WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.240 Let me tell you a bit my friend Bob. Bob's the current moderator of the Free Church of Scotland. 00:00:07.679 --> 00:00:13.580 He's a lecturer in theology at Edinburgh Theological Seminary on the Mount. 00:00:14.660 --> 00:00:19.800 Bob is one of the gentlest, the humblest and most intelligent men that I know. 00:00:20.019 --> 00:00:24.440 He's a man who's got more letters after his name than I've got in my name. 00:00:24.440 --> 00:00:29.940 And he originally came to Edinburgh from New Jersey to study history. 00:00:30.660 --> 00:00:36.020 He came to Edinburgh as a non-Christian. He found himself living with a Christian guy. 00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:41.700 And his flatmate told him about Jesus. And his life changed forever. 00:00:42.820 --> 00:00:47.100 So what Bob does now on top of everything else, and he's been doing this for a good number of years now, 00:00:47.180 --> 00:00:52.120 most mornings he goes to Socton Prison in the west of Edinburgh. 00:00:52.119 --> 00:00:55.399 And he's there as a prison chaplain. 00:00:56.259 --> 00:01:01.579 Now, the Scottish Herald ran an article about him earlier this year. 00:01:02.219 --> 00:01:05.640 And this was a man called Kevin McKenna who picked up the story. 00:01:05.759 --> 00:01:09.479 From what I can tell, he's a respectful non-Christian. 00:01:09.759 --> 00:01:15.579 And he interviewed Bob on the mound about why he does what he does. 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:19.299 And he wrote this. I wanted you just to put this on the screen so you could see it. 00:01:19.299 --> 00:01:23.439 He said this in this article. There's something incongruous about this man. 00:01:24.479 --> 00:01:27.700 The leader of one of Scotland's oldest established churches, 00:01:28.579 --> 00:01:35.599 each day entering a domain that points more to the existence of the devil than of Jesus. 00:01:37.239 --> 00:01:43.659 Now, that word incongruous, in classic, why use three little words when you can use one big word writer's style? 00:01:43.659 --> 00:01:48.060 It means something that doesn't quite add up. 00:01:49.259 --> 00:01:53.340 Two things that just don't seem quite to go together. 00:01:53.479 --> 00:02:01.259 In this case, what is it that makes a highly respected church moderator and academic 00:02:01.259 --> 00:02:05.659 not want to use their time to climb the career ladder, 00:02:05.659 --> 00:02:09.639 but to use it to go into a prison? 00:02:12.039 --> 00:02:17.400 Now, Titus 3 tells us what motivates a person to want to do that. 00:02:17.879 --> 00:02:21.780 Now, we always talk here at Brunsfield about how we want to be, 00:02:22.019 --> 00:02:25.939 both corporately and individually, as we live our lives in this world, 00:02:26.300 --> 00:02:29.019 we want to be walking question marks. 00:02:29.020 --> 00:02:36.439 That we live the kind of lives in front of people that would cause others to say about us 00:02:36.439 --> 00:02:40.160 that we don't believe what we hear you proclaim. 00:02:40.480 --> 00:02:42.120 We don't believe what you believe. 00:02:42.280 --> 00:02:44.600 We think it's borderline if we're honest offensive. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:51.000 But we cannot argue with what it seems to make you do in your life. 00:02:51.000 --> 00:02:56.280 Now, if you want a little intro into this, Paul wants to see this island of Crete. 00:02:56.979 --> 00:03:00.120 He wants to see it full of walking question marks. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:07.520 And it's all tied up with the central idea of this letter that's verse 1 of chapter 1, 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:08.379 if you've got it there. 00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:15.960 And it's really simply this, that God's truth leads to godliness. 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:21.320 Maybe think about it like this, and I'm a simple person. 00:03:21.500 --> 00:03:23.400 I like to think of things simply. 00:03:23.500 --> 00:03:25.719 I was making a lasagna sauce the other day. 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:31.840 I don't know if this is just our house or our marriage, 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:35.879 but this is what we do when it comes to adding ingredients. 00:03:36.939 --> 00:03:41.879 So we would talk about putting mushrooms in the sauce. 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.979 And we would talk about putting carrots in the sauce. 00:03:46.759 --> 00:03:51.180 But we would talk about putting garlic through the sauce. 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:52.900 Does anyone else do that? 00:03:54.460 --> 00:03:56.079 No? No one's with me. 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:56.519 Okay. 00:03:59.259 --> 00:04:01.840 But we're coming back last week, and we're just talking to one another. 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:05.539 And we thought, why on earth do we use a different word there to describe garlic? 00:04:05.639 --> 00:04:06.879 And I think this is why we do it. 00:04:07.099 --> 00:04:11.019 We want to say, we don't want to just taste a little bit of garlic. 00:04:11.020 --> 00:04:14.560 Actually, we want the whole of the garlic to go through all of the sauce. 00:04:15.680 --> 00:04:18.060 Mushrooms in, garlic through. 00:04:19.780 --> 00:04:24.980 See, when God's truth goes through a person and through a church, 00:04:25.480 --> 00:04:28.300 it results in godliness. 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:29.280 That's what he's saying. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.079 It results in godliness. 00:04:31.340 --> 00:04:34.900 Now, chapter one, we thought about elders. 00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.740 We thought about men who are full of Christ-like character, 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:40.840 who want to serve and love others like Jesus. 00:04:41.419 --> 00:04:44.019 They are called to guard and teach the truth. 00:04:44.519 --> 00:04:44.679 Okay? 00:04:45.139 --> 00:04:49.399 And we thought about last week how that truth is meant to be passed on. 00:04:49.500 --> 00:04:52.699 It's meant to reverberate like a ball in a pinball machine 00:04:52.699 --> 00:04:56.199 all the way through the different people in our church family. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:04:58.919 Young, old, male, female. 00:04:59.099 --> 00:05:03.739 God has called us as a church family to help each other figure out 00:05:03.740 --> 00:05:09.220 what faithfulness to Jesus looks like in our different life stages. 00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.920 And that's why for some of us here, and it's so wonderful to meet new people. 00:05:15.019 --> 00:05:18.579 But let me just say maybe one big thing that you can do this year off the back, 00:05:18.740 --> 00:05:22.400 maybe, of this series is come more to the center. 00:05:23.180 --> 00:05:25.939 Because this is God's design for the local church. 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:27.840 That this would be, we thought about it last week, 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:29.179 the godliness gym. 00:05:30.019 --> 00:05:33.419 This is where you're going to meet people who are going to help you grow in godliness. 00:05:35.899 --> 00:05:38.759 This week, it's all about Christianity going public. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:42.899 This is J.C. Ryle, the former bishop of Liverpool. 00:05:43.779 --> 00:05:44.579 He said this, 00:05:44.579 --> 00:05:57.979 Now, the world that we live in may have given you the impression 00:05:57.979 --> 00:06:04.240 that your Christianity is kind of like what was said about children way back in the day. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:09.560 That children should be seen, but not heard. 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:13.259 Let me just say there's zero chance of that happening in this church. 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:14.959 But maybe that's what you think. 00:06:15.060 --> 00:06:17.759 Maybe you've been given the impression that your Christianity, 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:22.620 it might be okay in here, but it certainly doesn't belong or work out there. 00:06:24.219 --> 00:06:26.500 Well, here's a question for you as you think about that. 00:06:26.759 --> 00:06:29.099 And maybe particularly if you're not a Christian here today, 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:31.500 I'd love you to just engage in this little question here. 00:06:32.139 --> 00:06:36.180 What do you think being a good citizen looks like today? 00:06:38.199 --> 00:06:39.860 What's some of the words that come to mind? 00:06:39.860 --> 00:06:41.639 What kind of person do you picture? 00:06:43.259 --> 00:06:45.360 What does a good citizen look like today? 00:06:46.240 --> 00:06:49.459 Let me just tell you how you would have answered that question in the Roman Empire. 00:06:50.719 --> 00:06:53.899 The Romans had this thing called the Via Romana, 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:56.360 the Roman way. 00:06:57.259 --> 00:07:03.259 And it was this list of virtues that every Roman citizen should aspire to have and to be. 00:07:03.379 --> 00:07:05.620 Now, I think I found 15 of these online. 00:07:05.719 --> 00:07:07.039 Let me just give you four of these, 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:08.480 and you'll see where we're going with this. 00:07:09.020 --> 00:07:10.220 So here's four of them. 00:07:10.700 --> 00:07:12.900 Clemensia, I think you pronounce that as. 00:07:13.580 --> 00:07:17.980 It's this idea of gentleness, of meekness of spirit. 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:20.100 Industria. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.220 Again, you'll see where our English words, so many of them come from. 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:26.759 That you should want to play your role in being productive 00:07:26.759 --> 00:07:29.560 and working for the flourishing of society. 00:07:31.659 --> 00:07:36.300 Severitas, that sense of self-control and civic responsibility. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:40.439 Pietas, that sense of devotion to and compassion for others 00:07:40.439 --> 00:07:42.599 who you rub shoulders with every single day. 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:47.939 This is what the Roman Empire wants to see in its citizens. 00:07:49.320 --> 00:07:54.820 But you have to say, if what Epimenides observed about Cretans at verse 12 of chapter 1 00:07:54.820 --> 00:07:56.720 is correct, 00:07:57.780 --> 00:08:01.939 then we can be pretty confident that no one from Crete is going to be up for an MBE 00:08:01.939 --> 00:08:04.620 for services to society anytime soon, 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:06.160 if that's the attitude. 00:08:06.760 --> 00:08:06.920 Yeah? 00:08:08.360 --> 00:08:11.340 You can have all the moral aspirations that you want, 00:08:11.339 --> 00:08:17.899 but whatever the people in this island of Crete are filling the tank of their lives with, 00:08:18.519 --> 00:08:21.879 what it's producing is just not cutting it. 00:08:23.060 --> 00:08:29.039 Now, see what you have there in the opening few verses of chapter 3 with that backdrop. 00:08:30.299 --> 00:08:32.679 Paul's not plucked these things out of thin air. 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:37.899 This is so much of what Rome longs to see in its citizens, 00:08:38.439 --> 00:08:41.279 but it just cannot seem to produce. 00:08:41.340 --> 00:08:45.320 However, the gospel of Jesus, 00:08:45.680 --> 00:08:46.860 as like garlic, 00:08:47.019 --> 00:08:50.700 it works its way through a people and through a church, 00:08:50.960 --> 00:08:53.540 what does the gospel of Jesus produce 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:55.740 in the lives of everyday Cretans? 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:56.399 Do you see? 00:08:57.399 --> 00:08:59.519 People who are ready 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:01.580 for good works, 00:09:02.399 --> 00:09:04.220 people who are gentle 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.420 and who avoid quarreling 00:09:06.420 --> 00:09:07.360 and people who, 00:09:07.440 --> 00:09:08.220 and I love this, 00:09:08.680 --> 00:09:10.340 who show perfect courtesy 00:09:10.340 --> 00:09:14.120 towards all people. 00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:16.060 Do you see what he's subtly doing? 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:19.519 Only the gospel can deliver the goods. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:23.279 Now, here's three quick things I think we learn from this chapter 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:24.580 as we bring this series home. 00:09:24.580 --> 00:09:25.460 Here's number one. 00:09:25.920 --> 00:09:27.200 It's that the gospel 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.220 equips us to live in society. 00:09:32.560 --> 00:09:34.280 So we should embrace the call 00:09:34.280 --> 00:09:36.940 to be a blessing to our culture and our world. 00:09:38.620 --> 00:09:39.680 How do we do that? 00:09:39.740 --> 00:09:41.820 We'll just see some of the things that he rhymes off there. 00:09:41.920 --> 00:09:43.360 By being submissive 00:09:43.360 --> 00:09:45.680 and being obedient to those 00:09:45.680 --> 00:09:47.420 who are in places of authority. 00:09:47.419 --> 00:09:50.659 So long as what we're being asked to do 00:09:50.659 --> 00:09:52.419 doesn't call us to compromise 00:09:52.419 --> 00:09:55.439 on being loyal to Jesus and his words, 00:09:56.159 --> 00:09:59.779 not because we are sticklers for religious rules, 00:09:59.919 --> 00:10:02.459 but because we believe that that is precisely 00:10:02.459 --> 00:10:05.819 how human beings will flourish and have life. 00:10:07.939 --> 00:10:11.379 We're called to be those who have the biggest interest 00:10:11.379 --> 00:10:14.019 in the flourishing of the people in our communities. 00:10:14.019 --> 00:10:18.299 Now listen, our politicians might not always get our vote, 00:10:18.840 --> 00:10:21.659 but they should always have our prayers. 00:10:22.980 --> 00:10:26.079 How different the believer in the world is going to look 00:10:26.079 --> 00:10:27.840 who is obedient, 00:10:28.659 --> 00:10:31.460 who is marked by gentleness. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:32.079 Do you know what? 00:10:32.439 --> 00:10:35.399 Someone made the mistake of going on social media this morning 00:10:35.399 --> 00:10:38.059 and it was not a gentle place. 00:10:39.860 --> 00:10:40.199 Do you know what I think? 00:10:40.259 --> 00:10:42.139 Gentleness is one of the most underrated virtues 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:43.019 in our world today. 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:49.279 People who don't default just to speaking evil of people. 00:10:49.699 --> 00:10:50.460 On the contrary, 00:10:51.059 --> 00:10:51.659 some people, 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:53.240 someone who is known as someone 00:10:53.240 --> 00:10:54.919 who is ready for every good work, 00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:56.259 how appealing is that today? 00:10:57.819 --> 00:11:00.220 Think about how this is playing out in your schools, 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:02.840 in your places of work, 00:11:02.919 --> 00:11:04.259 in your neighborhoods, 00:11:05.159 --> 00:11:06.279 in our universities, 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:07.379 in our colleges. 00:11:08.340 --> 00:11:10.659 Do we live the kind of lives in our community 00:11:10.659 --> 00:11:11.379 that people say, 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:12.879 we're just really glad that you're here? 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:17.559 So that when people say Christianity is bad for society, 00:11:17.559 --> 00:11:18.419 we can say, 00:11:18.659 --> 00:11:20.439 I don't think that's true. 00:11:21.580 --> 00:11:22.059 You know, 00:11:22.100 --> 00:11:25.039 there's recent research done by the London School of Economics 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.480 on Christian debt charity, 00:11:27.620 --> 00:11:29.100 Christians Against Poverty. 00:11:29.200 --> 00:11:30.220 Some of you might have heard of them. 00:11:30.220 --> 00:11:31.220 Apparently, 00:11:31.220 --> 00:11:33.180 apparently, 00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:35.500 their army of volunteers 00:11:35.500 --> 00:11:38.259 and their organization, 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:38.820 get this, 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:41.019 contributes 32 million pounds 00:11:41.019 --> 00:11:42.820 to the UK economy each year. 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:44.080 Isn't that amazing? 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:46.639 32 million pounds. 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.360 Now, you've got to ask, 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.040 what makes people want to do that? 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:51.759 Well, Paul goes on 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:53.659 to give the most wonderful description 00:11:53.659 --> 00:11:54.439 of the gospel. 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:58.159 And it is breathtakingly profound, 00:11:58.459 --> 00:11:59.740 and I want you to see it. 00:12:00.659 --> 00:12:01.980 I've been asking myself all meek, 00:12:02.019 --> 00:12:03.279 why mention it now? 00:12:04.839 --> 00:12:06.099 Well, I take it as we think about 00:12:06.099 --> 00:12:07.259 living our lives out there, 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.500 for the glory of Jesus, 00:12:08.599 --> 00:12:09.779 as we love our neighbor, 00:12:11.659 --> 00:12:13.199 once you get this, 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:14.679 the gospel, 00:12:14.679 --> 00:12:16.939 it totally changes 00:12:16.939 --> 00:12:18.199 how you view other people. 00:12:19.579 --> 00:12:20.039 In other words, 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:21.659 when this message goes deep, 00:12:23.419 --> 00:12:25.539 our hearts should grow soft. 00:12:26.899 --> 00:12:29.079 As we think about the people in our world, 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:30.620 our hearts will grow soft. 00:12:30.799 --> 00:12:32.000 And that's just the second thing 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:33.099 for us to see here, 00:12:33.639 --> 00:12:35.659 is that the gospel changes us 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:38.120 so that we love other people. 00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:40.159 You see, 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:41.899 here's what the Christian was by nature 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:43.259 before Jesus found us, 00:12:43.319 --> 00:12:44.240 from verse 3. 00:12:44.679 --> 00:12:46.399 Do you see it there on the outside? 00:12:47.479 --> 00:12:48.299 We were foolish. 00:12:49.839 --> 00:12:51.279 We were disobedient. 00:12:52.339 --> 00:12:54.639 We were so easily led astray 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:57.239 by our passions and desires. 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.419 And that's what was playing out 00:12:59.419 --> 00:13:00.539 on the outside of our lives. 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.079 What was playing out on the inside, 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.659 what was driving it all, 00:13:03.879 --> 00:13:05.719 was malice and envy. 00:13:06.879 --> 00:13:08.479 Now, malice is just the opposite 00:13:08.479 --> 00:13:09.839 of that word unity. 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:14.940 We were hating and being hated. 00:13:14.940 --> 00:13:16.980 And all of this is just code for 00:13:16.980 --> 00:13:18.639 that once upon a time, 00:13:18.759 --> 00:13:19.940 the Christian was just like 00:13:19.940 --> 00:13:21.780 every other person in this world. 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:25.019 Take that in for just a minute. 00:13:26.360 --> 00:13:28.040 Because it is profoundly important 00:13:28.040 --> 00:13:29.100 that we understand it. 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:31.060 Isn't that incredibly humbling today? 00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:35.560 And isn't that also incredibly 00:13:35.560 --> 00:13:37.180 liberating today? 00:13:39.220 --> 00:13:40.480 And maybe I just want to speak 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:41.980 into the lives of those 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:42.820 for whom I know 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:44.440 this has been a really, 00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:47.240 really rough start to the year. 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:50.379 You know, if 2024 was like 00:13:50.379 --> 00:13:51.360 a 100 meter race, 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.340 you feel like you got out 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:53.379 of the blocks only to feel 00:13:53.379 --> 00:13:54.320 like you tripped over 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:55.720 and landed flat on your face. 00:13:56.039 --> 00:13:58.659 And you're just into the race. 00:14:00.419 --> 00:14:01.620 And there's so many of us 00:14:01.620 --> 00:14:03.360 that are experiencing that. 00:14:03.460 --> 00:14:03.919 And dear friends, 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:04.940 I want you to see 00:14:04.940 --> 00:14:06.399 the heart of this God here. 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.680 Do you see it in verse four? 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:13.899 His heart is goodness 00:14:13.899 --> 00:14:14.840 and loving kindness. 00:14:17.240 --> 00:14:19.379 And that's a reference 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:22.299 to his never changing covenant, 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:26.360 pursuing love for his people. 00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:29.019 And if you want a wee trail 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.080 to go on this afternoon 00:14:30.080 --> 00:14:31.080 in terms of scripture, 00:14:31.620 --> 00:14:33.539 there's a Psalm 23 flavor 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:35.680 to that phrase. 00:14:38.240 --> 00:14:41.100 The God who came in the person of Jesus 00:14:41.100 --> 00:14:44.080 to seek and to save the lost. 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:47.019 His heart for you today 00:14:47.019 --> 00:14:48.379 is one of goodness 00:14:48.379 --> 00:14:49.340 and loving kindness. 00:14:50.899 --> 00:14:52.299 You know, there's a five letter word 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:53.059 beginning with M 00:14:53.059 --> 00:14:54.220 that's behind salvation 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:55.759 and see it in verse five. 00:14:56.600 --> 00:14:58.019 And do you see how it's not merit? 00:15:00.379 --> 00:15:01.939 Do you see how it's mercy? 00:15:04.159 --> 00:15:05.960 When Jesus died on the cross, 00:15:06.079 --> 00:15:06.500 dear friends, 00:15:06.579 --> 00:15:08.299 his blood covered all of our sins, 00:15:08.980 --> 00:15:10.539 all of our shame. 00:15:11.579 --> 00:15:12.860 And when the spirit came 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:14.480 and he applied that work of Jesus 00:15:14.480 --> 00:15:15.279 to our lives, 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:16.539 he washed us clean. 00:15:17.600 --> 00:15:18.460 And what that means 00:15:18.460 --> 00:15:20.060 is that God is not sitting in heaven 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:21.240 as our heavenly father, 00:15:21.700 --> 00:15:23.100 having done all that for us, 00:15:23.940 --> 00:15:25.120 secretly disappointed 00:15:25.120 --> 00:15:26.539 that we're not somehow more 00:15:26.539 --> 00:15:27.840 in control of everything 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.759 that's going on. 00:15:29.800 --> 00:15:31.100 Like we should be better, 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.940 that we should have life 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:32.639 more sorted. 00:15:32.820 --> 00:15:33.259 No, no, no, no. 00:15:33.320 --> 00:15:34.200 He is saying, 00:15:34.580 --> 00:15:35.659 because of Christ, 00:15:36.340 --> 00:15:37.420 because of the spirit, 00:15:38.060 --> 00:15:38.759 he is saying, 00:15:38.860 --> 00:15:40.399 would you run to me 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.019 and would you know 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.659 that I love you 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:42.539 as a heavenly father? 00:15:44.120 --> 00:15:45.039 He saved us 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:46.279 because of the goodness 00:15:46.279 --> 00:15:47.639 and loving kindness. 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:50.039 And do you see 00:15:50.039 --> 00:15:51.259 how we are justified? 00:15:52.039 --> 00:15:52.819 Verse seven, 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.360 and justified 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.439 is just that biblical word 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.539 meaning made right with, 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.639 declared right in the sight of. 00:15:58.439 --> 00:15:59.620 That happens to us 00:15:59.620 --> 00:16:00.519 by his grace. 00:16:01.980 --> 00:16:03.319 Do you know what grace is? 00:16:05.039 --> 00:16:06.539 It's the way I heard it years ago 00:16:06.539 --> 00:16:08.240 and I think it works. 00:16:09.180 --> 00:16:10.100 Just imagine somebody 00:16:10.100 --> 00:16:11.220 ran up to you in the street 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.320 and hit you in the face 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:15.440 and you hit them back. 00:16:16.799 --> 00:16:17.120 Right? 00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:18.940 That would be justice. 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.060 Imagine if somebody 00:16:21.060 --> 00:16:21.940 ran up to you in the street 00:16:21.940 --> 00:16:22.840 and hit you in the face 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:24.279 and you didn't hit them back 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.019 but you said, 00:16:25.419 --> 00:16:26.200 I forgive you. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:28.180 That would be mercy. 00:16:29.980 --> 00:16:30.919 But imagine that somebody 00:16:30.919 --> 00:16:31.779 ran up to you in the street, 00:16:31.879 --> 00:16:32.799 hit you in the face, 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:34.519 said, I forgive you. 00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:35.659 You said to them, 00:16:35.720 --> 00:16:36.360 I forgive you. 00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:37.240 You didn't hit them back 00:16:37.240 --> 00:16:39.000 and instead you took them out for an ice cream. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:40.940 That would be grace. 00:16:42.080 --> 00:16:45.700 Getting something that we just don't deserve. 00:16:47.440 --> 00:16:47.879 Do you remember that? 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:50.560 Some of you will know that hymn from years and years ago. 00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:53.399 Wonderful grace that gives what I don't deserve, 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:57.220 pays me what Christ has earned and lets me go free. 00:16:57.680 --> 00:17:00.620 Wonderful grace that gives me the time to change, 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:03.779 washes away the stains that once covered me. 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.599 We are saved by grace. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:08.399 We walk by grace. 00:17:09.219 --> 00:17:10.799 It is grace that saved us. 00:17:11.219 --> 00:17:12.939 It is grace that gives us home. 00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:15.419 This is how committed this God is to you. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:19.319 Do you see when it comes to the hope of the future, 00:17:20.579 --> 00:17:22.219 no matter what's going on in your life today, 00:17:22.339 --> 00:17:25.899 he has future-proofed it by his blood on the cross. 00:17:28.419 --> 00:17:30.719 And if that was us before, do you see after? 00:17:30.899 --> 00:17:33.299 Now the Christian is someone who God has transformed 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:35.639 and who is now devoted to, verse 8, 00:17:36.399 --> 00:17:38.500 Jesus shaped good works for his glory. 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:43.879 That's the message presumably that's excellent and profitable for people. 00:17:44.919 --> 00:17:49.460 And that's the message from verse 9 is in danger of being undermined in Crete. 00:17:49.460 --> 00:17:54.620 Somehow that it robs Jesus of his absolute sufficiency. 00:17:56.000 --> 00:18:01.019 If you like, perhaps this is people with a Jewish legal flavor to it 00:18:01.019 --> 00:18:07.480 who are promoting merit and not mercy as the way that you and I and people are made right with God. 00:18:07.840 --> 00:18:10.900 And it's no wonder that the Pharisees, as you meet them in the Gospels, 00:18:10.980 --> 00:18:12.160 that they look down on people. 00:18:12.160 --> 00:18:15.820 Because if you think, verse 9, 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:18.700 that your adherence to the Old Testament law 00:18:18.700 --> 00:18:22.560 or the fact that you're from the right place or the right stock 00:18:22.560 --> 00:18:24.019 makes you right with God, 00:18:24.240 --> 00:18:25.640 if that's how you view it, 00:18:25.660 --> 00:18:29.320 then surely that's got to affect how you view and treat other people. 00:18:32.000 --> 00:18:32.720 Paul says, 00:18:32.840 --> 00:18:36.560 if it persists, you need to compassionately and carefully, Titus, root it out. 00:18:36.559 --> 00:18:43.000 The Gospel changes us so that we love other people. 00:18:44.919 --> 00:18:48.099 And then thirdly, and this is lastly, we bring this series home with this. 00:18:48.299 --> 00:18:51.579 And thirdly, the Gospel encourages us to take our opportunities. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.659 Now, can I just put out two words here? 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:57.980 There's so much we could say here, but here's two words just to notice. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:03.619 Notice the word speed at verse 13. 00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:09.579 And here's a little insight into Paul's ministry teamwork mentality. 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:12.759 Verse 12, we get these individuals who are rhymed off. 00:19:13.479 --> 00:19:14.500 We get Artemis. 00:19:14.599 --> 00:19:15.479 We get Tychicus. 00:19:16.179 --> 00:19:17.959 We get Zenas the lawyer. 00:19:18.179 --> 00:19:19.419 And we get Apollos. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.679 Now, it's just worth pausing. 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.659 There's lots we could say there. 00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:24.099 But something that my heart was drawn to this week 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:28.479 is how Paul speaks of Apollos. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:31.079 Now, in the New Testament story, 00:19:31.079 --> 00:19:36.000 this is a man who God has equipped with a wonderful speaking gift. 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:40.619 And so many try and stir it in the New Testament 00:19:40.619 --> 00:19:44.159 as we see some follow Apollos, some follow Paul. 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:46.339 Some say, Paul, you're not as impressive as him. 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:54.859 But I love the way that Paul will speak so positively of Apollos behind his back. 00:19:54.859 --> 00:20:00.479 That he will celebrate the gift that this man has been given by God. 00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:05.199 And he becomes proof that envy and malice, 00:20:06.199 --> 00:20:08.699 the gospel has taken them out of his heart. 00:20:10.699 --> 00:20:13.699 He can promote a brother behind his back. 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:18.119 Best guess is that Apollos and Zenas are probably soon to be stopping off in Crete 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:22.259 on their way to Africa to continue their ministry there. 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:25.699 Paul wants the church in Crete, when those two arrive, 00:20:26.479 --> 00:20:29.479 he wants them to help them on their journey. 00:20:30.459 --> 00:20:30.679 Right? 00:20:30.719 --> 00:20:31.699 Maybe think of it like this, 00:20:31.739 --> 00:20:34.539 like one of these moving walkways that you'd get in an airport. 00:20:35.159 --> 00:20:36.119 You know the kind of things? 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:40.079 The things that are designed to speed you up. 00:20:40.079 --> 00:20:42.879 If you think about it, 00:20:43.379 --> 00:20:48.000 we are called to be that for every single person 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:51.740 who comes through these doors for however long 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.119 or for however short a time. 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:58.699 That because of the welcome and love that they've received 00:20:58.699 --> 00:21:00.199 in this church family, 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:05.720 that people leave here with a stride in their spiritual step. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:08.659 Let's say it's just one of the greatest joys 00:21:08.660 --> 00:21:11.540 that we have as a church family to be able to do that. 00:21:12.060 --> 00:21:14.700 We always talk about how our goal here at Brunsfield 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:18.600 is that people would leave in a better place with Jesus 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:19.560 than when they came. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:25.100 People would leave with a stride in their spiritual step. 00:21:25.180 --> 00:21:25.840 So look around. 00:21:25.980 --> 00:21:27.160 Who's new here today? 00:21:27.940 --> 00:21:29.900 Maybe who's here for a short bit of time. 00:21:30.000 --> 00:21:32.920 How can we as a church speed them on their way? 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:34.500 Let me just say, if you're a visitor here today, 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:36.400 you've picked a cracking Sunday to come. 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:41.500 See the word urgent in verse 14. 00:21:44.060 --> 00:21:47.980 Paul wants this fat church family to be devoted to urgent needs. 00:21:48.940 --> 00:21:50.180 And we've got to ask, haven't we, 00:21:50.220 --> 00:21:52.400 what are the needs that are around us just now? 00:21:53.840 --> 00:21:56.860 What are the gifts and resources that God has given you? 00:21:57.700 --> 00:22:00.660 Are you that for such a time as this person 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:03.460 who happens to come to this church family 00:22:03.460 --> 00:22:06.779 who can meet a need that exists in here? 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:08.880 Now, I forgot to bring it up, 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:11.180 but there's a letter that went around this morning 00:22:11.180 --> 00:22:14.539 about what we want to do for the care of this building, 00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:16.380 about our roof, right? 00:22:16.420 --> 00:22:17.740 The roof's been leaking a little bit. 00:22:17.819 --> 00:22:21.019 We want to take the financial hit now 00:22:21.019 --> 00:22:24.160 so that the future generations of this church 00:22:24.160 --> 00:22:26.740 will not be burdened by the roof. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:30.700 And if you're somebody who can contribute to that 00:22:30.700 --> 00:22:32.440 in many holistic ways, 00:22:32.900 --> 00:22:35.680 please get involved with the gospel vision behind that. 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:39.599 Could you get involved in our kids' work here today? 00:22:40.700 --> 00:22:43.759 You know, we've got so many young people who come here now. 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:45.079 That is such a blessing. 00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:47.359 But speak to Pete and he will tell you 00:22:47.359 --> 00:22:49.019 that we're just desperate for people 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:51.420 to come and get involved in kids' work and kids' ministry. 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:54.279 Is that something that you could get involved with today? 00:22:54.580 --> 00:22:56.400 What's the gospel need in here? 00:22:56.560 --> 00:22:58.200 But also what's the gospel need, 00:22:58.259 --> 00:23:00.279 the urgent need out there? 00:23:01.820 --> 00:23:04.060 Let me just say the gospel need in this country 00:23:04.060 --> 00:23:05.380 has never been greater. 00:23:08.640 --> 00:23:11.620 Have you ever considered gospel ministry? 00:23:12.820 --> 00:23:14.700 Something that I do, Keita does, 00:23:15.700 --> 00:23:18.740 Pete does, Archie does. 00:23:18.740 --> 00:23:22.000 Have you ever considered giving your life to gospel ministry? 00:23:22.059 --> 00:23:25.539 Let me just say there is no greater joy than doing this. 00:23:27.059 --> 00:23:29.579 Are you at the point right now in your life 00:23:29.579 --> 00:23:32.420 where you could give a day or so a week to helping somewhere? 00:23:32.720 --> 00:23:36.640 Can I just say flexible working for our generation of workers? 00:23:37.240 --> 00:23:41.079 That opens up with huge gospel opportunities for us 00:23:41.079 --> 00:23:43.339 that a generation before us just never had. 00:23:44.420 --> 00:23:46.240 Do you find yourself in a job 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:49.339 that doesn't require you to be geographically tied 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:51.240 as once it did? 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:54.480 Are you free to be able to work from somewhere else 00:23:54.480 --> 00:23:56.380 but you can still work from Edinburgh 00:23:56.380 --> 00:23:58.460 or come in a day or two a week? 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.519 Let me just chuck one out there. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:02.720 Could, for example, you get involved 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:04.980 in what God is doing down in Peebles 00:24:04.980 --> 00:24:06.079 with Archie and Katie? 00:24:06.259 --> 00:24:07.539 Could you get involved with that? 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.559 Do you see, maybe some of you are here today, 00:24:10.620 --> 00:24:12.859 you're thinking about what your future holds, 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:14.599 jobs that you can apply for. 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:18.019 Friends, let me encourage you to factor in the gospel need 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:20.119 into those decisions that you make. 00:24:22.139 --> 00:24:24.779 What is the urgent need out there? 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:27.299 Paul says to this church family, 00:24:27.480 --> 00:24:30.039 he wants them to be ready for every good work 00:24:30.039 --> 00:24:33.659 because grace-saturated believers 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:37.879 who are living question mark kind of lives in our world, 00:24:37.959 --> 00:24:41.299 let me just say they will always draw the questions. 00:24:41.299 --> 00:24:45.359 They will always draw people's attention. 00:24:45.519 --> 00:24:48.700 Wherever you are, whatever tomorrow holds for you, 00:24:49.059 --> 00:24:52.359 what could this look like in your life? 00:24:52.879 --> 00:24:53.980 Listen, just as we close, 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:55.720 let me take you back to my friend Bob. 00:24:57.720 --> 00:25:00.859 You know, tragically, Bob's wife Heather died of cancer 00:25:00.859 --> 00:25:03.000 back in the summer of 2022. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:06.339 Remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. 00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:10.240 And when the prison heard, they got in touch with Bob 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:13.399 and they said, listen, some of us would love to come 00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:15.980 and show our respects at our funeral. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:18.099 Bob said, listen, we would love to have you there. 00:25:19.639 --> 00:25:21.740 And what started out is just a few of them. 00:25:22.419 --> 00:25:23.859 By the time the word had spread 00:25:23.859 --> 00:25:25.919 and got round the prison and the day came, 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:31.139 two busloads carrying a hundred men and women, 00:25:31.139 --> 00:25:33.139 both current and retired employees, 00:25:33.140 --> 00:25:35.140 came to be there, right? 00:25:35.180 --> 00:25:36.800 You read the article and this is what it says. 00:25:36.880 --> 00:25:39.180 The story goes that when the inmates were told 00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:41.180 that the prison was going to shut down 00:25:41.180 --> 00:25:43.040 for the funeral for a number of hours 00:25:43.040 --> 00:25:45.040 so that everybody could go to the funeral 00:25:45.040 --> 00:25:46.140 and pay their respects, 00:25:46.900 --> 00:25:48.660 meaning that everyone was going to be confined 00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:50.680 to their rooms for that period of time 00:25:50.680 --> 00:25:52.380 when all the staff were away, 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:55.960 every single inmate was more than happy to oblige. 00:25:55.960 --> 00:25:59.680 It's a walking question mark kind of life, isn't it? 00:26:00.400 --> 00:26:03.759 What kind of life causes prisons to shut? 00:26:06.960 --> 00:26:08.620 Only the gospel can do it. 00:26:09.860 --> 00:26:13.559 A godly one that's been deeply affected 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:17.700 by the grace and loving kindness of God in Christ. 00:26:19.900 --> 00:26:22.860 Friends, that needs to go through a person. 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.460 Here's what I want to do. 00:26:25.460 --> 00:26:27.000 Let's just be quiet for a moment. 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:30.500 And I'd love us just as we finish this series 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.960 to just pray. 00:26:33.380 --> 00:26:35.640 And let's ask that God by his spirit, 00:26:36.000 --> 00:26:37.480 as we respond to this, 00:26:37.519 --> 00:26:39.360 as we think about our individual lives, 00:26:40.140 --> 00:26:41.500 would help us to understand 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.600 what it's going to mean for us 00:26:42.600 --> 00:26:45.620 to be a people who are ready for good works. 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:47.000 And then I'll pray. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:56.940 We just thank you, Lord, for the words of Jesus, 00:26:57.539 --> 00:27:02.299 that he says that he is the good shepherd. 00:27:04.180 --> 00:27:07.720 Father, thank you for your goodness 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:14.799 and your loving kindness to us expressed in the sending of Jesus. 00:27:14.799 --> 00:27:19.399 Father, I pray as we respond to this message today 00:27:19.399 --> 00:27:21.359 and to this letter to your words, 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:24.519 that the words of Psalm 19, verse 7 would be true, 00:27:25.180 --> 00:27:28.139 that the law of the Lord is perfect, 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.480 reviving the soul. 00:27:31.759 --> 00:27:33.539 And Father, I maybe pray particularly this morning 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:35.899 for those who are maybe struggling, 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:37.339 who are maybe hurting, 00:27:37.339 --> 00:27:40.240 who are maybe at points of life 00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:43.119 where they face new things, new seasons. 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.699 Lord, I pray that you would guide us. 00:27:45.299 --> 00:27:47.659 Pray for Pete and Terry this morning, Lord, as they go. 00:27:48.459 --> 00:27:49.399 We pray, Father, 00:27:49.859 --> 00:27:52.419 and confidently as they move to Wales 00:27:52.419 --> 00:27:54.699 that you have good works prepared for them 00:27:54.699 --> 00:27:56.779 in advance for them to walk in. 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.859 Bless them as they go, Father. 00:27:58.959 --> 00:28:00.779 Pray for Jenny this morning as well, Lord. 00:28:00.879 --> 00:28:02.859 We pray for her, Lord, 00:28:02.899 --> 00:28:05.079 that you would help her hand to heal. 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:08.839 Father, we think of so many others in this church family 00:28:08.839 --> 00:28:12.159 who are maybe grieving or hurting right now. 00:28:13.279 --> 00:28:17.519 And Father, we pray that the truth of who you are, 00:28:18.399 --> 00:28:20.119 the truth of the gospel, Lord, 00:28:20.159 --> 00:28:22.879 would bring such comfort and peace to us right now. 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:25.059 Father, we thank you for each other. 00:28:25.139 --> 00:28:27.939 We thank you for this journey through this letter of Titus. 00:28:28.480 --> 00:28:30.399 Lord, help us to be a church family 00:28:30.399 --> 00:28:32.519 who's committed to truth 00:28:32.519 --> 00:28:34.740 and committed to each other. 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:37.480 And committed to making your glory known 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:39.259 as we live our lives in this world. 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:41.859 Father, we just thank you for your love for us. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:45.199 And we pray all of these things in Jesus' beautiful name. 00:28:45.779 --> 00:28:46.139 Amen.