1 The vision of Obadiah.

Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom:
We have heard a report from the Lord,
    and a messenger has been sent among the nations:
“Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”
2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations;
    you shall be utterly despised.[a]
3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
    you who live in the clefts of the rock,[b]
    in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
    “Who will bring me down to the ground?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
    though your nest is set among the stars,
    from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord.

5 If thieves came to you,
    if plunderers came by night—
    how you have been destroyed!—
    would they not steal only enough for themselves?
If grape gatherers came to you,
    would they not leave gleanings?
6 How Esau has been pillaged,
    his treasures sought out!
7 All your allies have driven you to your border;
    those at peace with you have deceived you;
they have prevailed against you;
    those who eat your bread[c] have set a trap beneath you—
    you have[d] no understanding.

8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord,
    destroy the wise men out of Edom,
    and understanding out of Mount Esau?
9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman,
    so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob,
    shame shall cover you,
    and you shall be cut off forever.
11 On the day that you stood aloof,
    on the day that strangers carried off his wealth
and foreigners entered his gates
    and cast lots for Jerusalem,
    you were like one of them.
12 But do not gloat over the day of your brother
    in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
    in the day of their ruin;
do not boast[e]
    in the day of distress.
13 Do not enter the gate of my people
    in the day of their calamity;
do not gloat over his disaster
    in the day of his calamity;
do not loot his wealth
    in the day of his calamity.
14 Do not stand at the crossroads
    to cut off his fugitives;
do not hand over his survivors
    in the day of distress.

15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations.
As you have done, it shall be done to you;
    your deeds shall return on your own head.
16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain,
    so all the nations shall drink continually;
they shall drink and swallow,
    and shall be as though they had never been.
17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape,
    and it shall be holy,
and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.
18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire,
    and the house of Joseph a flame,
    and the house of Esau stubble;
they shall burn them and consume them,
    and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau,
for the Lord has spoken.

19 Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau,
    and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines;
they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria,
    and Benjamin shall possess Gilead.
20 The exiles of this host of the people of Israel
    shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath,
and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad
    shall possess the cities of the Negeb.
21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion
    to rule Mount Esau,
    and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

 

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life. In Jesus, name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

God loves His people too much to allow comfortable religion to replace a living relationship with Him.

• Amos 1:1 This message was given to Amos, a shepherd from the town of Tekoa in Judah. He received this message in visions two years before the earthquake, when Uzziah was king of Judah and Jeroboam II, the son of Jehoash, was king of Israel.
• Amos 6:1 What sorrow awaits you who lounge in luxury in Jerusalem, and you who feel secure in Samaria!
• Amos was an ordinary shepherd and fig farmer from Tekoa whom God sent north to Israel with an uncomfortable message.
• Israel was prosperous and secure, but outward prosperity was disguising inward spiritual decay.
• Material comfort is not an accurate measurement of spiritual health.
• The danger is not the blessing itself; the danger is when the blessing makes us forget the Blesser.

“God doesn’t play favorites. The message of the book of Amos is basically to declare the impartiality of God. God plays no favorites. He makes no allowances for our person that He will not make for others as well.” Ray Stedman: Book – Adventuring Through the Bible:

•  Diagnostic Question: Has God’s goodness made me more grateful — or merely more comfortable?

 

• Amos 5:4, 6, 14, 21–23
• “Come back to me and live!” — Amos 5:4
• Come back to the Lord and live! – Amos 5:6
• Do what is good and run from evil so that you may live! – Amos 5:14
• “I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. – Amos 5:21-24
• Renewal does not begin with a program, more activity, or a busier church. Renewal begins when God’s people rediscover God Himself.
• Israel had worship gatherings, offerings, songs, and festivals — but their worship and their lives had become disconnected.
• It is possible to participate in Christianity without truly seeking God.
• Diagnostic Question: Am I seeking God — or merely participating in Christianity?
• Do I want God Himself, not merely His blessings, protection, help, or heaven?

 

• Amos 5:23–24; see also Amos 2, 4, and 8
• “Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” — Amos 5:24
• Biblical worship should change how we treat people. Our Sunday worship means very little if it has no effect on our Monday life.
• Faith reaches our relationships, finances, work, speech, influence, treatment of the vulnerable, and response to people in need.

“Christians can become so concerned about not being “of the world” that we tend to insulate ourselves from it. But God has called us to bring the light of Christ into every part of our culture—in education, government, law enforcement, the courts, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods. We must not insulate but instead we should infiltrate.” Pastor Greg Laurie

• Diagnostic Question: Where is there a gap between what I sing and how I live?

 

• But still, you would not return to me,” says the Lord. – Amos 4:6–12
• Five times Israel hears the heartbreaking words from the Lord: “But still you would not return to me.”
• Not every hardship is direct punishment from God. Yet Scripture shows that God can use difficulty to expose what comfort sometimes hides and to call His people back.
• Instead of praying only, “God, make this problem go away,” also pray: “God, what do You want to change in me?”
• Diagnostic Question: What has God been using to get my attention?

 

• Amos 7:7–8 7 Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” I answered, “A plumb line.” And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins.
• The wall does not determine the standard. The plumb line does. In the same way, our lives are measured by God’s standard.
• The Bible is the plumb line — not culture, feelings, tradition, social media, political ideology, popular opinion, or even church history.
• When God’s Word shows that something in us is crooked, we do not move the plumb line; we move ourselves. That is repentance.
• Diagnostic Question: Where have I been asking God’s Word to adjust to me instead of allowing God’s Word to adjust me?

 

• Amos 8:11–12 11 The time is surely coming,” says the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread or water but of hearing the words of the Lord. 12 People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from border to border searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.
• Amos warns of a famine — not of food or water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.
• When God convicts, corrects, or calls us to reconciliation, repentance, serving, generosity, forgiveness, or surrender, the proper response is obedience.
• Diagnostic Question: What has God already told me that I have not obeyed?
• Renewal may be waiting on the other side of one surrendered “yes.”

 

• Amos 9:11–15; Acts 15:16–18
• Amos ends with restoration: rebuilding, planting, harvest, fruitfulness, and God bringing His people home.
• The broken house of David ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the Son of David. We come home not by trying harder, but by returning to Christ in repentance and faith.
• The final word of Amos is not RUINED. It is RESTORED. 
• What would church-wide renewal look like?
• • Prayer driven by hunger for God, not obligation.
  • Scripture becoming central again; confession without excuses.
  • Forgiveness and reconciliation in our homes and relationships.
  • Parents discipling children and young people owning their faith in Jesus.
  • Generosity, compassion, justice, service, and sharing Christ with our neighbors.
  • Worship that continues after the music stops.
  • Servants rather than consumers; missionaries rather than spectators; disciples rather than attendees.

• AMOS’ Invitation to us all: SEEK THE LORD AND LIVE.
• • My response today:
  • God, disturb…
  • God, restore…
  • My surrendered “yes” is…

“The God who exposes complacency is also the God who restores His people.”

 

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life. In Jesus, name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

• The common core nature all people are born with is a nature that chooses .
• The common message God gave was RETURN TO ME. To return means they have God’s ways.
• People don’t usually express their arrogance toward God verbally. It’s expressed in .
• Some return to God, while others go their way.
• God calls His people, then and now, to wholehearted because He is gracious, just, patient, and merciful.

 

• Joel 1:1 The Lord gave this message to Joel son of Pethuel.
• “Son of Pethuel” distinguishes this Joel from other men named Joel and identifies him as the of “the word of the LORD.”
• Pethuel is not presented as prominent in the book, yet his brief mention grounds Joel’s ministry in a real and historical .
• Joel means “Jehovah is God”.
• Among the 12 minor prophets, Joel was among the earliest.
• Joel prophesied during the reign of Joash, King of Judah (the southern part of Israel).
• Joel was a contemporary of Elijah and Elisha and probably knew them.

 

• There are two common characteristics of prophets: obedience and boldness.
• It’s one thing to receive a strong word from the Lord, and it’s another to be obedient and that word.
• How eager would you be to to a friend who admits to being a follower of Jesus but isn’t living a God-honoring life?
• Galatians 6.1-3 Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. 2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.

 

• Joel 1.2-7 Hear this, you leaders of the people. Listen, all who live in the land. In all your history, has anything like this happened before? 3 Tell your children about it in the years to come, and let your children tell their children. Pass the story down from generation to generation. 4 After the cutting locusts finished eating the crops, the swarming locusts took what was left! After them came the hopping locusts, and then the stripping locusts, too! 5 Wake up, you drunkards, and weep! Wail, all you wine-drinkers! All the grapes are ruined, and all your sweet wine is gone. 6 A vast army of locusts has invaded my land, a terrible army too numerous to count. Its teeth are like lions’ teeth, its fangs like those of a lioness. 7 It has destroyed my grapevines and ruined my fig trees, stripping their bark and destroying it, leaving the branches white and bare.
• Joel 1:10-11 The fields are ruined, the land is stripped bare. The grain is destroyed, the grapes have shriveled, and the olive oil is gone. 11 Despair, all you farmers! Wail, all you vine growers! Weep, because the wheat and barley—all the crops of the field—are ruined.
• When we feel the consequences of our sin, would we ever be enough to say to ourselves, “It didn’t have to be this way”?

 

• Joel 1:16-19 Our food disappears before our very eyes. No joyful celebrations are held in the house of our God. 17 The seeds die in the parched ground, and the grain crops fail. The barns stand empty, and granaries are abandoned. 18 How the animals moan with hunger! The herds of cattle wander about confused, because they have no pasture. The flocks of sheep and goats bleat in misery. 19 Lord, help us! The fire has consumed the wilderness pastures, and flames have burned up all the trees.
• Joel 2:6 Fear grips all the people; every face grows pale with terror.

 

• Joel 2:12-17 That is why the Lord says, “Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. 14 Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, sending you a blessing instead of this curse. Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine to the Lord your God as before. 15 Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! Announce a time of fasting; call the people together for a solemn meeting. 16 Gather all the people—the elders, the children, and even the babies. Call the bridegroom from his quarters and the bride from her private room. 17 Let the priests, who minister in the Lord’s presence, stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. Let them pray, “Spare your people, Lord! Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’”
• Joel 2:28 Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.
• Peter quotes Joel 2:28-31 in Acts 2.17-21. Salvation is for all who call upon the of the Lord.
• “The Day of the Lord” refers to God’s intervention to His enemies and to His people. In the New Testament refers to the day of Christ’s (1 Thessalonians 5.1-4 and 2 Peter 3.8-13).
• “The Day of the Lord” is both a of judgment and a of restoration.

 

• Is there a specific sin that has created distance between you and God?
• Joel 3:21 I will pardon my people’s crimes, which I have not yet pardoned; and I, the Lord, will make my home in Jerusalem with my people.”
• What’s the word that soothes a sinner’s troubled life? RESTORATION.

 

Merciful God,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

 

• Hosea means salvation, deliverance, or he saves and is associated with saving or . Hosea’s name is closely related to Joshua and Jesus.
• The theme of Hosea’s ministry was confronting spiritual .
• When God’s people turn their backs on Him in rebellion, brutal things can happen. Not because God fails to love, but because He His people.
• Hebrews 12:6-8 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child. 7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.

 

• After Solomon’s death, Israel split into the and kingdoms. The split permanently weakened both kingdoms.
  1. The North is called Israel; its capital is Samaria, and its leader is Jeroboam I.
  2. The south is called Judah; its capital is Jerusalem, and its leader is Rehoboam.
• Some of the minor prophets were sent to the northern kingdom and others to the southern kingdom.
• God often used catastrophic events to bring His people to Him.
• We can either our hearts with a thick layer of , which only makes things worse, or we can be and to Father’s care.

 

• Hosea uses the imagery of a broken to underscore the seriousness of idolatry and the steadfastness of God’s covenant love.
• Israel is unfaithful; God disciplines them, yet God still their restoration.
• Israel worshipped God yet repeatedly trusted other gods, political powers, wealth, military strength, and their own work rather than the Lord.
• Hosea 1:2 When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.
• The people had been unfaithful, yet God remained to His covenant people.
• 1 kings 18:20-22 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel. 21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent. 22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.

 

• God issues indictments: Hosea 4:1-9 Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel! The Lord has brought charges against you, saying: “There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. 2 You make vows and break them; you kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere—one murder after another. 3 That is why your land is in mourning, and everyone is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea are disappearing. 4 “Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame! My complaint, you priests, is with you. 5 So you will stumble in broad daylight, and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother. 6 My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me, I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. 7 The more priests there are, the more they sin against me. They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols. 8 “When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed. So the priests are glad when the people sin! 9 ‘And what the priests do, the people also do.’ So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds.
• Hosea 14:1-9 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. 2 Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him, “Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises. 3 Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made, ‘You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.” 4 The Lord says, “Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever. 5 I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon. 6 Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon. 7 My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon. 8 “O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.” 9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them.

 

• 1. Sin destroys everything (Hosea 14:1).
  • Israel’s problem was not merely difficult circumstances. Its deepest problem was .
  • An idol is not only a statue. It is we depend on, love, obey, or fear more than God.
• 2. God invites honest repentance (Hosea 14:2).
  • Repentance has two directions: turning sin and turning God.
  • It is possible to regret the consequences of sin without truly turning from it.
  • comes when we stop hiding and speak the truth to God.
• 3. God heals the repentant (Hosea 14:4) 
  • God does not merely tolerate the return of people. He promises to them.
  • The God whom Israel abandoned is the very God who can make Israel flourish again.
    That is grace.
  • For Christians, this mercy is most fully seen in .
• 4. Wise people choose God’s way (Hosea 14:9).
  • Hosea closes his sermon by referring to three groups. The and their understanding; the , who listen carefully; and the , who walk in the truth.
  • Every person must where to place ultimate trust.

 

Merciful God,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

• From Hosea to Malachi, the last book of the Old Testament, are the minor prophets.
• They are not minor because they are unimportant, but because their books are than those of the major prophets.
• Every book in the Bible is important and communicates God’s .
• The Bible is a Jewish book. The Jews are God’s chosen people, and as believers in Jesus, the Messiah, we are into faith.
• Romans 11:17-18 But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree. 18 But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
• A  represented the people before God through sacrifice, worship, and teaching.
• A  represented God before the people by proclaiming His revealed message. “This is what God says.”

 

• Romans 12:2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
• Hebrews 4.12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
• To understand any book of the Bible, begin with this fact: God it; it’s perfect, without error, and eternal.
• A strong concern runs through the Twelve Minor Prophets. It’s the importance of aligning reality with outward .
• James 2:18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
• Amos 5:21-24 “I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. 22 I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. 23 Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
• God says to stop the show, stop your attempted worship, and get your right.
• What is God looking for? Amos 5:24 Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.
• People in the Bible and people today share this common trait. We love our way, which can lead us to make up our own beliefs contrary to our CREATOR.
•  A true prophet cared more about the of the Living God than about human words or opinions.

 

• Although the prophets express a wide range of differences, they all point to God’s words, wisdom, and ways.
• Reject God and face the .
• The 12 prophets offer a unique and cohesive perspective on how the Lord accomplishes His purposes through both and .
• Prophets were God’s prosecuting attorneys, bringing one indictment after another. They held the people to the Mosaic law.
• The prophets of God were sent by God to the people of God with this three-word message: RETURN TO ME

 

Merciful God,

I acknowledge that I am a sinner and cannot save myself. I repent of my sin and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus bled, suffered, and died on the cross for my sins, and that You raised Him from the dead. Today, I place my faith in Jesus alone—not in good works or a religion, but in a relationship.

Jesus, I confess You as my Lord and Savior. Please forgive me. I surrender my life to You and ask You to help me follow and obey You from this day forward. Thank You for Your mercy, Your grace, and the gift of eternal life.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

 

 “We need to understand the tone of the text to understand the heart of the writer.” Dale Ralph Davis

• Setting the Church in Order includes:
  • Titus 1:1–4 The Gospel Foundation: The church must first be grounded in the before it can be properly ordered.
  • Titus 1:5–9 Godly Leadership: A healthy church requires leaders whose lives and teaching are .
  • Titus 1:10–16 Protecting the Truth: Church leaders don’t merely teach truth; they God’s people from what destroys truth.
  • Titus 2:1–10Truth That Shapes People: Sound should create sound people.
  • Titus 2:11–14 Grace That Saves and Transforms:  us for our present and gives us for Christ’s return.
  • Titus 2:15–3:8 Grace That Produces a New People: Changes our with God, and the way we live with everybody else.
  • Titus 3:9-15 A Church Focused on What Matters: is about fruitful, not foolish.

1. A Fruitful Church Useless Disputes:

• Titus 3:9 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time.
  • Don’t allow conversations that continually move the church away from godliness (2Tim 2:14, 16, 23, Heb 13:9).

 

2. A Fruitful Church Protects :

• Titus 3:10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them.
  • Church discipline is corrective, not vindictive (2 Thes 3:14-15, Heb 12:15).

 

3. A Fruitful Church Divisiveness:

• Titus 3:11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
  • Separation may be necessary for the church’s health (Rom 16:17–18, 1 Cor 5:9–13).

 “A problem ignored is a growing problem; Paul’s advice: deal with it. Don’t ignore division. For the church to be strong and honor God, the church is to be one.” The Voice Bible

 

4. A Fruitful Church in Faithful Workers:

• Titus 3:12 I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter.
• • A church cannot fulfill its mission for Christ without capable men and women who step forward and serve (Eph 6:21, Col 1:28, Col 4:7, 2Tim 2:2, 2Tim 4:12, 2Thes 2:13, 15).

 “One is too small a number to achieve greatness. You are never designed to do it by yourself. If your dream can be accomplished alone, your dream is too small.” John C. Maxwell

 

5. A Fruitful Church the Needs of the Believer:

• Titus 3:13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need.
• • The ministry belongs to Christ, not to the individual minister (1 Cor. 3:5-9, Gal 5:13-14, Gal 6:2, Eph. 2:10, Eph. 4:11-12, Phil. 2:1-11, Heb 13:16).

 

6. A Fruitful Church Produces Works:

• Titus 3:14 Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive.
• • Christianity isn’t supposed to produce people who merely know biblical truth. It produces people who use their lives to benefit others. (Eph 2:8-10, Titus 3:5, Gal 6:9-10).

 

7. A Fruitful Church on God’s Grace:

• Titus 3:15 Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all.
• • Grace is not merely what saves us; it is what sustains us and enables us to live the fruitful Christian life God has called us to. (Eph 2:8-9, Phil 4:13, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 2:11-121, Titus 3:7, Heb 4:16).

Conclusion: The properly ordered church is not merely a church with the right structure, the right leaders, and the right doctrine. It is a church whose Gospel-shaped people produce Gospel-shaped fruit.

 

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

GUEST SPEAKER
There are no notes for today.

 

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

SUBMISSIVE TO GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES

• Titus 3:1 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.
  • Remind: In Greek, do it constantly.
  • Romans 13:1-3 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. 2 So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. 3 For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you.
    • v.4 | They serve God; they punish those who do wrong.
    • v.5 | Submit to avoid punishment but also to have a clear conscience.
    • v.6 | Pay your taxes.
    • v.7 | Respect and honor those in authority
  • Obedience to any authority is contingent on whether Christians are asked to do good or bad in the eyes of God.
  • Daniel 3:8-27; Daniel 6:10-13; Exodus 1:15; Acts 4:18-19, 5:29
  • A Christian’s duty to obey their authorities is limited by their call to be faithful to God’s commands.

 

DON’T BE TROUBLEMAKERS, BE GRACIOUS

• Titus 3:2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
  • Christians should not mistreat or disrespect anyone.
  • Treat everyone in our society with love, respect, kindness, compassion, gentleness, and humility just like Jesus did.
  • Matthew 5:43-45a
  • Romans 12:17-19

 

WE USED TO BE SINNERS | WHAT PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE

• Titus 3:3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
  • Thank God that our sinful lifestyle is a thing of the Past.
  • Ephesians 2:1-3 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.
  • Reality: A sinful lifestyle is in the past. We were like everyone else. Before we received God’s saving grace, there was nothing good in us.

“You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” Jonathan Edwards

• • We are evil and contribute only sin.
  • Romans 3:10-1210 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous— not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. 12 All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.”

WHAT GOD CONTRIBUTES: Who He is & what He does

• Titus 3:4-5a 4 But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
  • God: Kindness or goodness
  • Love (philanthrõpia) – love for mankind
  • Willingness to save
  • Mercy

• Titus 3:5b-7 He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
  • Washed away sins
  • Giving new birth & new life
  • Poured out His Spirit
  • Made us right in His sight
  • Gave confidence of eternity

SAVING GRACE IS FREELY GIVEN

• Humanity didn’t search or ask for God’s grace.
• God took the initiative, revealed His saving grace to us, and gave it freely.
• God gave His eternally begotten Son to pay for it on our behalf with his blood.
• God was not obligated to do all of this for us. He did it because He is good and His nature is to love.
• Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
• Ephesians 2:8-9 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
• Jude 1:25 All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord…
• Revelation 7:10 And they were shouting with a great roar, “Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!”

 

• Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
• • Continue to teach this truth.
  • Our new life results in godly character that should be reflected in our private life, in our community of faith, and in all of society.

“Here comes my grandson! He may preach the gospel better than I can, but he cannot preach a better gospel; can you, Charles?” James Spurgeon (1776-1864)

• • That a Holy God would choose to freely offer salvation to people who do not deserve it and that He would become the sacrifice for people’s sins and dwell in them is unheard of. There is no message like the Christian message of God’s grace.

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

 

• Titus 1:1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.
• Galatians 1:11-12 11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
• The source or the origin of this message is God.
• A Pattern emerges:
• • The message is proclaimed and people can received through faith.
  • Godly behavior is modeled, new believers are discipled and they are taught godly living.
  • Men of godly character were chosen as spiritual leaders to model, teach and help those struggling with sin, and confront error.

• Titus 2:10b Then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way.

“Our characters must be more persuasive than our speech.” Charles Spurgeon

 

• Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.
• Paul identifies the defining moment in a person’s life: the moment of Salvation.
• Romans 1:15-16 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. 16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
• The way we live is a visible expression of true faith.
• This doesn’t mean people are perfect. It means people of genuine faith are now going in the right direction; towards Christlikeness.

 

• Titus 2:12 12 And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God…
• The word “instructed” carries the image of little children being taught by a loving parent.
• Grace teaches us to turn away from sin and toward a wise and righteous life devoted to God.
• John 1:12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
• Ephesians 5:1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
• God’s grace not only saves us from eternal punishment, but it also guides us through life to know how and how not we should live.

 

• Earthly hope: Wishful thinking.
• Biblical hope: A firm expectation that we will receive God’s promises in the future (blessed hope or blessed assurance).
• While we wait for this to happen, we should continue to live (v.12), rejecting sinful pleasures and instead live with wisdom, righteousness and devotion to God.

“I received some years ago orders from my Master to stand at the foot of the cross until he comes. He has not come yet, but I mean to stand there until he does.” Charles Spurgeon

• As believers, we are called to persevere in our devotion to God.

 

• Titus 2:14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
• A person cannot have a new life apart from faith in the crucified and risen Christ.
• The cost of our freedom was so high that no human could ever pay for it, but Christ’s death is enough to save anyone and powerful enough to change their lives.
• Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

 

• Titus 2:15 You must teach these things and encourage the believers to do them. You have the authority to correct them when necessary, so don’t let anyone disregard what you say.
• Titus has the authority to teach about God’s grace and a new way of life for the believer because this is not his message, it is not Paul’s message, it is God’s message, and it is God’s plan.
• Titus had the authority to confront incorrect teaching about grace.
  • A supposed grace that delivers people from hell but not from their sinful lifestyles is cheap grace and not real grace.
  • A supposed grace that accepts sinners but does not transform them is cheap grace and therefore not God’s grace but man-made fake grace.
  • God’s grace transforms lives through the miracle of salvation that is only possible because Jesus died in our place.
• 1 John 4:9-10 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

 

• Salvation is available to you now because of God’s grace.
• Receive God’s grace at the foot of the cross by repenting and believing, and that’s where your new life will begin.
• 2 Corinthians 5:15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
• If you want to live for Jesus, start right where you are. Surrender your life to Him and let God guide you the rest of the way.
• There is no sin too great that Christ’s sacrifice can’t forgive. There is no lifestyle too wild that God’s power cannot change.

 

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.

• Titus 2:1 (ESV) —> Sound Doctrine
  But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

“It is the fashion nowadays, to talk much about preaching Christ, but not his doctrines. I neither understand nor wish to understand what that expression can mean. Christ without his doctrine? The great teacher without his teachings? The Lord without his commands?” CH Spurgeon

• Titus 2:2-3 (ESV) —> Older Men and Women
  2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good…
• Titus 2:4-5 (ESV) —> Young Women
  4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
• Titus 2:6-8 (ESV) —> Titus’ example to Young Men
  6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
• Titus 2:9-10 (ESV) —> To Bond Servants
  9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

 

Lord Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I know that the penalty of my sin is physical, spiritual, and eternal death. I acknowledge that I can’t do anything about my situation. But I know that You came to pay the penalty for my sin. I trust in You alone as the One who died in my place. I repent of my sin and trust in You alone as the only One who can place me in an eternal relationship with the living God. I desire to be Your child. I desire to live as Your child. In Your name. Amen.

If you have made a decision for Christ today please let us know by clicking this link and filling out the form.