July 22, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Looking for the Light | Titus 1:5

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July 22, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Looking for the Light | Titus 1:5

Looking for the Light
Titus 1:5

In this verse, Paul launches into the first purpose of his letter – instruction to Titus for choosing elders and teachers for the new church plants in Crete. As before, we will see that Paul is not going to give Titus a detailed commentary of who are these persons are or what each of the qualifications he presents mean. He is reminding Titus of what to look for in leaders and teachers using this short summary or outline. This is expressly because Titus is well aware of the qualifications for leadership having confronted and taught leaders in Corinth in Paul’s absence there. Today, we will try and discover what Titus might be looking for in the life of leaders and teachers in Crete: the light of Christ in their lives.

July 15, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part Three | Truth, Godliness and a Blessed Hope | Titus 1:1-4

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July 15, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part Three | Truth, Godliness and a Blessed Hope | Titus 1:1-4

Into the Deep Water: Part Three - Truth, Godliness and a Blessed Hope
Titus 1:1-4

Paul concludes his opening salutation to Titus with the instructive words of truth, godliness and the promise of eternal life. Though he does not go into the detail that he did in his earlier letter to Timothy, Paul presents an outline for his co-laborer Titus. This shows us two very important points: 1st. Titus is an older man than Timothy (possibly closer to Paul’s age) and that was already a seasoned minister of the word and pastoral ministry. 2nd As a result, Paul is giving Titus, within his salutation, an outline of the truths that Titus must focus upon as he interviews and places men and women in oversight and teaching position in the churches in Crete. In Timothy’s case, Paul’s correspondence was a tool to authorize Timothy in his task of correcting elders that Paul had already placed in Ephesus and give him a detailed description of actions and teachings to present. In Titus’ case, Paul’s correspondence was tool to instruct him to set in place overseers and elders in Crete and give him an outline of doctrinal truths, the details of which were already farmiliar to him. These bulltet points were ones which Titus was both familiar with and able to present. The letters of Paul to Timothy and Titus find a new emphasis for us today. Timothy and Titus accomplished their instructions in their militaries. They are in heaven today. Today, by the ongoing inspiration of the Holy Spirit, these letters are written to us today. Let us take them up and bring sound doctrine for correction and sound action for developing the church. These letter are now ours to read and follow.

July 8, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part Two | The Faith and Knowledge of God’s Elect | Titus 1:1-4

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July 8, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part Two | The Faith and Knowledge of God’s Elect | Titus 1:1-4

Into the Deep Water: Part Two
The Faith and Knowledge of God’s Elect
Titus 1:1-4

There is not a great deal of information about the life of Titus. We first see a glimpse of his early life in the letter to the Galatians where Paul mentions that he took Titus with him to Jerusalem during his second visit to discuss the vision God had given him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was Greek and a Gentile. It was not uncommon for Greeks to travel all over the Roman world. This is perhaps the key to why Titus was a convert of Paul’s preaching in Antioch. This is stated in v.4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith.” However, this conversion did not likely take place until after Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas. He may have been one of Paul’s early converts in Antioch, later joining him in ministry. Though he was a convert of Paul, he was likely not a young man when came to Christ. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Paul mentions Titus on several occasions as the one who took the letter to the church there and worked on-site to counsel, build up and teach the church. In this sermon we will look in detail at Paul’s guidance to Titus to build up God’s elect in their faith and knowledge of God.

July 1, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part One | A Servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ | Titus 1:1-4

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July 1, 2018 | Pastor John Bayles | Into the Deep Water: Part One | A Servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ | Titus 1:1-4

Into the Deep Water
Part One | A Servant of God and an Apostle of Jesus Christ | Titus 1:1-4
Titus 1:1-4

Paul opens his letter to Titus using precise language about himself and the faith. The letter is written to urge Titus to organize the leadership structure of the churches in Crete and to encourage them to teach sound doctrine. Doctrine embraced and taught by mature and godly leadership is at the heart of his message. He is not sending Titus a few lightweight, simple instructions on how to be an effective pastor. Titus himself had already attained that status. He cut his ministry teeth working with the Church in Corinth - no easy task. Now he is focused on setting up a leadership structure and building up those who have very likely grown cold in their faith, because they have become idle regarding Christ’s teaching. Paul laid a foundation, but he now presses the church through Titus to move beyond their initial experience of coming into the faith and go on to experience the faith itself. Most of us know that the more detailed and difficult teachings of the faith cause people to become amazed. These doctrines can also cause people to become disturbed. Yet these teachings of Christ lead into the deep waters of the Christian faith. This opening greeting reveals where Paul is heading in the letter - into the deep water. Patience! Courage!