Living for the Glory of God

“The older women…that they admonish the young women to love their husband, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”Titus 2:3a, 4-5

 Second to God’s Word I love finding quotes worth spending some time thinking about. This week in my reading and study of Titus 2 I found a couple of quotable comments I would like to share with you. 

My friend and fellow pastor’s wife recently published a book all women should be wanting to read; Choose Now to Grow Grand, Not Old.  Consider a challenge she gave her children as they were growing up. “Smart people learn from their mistakes. Smarter people learn from the mistakes of others.” Teri Gasser. This sentiment has been mine as well from the time I was a young lady and my life has been blessed many times over because of it.

In Titus 2 I see the role of older women to be those who teach the younger women this very concept of learning from the lives of those who have experience with life and God. This instruction results in way more than an ordered life; ultimately such living brings glory to God which should be our main point in life as Christians. My second great quote for this week comes from G. Campbell Morgan as he addresses the point of God’s glory in reference to Titus 2:10. “Thus we see how ‘the doctrine of God our Savior’ may ‘be adorned.’ It is adorned when its effects on life and character are expressed in conduct. . . . While it is still only a theory, doctrine lacks the manifestation of beauty. When, however, it is realized and manifested in human life its beauty at once appears. The value of a theory is always supremely apparent in the results it produces.” 

I’m excited for us to be together Thursday morning to encourage one another in the truths of Titus 2. We will have Summer back to care for the little ones this week. Thank you, Summer.

Leadership in the Church Part 2

“Moreoever he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.”

1 Timothy 3:7

Titus 2 and 1 Timothy 3 together spell out clear standards for men in church leadership. As I have been studying the specific verses on leadership this week, one point particularly caught my attention. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 adds a couple of character qualities that we do not see in a similar list in Titus. Consider verse 7 and the emphasis on having a good testimony among those who are outside the church. In applying this to ourselves, are we consistently the same in character and behavior whether we are at church, at home, or in the marketplace? The genuineness of our trust in God becomes evident, or not, by our demeanor when we are not at church. For many years I have been challenged by the concept that who we are at home is who we really are. This high standard for church leaders should encourage all of us in living every moment of our lives consistently closely with the Lord.

I’m looking forward to a great time of discussion this Thursday morning and I’m planning for you to be part of this encouraging class.

Leadership in the Church

“...the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,...”

Titus 1:1b-2

In commenting on the above verses Barclay makes clear one of the most outstanding differences between Biblical Christianity and all other religions in the world.  “The Christian gospel does not in the first place offer men an intellectual creed or a moral code; it offers them life, the very life of God.” This should be a point of great rejoicing of our souls every day–every day! At the same time God also gives us good standards to follow that our flourishing in this life would be the maximum possible.

Titus 1 clearly states the behavior and character every leader in a church should possess. Yet, we need to also realize this standard should be evident in the lives of all believers. Have you considered this chapter applying to you? Let’s get together this Thursday morning and encourage one another in walking closely with the Lord. 

Kate Storset will be arriving from Arkansas Wednesday afternoon and plans to join us for our study on Thursday. This will be a special treat for all of us