Exploring the Teachings of Titus: A Deep Dive

In this episode, we're diving into the Book of Titus, a short letter packed with practical wisdom for everyday faith. Together, we'll explore what it means to live lives shaped by God's grace, why character matters, and how healthy leaders and healthy communities go hand in hand. We'll also talk about the power of discipleship across generations, what it looks like to engage culture with both truth and humility, and how our faith is meant to be lived out through good works.

Whether you're stepping into leadership, growing as a disciple, or simply wanting to follow Jesus more faithfully, the book of Titus offers timeless encouragement and practical guidance for living with purpose in today's world.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:13

Welcome back. This is Saved and Sanctified. Tonight, I mean today, I don't know if you're listening at nighttime, but we're going over the book of Titus. And um, yeah, it's uh three chapters long. So we're gonna read every single word to you. Now I'm explaining. Anyways, today we're gonna get into the book of Titus. We're gonna discuss what it's about, and uh I hope you guys learned something tonight or today. Go ahead, Janae. You could pray us in, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 0:46

Oh, yes. Lord, we just thank you for this day, and we thank you for your word, God, that um is just so real and so alive. God, we just thank you that we could read the same scriptures over and over again and just glean new things from it every single time. Father, and so we just ask that you would continue to just open our hearts and our minds to receive what you would have to speak to us through your word today, God, is um we just dissect these scriptures and these chapters, God, and um just pull what we can learn from Titus and his life and this ministry that he was assigned to, God. And um, we just thank you and praise you for who you are. In Jesus' name, amen.

SPEAKER_04 1:37

Amen.

SPEAKER_01 1:38

Amen.

SPEAKER_05 1:39

Yeah. So in my study Bible that I have, it says just a little intro to it. It says, Titus was um Paul, this is Paul's third pastoral letter. And it was written to the young pastor at the name of that name whom Paul left on Crete after working there together. So he mentions that in Titus 1.5. Since this visit is not mentioned in Acts, it happened out almost certainly after Paul's release from house arrest in Rome before his final imprisonment, sometime in the mid-6 60s AD.

SPEAKER_01 2:19

I don't know what kind of date that is, but 60s A.D.

SPEAKER_05 2:22

after death, 60 years after Jesus died.

SPEAKER_01 2:25

Whoa, is that what AD means? Right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 2:28

Oh my goodness. Wow.

SPEAKER_05 2:29

Well, now you if you didn't know, now you do. Guys, that's so cool. I don't know how I graduated high school.

SPEAKER_03 2:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 2:37

I mean, not yet after that.

SPEAKER_01 2:41

Oh, by the grace of God. Which we're gonna get into later. But um, I think one of the cool things that I was learning in I have this little book that goes through and kind of like gives you a little background and context to each book of the Bible. And so I pulled it out and I started looking through and reading it, and it was saying that Paul wrote this letter to Titus to instruct and empower him to be able to organize and lead these newly established churches on this island of Crete. And so these three chapters, even though they're kind of short, it's basically a guide for Titus as he's appointing these qualified church elders and correcting all these false teachings and encouraging believers to live godly. And you know, it's like almost like a reflection of our faith. And you know, it's just it was really cool. Well, we'll get into that a lot later. But I feel like through this letter, I was discovering that Paul wanted to restore order. You know, he that's why he sent Titus there, because he was like, Listen, you're gonna do the Lord's work. This is what needs to happen. But he walked him through it. And what it like historical context, so like um Cretan, the island of Crete, it's notoriously known for their unbelief. They were all known as liars, you know, and so it was one of those things of like there was a lot of greed, there was a lot of like treacherous activity, you know, like nothing good was coming from that place, but there was these small like house churches that were popping up, and that that's where you find like what they refer to as elders and these church leaders, you know. It's like all these people were popping up with the Christian faith and trying to like do whatever they could and evangelize and all the things, but it wasn't working. And Paul was like, All right, you're gonna go in, you're gonna work with them, you're gonna build them, and you're gonna build a church. Yeah. On this little island, you know? And I was like, that I would not. Like, I'm sorry. I mean, Titus was like a beloved companion of Paul, like one of his trusted co-worker advisor guys. I would be like, I'm sorry, sir. But what do you mean you want me to go here where they don't like Christians, where they're just evil, and you want me to try to be the light? You're like, but I'm perfectly fine where I am. You know, but it's like he did it.

SPEAKER_05 5:56

Yeah. Well, I think it even shows like the um like how Paul's like trusting Titus to do that. He calls him like his true like son in the faith. So it's like he's discipling him so that he's like sending him out to be able to um appoint elders and then also teach well or making sure that people are teaching well in the church. But I think it even shows like the importance of like this is how it should be even nowadays, like how like when we're trying to start a people are trying to start a church, like they should be thinking about okay, who are these people that are gonna be leaders and elders in the church, like and seeing like what he said, like how he says that they should be acting and how the elders um should live, even the women and the men. It talks he talks about like everyone, even slaves and like the masters, like how they should be living too. So he's like touching on a lot of things, um, because it's really important for I think if to for him to establish that. Because even like you're saying, like they're trying to probably do stuff but it wasn't working, and then now Paul's like, hey, well, I'm gonna write a letter to encourage you, also to tell you this is how to do it. Um well, because like Paul obviously I think he started churches too, like he was kind of doing that and then leaving, and he was going a lot of places, he was busy.

SPEAKER_00 7:20

But yeah, he pretty much like appointed elders, made disciples, and then he would like go on to the next. But um it also in chapter one, when he gives like the qualifications of being an elder, it's not like they need to go to Hebrew school and learn all these things, and they need to have a doctor in theology, and they need to um know the Bible front and back. He's really he talks about the character of each individual that should be like living right, like, and that way the life that they're living, there's it's seen by the people around them, and hopefully that can encourage the others to live that way too. Because also like the leaders, you want people to not only be preaching but setting a good example for the others, not just like, oh, this is what you guys need to do, and then can like call them out when they're not doing it, and then you're not even living this the way that you're preaching, you know? So he really um he really looks at like the character of a person in order to be a leader in the church.

SPEAKER_05 8:46

Yeah, it's true. And I think he mentions a lot about the false teachers, at least in chapter one, like making sure that they're um what does it say? He's saying like they're insisting that circumcision you have to have be circumcised to be saved. Like that's what and he's like, they need to be silenced, like they're turning families against each other and they're turning them away from the truth and their false teaching, and all they want is money. Like you were kind of saying too, yeah, Janae, like where they're just doing it. That was cra it's crazy to think about that. Like back then, like I mean, I don't know, it probably still happens to the day as well, too. Um, but like the have have making people get circumcised and being like, oh, you have to or else you're not saved, and then it's more because they're getting the money for it. And I'm like, that's just but hey, the you know he was just really he knew what was going on, and he's like calling people out, telling them like, nah, you can't you can't be doing that. Um where he's saying, like, don't stop listening to Jewish myths and the commands of people who've turned away from the truth. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:58

Well, yeah, because like our lives reflect ref reflecting Christ. Like we're supposed to be sending like an attractive message to unbelievers. You know, it's like we want them to want what we have, which is Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And I think that's one of the things I appreciate about chapter one is Paul is basically laying out like, listen, this is the demographic you're dealing with, but like this is also what your conduct should be for the position that you're in. And I feel like nowhere else have I noticed in the Bible that it breaks it down like this, where it's like as an elder, you should be blameless, faithful. You know, it's like, and then he's like, as a church leader, you should be this, this, and this. You know, and it's like one of those things that it's so different to see it and read it as like, oh, well, I'm a leader in my church. And it's saying that I'm a manager of God's household. So I have to live a blameless life. You know, like I can't be a heavy drinker, I can't be quick-tempered, I can't be arrogant. And it's like, oh, well, it's like I already knew that, but now seeing it written out, it's like, okay, now I know where the bar is and where I need to be to be in obedience with God and his word, clearly. Yeah, that's true.

SPEAKER_05 11:41

Yeah, and it reflects like where where God, where he wants us to be and where we are, or where like the leaders were back then. But I like how it even in uh chapter two it talks about like how it's like, like you were saying, they're teaching the truth so that the teachers can't be criticized. That's verse eight. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad. But also it says like in verse 10, like show them like the slaves obey your masters, do the best to please them. Yeah they must not talk back or still, but show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good, and then they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive in every way. So, like, pretty much them seeing like Jesus in us, and I think it's just cool that he's like kind of laying it out and telling them exactly what they need to be doing. It's just a matter of them doing it. Even for us, it's a matter of us being doing it too and being committed to that.

SPEAKER_01 12:44

Mm-hmm. Yeah, because I feel like one of the things that I was reading was jumping back to chapter one in verse 15, and it was talking about like being pure in heart and how everything is pure to those whose heart is pure. And I was like, whoa, that's really cool. And uh then I was like, well, what does it mean to be pure in heart? And it means having that integrity, you know, your motives are sincere, you're you have an undivided devotion to God. Like that that's my understanding of a pure heart. And you know, so it's more than just avoiding sin that was wreaking havoc in this island of Crete. You know, it's like it's more than just avoiding that, it's being free from hypocrisy, deceit. You know, you you're focused on God, you're not split. There's no split loyalty happening here, which I think is what we're seeing with some of these members of Crete. You know, it's like they were all over the place. They were just saying things to say things. It's like, do you have a set of beliefs or are you just believing whatever you hear? You know, and I think that's how they develop so many false teachers.

SPEAKER_05 14:20

That's true. Yeah, because you even say, like, such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good. Like, whoa Paul. He just throws it out there. Right? It was interesting though, in 15, is it says like, you know, about the pure those who are pure, like what the pure in heart, but then it says nothing is pure to those who are corrupt and unbelieving. Because our minds and conscious is conscious are corrupted. So like I think even if someone isn't if someone's not a believer, or even like these people have pre like they weren't believing the true message and so of um like of salvation, then like even anything they did, it wasn't even if they thought it was pure and they were trying to do good, it wasn't gonna wasn't gonna please the Lord. Because they're not they're not following him. Like kind of like leads into like when people are like, Oh, but they were such a good person. They do so many good things. It's like, yeah, but if you're not if you're denying the Lord, then like then you know, you're doing it out of your own selfish gain and uh your own ambition of oh well I want to be seen as this good person, but not because like Jesus literally saved your life and you want to help others like see that truth too. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:47

Yeah. And like uh it just kind of shows like they're gonna they're gonna see the the bad in everything if their minds are corrupt, if they're not following the Lord. But if you're following the Lord, I mean even now, like you could look at our own faith or your own faith and think I know my minds change a lot on different situations that I've been in because I know the truth and I know the Lord and I know who uh who's you know in charge and who's guiding me, and I'm like, you know what? I know that I can be upset and bitter about this, but I'm not going to be because there's there's bigger things out there, like this world doesn't revolve around me, you know?

SPEAKER_02 16:37

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_00 16:38

So it's easier for us as believers to kind of look past all the negativity and see the good and something. Because that's also what God that's what Jesus did, you know? Like he yeah, maybe he knew that they were, you know, um possessed by demons or sick, but that didn't stop him from going over there and talking to them or m you know, healing them. You know, he just seen it as an opportunity, okay, and they they don't have the best life, they're not in the best situation, but I'm gonna try to go speak life to them and hopefully that they accept it and they can live better after this. Yeah. And that's how we should be in general. Like, let me just go out in the world and try to make it a better place. Um, of course we can't fix everybody, and not everyone's gonna accept the message that we have, but we can do our best to see those opportunities and just dive in.

SPEAKER_05 17:42

I think also it brings to mind like there was something that led me to Romans 2, verses 16, 17, but then I'm looking at at the verses 19 to 20, and it talks about like these people, like I think he's talking about these um decretes and how they did believe, like, so they were following God, but then they were trying to follow the law. And it's saying, like, if you follow, like, if people just try to follow the law, then they're gonna end up dealing with the wrath of the Lord because they're trying to just be like legalistic and just follow all these things. Oh, get circumcised, you're saved, this and that. Um then it's telling them like the law is pretty much it shows us how sinful we are, and it shows us like that we need Jesus, but it doesn't show us like it doesn't save us. The law doesn't save us. Like Jesus saved us, he fulfilled it. So I think that's also what it's talking about a little too in these verses.

SPEAKER_00 18:38

Um And there are probably like some Jewish Christians over there, you know, saying, like, oh well, we did all this stuff, so you guys need to do all this stuff. Like we're we're the true followers because we were Jews and now we're converted to Christianity or the way. And you know, that can that's probably why um Paul like wrote a list of um qualifications for the elders because he's like, okay, they got they have to meet this criteria. It's not that they need to be circumcised, it's not that they need to um practice all these Jewish traditions, it's that they have to have a good character in order to be a leader.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

That's true. Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 19:24

Yeah, because I feel like I've heard it somewhere that it was like Jewish legalists that were kind of like creeping in and infiltrating the little churches, the little house churches that were popping up.

SPEAKER_04 19:38

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

You know, and those were the ones that were tr like causing the disruptions and trying to do it for financial gain, like you had mentioned earlier. And um it's just one of those things of like, I think that's why the Bible tells us like we have to be aware of like who is pouring into us, who we're listening to, because we're all human. Obviously, each and every one of these people that we're reading about was human, and so it's like we're not perfect, so we can't give a perfect word unless we're giving it straight from the Bible, because that's the only perfect thing. But one of the things I like about chapter two is I feel like this chapter just like taught me how to lead because Paul breaks it down for Titus on how he should live, but also how he should teach others to live. And I feel like that was I was sitting there and I was reading it, and the entire thing is highlighted because I was like, wow, just set me up for success. Thank you, Paul. You know, I never even got to meet Paul, but one day I will in heaven. But I like how he addresses like the older generation and the younger generation. Yeah. Because I I think a lot of people assume like, oh, well, they're older, so they have so much more wisdom. But it's like a younger person could have just as much wisdom as the next. You know, and it just kind of shows like there's things that can be passed down from generations, but there's also things that can be passed up.

SPEAKER_00 21:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 21:24

Like from younger to older.

SPEAKER_00 21:27

There's no hierarchy. I mean, you I think that's what you see in some of the organized religion or organized churches that are around that you it's like, oh, they're at the top of, you know, the church. Like they're seen as like these I mean, we're all supposed to be seen as saints, but you know, in some cases it's like, oh, they're they're holier than all of us, you know. And in here, I think that's what Paul was trying to tell or show Titus. Like no one is above anybody. You know, only one that's above anyone is Christ. And um what I like about I think uh when as I read this. Um as I read the book of Titus and I see like the first chapter is like this these are the qualify qualifications and the second chapter is like this is how you do this is how it looks. This is what it should look like, you know. So he's not just giving like go look for these people, you know. If he would have just left it at the first chapter, I mean there's some and then some ways you could find those people, but sec I think with the second chapter, it definitely like pinpoints like this is the way that people should be treated, and if people are treating them like this, then this is then obviously they have those characteristics that he said that he was talking about in the first chapter, you know?

SPEAKER_02 22:54

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Yeah. Well, because it also kind of ties in like in verse six of chapter two, it's talking about like if you're going to make disciples, you yourself must be an example to them. You know, he talks about doing good works of every kind. You know, it's like because those are the things that people are gonna spot in verse two, they must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. The first thing people are gonna see is that love and patience. And they're gonna come up to you, they're gonna approach you and be like, what what are you what are you doing? Why are you why are you so loving? Like with all this chaos happening around. It's like, well, everything we do should reflect that integrity that we have, that seriousness of our faith that proves what we're teaching is right and true and just, not just to glorify ourselves. True.

SPEAKER_05 23:56

That's good. I like how he brings up the salvation, um, salvation in this chapter too, like verses eleven through I think it's like fourteen. Um, saying how like the graces of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all. And he's saying like what they were instructed to do. And even though we live in this evil world, we should still be wise and righteous and devoted to God. But also reminding them like to look forward to the hope of the glory that um of our great God and savior like Jesus Christ that will be revealed. Like, and how eternal, like I think eternal life, I think that's more in um chapter three though. But like he's just reminding them of like this is how you're living, even though you're in this world, you should still be committed to the Lord and devoted to him, living righteous and teaching um these things, encouraging others too. Like I think he's just showing them, like, okay, like you're like he's discipled them, and now they're like telling Titus, but also the other people like you. Now you it could it just continues on, it's a ripple effect. Like we just gotta keep it going. Um and I think he's just reminding them too, because probably they were being a lot of them were being led astray, and he's like having to be like, Look, here it is again, this is the truth. I think that's why it's so important for us to um preach the gospel to ourselves daily, because I think at times like things can get watered down, or the enemy can make us forget, or there's just the world gets in the way, and then we forget, and then we're like living this life that's not um forgetting the authority that um Jesus has, or also the authority that he gives us as believers with the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, like um we can just forget it.

SPEAKER_01 25:57

So well, and I like how you brought up the authority because at first when I first read through it, I thought it was kind of funny how Paul chose to end chapter two and verse 15. But once I read it again and started breaking it down, he ends by encouraging Titus and reminding him that he has that authority to correct the believers when necessary and not to let anyone disregard what he says. And I feel like a lot of us need that reminder. And at first I was like, what is he talking about? This man is jumping around, he just went from talking about elders and servants and slaves, and then he's giving the gospel message and talking about grace, and now he's like, But you have the authority to correct. It's like, what is this guy doing? But it all makes sense because it all flows, you know, it's like he's giving this message of grace, you know, the grace of God, it's the reason for them to behave the way he was explaining in chapter one, you know, and now it's like this is our place when we put our trust in God. And it's just like this little staircase that we're going down. We're going on this little journey with Titus through this letter.

SPEAKER_05 27:29

That's true. That's good.

SPEAKER_00 27:35

Have we started talking about chapter three yet?

SPEAKER_05 27:38

It's kind of I mean, to be honest, chapter two trickles into chapter three because it says their case. Yeah, it just keeps going because he's saying remind them. Now he's talking about reminding them to submit to government to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good.

SPEAKER_00 27:58

Well, you have to remember this is a letter. It's not it wasn't written in three separate parts. So it's supposed to all blend like that.

SPEAKER_05 28:07

Yeah. Yeah. He's telling them like not to slander others or to avoid quarreling, to be gentle and show true humility to everyone. Humility. I said that weird. Um yeah. I think my favorite part is verses three through seven, I think.

SPEAKER_00 28:27

Just because three through seven.

SPEAKER_05 28:29

Uh-huh.

SPEAKER_01 28:31

Yeah. Yeah, I feel like it's one of like the clearest summaries of like what salvation is that I've seen in the New Testament. Because I feel like I have a lot of high schoolers that you ask them, Do you know what the gospel message is? And they're like, Yeah. But then they can't explain it to you. They don't know how to put it into words, or you know, they miss some of the parts, but it's like, this is something that you could just, you know, guide someone to if they're still learning. It's like, hey, let me get you a Bible. Let look at this, read this. This should be the first verse you read, you know? But because it's so clear, it's so good. It's good. Paul's a great writer. I'll just put that out there.

SPEAKER_05 29:20

It is. It makes me want to read this whole part, but okay.

SPEAKER_00 29:24

At one time, we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saves us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out through uh on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to s stress these things so that those who have trusted in God may be carefully or may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. That's verses three through eight.

SPEAKER_05 30:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 30:42

It's it's powerful. I mean because he even tells them, like, be careful to devote your life to Christ. Because not that it's it's uh I mean it is it's a hard thing to do. And and I think when you take that on, you take on a title almost that some people don't sit well with. I mean, you could look at today's world right now, and there's just so much going on that people are just hating on all these Christians, and you know, there's so many different types of Christians right now that the world just kind of groups them together and is like, well, this is how you guys are, you know, like looking at the mega churches and being like, that's why I don't go to church because of that. And it's like we're not all like that. We don't all preach the prosperity gospel, we don't all preach these gospels that are false, you know. Like we so it's it's like it's really hard for us, especially as Christians, and living that life out and being set apart from even those false teachers because like I said, they just group us kind of together and all eyes are on you, especially when you're when you're walking in that leadership role or um just even trying to be the light in maybe a secular workplace or you know, anywhere really. You know, we we get judged hard.

SPEAKER_03 32:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:23

Um so it is it is something that you should be mindful about when you give your life to Christ too. Yeah. And yeah, it's because I think also some people like to do like give their life to Christ because they think, oh, this is my way to heaven, this is my way out. You know, and it's like sometimes if you're if you're not taught correctly, you can think that that's what this is, you know. Cause I s I mean there's a lot of people that before they're, you know, passing away at their deathbed, they're like, Oh, I want to give my life to Christ just to make all the ends meet, make sure just in case Jesus is real, then I'll go to heaven because I gave my life to Christ and I confess him. But you also have to think about the part where God can see our heart. So if you're doing it just because to make sure that you're safe, it's not gonna do anything for your life. Yeah, yeah. Or your salvation.

SPEAKER_05 33:26

Yeah, that's true. They have to actually like have a heart change. Yeah. And believe that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:32

Because I feel like this letter as a whole, it just reminds us that the gospel doesn't just change what we believe when we choose to become a follower of Christ. It changes how we live.

unknown 33:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 33:45

Or at least it should. It should change how we live, because that's why Paul is taking his time and saying that this is how an elder should act, a church leader should act. But even just us as believers, even if we're not in a leadership position in the church, we're still hopefully serving in the church, or we're still going out and making disciples and obeying the Great Commission. And it's like we still should have visible changes in our life that people can see and can learn from and be like, wow, well, they went through this cancer diagnosis and they handled it like this, and you know, that just it like we should be a reflection. Like there has to be that like heart posture that God sees. That's what he pays attention to. It's all throughout the Bible. It's true.

SPEAKER_05 34:42

Well, and I think there's a lot of people that probably maybe have never heard the truth, never heard the true gospel. Um, because like you're saying, Mikey, like there's so many churches and so many things that people have heard. Um, even for me, like I didn't know that the Holy Spirit dwelled in us until like I was in young adults, and I think it was it must have been a message we heard, and then I was like, what? And that just changed everything. But like, just literally, like, there's so much power that can come from someone just reading this of saying, like, the three the three through um eight, it's like saying, like, this is how we lived, like, yeah, we were foolish and disobedient, we were just slaves to our lusts and pleasures, living for ourselves and doing whatever we want, um, hating each other, envying each other. But then, like, God showed his kindness to us, and he's the one who made us righteous. He saved us, he came after us, he washed us, he gave us a new birth and a new life only through the Holy Spirit, and he generously gave us his spirit through Jesus. Like, and because of that, he made us right in his sight, in his eyes, yeah, in his sight, and then that gives us confidence to know we have eternal life. I think even this past week I feel like I've been hearing it over and over again because I think sometimes even as a believer we can forget, like, yeah, we're we may fall, but like he nothing we can do can separate us from the love of God if we truly have given our lives to the Lord. And he is constantly sanctifying us and changing us and refining us and even allowing the Bible to be a reflection of, oh, this is what he's saying, this is how he's saying we should be as leaders, or this is how he's saying we should be as believers, and then we're um obeying the word and we're doing it. We're being doers of the word, we're not just hearing it, like in James, we're not just hearing it and then not doing it, and we're forgetting what it is, like and like he's saying, like the whole image of the mirror where we walk away and we forget what we even look like. Like he's saying, like, this is what this is what happened to each of you, but you need to believe it and you need to accept it. And um like don't I think he's just reminding him like of the privileges that we have for salvation. Like it's all God that did it, and nothing we can do can bring us to salvation. It has to be us like finding Jesus, going through Jesus to Jesus. Um Yeah, and I think sometimes we get caught up in thinking we can do it on our own or we can. I think I was even talking to my mom yesterday where we were saying like how there's um sometimes in life we'll like be like leaning on the Lord for certain things, and then after a while we're like, okay, God, now I got it. You're good. Like, I'll I'll do this. You can, you know, like, but that's not how it is. Like he's partnering with us, like he's doing life with us together every step of the way, because he wants us to be led on this path that is narrow, and like we can't be led on it if we're not following him, yeah. We're not understanding the truth.

SPEAKER_03 38:00

Um yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:03

Yeah. I feel like in verse 10, one of the things that stuck out to me, I kind of thought it was funny. How Paul gives Titus like a two-strike rule.

SPEAKER_02 38:16

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:17

And I was like, it's such a serious letter. Like, I'm like taking notes, I'm like learning all these things, and all of a sudden I was like, no way. It was just like, it made me giggle, but I feel like it's true for even us today. It's like you know, he talks about if people are causing division among you, it's like you know, two strike rule. But if they still don't repent, if they're still trying to act that way, then he tells Titus, like you should have nothing more to do with them.

SPEAKER_04 38:53

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 38:54

You know, and I feel like a lot of times we let people linger and we let them stay, even though well, we go to they're my church friends, like we go to church together, and it's like sometimes just because they go to church, it's like, are they encouraging you? Are they living in the way that sh they should live? Because if you're trying to live according to chapter one and two, if you're trying to do all these things and they're not, then they're not benefiting you in any way. And so that's one of my goals is to implement this two-strike rule.

SPEAKER_05 39:31

Well, I think it can even corrupt, it can corrupt the ministry that whatever ministry it is, like you think of it, like in our young adults ministry, doing this whole like two-strike type thing or something. Um, I think in general, though, like if there's people that are not listening and like they're not listening, like in a way they're not listening to what Titus is telling them, then he's like, don't do anything, don't have anything to do with them, because that's what literally can happen when people are living their lives the way that they want to, and not really and wanting to cause division and um just all this, then it's just gonna corrupt the ministry. And I think we've even seen it in real life, seeing that when um some people aren't a part of some things that we're involved in, well, none the ministry thrives because it was kind of poisoning it for a bit and then it went away. Um but it even says I like how in verse 11 though, he's like, the people that turned away from the truth, their own sims condemned him. So there's there's condemnation that's gonna happen. Because it then it it can just continue on where these people who are trying to cause division and having these fights and quarrels and all that, then they're just gonna go somewhere else and it's probably gonna be the same exact thing.

SPEAKER_03 40:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 40:44

And then if there's people that aren't stepping up like, no, this is actually not what we should be doing, and they're just letting them do whatever, then it's gonna just cause that to not go well. Yeah. And he wants obviously he wants this church to thrive. He wants the people to thrive in this new church that he's putting Titus in charge of. Um Yeah, and it's important. I thought we've never in general, I don't think I've ever really heard a message on Titus, like the book in general. Um, even like in our last um podcast that we just recorded, like we're talking about Titus also, and then I think it was like saying, or it was like Timothy and Titus, I think, but it was just saying like how we don't even hear what it talks about as leaders. Like I haven't heard a message about that, and I think it's so important for us to to hear it because you really we do need to be making sure that we're choosing people who are a part of ministry who are leaders that are acting this way, because if they're not, then it's just gonna crumble and it's not gonna and then you're leading all these other people astray. You could.

SPEAKER_00 41:53

Well, I mean, a message like this could lead to something controversial in the church where it's like, you know, sometimes the churches only hire people that have the degrees that have been to school, and it's like we're really not following the word when we do st when we're like searching for that. You know, like we really have to see this. And I think that's what that's a reflection on like the search team that we have going right now, and it's like I think some people think it's just gonna be a one and done, oh let's interview a couple people and do this, but yeah, in reality it probably shouldn't be. We should get to know who this person is, see, not just look at their resume and be like, oh yeah, you've you would fit perfect in here. And it's like, hey, how about you come come alongside us and serve? How about you, you know, get to know some of the people, let's see how your lifestyle matches your faith. True, 100%. But I don't know. We'll see. We'll see how this prayerful. I mean, and that's and that's that's something too, is like we should be prayerful that hopefully that this is what they're looking at. You know, as they're looking for a new leader. Like, are they looking at the characteristics of this leader that they're gonna bring in here? Yeah. Are they looking at the way that this person is living and hopefully they're not just looking at a resume thinking, yeah, they you know, they've been preaching for this many years, or they went to this school, and yeah, let's get them in here. You know?

SPEAKER_05 43:29

Yeah. Well, I think of even sometimes when people are going to school, like maybe not ministry, but just in general, like I think of my old job. People were going to school getting their master's degree, and I'm like, how do you feel? They're like, I don't know anything. And I'm like, exactly. Like you just have a master's degree, but you still don't know. Like, even when I had my bachelor's, I was like, Do I know anything about psychology? No, I had to learn it at my job. But like sometimes like they just say, Oh, if you have this, you should know. But it's a lot more than that. Um, I think it's important for us to look at a person as a whole, not just as a oh, you have a degree in the resume, like you really get to know them.

SPEAKER_00 44:07

And like And I mean, like, if you look at some of our ministry staff, you could see how It naturally occurred. It wasn't just like, oh, this person is qualified, but like, especially some of the younger staff that we have, a lot of them went to church here. They grew up here, and their lifestyle reflects their their type, their characteristic. And it's like some of these, some of our staff wouldn't be where they are right now if they didn't reflect that they were good leaders or that they didn't reflect that they were serving in the church, you know. Like I could go in there. I mean, we could all go in the you guys know our staff, and you guys could a lot of them showed up, sh or sh show up to the Go projects and are just serving in general, not looking to gain anything. And then it just so happened that, you know, a position opened up, and that's how we some of us got into leadership. And that's similar to me, too. You know, I was just a young adult participating, and you know, when the position came open, it was like I was already serving, I was already in it, and I wasn't even, you know, getting paid to do it, and I wasn't, you know, I didn't even think that that's where it was gonna lead, but it just kind of naturally happened, you know.

SPEAKER_01 45:32

Yeah. I remember when I first was like being mentored before I even knew I was being mentored, I thought I was just learning about how ministry worked. And one of the things like I will never forget is my mentor told us that if you're not the first person to serve, if you're not the first person to jump at an opportunity to serve, then you have no business being in leadership or in any high standing of ministry. Because it's true. I mean, even Jesus served. So it's like, who are we to think that we don't need to? Then we're just as foolish as these Cretans, you know, because it's like we still need to serve, we still need to reflect, you know, like the gospel should shape our lives, like, and that should be reflected to everyone looking in, whether they're a believer or a non-believer. You know, because believers will spot it probably faster than non-believers, but that's because we know what we're looking for. And yeah, that's my last little tidbit.

SPEAKER_05 46:48

Yeah. Um, well, I think there was one more verse that stood out to me too in the end. It was 14 where he chapter four or verse 14 where he said, our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others, and they will not be unproductive. I think he's just talking about the importance of them continuing to meet and continuing to um what like help one another and be like in a way like fellowship and be like a family with one another and um do things for each other. So I think that's what helps keep the um the ministry going is like us helping us working together and being unified in the church. And sometimes we can forget that. Mm-hmm. Yeah, but this was good.

SPEAKER_02 47:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 47:42

I definitely encourage you guys to read through. Yeah. Highlight all the things in Titus. It's it's short, but it's so good. Paul really packs so much into this letter. But yeah, we just want you guys to be encouraged. And we hope that you learned a lot because I certainly learned a lot. And I hope that what I learned reflects in my teaching and in my serving. And we'll see you on the next episode.

unknown 48:15

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:16

Bye.

SPEAKER_05 48:16

Bye bye.