentary 00:30:44.879 --> 00:30:45.859 on this called Titus. 00:30:45.939 --> 00:30:46.959 He says it like this. 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:47.899 He says, 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.459 peddling orthodoxy 00:30:49.459 --> 00:30:50.459 is not a great way 00:30:50.459 --> 00:30:51.799 to make a name for yourself. 00:30:52.339 --> 00:30:53.099 Sell books 00:30:53.099 --> 00:30:54.099 or draw a crowd 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:56.480 because by very definition, 00:30:57.679 --> 00:30:59.079 it's all been said before. 00:31:01.240 --> 00:31:01.980 And let me just say, 00:31:02.099 --> 00:31:03.480 we are committed as leaders 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:05.939 to being teachers 00:31:05.939 --> 00:31:08.319 who just say 00:31:08.319 --> 00:31:10.419 what's been said before. 00:31:11.119 --> 00:31:13.240 For generations before us, 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:15.599 for millennia before us, 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:18.740 that's the truth of Jesus Christ. 00:31:18.899 --> 00:31:19.099 Why? 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.000 Because God's word 00:31:20.000 --> 00:31:20.679 is eternal. 00:31:21.740 --> 00:31:22.859 And that's what we need. 00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:24.899 The truth will lead 00:31:24.899 --> 00:31:26.779 to godliness. 00:31:27.639 --> 00:31:29.259 See maybe the offensive angle 00:31:29.259 --> 00:31:30.459 in this at verse 9. 00:31:31.819 --> 00:31:33.000 Why does he do this? 00:31:33.039 --> 00:31:33.299 An elder, 00:31:33.399 --> 00:31:34.399 so that he can encourage 00:31:34.399 --> 00:31:35.319 others with it. 00:31:37.000 --> 00:31:37.819 Do you know in our world 00:31:37.819 --> 00:31:39.500 where it's all too easy 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:41.159 just to position yourself 00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:43.839 in a social media echo chamber 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:45.859 and you just surround yourself 00:31:45.859 --> 00:31:46.579 with opinions 00:31:46.579 --> 00:31:48.000 that you just agree with? 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:50.159 A loving elder 00:31:50.159 --> 00:31:51.000 will know 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.519 that what is nicest 00:31:52.519 --> 00:31:53.839 for you to hear 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:55.119 is not always 00:31:55.119 --> 00:31:55.879 the best thing 00:31:55.879 --> 00:31:56.740 for you to hear. 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.579 He will put 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.919 your eternal destiny 00:31:59.919 --> 00:32:01.919 before your present comfort. 00:32:02.599 --> 00:32:03.819 He will have 00:32:03.819 --> 00:32:05.059 that word 00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.459 because he loves you. 00:32:07.659 --> 00:32:08.500 Let me just ask you 00:32:08.500 --> 00:32:09.319 to just broaden it out 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:09.740 a little bit. 00:32:09.819 --> 00:32:10.019 Friends, 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:10.819 do you have people 00:32:10.819 --> 00:32:11.439 in your lives 00:32:11.439 --> 00:32:12.139 who will tell you 00:32:12.139 --> 00:32:12.819 the hard things 00:32:12.819 --> 00:32:13.779 that you don't want to hear? 00:32:15.200 --> 00:32:15.899 And you know 00:32:15.899 --> 00:32:16.639 that they will do that 00:32:16.639 --> 00:32:17.639 because they love you. 00:32:17.720 --> 00:32:18.639 Not that they're nitpicking 00:32:18.639 --> 00:32:20.439 or they're out to get you. 00:32:20.519 --> 00:32:21.559 You know that they love you. 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.259 Do you have people 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.139 like that in your life? 00:32:24.579 --> 00:32:25.339 I take it that's why 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.179 we need each other, 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.919 that we can speak the truth 00:32:27.919 --> 00:32:29.200 in love to each other. 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.720 See the defensive angle 00:32:32.720 --> 00:32:33.519 on it as well. 00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.099 He will refute 00:32:35.099 --> 00:32:36.200 those who oppose it. 00:32:36.960 --> 00:32:37.559 Clearly knows, 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.740 Paul knows the situation 00:32:38.740 --> 00:32:39.179 in Crete 00:32:39.179 --> 00:32:40.379 where these false teachers 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:41.200 are on the prowl. 00:32:41.280 --> 00:32:41.760 Verse 10, 00:32:41.840 --> 00:32:42.640 he calls them 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:44.380 rebellious people 00:32:44.380 --> 00:32:45.720 full of meaningless talk 00:32:45.720 --> 00:32:46.320 and deception. 00:32:46.500 --> 00:32:47.900 I take it he's really strong 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.360 on this 00:32:48.360 --> 00:32:50.680 because he loves Titus 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.340 and he loves 00:32:51.340 --> 00:32:52.320 what God is doing 00:32:52.320 --> 00:32:53.440 through this church in Crete. 00:32:54.540 --> 00:32:55.980 Paul exposes their motives. 00:32:56.100 --> 00:32:56.620 Verse 11, 00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:57.060 do you see, 00:32:57.160 --> 00:32:58.240 for dishonest gain. 00:33:00.980 --> 00:33:01.400 Clearly, 00:33:01.520 --> 00:33:02.320 whatever they were saying 00:33:02.320 --> 00:33:02.700 was enough 00:33:02.700 --> 00:33:04.140 to unsettle these Christians. 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.180 People, 00:33:05.540 --> 00:33:06.100 Paul says, 00:33:06.200 --> 00:33:06.920 verse 16, 00:33:07.040 --> 00:33:08.020 are people who profess 00:33:08.020 --> 00:33:09.260 to know God 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:11.700 but who deny him 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.900 by their works. 00:33:15.500 --> 00:33:15.960 You know, 00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:16.680 we went for a walk 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.480 on New Year's Day 00:33:17.480 --> 00:33:19.279 across the moors 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.259 where my parents live, 00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.299 just outside Glasgow. 00:33:22.559 --> 00:33:23.920 We realized we'd brought 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.400 outside boots 00:33:25.400 --> 00:33:26.359 for two of the children 00:33:26.359 --> 00:33:27.359 and not one of the children. 00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.079 So Grace is on this walk. 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.140 She's wearing her trainers 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:32.680 and she's jumping in 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.700 and out of muddy puddles. 00:33:33.700 --> 00:33:35.920 And it doesn't take us long, 00:33:36.620 --> 00:33:36.819 or sorry, 00:33:36.900 --> 00:33:37.539 it didn't take long 00:33:37.539 --> 00:33:38.420 before those trainers 00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:40.120 were absolutely soaking wet. 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:41.920 And we utter 00:33:41.920 --> 00:33:42.860 the classic line 00:33:42.860 --> 00:33:43.600 that you always 00:33:43.600 --> 00:33:44.860 utter as parents. 00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:46.039 For goodness sake, 00:33:46.420 --> 00:33:47.140 you're soaked 00:33:47.140 --> 00:33:48.480 right through. 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:52.259 And I take it Paul 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.819 is saying here 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.380 that an elder 00:33:53.380 --> 00:33:54.100 is a man 00:33:54.100 --> 00:33:56.160 who is soaked 00:33:56.160 --> 00:33:56.819 right through 00:33:56.819 --> 00:33:57.500 with the gospel. 00:33:58.380 --> 00:33:59.420 You ring him 00:33:59.420 --> 00:34:00.100 when the pressure 00:34:00.100 --> 00:34:00.759 gets tough, 00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:02.779 that's what's going 00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.480 to come out of him. 00:34:04.859 --> 00:34:06.339 And he is the flip 00:34:06.339 --> 00:34:07.480 of verse 16. 00:34:08.639 --> 00:34:09.759 He will be somebody 00:34:09.759 --> 00:34:11.500 who claims to know God 00:34:11.500 --> 00:34:13.619 and he shows it 00:34:13.619 --> 00:34:14.480 by his works. 00:34:15.960 --> 00:34:16.519 Now listen, 00:34:16.559 --> 00:34:17.219 our time's gone, 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.019 but let me just finish 00:34:18.019 --> 00:34:18.759 with this thought. 00:34:20.179 --> 00:34:20.400 You know, 00:34:20.420 --> 00:34:21.079 we started thinking 00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:21.860 about a little girl 00:34:21.860 --> 00:34:22.800 who had a yes day. 00:34:24.759 --> 00:34:25.719 Just as we close, 00:34:25.800 --> 00:34:26.579 let me tell you a story 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:27.380 I heard recently 00:34:27.380 --> 00:34:28.079 about a man 00:34:28.079 --> 00:34:29.019 who had a no day. 00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:33.000 He was a Church of Scotland 00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.239 minister from years ago 00:34:34.239 --> 00:34:35.099 who ministered up 00:34:35.099 --> 00:34:36.139 in this tiny village 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:37.199 in the north of Scotland 00:34:37.199 --> 00:34:38.739 called May. 00:34:39.800 --> 00:34:40.199 Right? 00:34:40.340 --> 00:34:41.559 You'll never have heard 00:34:41.559 --> 00:34:41.860 of May. 00:34:41.920 --> 00:34:42.759 I had to Google it 00:34:42.759 --> 00:34:43.679 where it was this week, 00:34:43.759 --> 00:34:44.420 but it is famous 00:34:44.420 --> 00:34:45.059 for one thing 00:34:45.059 --> 00:34:45.800 and one thing only. 00:34:46.239 --> 00:34:47.139 It's got a castle. 00:34:49.320 --> 00:34:50.119 Royal family, 00:34:50.259 --> 00:34:50.900 occasionally I think 00:34:50.900 --> 00:34:51.559 have gone there 00:34:51.559 --> 00:34:52.420 over the years. 00:34:53.219 --> 00:34:54.119 And the story goes 00:34:54.119 --> 00:34:55.480 about this minister 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.219 in this church, 00:34:56.320 --> 00:34:56.840 this elder, 00:34:56.840 --> 00:34:58.720 that the Queen 00:34:58.720 --> 00:34:59.480 happened to be up 00:34:59.480 --> 00:35:00.500 in that neck of the woods 00:35:00.500 --> 00:35:00.980 one time 00:35:00.980 --> 00:35:01.940 on her Scottish trip. 00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:03.900 And the minister 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:04.380 was called 00:35:04.380 --> 00:35:05.380 by the Queen's aide 00:35:05.380 --> 00:35:06.220 and the Queen's aide 00:35:06.220 --> 00:35:07.660 really simply said, 00:35:08.059 --> 00:35:09.059 would you join 00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:09.760 the Queen and I 00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:10.200 for dinner? 00:35:12.019 --> 00:35:12.880 And this minister, 00:35:13.880 --> 00:35:15.079 he turned it down 00:35:15.079 --> 00:35:17.000 because that evening 00:35:17.000 --> 00:35:17.660 happened to be 00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.840 the church prayer meeting 00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:20.220 and he made a commitment 00:35:20.220 --> 00:35:21.860 to eight of his fellow 00:35:21.860 --> 00:35:22.519 parishioners, 00:35:22.620 --> 00:35:23.440 the story goes, 00:35:23.940 --> 00:35:25.260 to be with them 00:35:25.260 --> 00:35:26.640 and to pray with them. 00:35:26.840 --> 00:35:29.360 So slightly kicking himself 00:35:29.360 --> 00:35:29.780 that he missed 00:35:29.780 --> 00:35:30.440 the opportunity, 00:35:30.559 --> 00:35:31.240 a while later, 00:35:31.940 --> 00:35:32.740 the phone goes 00:35:32.740 --> 00:35:33.600 and it's the QM, 00:35:33.780 --> 00:35:34.880 the Queen Mother's aide again 00:35:34.880 --> 00:35:36.700 and he said, 00:35:36.780 --> 00:35:38.240 the Queen got your message 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:39.900 and she wants you to know 00:35:39.900 --> 00:35:41.039 that you made 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:43.019 a really wise choice 00:35:43.019 --> 00:35:44.880 and actually you can 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.780 come round for dinner 00:35:45.780 --> 00:35:46.500 tomorrow night 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.059 if you want. 00:35:48.980 --> 00:35:49.280 And listen, 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:49.880 a good elder, 00:35:50.000 --> 00:35:50.920 just as we finish, 00:35:52.140 --> 00:35:52.940 will be a man 00:35:52.940 --> 00:35:54.120 who is not dazzled 00:35:54.120 --> 00:35:54.780 by the glitz 00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:55.440 and the glamour, 00:35:55.440 --> 00:35:57.500 a man who's not 00:35:57.500 --> 00:35:59.360 swayed by public opinion, 00:35:59.539 --> 00:36:00.340 a man who's not 00:36:00.340 --> 00:36:02.400 swayed by celebrity status, 00:36:02.860 --> 00:36:03.780 a man who's not 00:36:03.780 --> 00:36:04.900 seeking platform 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:05.659 and likes, 00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:08.300 a man who's committed 00:36:08.300 --> 00:36:09.360 to God's truth 00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:11.139 and he's committed 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.800 to the people 00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:12.740 that God has called 00:36:12.740 --> 00:36:13.380 him to love 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:14.500 and to serve. 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:17.000 So that is why 00:36:17.000 --> 00:36:17.700 Paul says, 00:36:17.820 --> 00:36:19.019 that's why I left you 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.460 in Crete. 00:36:19.460 --> 00:36:22.519 Let me just let you 00:36:22.519 --> 00:36:24.059 into the verse 00:36:24.059 --> 00:36:24.519 that we're going to 00:36:24.519 --> 00:36:25.579 think about next week 00:36:25.579 --> 00:36:26.119 and I think this is 00:36:26.119 --> 00:36:27.079 the heart of the letter 00:36:27.079 --> 00:36:27.840 but let's just finish 00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:28.579 with this and you'll 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.199 see the themes 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:31.420 that we picked up 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.240 on a lot of today. 00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.840 Chapter 2, 00:36:33.940 --> 00:36:34.519 verse 11, 00:36:34.740 --> 00:36:35.460 Paul writes this, 00:36:35.460 --> 00:36:36.519 for the grace of God 00:36:36.519 --> 00:36:37.220 has appeared, 00:36:38.220 --> 00:36:39.679 bringing salvation 00:36:39.679 --> 00:36:40.599 for all people, 00:36:41.539 --> 00:36:42.380 training us 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:43.280 to renounce 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:44.000 ungodliness 00:36:44.000 --> 00:36:45.099 and worldly passions 00:36:45.099 --> 00:36:47.019 and to live 00:36:47.019 --> 00:36:48.099 self-controlled, 00:36:48.440 --> 00:36:48.920 uplight 00:36:48.920 --> 00:36:49.960 and godly lives 00:36:49.960 --> 00:36:51.079 in the present age, 00:36:51.860 --> 00:36:52.400 waiting 00:36:52.400 --> 00:36:53.860 for our 00:36:53.860 --> 00:36:54.760 blessed hope, 00:36:55.460 --> 00:36:56.039 the appearing 00:36:56.039 --> 00:36:56.920 of the glory 00:36:56.920 --> 00:36:58.460 of our great God 00:36:58.460 --> 00:36:59.000 and Saviour, 00:36:59.099 --> 00:36:59.840 Jesus Christ. 00:36:59.840 --> 00:37:02.100 Father, 00:37:02.180 --> 00:37:02.600 we thank you 00:37:02.600 --> 00:37:03.019 so much 00:37:03.019 --> 00:37:03.760 for this morning 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:05.980 and we thank you 00:37:05.980 --> 00:37:06.860 for your word. 00:37:08.380 --> 00:37:08.579 And Lord, 00:37:08.600 --> 00:37:09.300 I just pray 00:37:09.300 --> 00:37:10.059 that as a church 00:37:10.059 --> 00:37:10.460 this year, 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.420 we would be marked 00:37:11.420 --> 00:37:13.120 by a radical 00:37:13.120 --> 00:37:14.740 dependence on you. 00:37:16.039 --> 00:37:16.480 Father, 00:37:16.579 --> 00:37:16.980 as we 00:37:16.980 --> 00:37:17.640 we want 00:37:17.640 --> 00:37:18.340 our church 00:37:18.340 --> 00:37:18.720 to be, 00:37:18.800 --> 00:37:19.420 as the Lord Jesus 00:37:19.420 --> 00:37:20.019 said, 00:37:20.820 --> 00:37:21.500 a light 00:37:21.500 --> 00:37:22.079 that's shining 00:37:22.079 --> 00:37:22.740 on a hill, 00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:24.240 Father, 00:37:24.340 --> 00:37:24.740 that others 00:37:24.740 --> 00:37:25.660 would look in here 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.079 and that they 00:37:26.079 --> 00:37:26.900 would see 00:37:26.900 --> 00:37:28.100 the grace 00:37:28.100 --> 00:37:28.600 of Jesus 00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:29.120 that truly 00:37:29.120 --> 00:37:29.660 transforms. 00:37:30.620 --> 00:37:31.340 So Father, 00:37:31.400 --> 00:37:31.900 I pray, 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:32.320 maybe pray 00:37:32.320 --> 00:37:33.740 for myself 00:37:33.740 --> 00:37:34.260 and for the other 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:35.300 elders here today, 00:37:35.380 --> 00:37:35.559 Lord, 00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:36.380 that you would help 00:37:36.380 --> 00:37:37.120 us to lead 00:37:37.120 --> 00:37:37.760 like Jesus. 00:37:38.820 --> 00:37:39.160 Lord, 00:37:39.220 --> 00:37:39.640 would a love 00:37:39.640 --> 00:37:40.019 for him 00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:40.960 spill out 00:37:40.960 --> 00:37:42.340 into a love 00:37:42.340 --> 00:37:43.079 for the people 00:37:43.079 --> 00:37:44.160 of this church 00:37:44.160 --> 00:37:45.019 and a renown 00:37:45.019 --> 00:37:45.980 for your name 00:37:45.980 --> 00:37:48.720 across this city. 00:37:49.940 --> 00:37:50.240 Father, 00:37:50.380 --> 00:37:51.039 help us 00:37:51.039 --> 00:37:52.300 to be 00:37:52.300 --> 00:37:53.340 a people 00:37:53.340 --> 00:37:54.680 who live 00:37:54.680 --> 00:37:55.760 self-controlled 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:56.320 lives, 00:37:56.940 --> 00:37:58.220 upright in every way 00:37:58.220 --> 00:37:59.680 as we wait 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.940 for the returning 00:38:00.940 --> 00:38:02.339 glorious 00:38:02.339 --> 00:38:03.259 Jesus. 00:38:04.179 --> 00:38:05.019 In his name 00:38:05.019 --> 00:38:05.460 we pray. 00:38:06.279 --> 00:38:06.699 Amen. 00:38:06.699 --> 00:38:06.839 Amen. 00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.300 Amen. 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.860 Amen. 00:38:15.460 --> 00:38:21.420 Amen. 00:38:22.280 --> 00:38:22.600 Amen. 00:38:22.600 --> 00:38:23.480 Amen. 00:38:23.480 --> 00:38:23.960 Amen. 00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:24.320 Amen.