1 00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:08,080 We're studying the Book of Titus. 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:10,640 It's actually a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to. 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,000 A young partner in the faith named Titus. 4 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,520 And so today we are going to finish. 5 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:19,560 The study of that book. By looking at the last couple of 6 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:23,400 verses in Paul's letter to Titus, and I have to say, just 7 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:28,400 to to prepare your mind, this is a challenging execution of the 8 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,320 verse by verse teaching because we're now coming to the end of 9 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:32,840 the letter and it's very practical. 10 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:34,480 He's going to. This is a real letter. 11 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:39,000 Written to people at a real time and, and it's it's a there's 12 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,960 something in this to remind us that every portion of the word 13 00:00:41,960 --> 00:00:44,280 is good and it's. Worthy of our study. 14 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,640 It's also a good lesson. To all of us to. 15 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:50,040 Remember that the the Bible. Is. 16 00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:56,200 Both profound and powerful and. Practical for everyday living. 17 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,480 And this is a a practical portion of scripture. 18 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:02,120 And we have to make. Sure that we we don't only limit 19 00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:05,440 the Bible to the moments where it's just revealing profound 20 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,280 doctrine or powerful moments where where it sets our life 21 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,440 into order in a new. Way to to study and to love the 22 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,280 Bible every day of your life. You have to accept that it's 23 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,240 very just practical. For everyday living, this is a 24 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:21,520 practical section and I'm mindful of that. 25 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:24,320 Truth outside of the study of the word that life. 26 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:26,880 Itself in most. Of the ways you live, it will 27 00:01:26,880 --> 00:01:29,920 be. At times extremely profound and 28 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,720 most of the time. Extremely practical. 29 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:36,040 We actually yesterday we had a. Wedding in this sanctuary I got 30 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,960 to officiate and it was a lesson in this because the doors open 31 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:43,960 and the the bride dressed in white comes down and the the 32 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:47,160 wedding March, you know the classic wedding song starts 33 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,320 everyone raises and it's like, no, those are some most powerful 34 00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:53,440 moments of life when man and woman come together and I'm just 35 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:55,920 thinking, my goodness, this is such a beautiful thing to 36 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,560 witness I'm crying everybody's crying, but I'm also mindful of 37 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:02,360 the conversation I had with the groom right before that moment 38 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:04,000 and I'm like, what's the plan afterwards? 39 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,480 He's like, we got a. Lot of stuff to figure out right 40 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:07,560 after this wedding we're going to be. 41 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,800 Packing the car, driving to the Oregon coast, and figuring out 42 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:13,120 the the blending of our. 2 lives we got to. 43 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,760 Move all of our stuff into one house and we got to figure out 44 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,440 all of our old, you know, arrangements for life. 45 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:22,680 And so wedding is powerful, marriage is practical, and you 46 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:25,520 got to have both. You can't have one without the 47 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,400 other and that. Is a a. 48 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,960 Lesson just in real life. Of the way that the Lord teaches 49 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:34,040 us. He teaches us this. 50 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,160 This letter has had some incredible moments where we 51 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,000 study and so. Wow, the power. 52 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,040 Of the Gospel on display. As Paul writes to Titus. 53 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,840 Today we're going to look at some practical next. 54 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,960 Steps for the Church. In Crete that's reading this to. 55 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,480 To go. From the reading and we'll. 56 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,480 Look at it because. I think there's some practical 57 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:55,760 things that we can take from as a church and just say. 58 00:02:55,800 --> 00:02:59,960 Oh, let's also be a church that celebrates the power. 59 00:02:59,960 --> 00:03:01,840 We Just Sang is like the. Power of God. 60 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,240 And. All the practicals of what to. 61 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,440 Go and do. With this letter, so with. 62 00:03:08,440 --> 00:03:11,200 That in mind, we're going to look at Just Practical next. 63 00:03:11,200 --> 00:03:13,600 Steps for Titus. In the reading of this letter, 64 00:03:13,880 --> 00:03:17,320 starting in verse 12 and we're going to finish the letter. 65 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:22,960 Today, chapter 3, verse 12. He says when I send Artemis. 66 00:03:22,960 --> 00:03:27,800 To you, Orticacus. Be diligent to come to me at. 67 00:03:27,800 --> 00:03:31,480 Nakopolis for I've decided to. Spend the winter there so. 68 00:03:31,680 --> 00:03:33,280 I just practically got through those. 69 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:36,560 Words that we normally don't say and I, I, you know, you guys 70 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,560 don't know if I said them right or not, but let's just look at 71 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:41,920 some of the practical things that Paul is doing to kind of 72 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:42,800 play. Quarterback. 73 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,200 From afar for this church in Crete, he says he's going to 74 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:48,080 send Artemis certificates. Now. 75 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,480 Artemis we really don't know anything about other than he's 76 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,840 getting a direction from Paul to go potentially be someone who's 77 00:03:55,840 --> 00:03:58,840 going to serve at the church in. Crete we do. 78 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,080 Have a reference point for the name Tikakis? 79 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:05,640 He actually comes up in another. Letter that Paul wrote to the 80 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,840 church. In Colossae he says this 81 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:10,240 Colossians chapter. 4. Verse 7. 82 00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,360 Tikakis, A beloved brother, faithful. 83 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,399 Minister and fellow servant in the Lord will tell. 84 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:20,079 You. All the news about me. 85 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:23,440 So he's playing a role in Paul's life where you can kind of go as 86 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,480 a messenger where Paul sends him to Colossi and now to Crete. 87 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,920 And look what it says that. Paul How Paul describes. 88 00:04:31,920 --> 00:04:33,520 This man named Tikakis, it says he's a. 89 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:38,640 Beloved Brother A. Faithful minister and a fellow 90 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:41,800 servant in the Lord, and he's just taking his marching orders 91 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:44,360 from Paul to go and be a messenger to these churches. 92 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,440 And I think Tikakis is a character that that gives us 93 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:51,480 this portrait. Of sometimes how practical 94 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,520 things within the church. Are overlooked for the powerful 95 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:56,800 tikakis was a very practical. Servant. 96 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,440 I mean, look the way he's. Described it says he's just. 97 00:04:59,560 --> 00:05:01,480 Faithful and what it was asked of him. 98 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,760 He's a brother that's beloved wherever he goes. 99 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:06,000 He's just. Loving and he's a servant, and 100 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:08,720 yet in. The Apostle Paul exalting. 101 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:12,480 Him as a faithful brother. Without knowing all of your 102 00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:15,240 children's names, without knowing all of your names, I can 103 00:05:15,800 --> 00:05:19,840 most assuredly, almost with 100% certainty say there's not a 104 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:22,880 ticket kiss among us that none of you have named your kids 105 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:26,160 ticket kiss thought I want to name my kid after this amazing 106 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,280 person of the Bible. And, you know, I, I think that 107 00:05:30,280 --> 00:05:31,560 maybe that's a name that we should. 108 00:05:31,560 --> 00:05:34,280 Think about. Because this is a practical 109 00:05:34,280 --> 00:05:37,800 servant of the Lord who did great things in practical ways. 110 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,160 You know, we, we often think of doing ministry and we think of 111 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:44,840 it as, you know, maybe preaching or evangelism, going to a 112 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:45,680 mission field. Those are. 113 00:05:45,840 --> 00:05:48,480 Those are the. Big ministry moments, but most. 114 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:49,880 Of us. Will be more like. 115 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,000 Tikakis, most of us will just be. 116 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,280 Given the word to go. Faithfully live, be a beloved. 117 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:59,160 Brother or sister in Christ, and serve the Lord in some way that. 118 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:01,600 Gives us just practical everyday. 119 00:06:01,840 --> 00:06:05,480 Kingdom duties. And so maybe our church can kind 120 00:06:05,480 --> 00:06:07,760 of break the trend of overlooking the practical. 121 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,400 And the next time we do our baby dedications, maybe we'll see a 122 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,240 little. Ticket kiss that we get to 123 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,120 dedicated to the Lord. You can call him Ty, you can 124 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,480 call him, you know, you can call him Tick if you want, but it's a 125 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:21,640 good name and it's a, it's a reminder that practical matters. 126 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,360 And then he says to. Titus. 127 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:28,560 Titus, when I send these guys, I want you to be diligent to come 128 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,600 to me and Necopolis. So Titus is. 129 00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,840 Given a surprising end of the letter, you know when we think 130 00:06:36,840 --> 00:06:38,440 of this letter, you think of the. 131 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:40,120 Opposite of tickets is a guy like Titus. 132 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:43,760 He's got a name. His name is one of the 66 books 133 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:45,920 of the Bible. His name is easy. 134 00:06:45,920 --> 00:06:48,160 For us to say like, wow, that was a guy who served. 135 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:52,440 And you read this letter. Titus had a big job to do. 136 00:06:52,840 --> 00:06:56,880 Titus was given the role of overseeing all of this reform 137 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,480 that needed to happen in the church in Crete, and not just 138 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:01,040 one church he was going to oversee. 139 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:03,920 All of the little household. Gatherings to raise up elders 140 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:05,480 who are going to set things in order. 141 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,160 They were going to teach. Good doctrine be qualified by 142 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:10,320 the godly characteristics of a leader. 143 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:12,760 And they were. Titus was also in charge of 144 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:15,520 getting out bad doctrine. So he was going to admonish 145 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,480 people who were subverting. Households of faith with bad 146 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,080 teaching. This is a big. 147 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,760 Mission that Titus is on based off this letter. 148 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:27,120 And yet as a reminder that even in the big things that God calls 149 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:27,680 us. To do. 150 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:31,040 They don't define your life, Titus, by the end of. 151 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,640 This there's people that. Are going to come in, relieve 152 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:36,760 him of his duties, he's going to pass off the mission of 153 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,360 reforming Crete to these guys that are coming in, and then 154 00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,560 he's off to meet with Paul. And so if the Lord. 155 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,000 Calls you when the Lord calls you. 156 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:45,880 Because the the Lord is going to. 157 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,440 Give you guys mission to put your hand. 158 00:07:48,440 --> 00:07:52,440 To to, to serve at a church, To to put. 159 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:55,320 Your name on things in the name of the Lord to care for your 160 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:58,360 family. But this is a reminder that Paul 161 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:00,800 was not telling Titus to go out and make a. 162 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:03,000 Legacy of Crete. With his name all. 163 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:07,280 Over the place, whatever we do, whatever you're called to. 164 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:12,360 Is a temporary mission and and it's my dream you think of this 165 00:08:12,360 --> 00:08:16,160 church in 20 years how exciting will it be when the the 166 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,680 congregation is kind of turned over the work to another 167 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,400 generation and there's a. Whole new wave of people. 168 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,400 Worshiping in here, there's a whole new. 169 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:26,400 Wave of pastors, elders. Serving and worship leaders and 170 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,880 people, serving the kids. And for that to happen, we all 171 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,800 have to remember that just like. Titus. 172 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,880 We had a mission to. Do to be faithful. 173 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:35,240 And then the Lord's going to send new people and we're like, 174 00:08:35,240 --> 00:08:37,600 this was never ours. This was always the. 175 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,280 Lord's and by by God's grace it will make it to the next 176 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:42,360 generation. And Titus is a. 177 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:44,400 Little picture of that Practical. 178 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,280 In sending of. Ticacus practical of Titus. 179 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:51,320 Having a temporary call on his life for Crete and then a call 180 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,760 to meet with Paul in Necropolis. And so we. 181 00:08:54,760 --> 00:08:58,160 See, Paul says to be diligent. To come to be in Necropolis. 182 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:00,840 Why? It says for I have decided to. 183 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:05,400 Spend the winter there and this is another just practical 184 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:09,040 insight moment from the. Bible The Bible is written by 185 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,560 Paul, a real. Person in a real region of the 186 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:15,840 world dealing with real life. And so he's going to spend the 187 00:09:15,840 --> 00:09:18,640 winter in a warmer island and he's going to push. 188 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,560 Hold or push? Pause on traveling because he 189 00:09:21,560 --> 00:09:23,040 didn't want to. Travel through the choppy 190 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:24,920 waters. Of winter and he's going to wait 191 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:25,880 there. He's going to bring. 192 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:28,320 Titus to him they're. Going to make a game plan, 193 00:09:28,320 --> 00:09:31,200 presumably on what to do next, but he's saying during the 194 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:32,720 winter you can just come meet me. 195 00:09:32,720 --> 00:09:34,600 He's. Given a little forecast to. 196 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,680 Titus and so I just. Said OK, well let's. 197 00:09:36,680 --> 00:09:38,760 Just get practical. Let me give a forecast for our 198 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:40,440 winter. We this is the perfect time. 199 00:09:40,600 --> 00:09:43,800 Where will we spend our winter? And you're like, are we going to 200 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,120 a Greek Isle in Acropolis I. Wish but. 201 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,720 I, I, we're not going anywhere regionally, but we are going to 202 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:51,480 go somewhere after the book of Titus. 203 00:09:51,480 --> 00:09:54,160 So let me give you a little forecast for our winter months. 204 00:09:54,400 --> 00:09:57,800 In the upcoming weeks, we're going to look at a few Psalms of 205 00:09:57,800 --> 00:09:59,960 Thanksgiving. So read some Psalms of 206 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:01,840 Thanksgiving. You might just read the one that 207 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,080 we. Study as a church to prepare our 208 00:10:04,080 --> 00:10:06,720 hearts. To gather around the table and 209 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:08,960 give thanks. To our Lord who gives. 210 00:10:08,960 --> 00:10:11,960 Every good and perfect gift. So starting next week, we're 211 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,960 going to look at some of the ways that we can say, Lord, all 212 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,600 Thanksgiving is Thanksgiving to you and then you guys can have a 213 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,160 a nice. Preview of that. 214 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,240 Into your Thursday gathering, which is coming up. 215 00:10:22,760 --> 00:10:25,080 Wow, it's already coming up so quickly, isn't it? 216 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,720 And then? To prepare our hearts for the 217 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,200 real great. Event left on the calendar which 218 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:37,680 is the reminder that Jesus came into our world that the the Word 219 00:10:37,680 --> 00:10:41,240 became flesh and dwelt among us. So we are going to take 4 weeks 220 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,320 leading up to Christmas Eve. To. 221 00:10:44,320 --> 00:10:47,520 Align with the the the Global Church calendar in the. 222 00:10:47,520 --> 00:10:51,000 Build up of Advent. And so just a quick word on that 223 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:52,400 usually. We're verse by verse. 224 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,320 We just go through a book of the Bible as. 225 00:10:54,320 --> 00:10:57,120 You can see we're literally studying verses at the very end 226 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:58,200 of a. Letter that's like, what does 227 00:10:58,200 --> 00:10:59,920 this have to do with us? But. 228 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,160 There's two times in the year where I think it's. 229 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:04,080 Worthy. Of our time to push pause on 230 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:06,680 whatever we're studying and join in the. 231 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:09,560 Global Church. With Christians around the world 232 00:11:09,560 --> 00:11:12,680 that are preparing their hearts for the incarnation and the 233 00:11:12,680 --> 00:11:14,840 resurrection. So we spend a few weeks getting 234 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,640 ready to to welcome the. The the the Lord. 235 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,120 Into that just reminder that he came once and he's coming again. 236 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:22,800 So it's just. Good for our hearts to say. 237 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,600 Lord, we can't wait until your return, so we look. 238 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:30,160 Back to look forward. And then we starting with our 239 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:32,160 week of fasting and prayer and we're going to. 240 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:35,480 Celebrate Good Friday. To remember that that the Lord 241 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:37,560 died on the cross and somehow that was good. 242 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:40,480 We're also. Building a global church 243 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:42,800 calendar in unity with Christians around the world 244 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:45,320 getting ready for the resurrection and so. 245 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:48,440 That gives us a little. Preview of some things that we 246 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:51,320 do and why we push pause sometimes on just the verse by 247 00:11:51,320 --> 00:11:54,720 verse. So Advent will be in Matthew 248 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,880 chapter 1. We're going to study the 249 00:11:56,880 --> 00:12:02,200 genealogy that is listed in the Gospel of Matthew that points to 250 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,600 the coming of Jesus. And it's such an interesting 251 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:08,960 genealogy because it reminds us that God has used some very 252 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:14,640 surprising and broken people, namely all of them, to prepare 253 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,760 the way and to bring the Messiah down a family line to fulfill 254 00:12:18,760 --> 00:12:20,960 prophecy. So we'll look at a couple of 255 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:23,400 highlighted. Stories in the family genealogy 256 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:27,000 and and we'll I hope be encouraged that if God can use 257 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:29,320 some of the. Characters he used before. 258 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,920 The coming of Christ, he can use anybody. 259 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,600 And so we'll study that in preparation of Advent and that's 260 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:38,000 what we're going to do for the winter. 261 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:42,360 Now, moving on, Paul's got plans to send people to. 262 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:45,800 Receive Titus. And then verse 13, he says, send 263 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:49,400 Zenus the lawyer, Zenus the lawyer, and Apollos on their 264 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:53,640 journey with haste, meaning go, let them go quickly, that they 265 00:12:53,640 --> 00:12:56,040 may lack nothing. So we have two more. 266 00:12:56,360 --> 00:13:00,120 Practical, real life people. That Paul is giving some 267 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,880 direction for and giving the church a little direction on how 268 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,920 to shape a culture around sending people. 269 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,200 So there's. People that are in the church 270 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,920 that have a journey, presumably a gospel mission journey, and 271 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,800 Paul says I want you to send Zenus the lawyer and Apollos and 272 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:17,760 I want to make sure they lack nothing. 273 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,080 So Zenus the lawyer? We don't know. 274 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:21,760 A lot about. Other than the fact that. 275 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:25,400 He's a lawyer. And this is not the kind of 276 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:27,880 lawyer that, you know, you can call after you got hit in the 277 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:29,520 car and you can, you know, one call. 278 00:13:29,520 --> 00:13:33,240 That's all kind of guy. He he's a lawyer that studied 279 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,960 the law that the. Torah and he is a just one of 280 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,720 those little encouragement you can find in the New Testament 281 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:43,200 that from the time of Jesus earthly ministry to the time of 282 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:45,320 the. First Church outsiders. 283 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:49,040 Were becoming insiders because you'll remember that Jesus was 284 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,120 doing his ministry and often times it was the. 285 00:13:51,120 --> 00:13:54,840 Religious leaders that were the. Hardest for him to to to share 286 00:13:54,840 --> 00:13:56,320 with and to preach and give hope to. 287 00:13:56,560 --> 00:13:58,840 And one of those categories. Was lawyers who were. 288 00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:01,680 Always trying to catch him breaking the law or catch him in 289 00:14:01,680 --> 00:14:03,760 his words. And this is a great hopeful 290 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,840 example of. All of the people that. 291 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,240 In the earthly ministry of Jesus, every category of them 292 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:11,760 will find in the first church, including those. 293 00:14:11,920 --> 00:14:14,440 Who study the law that. Zenith was a lawyer. 294 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:17,200 Become Christian. We also have Apollos, you'll 295 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:18,640 remember. Paulos, if you've studied the 296 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:20,680 book of Acts. Or if you've studied the book of 297 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:23,400 Corinthians. Because he was a great orator, 298 00:14:23,400 --> 00:14:26,800 he was a great preacher. People loved his word and the 299 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:28,600 way that he would. You know it just. 300 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,040 Preached. The gospel. 301 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:33,400 In fact, in Corinth he comes up because there was some division 302 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:37,200 happening over people picking their favorite preachers. 303 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,720 A tale as old as the. First church and Apollos was one 304 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:44,320 of the preferred people. Now we find him in Crete and 305 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,640 Paul is giving him the giving the church instructions on how 306 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:51,480 to send Apollos and Zenas out on a mission journey. 307 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:54,760 And so once again, the church is being very practical. 308 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:58,600 They want to send people so that it's not just about reforming 309 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,600 Crete and making their church. Solid Paul is. 310 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:03,960 Looking at Crete and saying once we get that church solid, we 311 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,680 also want that church to make waves. 312 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,440 For the gospel, so the. Church becomes ascending church. 313 00:15:09,440 --> 00:15:12,360 There's a culture by which. The church is thinking about 314 00:15:12,360 --> 00:15:15,960 more than their own region, and so I hope that we can have that. 315 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,720 Culture for our church I hope that we have a biblical. 316 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,120 Reference point for why we do things like make sure we're 317 00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:23,680 praying for the underground church. 318 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:26,200 This week or for the. Variety of missionaries that we. 319 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,600 Support as a church. We want to make sure as Paul was 320 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:33,240 making sure for Zenith and Apollo's that anyone is sent, is 321 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,240 sent so that they would lack nothing. 322 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,360 And This is why even on my heart today, it's like I want to pray 323 00:15:38,360 --> 00:15:41,680 for that team in India. May they lack nothing, Lord, and 324 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:43,880 you'll see around the. Walls of our church just. 325 00:15:43,880 --> 00:15:45,600 Pictures of our missionaries if you go to our. 326 00:15:45,600 --> 00:15:48,240 Website you'll see people that our church is. 327 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:52,040 Responsible for in this kind of culture we want anyone that is 328 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,720 connected to this region of church but being sent we want 329 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:59,120 them to be sent well we want them to lack nothing so allow me 330 00:15:59,120 --> 00:16:02,440 to double down a little vision that Connor shared this. 331 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:04,360 Is why I'm so excited about this. 332 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:07,640 Heart that we can support our missionaries next weekend 333 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,400 through this mission market. So I want to invite you to that 334 00:16:10,400 --> 00:16:13,720 again and and wow, what a great time to be in the word and see 335 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:15,600 that this is something that Paul. 336 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:17,320 Was serious about for. Crete and we get to. 337 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:19,680 Try to practice it that the heart. 338 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:22,800 Behind that, just to give kind of a double vision for it, is 339 00:16:22,800 --> 00:16:24,720 one. All the the. 340 00:16:24,760 --> 00:16:27,800 The ways that we can raise money by selling, you know, crafts and 341 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,440 things from each region and then allow those missionaries. 342 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:33,800 To receive the proceeds. That we make from that and and. 343 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:37,800 Secondly, it allows all of us to walk through that little area 344 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:41,480 out there Saturday starting. At 9, ending at one Sunday 345 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:44,320 between service after service and you'll just see all these 346 00:16:44,320 --> 00:16:46,200 little regions. That we could say Lord. 347 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,960 May each one of these little regions that is an extension of 348 00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:52,000 our church, may they lack nothing. 349 00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:54,080 May we. We see them and we remember 350 00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:56,920 them. And so I'm inviting you again. 351 00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:00,960 Please do some early Christmas shopping and go on Saturday pick 352 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:03,600 up some crafts that will support missionaries. 353 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:07,000 That we support or just. Come Sunday and and budget some 354 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,520 time to hang out. Afterwards, but that's why. 355 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:12,359 We're going to do that and so the. 356 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,119 Culture of this church is that they are a church that. 357 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:19,960 Cares beyond their own region. But he's doesn't stop there. 358 00:17:19,960 --> 00:17:21,880 Now he's going to address kind of the main. 359 00:17:21,880 --> 00:17:23,960 Focus the letter that we've covered. 360 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,280 For these weeks, we're going to get kind of that the main lesson 361 00:17:27,280 --> 00:17:28,880 in an. Espresso shot right here. 362 00:17:28,880 --> 00:17:31,160 Titus chapter 3 verse. 14 and let. 363 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:35,760 Our people also. Learn to maintain good works to 364 00:17:35,760 --> 00:17:40,400 meet urgent meet needs that they may not be unfruitful. 365 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:43,400 So he says, listen, let. Our people. 366 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:45,040 The people. On the island of Crete that 367 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:50,280 belong to God, let them learn to maintain good works so that 368 00:17:50,560 --> 00:17:54,240 needs are met within the body, so that when needs come up, not 369 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:58,360 just as people are being sent, but as people live every day and 370 00:17:58,360 --> 00:18:00,360 normal practical lives on the island. 371 00:18:00,360 --> 00:18:03,200 Of Crete, the church. Would continue to live. 372 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,600 Out the gospel by. Caring for one another. 373 00:18:06,240 --> 00:18:08,200 And here is. Why this is like a? 374 00:18:08,360 --> 00:18:10,960 Overview of everything we've talked about in one little. 375 00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:13,440 Espresso shot because it starts. By saying let. 376 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:17,760 Our people do this what what Paul has communicated to Titus 377 00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:19,760 is that the. People living in Crete that 378 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:23,240 belong to God represent God to the island. 379 00:18:23,480 --> 00:18:26,960 They're the people of God. Where God has planted them and 380 00:18:26,960 --> 00:18:28,680 we. Saw this as we study chapter 2 381 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,600 when it says that Jesus gave himself verse. 14 for us, that 382 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:35,480 he might redeem us from every lawless. 383 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:39,800 Deed. And purify for himself his own 384 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:44,400 special. People zealous for good works if 385 00:18:44,400 --> 00:18:47,360 you are part of the. Gathering you've given your 386 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:48,400 life. To Jesus. 387 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:54,600 You now represent Jesus to the island to to the region of 388 00:18:54,600 --> 00:18:57,200 Boise. You are God's people. 389 00:18:57,400 --> 00:19:00,080 And the doctrine, the lessons, the learning. 390 00:19:00,240 --> 00:19:04,240 Is so that the people. Of God can show God can give 391 00:19:04,240 --> 00:19:05,720 God. Glory as they. 392 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:09,480 Represent God in everyday life and that is why you have these 393 00:19:09,480 --> 00:19:12,360 two reminders that have come up time and time again. 394 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:18,520 He says let the people let. Our people learn and maintain to 395 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:20,120 do good works, and this is. Really. 396 00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,920 Every lesson we've looked. At Titus has had one of those 397 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:27,400 themes to it, the importance of learning good doctrine, the 398 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:30,880 importance of opening the word of God and making sure that it 399 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:35,440 is taught soundly and it is is free from all of those little 400 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,280 subversions of the teaching that can disrupt. 401 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:42,280 Whole households, so he says to. Learn good doctrine and then you 402 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:45,960 learn it and when you really learn it, you live it. 403 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:51,440 Learn that you may maintain and this is just the the way we can 404 00:19:51,440 --> 00:19:52,600 just. Take Titus. 405 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:57,160 With us and just see it in everyday life, learning requires 406 00:19:57,160 --> 00:19:59,160 maintenance. I love that, he says. 407 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:00,160 Maintain good. Works. 408 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:02,480 It's like a derivative. Of the word maintenance. 409 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,880 Whatever you learn, you must maintain, and that the broader 410 00:20:05,960 --> 00:20:07,960 lesson in that is that. Life. 411 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,280 Requires maintenance, whatever is good for your life that you 412 00:20:12,280 --> 00:20:14,800 want to. Adopt as good healthy habits. 413 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,640 You don't just get to have them once in a while. 414 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,560 You have to have them all the time. 415 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,880 So as we're looking at a letter that ends with forecasting, we 416 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,600 can forecast to the beginning of January where many of us, I'll 417 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,160 probably join the trend of saying, OK, the holidays. 418 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,240 Are over, the carb attack is. Done. 419 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:34,560 I've eaten all of this unhealthy food and now at the beginning of 420 00:20:34,560 --> 00:20:37,680 the year, I'm going to eat right and I'll tell. 421 00:20:37,680 --> 00:20:39,520 You a preview of the. Challenge. 422 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,640 Is if you try to. Put a limit on how long you have 423 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:44,320 to eat right before you're back to normal. 424 00:20:45,200 --> 00:20:47,360 Whatever the limit is, you can say I want to do a 30 day 425 00:20:47,360 --> 00:20:50,400 cleanse, I want to do a 40 day boot camp, I want to get in the 426 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:54,800 gym for the next three weekends in a row whenever the number 427 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,640 ends. The real. 428 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,400 Test begins because you're either going towards health or 429 00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:01,560 you're going away. And if you try to do it for 40 430 00:21:01,560 --> 00:21:04,840 days, well, day 41, you're going to come back to the holiday 431 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:09,280 feeling of eating unhealthy. And maybe more importantly for 432 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,200 the discussion of just in a relationship, discipleship is 433 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:15,560 every relationship that you're in. 434 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,640 You learn how to love one another and all of your 435 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:21,440 relationships are now in maintenance mode. 436 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:25,160 I mean, I just, I just married man and woman, powerful wedding 437 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,760 day and now till death do them part, their marriage is in 438 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:31,000 maintenance mode. They do not get to say, well, 439 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:32,640 you know, that was a great honeymoon. 440 00:21:32,640 --> 00:21:33,760 I'll see. You in a little while. 441 00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:38,200 It's you got to just now work to serve and die for one another 442 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:41,200 for the rest of your lives. Just the thought experiment. 443 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,160 Imagine if it was just good and healthy. 444 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,920 You set a goal for the new year. You're going to try to carve out 445 00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:48,480 one date night per month. That's that would be. 446 00:21:48,480 --> 00:21:51,120 Great between husband and wife. You know, life gets busy and 447 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:53,320 said okay. We're going to put one date 448 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,680 night per month on the calendar. Well, it would not work. 449 00:21:56,680 --> 00:21:59,600 In fact, it would probably accomplish the opposite effect. 450 00:21:59,880 --> 00:22:03,760 If you were like, well. One per month equals 12, so why 451 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:06,400 don't we just bang out all 12 in January and be done with it? 452 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:09,640 I can just tell you for 12. Days in a row how much I love 453 00:22:09,640 --> 00:22:12,440 you I'll give you a you know the 12 days of marriage a gift for 454 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:15,360 12 days in a row and then we can just be set we're. 455 00:22:15,360 --> 00:22:19,240 Filled up, it will fail. Utterly you have to maintain 456 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:21,080 God's design is that. It is a daily. 457 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:22,800 Practice. It will happen with parenting as 458 00:22:22,800 --> 00:22:24,280 well. Wouldn't it be nice if you 459 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:25,960 could? Just put out like a week's worth 460 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,440 of food for your kids. And they were just like, OK, 461 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,000 I'll see you next. Week they would, they would. 462 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:33,480 Eat it all until they're sick in one hour and then you'd have to 463 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:37,120 learn the maintenance of nursing them back to health and so. 464 00:22:37,120 --> 00:22:39,160 It is with the word, so it is with. 465 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:43,760 Discipline in your life to know good and healthy doctrine it is 466 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,480 now something that. All of us are required day by 467 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:48,480 day, week by. Week to go maintain. 468 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,240 And how do you maintain it? He says. 469 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:55,600 You learn it so you can live it. Learn to maintain by doing good. 470 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:59,000 That's why, he says to the church in Galatia, let you not 471 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:02,800 grow weary of doing good. And then he says, especially in 472 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:04,360 the household of. God, he says to this. 473 00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:08,440 Church so that urgent needs could be met one of the. 474 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:11,760 Ways that we will. Learn and live is by being 475 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,040 interconnected as a body. Of believers to. 476 00:23:14,040 --> 00:23:17,280 Practice the one another's that's why we are are trying 477 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:20,120 even more so to encourage. All of us to. 478 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:25,160 Find a community of believers to practice doctrine on, to 479 00:23:25,160 --> 00:23:27,280 practice the doctrine of forgiveness, the doctrine of 480 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,280 love, the doctrine of long-suffering, the doctrine of 481 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:31,560 endurance, together and in practice. 482 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:34,400 You'll all take. Turns with urgent needs. 483 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:37,560 It you might, it might not start with you, but eventually the way 484 00:23:37,560 --> 00:23:40,360 life works is that urgent needs. Will happen to all. 485 00:23:40,360 --> 00:23:42,560 Of us and the. Idea is that we we. 486 00:23:42,560 --> 00:23:45,520 Come to church to be filled up once again with good, healthy 487 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:46,680 doctrine. And then we. 488 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:50,360 Practice it by. Doing good to one another and 489 00:23:50,360 --> 00:23:57,440 why it says that they may not be unfruitful so this is another 490 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:01,920 just practical reminder that the goal of everything that you do 491 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:04,880 in following Jesus when you. Gave your life to Jesus. 492 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,680 When you commit to submitting to His will, even in ways that are 493 00:24:08,680 --> 00:24:12,240 surprising to your flesh, the design is that it. 494 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:14,240 Works. The design of. 495 00:24:14,240 --> 00:24:17,080 God for your life. Is when you live life how he. 496 00:24:17,160 --> 00:24:19,600 Created it to be lived. When you do. 497 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,480 What he tells you to do. You are walking on what Jesus 498 00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:27,480 calls life more abundant, and Paul wants Titus to teach. 499 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,440 This so that people. Not only learn, but live it. 500 00:24:30,440 --> 00:24:33,040 So that their lives could be full of fruit. 501 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:35,560 So. Reminder that the whole point of 502 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:37,240 following. Jesus, is that your life? 503 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:41,040 Is going to be better the point of putting Jesus at the center 504 00:24:41,040 --> 00:24:43,320 of marriage and parenting and households and neighborhoods? 505 00:24:43,520 --> 00:24:45,840 Is because. Wherever Jesus is the center, 506 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:50,760 there will be much fruit. Jesus says John chapter 15, I am 507 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:55,160 the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in 508 00:24:55,160 --> 00:25:00,880 him bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. 509 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:07,680 Live what you learn in Christ by helping one another, and in 510 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:11,920 doing so you get to enjoy the benefits of that life and life 511 00:25:11,920 --> 00:25:15,520 more abundant. And finally, the end of the 512 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:17,320 letter. We've come to the final verse. 513 00:25:17,320 --> 00:25:19,520 Well done. You've made it through Titus. 514 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:21,400 You've made it through a. Year of really pastoral 515 00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,680 epistles. And it ends this way all who are 516 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:28,880 with me. Greet you, so greet those who 517 00:25:28,880 --> 00:25:31,400 love us. In the face, in the faith. 518 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:36,000 Grace be with you all. Amen. 519 00:25:36,800 --> 00:25:40,880 I love the word when it comes alive in such a timely way. 520 00:25:41,240 --> 00:25:44,640 And you'll notice and this is timely. 521 00:25:44,640 --> 00:25:47,520 For the the. Season we're in as a church that 522 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:53,200 essentially it ends with Paul charging the church towards a 523 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,800 meet and greet. And I just, I just let that hang 524 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,920 in the air because if you've been going to our church longer 525 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,440 than four weeks, you know that we've slightly altered the meet 526 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:05,880 and greet moment of our church. Has anyone noticed that? 527 00:26:06,160 --> 00:26:09,200 Now I say altered because. I still, and this is my 528 00:26:09,200 --> 00:26:11,560 opportunity to just stand on the word and encourage. 529 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:14,840 All of us to have this culture, to have a culture. 530 00:26:14,840 --> 00:26:18,000 Of meeting each other in the faith so that we can be. 531 00:26:18,000 --> 00:26:20,720 Encouraged with love, but. I do want to speak. 532 00:26:20,720 --> 00:26:23,960 To just. The heart behind moving it and 533 00:26:23,960 --> 00:26:25,520 we just moved it to. Really. 534 00:26:25,520 --> 00:26:28,600 Where Paul put it, he put it. The very end of all this you can 535 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:30,560 imagine them all getting. Together to read. 536 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,920 To listen to it be read, to take notes on what is what comes 537 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:35,600 next. At the very end, he says, OK, I 538 00:26:35,600 --> 00:26:36,920 want you to just love on each other. 539 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,000 We greet you, greet one another for us. 540 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:42,840 And so, so my heart is not that we would not have a culture of 541 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,840 that holy murmur. I love it. 542 00:26:44,840 --> 00:26:46,600 I love. When, when I'm standing at the 543 00:26:46,600 --> 00:26:49,320 doors or when, you know, be when we had the meet and greet in the 544 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:50,960 middle. I loved when everyone's just 545 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:52,640 chattering. So we don't want that to go 546 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,440 away. I want it to continue and I want 547 00:26:56,440 --> 00:26:58,480 all of my. Extroverts who are like are. 548 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,840 We doing a meet and greet yes, I want you to track the introverts 549 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:03,440 down as they. Try to leave this place. 550 00:27:03,600 --> 00:27:06,760 And grab them, find them in the bathroom and meet them. 551 00:27:07,200 --> 00:27:09,480 We want to have a culture of loving one another. 552 00:27:09,720 --> 00:27:12,840 The heart just for this. Season we've had seasons of of 553 00:27:12,840 --> 00:27:14,880 different. Liturgies throughout our church. 554 00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:16,480 And there's been times where meet and greet's been in the 555 00:27:16,480 --> 00:27:18,040 middle. There's been times when it's at 556 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,600 the end. For this season, we're doing our 557 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:22,720 best. To try to leave space. 558 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:26,880 Between services so that people can park and that people can 559 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,240 come in. And I hope that you'll maybe 560 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:32,080 even see some people that are enjoying some extended meet and 561 00:27:32,080 --> 00:27:35,600 greet between services. And I assure you there will be 562 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:37,600 no one that makes. You leave this place at. 563 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:41,120 The end of service so if if you guys can make sure to love one 564 00:27:41,120 --> 00:27:42,520 another, greet each other in the. 565 00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,000 Faith after this. Then then I want you to know 566 00:27:46,000 --> 00:27:47,400 that's. Part of our culture. 567 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:51,280 That we want to encourage for a season and maybe as we add more 568 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:54,680 services or we just have more breathing room, I'm sure. 569 00:27:54,680 --> 00:27:57,360 Literally, liturgy will. Change in the future, we might 570 00:27:57,360 --> 00:27:58,840 put meet and greet right back in the middle. 571 00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:01,240 But this is actually a great segue. 572 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:03,520 Into how the letter actually ends, he says. 573 00:28:04,440 --> 00:28:08,800 Grace be with you all. And we can just use this one 574 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:11,960 example. As a way that the churches hope, 575 00:28:12,040 --> 00:28:13,960 the churches path for the churches. 576 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:17,520 That endure our churches. That that have this. 577 00:28:17,520 --> 00:28:21,760 Covering where where there's there's moments that decisions 578 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:23,960 have to be made and and meet and greets. 579 00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,240 Great, because it's like a. Great example of a 5050. 580 00:28:26,240 --> 00:28:28,440 Split. I've gotten the the word from 581 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,840 some people are like I'm so. Grateful the service is shorter. 582 00:28:31,840 --> 00:28:34,520 I can just meet people at the end of service and and move on 583 00:28:34,520 --> 00:28:37,000 with the day as I need to. And other people are like, can 584 00:28:37,000 --> 00:28:39,160 you please recommend a church that does meet and greet in the 585 00:28:39,160 --> 00:28:40,040 middle? I'm looking for one. 586 00:28:40,320 --> 00:28:43,080 And so I'm like, I'm trying to pass through both people at all 587 00:28:43,080 --> 00:28:46,360 times. And I appreciate the grace and 588 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,920 decisions that are 5050 splits and that this is just one 589 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:51,800 example of them. We have to do a lot of them. 590 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:54,800 I have to do them for, you know, a church. 591 00:28:55,080 --> 00:28:57,560 Like ours, you have to. Do them in your households. 592 00:28:57,560 --> 00:28:59,920 You have to do them in relationships at times and the 593 00:28:59,920 --> 00:29:05,360 key is, you know, church unity does not come by finding people 594 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:08,200 who would do everything the. Exact way as everybody else. 595 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:10,120 It's like we all have an idea of liturgy. 596 00:29:10,120 --> 00:29:13,000 Works and we have found the one that everybody agrees on or 597 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:16,480 whatever the example is. Church unity happens. 598 00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:20,400 By people who are. Putting preferences aside and 599 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:24,640 conceding to one another. And so this is one example, you 600 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:27,160 know, there was, you know, a season where the the introverts 601 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:29,680 were conceding to the extroverts and now the extroverts are going 602 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:31,520 to track them down and find them anyway. 603 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:33,920 And so we this is just an example. 604 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:38,120 Of all of our hope to be the people of God, he says our. 605 00:29:38,120 --> 00:29:39,280 People are going to look different. 606 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,080 Our hope. Is that we have. 607 00:29:43,080 --> 00:29:46,280 Grace in ways that. Keep us focused. 608 00:29:46,680 --> 00:29:51,320 On the non negotiables that we will come and praise the name of 609 00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:55,640 Jesus non negotiable every week we will sing his praise and 610 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,240 we'll open the word and say. Lord, give us ears to hear. 611 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:02,520 And humble us by your word and another non negotiable. 612 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,520 Is it says that it's? Often as we gather, as we hold 613 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:07,920 the cup and the bread in our hands, and when we come to the 614 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,320 table, we are coming to the table. 615 00:30:10,320 --> 00:30:13,920 Of grace to hold the cup, to hold the bread. 616 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:17,360 Is to stand under the banner of. Grace. 617 00:30:17,360 --> 00:30:20,720 That is a moment in. History yet while we were. 618 00:30:20,720 --> 00:30:25,120 Still sinners, God demonstrated His love for us by dying on the 619 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:27,360 cross. Once a week we come and we 620 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:30,800 remember our membership is not by having the perfect church, 621 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:33,320 the most organized. Structure the the greatest 622 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:35,760 outreach to the. Best missionaries, our hope in 623 00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:38,360 the message. We preach to a world desperate 624 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:42,480 for hope is that we have a God who has poured out his grace. 625 00:30:42,720 --> 00:30:45,520 Demonstrated in the cross, and he has. 626 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:48,600 Poured out his power. The same spirit that rose him 627 00:30:48,600 --> 00:30:50,680 from the grave now. Available to all of us. 628 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,040 And standing under the banner. Of God's grace. 629 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:58,840 Is a non negotiable remembering that every time we. 630 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:02,000 Gather it is by his. Body and his blood by his. 631 00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,520 Stripes, we are healed. And we are forgiven, so we'll 632 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:07,480 remember that now. I just thank you. 633 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:11,600 That you know that covers every message is Grace. 634 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,040 I imagine in the moment that this. 635 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:15,680 Letter was read. There was. 636 00:31:16,040 --> 00:31:20,200 People in Crete that had to be humbled in the moments that they 637 00:31:20,200 --> 00:31:22,360 were excited about decisions that were made and they had to 638 00:31:22,360 --> 00:31:26,360 be, you know, comforted by grace for things that were upsetting 639 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:27,640 them. You know, Titus is leaving. 640 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:31,000 Some people probably love Titus. Some people are like, can't wait 641 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:33,880 to see him go. When new people are coming in, 642 00:31:33,880 --> 00:31:36,280 it's like, welcome the new servants that are going to come 643 00:31:36,280 --> 00:31:38,880 in and serve the church. Some people had to be admonished 644 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:41,040 that they might have been subverting households of faith. 645 00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:43,760 Some people had to be qualified in their leadership. 646 00:31:44,120 --> 00:31:46,760 But every person that stood under the reading of this 647 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:48,880 letter, they hear the banner that covers it all. 648 00:31:49,320 --> 00:31:52,440 Now, grace and peace be with you. 649 00:31:52,520 --> 00:31:54,560 Amen. So what a great way. 650 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:58,760 To end a study in the scripture that may your marriages and then 651 00:31:58,760 --> 00:32:02,400 the decisions that have to be made, may they be covered in 652 00:32:02,400 --> 00:32:05,560 grace so that you can represent the God of grace. 653 00:32:06,120 --> 00:32:09,120 May your friendships and your neighborhoods and all of the 654 00:32:09,240 --> 00:32:11,680 challenges. That leave this that await. 655 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:14,680 For you in this place, I want you to go forth and know that 656 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,760 you will not have a perfect track record for submitting to 657 00:32:17,760 --> 00:32:20,440 the will of God and you will have challenges that you got to 658 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:23,840 stand up and get back up for. May the grace. 659 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:27,920 Of God cover this place. Thanks for joining us today. 660 00:32:28,240 --> 00:32:30,960 If you would like to watch the full service, check out the link 661 00:32:30,960 --> 00:32:33,800 in the description. For next steps and to learn 662 00:32:33,800 --> 00:32:36,080 more, visit calvaryboise.com.