√≈WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.025 --> 00:00:00.565 Hey, hope. 2 00:00:00.585 --> 00:00:03.045 How you doing? Why don't we staying to our feet 3 00:00:03.585 --> 00:00:04.925 and we'll give the Lord praise. 4 00:00:05.015 --> 00:00:06.365 Let's dance like David did, 5 00:00:06.425 --> 00:00:07.425 Huh? 6 00:00:18.635 --> 00:00:23.365 There's a song that never season, day, 7 00:00:23.655 --> 00:00:26.205 night never ends. 8 00:00:26.985 --> 00:00:30.525 The elders and living creatures 9 00:00:31.305 --> 00:00:32.325 lay their crowns 10 00:00:32.545 --> 00:00:37.285 before there's a sound of worship 11 00:00:38.065 --> 00:00:40.485 rising to the king 12 00:00:40.745 --> 00:00:41.925 Of maje, 13 00:00:43.785 --> 00:00:46.725 Of resounding declaration. 14 00:00:47.835 --> 00:00:49.485 Hear your sing. 15 00:00:54.305 --> 00:00:55.305 Praise. 16 00:00:56.425 --> 00:00:56.845 Praise 17 00:01:17.155 --> 00:01:18.155 The rocks. Cry 18 00:01:18.155 --> 00:01:19.335 in. 19 00:01:20.995 --> 00:01:23.655 We won't hold back anything. 20 00:01:24.875 --> 00:01:29.815 We, the two weeks old 21 00:01:29.915 --> 00:01:31.735 the king be 22 00:02:03.785 --> 00:02:04.135 Lives 23 00:02:12.995 --> 00:02:15.615 Of power 24 00:02:16.035 --> 00:02:19.535 and on our praise now and forever 25 00:02:20.675 --> 00:02:24.575 Ing The 26 00:02:29.355 --> 00:02:32.815 Of And 27 00:02:35.075 --> 00:02:36.095 now and forever. 28 00:03:00.745 --> 00:03:01.165 Praise 29 00:03:10.015 --> 00:03:10.365 lives. 30 00:03:34.455 --> 00:03:37.555 How you doing? I hope. Well, 31 00:03:37.555 --> 00:03:39.395 Why don't you do yourselves a favor? 32 00:03:39.455 --> 00:03:41.515 Why don't you get to know somebody that's next to you, 33 00:03:41.625 --> 00:03:42.715 find out where they're from, 34 00:03:42.785 --> 00:03:44.715 what they're doing this week, uh, 35 00:04:24.055 --> 00:04:24.275 And 36 00:04:38.175 --> 00:04:38.915 but there's a 37 00:06:12.185 --> 00:06:12.405 Who, 38 00:07:19.755 --> 00:07:20.045 holy 39 00:07:28.335 --> 00:07:29.645 Jesus Christ 40 00:07:42.505 --> 00:07:42.925 Throne. 41 00:07:56.655 --> 00:07:57.765 Jesus Christ 42 00:08:48.395 --> 00:08:52.615 is worthy 43 00:08:58.475 --> 00:08:59.485 Only You. 44 00:09:01.865 --> 00:09:06.765 Who is who Is worthy. 45 00:09:12.155 --> 00:09:12.445 Only 46 00:09:13.345 --> 00:09:14.345 You Jesus. 47 00:09:19.675 --> 00:09:21.325 Only you Jesus 48 00:10:20.625 --> 00:10:21.625 Of all. 49 00:11:33.125 --> 00:11:34.905 Oh, you're, 50 00:11:47.365 --> 00:11:49.025 yes, you're 51 00:12:52.755 --> 00:12:53.755 Us. 52 00:12:53.915 --> 00:12:57.575 How high I 53 00:13:03.875 --> 00:13:08.695 turned and spoke your name 54 00:13:10.045 --> 00:13:14.935 into the night, then through the 55 00:13:15.695 --> 00:13:16.095 darkness 56 00:13:24.885 --> 00:13:25.175 Soul. 57 00:13:47.225 --> 00:13:47.885 So great. 58 00:14:10.515 --> 00:14:10.735 The 59 00:14:27.565 --> 00:14:28.535 Your Forever. 60 00:14:30.905 --> 00:14:32.095 Jesus Christ, 61 00:14:55.085 --> 00:14:58.885 Salvation in Your name, Jesus Christ, 62 00:15:12.775 --> 00:15:15.725 hallelujah has lost His, 63 00:16:03.515 --> 00:16:03.805 That 64 00:16:29.945 --> 00:16:30.165 The 65 00:16:44.395 --> 00:16:48.685 hall has lost, 66 00:16:51.235 --> 00:16:55.285 have salvation. 67 00:16:57.455 --> 00:16:58.605 Jesus Christ, 68 00:17:24.245 --> 00:17:25.435 Jesus Christ, 69 00:17:30.885 --> 00:17:32.115 Jesus Christ 70 00:17:52.585 --> 00:17:54.245 Church, can we sing that chorus again? 71 00:17:54.245 --> 00:17:55.245 Just one more time together. 72 00:17:56.445 --> 00:17:59.205 Sing Hallelujah. 73 00:17:59.945 --> 00:18:02.685 Praise The Who Send Me Free 74 00:18:07.195 --> 00:18:10.375 has lost its Grandpa, you 75 00:18:14.255 --> 00:18:17.975 salvation, in name Jesus Christ. 76 00:18:25.555 --> 00:18:29.455 Father, we thank you that you are our living hope 77 00:18:32.035 --> 00:18:34.495 we can celebrate because of what you have done in our lives. 78 00:18:36.905 --> 00:18:38.855 Speak to us now as we open your word. 79 00:18:40.315 --> 00:18:42.815 Father, we love you and we give you all of our praise 80 00:18:43.955 --> 00:18:45.575 and your precious and holy name. 81 00:18:46.485 --> 00:18:49.135 Amen. Church, it's been so great worshiping together. 82 00:18:49.135 --> 00:18:50.135 Why don't you grab a seat? 83 00:18:59.965 --> 00:19:03.345 Oh, I love that song. Jesus Christ is our living hope. 84 00:19:03.465 --> 00:19:05.985 I don't know if you really, really have thought about that, 85 00:19:07.165 --> 00:19:08.425 but hope is powerful. 86 00:19:09.205 --> 00:19:10.825 You know, I was reading in a book recently 87 00:19:10.845 --> 00:19:12.025 and it really challenged me 88 00:19:12.145 --> 00:19:13.465 'cause I've always thought of myself 89 00:19:13.485 --> 00:19:16.505 as an optimistic person, a you know, 90 00:19:16.775 --> 00:19:18.705 half glass, full kind of person. 91 00:19:19.485 --> 00:19:22.825 And at moments I've prided myself in optimism. 92 00:19:23.405 --> 00:19:24.705 And this book was saying, you know, 93 00:19:25.145 --> 00:19:26.225 optimism at the end of the day. 94 00:19:26.465 --> 00:19:29.025 Although it, it, it's helpful, it's a feeling. 95 00:19:29.845 --> 00:19:31.185 But the difference in optimism 96 00:19:31.245 --> 00:19:34.385 and hope is hope is actually anchored in something. 97 00:19:35.135 --> 00:19:37.705 It's not just a feeling. It's anchored in our future, 98 00:19:37.835 --> 00:19:40.665 especially for us as believers in Jesus Christ. 99 00:19:40.685 --> 00:19:44.465 If we've accepted his salvation, our hope is anchored 100 00:19:45.045 --> 00:19:47.145 in a future with him forever and ever. 101 00:19:47.205 --> 00:19:48.665 And it's also anchored in the past, 102 00:19:49.725 --> 00:19:51.745 in his finished work on the cross 103 00:19:51.745 --> 00:19:53.905 through his death and resurrection. 104 00:19:54.405 --> 00:19:58.545 So much more than a feeling, hope is powerful. 105 00:19:58.965 --> 00:20:01.465 And Jesus Christ is my living hope. 106 00:20:02.445 --> 00:20:04.545 And if you've placed your faith in him, 107 00:20:05.405 --> 00:20:07.625 he is your living hope. 108 00:20:08.535 --> 00:20:10.865 Hope is real. Hope is good, 109 00:20:11.725 --> 00:20:14.105 and I think it's a pretty good name for a church as well. 110 00:20:14.925 --> 00:20:16.585 So welcome to Hope Community Church. 111 00:20:16.725 --> 00:20:18.345 It is so good to be with you guys. 112 00:20:18.525 --> 00:20:20.625 I'm thrilled to be with you today. 113 00:20:21.245 --> 00:20:23.585 If you're in the room, welcome. Thank you for coming. 114 00:20:23.605 --> 00:20:25.705 If you're watching online, thank you so much 115 00:20:25.725 --> 00:20:28.345 for taking time from your busy schedule to tune in 116 00:20:28.725 --> 00:20:30.865 and be with us for these moments together 117 00:20:30.865 --> 00:20:33.945 where we worship God, where we learn from his word. 118 00:20:34.245 --> 00:20:35.425 If you're new in the room 119 00:20:35.525 --> 00:20:38.425 or online, we would love to connect with you online. 120 00:20:38.485 --> 00:20:40.945 You can just put there in the chat, Hey, I'm new 121 00:20:40.945 --> 00:20:42.625 and we would love to connect with you online. 122 00:20:43.285 --> 00:20:45.065 If you're here in the room, we would love to connect 123 00:20:45.065 --> 00:20:46.505 with you after the service at an area 124 00:20:46.505 --> 00:20:48.245 that we call our next steps area. 125 00:20:48.345 --> 00:20:50.925 So when you're leaving, just look to your left 126 00:20:50.925 --> 00:20:52.365 and you'll see our next steps area. 127 00:20:52.365 --> 00:20:54.245 And we would love to help you with any questions 128 00:20:54.245 --> 00:20:56.925 that you have or online or in the room. 129 00:20:57.265 --> 00:21:02.045 If you simply text the word new to 7 2 9 8 9, we can connect 130 00:21:02.045 --> 00:21:03.405 with you that way as well. 131 00:21:04.475 --> 00:21:09.045 Well, today, this weekend is our final installment in this 132 00:21:09.045 --> 00:21:11.845 incredible series that we have been in called Field Notes, 133 00:21:12.315 --> 00:21:14.605 just going verse by verse, chapter by chapter 134 00:21:14.875 --> 00:21:16.085 through this letter 135 00:21:16.155 --> 00:21:19.365 that Paul the Apostle wrote over 2000 years ago 136 00:21:19.465 --> 00:21:21.725 to a particular pastor named Titus. 137 00:21:22.425 --> 00:21:24.885 And isn't it amazing that these words 138 00:21:24.915 --> 00:21:28.165 that were written primarily to one person, 139 00:21:28.345 --> 00:21:31.085 but also Paul meant for it to be shared with others, 140 00:21:31.825 --> 00:21:35.405 and it was shared with us so many years later, 141 00:21:35.865 --> 00:21:38.565 and the word of God is still rich and powerful, 142 00:21:38.745 --> 00:21:40.285 and we're learning so much, 143 00:21:40.305 --> 00:21:42.925 and we're remembering so many good things. 144 00:21:43.385 --> 00:21:46.685 So I'm so glad that today we get 145 00:21:46.685 --> 00:21:49.685 to learn some more from this powerful little letter, 146 00:21:49.785 --> 00:21:52.205 and we're gonna hear from one of our pastors 147 00:21:52.465 --> 00:21:54.565 and my good friend Dave Lenti 148 00:22:09.955 --> 00:22:11.565 Paul, a servant of God 149 00:22:11.745 --> 00:22:13.565 and an apostle of Jesus Christ 150 00:22:14.065 --> 00:22:16.845 to Titus my true son in our common faith. 151 00:22:17.845 --> 00:22:20.845 I write to you now with instructions on how to equip 152 00:22:20.905 --> 00:22:24.925 and establish a local church fueled by God's grace. 153 00:22:25.385 --> 00:22:26.845 We must strive to be equipped 154 00:22:26.905 --> 00:22:30.485 and established in sound doctrine, qualified leadership 155 00:22:30.945 --> 00:22:31.965 and godly living 156 00:22:44.475 --> 00:22:45.765 Well, hey, I am Dave. 157 00:22:45.785 --> 00:22:48.565 It is an absolute honor to be with you guys here today. 158 00:22:48.565 --> 00:22:50.885 If you brought your Bibles, you can turn with me to the, 159 00:22:51.025 --> 00:22:55.205 the very tail end of Titus, like the very super, super end, 160 00:22:55.205 --> 00:22:57.005 the part with all the names and the places 161 00:22:57.105 --> 00:22:58.205 and the personal greetings. 162 00:22:58.205 --> 00:23:00.085 That's gonna be our text for today. 163 00:23:00.105 --> 00:23:03.325 And while you're turning there, I have a quick word directly 164 00:23:03.325 --> 00:23:04.925 to any NC State fans in the house. 165 00:23:04.925 --> 00:23:07.805 Do we have any of those? Uh, any, okay, I see a few. 166 00:23:07.805 --> 00:23:10.165 That's good. That's good. I I'm an NC State fan. 167 00:23:10.505 --> 00:23:13.845 Um, but I gotta confess to you, sometimes it's hard 168 00:23:14.225 --> 00:23:16.605 to be an NC State fan, right? 169 00:23:16.615 --> 00:23:18.325 We've been disappointed once or twice. 170 00:23:18.455 --> 00:23:20.125 We've been conditioned where 171 00:23:20.255 --> 00:23:23.445 after the a, a bad first half that we can kind 172 00:23:23.445 --> 00:23:25.925 of think like, yeah, I think I've seen this one before. 173 00:23:26.285 --> 00:23:28.685 I know how this ends, I'm out of here. 174 00:23:28.915 --> 00:23:30.725 Well, we're not gonna do that to tie this today. 175 00:23:30.725 --> 00:23:32.685 We're gonna stay in the stadium. 176 00:23:32.815 --> 00:23:35.005 We're not gonna empty it out like Carter Finley Stadium, 177 00:23:35.005 --> 00:23:36.685 when you guys go and you tailgate 178 00:23:36.685 --> 00:23:39.645 and all that, we're gonna stay and finish this thing out. 179 00:23:39.985 --> 00:23:42.925 And the the truth is, many people get to the ending of, 180 00:23:43.185 --> 00:23:44.725 of any book and their reading plan, 181 00:23:44.725 --> 00:23:46.670 and they're like, yeah, I'm just gonna skip over that. 182 00:23:46.670 --> 00:23:47.850 That's not important for me. 183 00:23:47.865 --> 00:23:50.485 But I think what we're gonna see as we make it through 184 00:23:50.485 --> 00:23:53.045 to the end, that God has some really important 185 00:23:53.065 --> 00:23:54.405 truths for us to learn today. 186 00:23:55.025 --> 00:23:56.885 Let me read our text. I'm starting in, uh, 187 00:23:57.285 --> 00:24:00.325 Titus chapter three verses, uh, 12 through 15. 188 00:24:00.745 --> 00:24:04.085 It says this, when I send Artemis Ortus to you, do your best 189 00:24:04.105 --> 00:24:06.485 to come to me at Nelo for I have decided 190 00:24:06.505 --> 00:24:07.565 to spend the winter there. 191 00:24:08.105 --> 00:24:10.165 Do your best to speed Xus the lawyer 192 00:24:10.305 --> 00:24:11.605 and Apollos on their way. 193 00:24:12.025 --> 00:24:13.085 See that they lack nothing. 194 00:24:13.905 --> 00:24:16.645 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works. 195 00:24:16.905 --> 00:24:18.725 So as to help cases of urgent need 196 00:24:18.985 --> 00:24:21.805 and not be unfruitful all who are 197 00:24:21.925 --> 00:24:23.125 with me send greetings to you. 198 00:24:23.455 --> 00:24:27.765 Greet those who love us in the faith, grace be with you all. 199 00:24:28.145 --> 00:24:31.045 Let me pray. Father, I'm reminded today that all 200 00:24:31.065 --> 00:24:33.045 of your word is God, breathed God. 201 00:24:33.105 --> 00:24:37.205 All of it is useful for, uh, training us up for teaching, 202 00:24:37.205 --> 00:24:40.165 correcting, uh, or training us up in righteousness, God. 203 00:24:40.165 --> 00:24:43.685 So as we look at this, this past, uh, this last few words 204 00:24:43.685 --> 00:24:45.085 that you wrote to t this God, 205 00:24:45.705 --> 00:24:48.685 may your Spirit point us toward the truths that you want us 206 00:24:48.685 --> 00:24:49.725 to hear today. 207 00:24:49.725 --> 00:24:51.405 We pray in Jesus name. Amen. 208 00:24:52.835 --> 00:24:56.045 Well, the gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ. 209 00:24:56.185 --> 00:24:58.885 It tells us who we are in light of who he is 210 00:24:59.125 --> 00:25:00.645 and what he's done on our behalf. 211 00:25:02.185 --> 00:25:05.245 But what does the gospel look like today? 212 00:25:07.025 --> 00:25:09.405 Is the gospel something that you can point to and say? 213 00:25:09.475 --> 00:25:11.005 Yeah, there it is. That's it. 214 00:25:12.145 --> 00:25:13.885 Is it something you can observe in action 215 00:25:13.885 --> 00:25:15.845 or is it something that's just merely believed? 216 00:25:15.965 --> 00:25:18.925 I think the text today is gonna help us answer 217 00:25:18.925 --> 00:25:20.925 that question, what the gospel looks like today. 218 00:25:20.925 --> 00:25:22.205 And we're gonna take it verse 219 00:25:22.265 --> 00:25:24.205 by verse like we've been doing throughout this series. 220 00:25:24.265 --> 00:25:25.685 So go back with me to verse 12. 221 00:25:25.985 --> 00:25:29.445 It says, when I send Artemis Ticus to you, do your best 222 00:25:29.445 --> 00:25:31.805 to come to me at Nelo for I have decided 223 00:25:31.825 --> 00:25:32.965 to spend the winter there. 224 00:25:33.745 --> 00:25:35.325 Do your best to speed Zeus, 225 00:25:35.325 --> 00:25:37.165 the lawyer in Apollo on their way, see 226 00:25:37.165 --> 00:25:38.405 that they lack nothing. 227 00:25:38.745 --> 00:25:39.965 So the first field note, 228 00:25:40.505 --> 00:25:44.205 the gospel looks like sent people sharing God's message. 229 00:25:45.585 --> 00:25:47.965 The gospel has been from the very beginning 230 00:25:48.025 --> 00:25:51.005 and always will be central to the church of Jesus. 231 00:25:51.025 --> 00:25:54.605 Christ is the gospel that rescues us, that redeems us 232 00:25:54.725 --> 00:25:55.805 and transforms us. 233 00:25:57.515 --> 00:26:00.245 It's the message by which we make disciples. 234 00:26:00.925 --> 00:26:02.285 Disciples are followers of Jesus. 235 00:26:02.285 --> 00:26:03.725 There're those who have put their faith 236 00:26:03.725 --> 00:26:06.365 and trust in what the gospel teaches about Jesus' 237 00:26:06.365 --> 00:26:07.685 death and resurrection. 238 00:26:09.145 --> 00:26:10.565 And so with all the, the names 239 00:26:10.565 --> 00:26:12.685 that we see in these first few verses, uh, 240 00:26:12.685 --> 00:26:13.725 of our text today, 241 00:26:14.425 --> 00:26:17.805 we get this real life like historical account of 242 00:26:17.825 --> 00:26:20.845 how people have responded to the last words 243 00:26:20.845 --> 00:26:23.045 that Jesus ever said before he ascended into heaven. 244 00:26:23.385 --> 00:26:25.485 We can read those words in Acts one, eight. 245 00:26:26.025 --> 00:26:28.365 He says, you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem 246 00:26:28.585 --> 00:26:31.725 and in all Judea and Samaria into the end of the earth. 247 00:26:33.195 --> 00:26:36.805 It's vital that we understand this is our mission. 248 00:26:37.425 --> 00:26:40.205 You have been sent to be his witnesses. 249 00:26:40.705 --> 00:26:43.365 We have a gospel sharing mission. 250 00:26:44.305 --> 00:26:46.085 And as we do this, and as people repent 251 00:26:46.085 --> 00:26:48.765 and put their faith in Jesus Christ and his death 252 00:26:48.785 --> 00:26:51.765 and his resurrection, they become disciples. 253 00:26:51.765 --> 00:26:53.205 And we're called to do this. We're sent 254 00:26:53.205 --> 00:26:55.245 to do this in our homes, in our communities 255 00:26:55.545 --> 00:26:58.285 and in the next town over and to the very ends of the earth. 256 00:27:00.065 --> 00:27:02.285 And also with all the people we see in this text, 257 00:27:02.345 --> 00:27:04.165 we see like from the very beginning 258 00:27:04.955 --> 00:27:07.605 that this has never been a solo effort. 259 00:27:08.395 --> 00:27:11.125 It's never been a solo mission. It's always included. 260 00:27:11.345 --> 00:27:14.245 All of us, all of his church people are being sent all over. 261 00:27:14.245 --> 00:27:17.125 That includes you. And this is still ongoing today, 262 00:27:17.785 --> 00:27:18.965 and you might have missed it, 263 00:27:19.825 --> 00:27:21.285 but in verse 12, there's this, 264 00:27:21.435 --> 00:27:24.245 this huge significant plot twist here for Titus. 265 00:27:25.605 --> 00:27:28.365 I mean, imagine for a moment that you're Pastor Titus 266 00:27:28.365 --> 00:27:30.725 and you get this letter from the Apostle Paul 267 00:27:30.725 --> 00:27:33.845 and you're like, oh, great, the Apostle Paul. 268 00:27:34.245 --> 00:27:35.885 I mean, this might be in the Bible one day. 269 00:27:35.885 --> 00:27:37.405 This is really cool. Let's see what he says. 270 00:27:37.655 --> 00:27:40.125 Let's see the things that he says I need to set in order. 271 00:27:40.235 --> 00:27:43.325 Okay, he says, um, I need to choose some elders 272 00:27:43.325 --> 00:27:45.805 to help fill the leadership void in the church. 273 00:27:45.985 --> 00:27:47.845 Yep. All right, that sounds like a wise plan. 274 00:27:47.845 --> 00:27:49.525 Let's see what else. He says. Ah, 275 00:27:49.705 --> 00:27:51.125 he heard about the false teachers 276 00:27:51.125 --> 00:27:52.365 that we've got running around here. 277 00:27:53.065 --> 00:27:54.445 He says, I need to silence them 278 00:27:54.445 --> 00:27:57.165 and rebuke them that that's not gonna be fun. 279 00:27:57.705 --> 00:27:58.965 But I agree that needs to be done. 280 00:27:58.965 --> 00:28:00.125 Let's see, what else does he say? 281 00:28:00.145 --> 00:28:02.685 He says, I need to teach sound doctrine 282 00:28:02.825 --> 00:28:04.285 to every family in the church, 283 00:28:04.385 --> 00:28:06.005 to husbands, to wives, to children. 284 00:28:06.155 --> 00:28:07.805 Well, I mean, that seems important. 285 00:28:07.825 --> 00:28:10.605 We gotta have healthy families. Let me make a note. 286 00:28:10.605 --> 00:28:12.085 Looks like it's time to start a reengage 287 00:28:12.085 --> 00:28:13.205 and hope for parents again. 288 00:28:13.615 --> 00:28:15.245 Let's see, what else? 289 00:28:15.825 --> 00:28:18.005 Ah, there's some, some reinforcements coming. 290 00:28:18.005 --> 00:28:19.965 There's some new pastors coming that I need 291 00:28:19.965 --> 00:28:22.805 to make sure I take care of before I leave the church 292 00:28:22.945 --> 00:28:24.325 and move to necropolis. 293 00:28:24.325 --> 00:28:28.165 Wait, what? I'm leaving. I'm being replaced. 294 00:28:29.225 --> 00:28:32.285 That's right. Pastor Titus finds out right here 295 00:28:32.715 --> 00:28:33.765 that he's being replaced 296 00:28:33.785 --> 00:28:36.085 as the pastor in the church in Crete. 297 00:28:36.845 --> 00:28:39.245 I think we can agree none of this stuff that, uh, 298 00:28:39.485 --> 00:28:41.965 Titus has been commanded to set an order is gonna be easy. 299 00:28:41.965 --> 00:28:44.125 None of it is gonna be comfortable for Titus. 300 00:28:45.305 --> 00:28:47.005 And I think if we're honest, we all tend 301 00:28:47.005 --> 00:28:48.805 to move toward what's comfortable, 302 00:28:49.185 --> 00:28:51.085 what's familiar, what's easy. 303 00:28:51.245 --> 00:28:55.285 I know I do, but when we rightly understand the centrality 304 00:28:55.285 --> 00:28:57.725 of the gospel mission that we have, that we're on, 305 00:28:57.785 --> 00:29:00.965 we can't hold too tightly to our, our current circumstances, 306 00:29:01.065 --> 00:29:02.645 to their comfort of the familiarity. 307 00:29:03.465 --> 00:29:04.805 You see, the the place 308 00:29:05.335 --> 00:29:07.245 where you're living might not be the place where you, 309 00:29:07.305 --> 00:29:08.725 you retire in the, the job 310 00:29:08.725 --> 00:29:11.565 that you have today may not be the job that you have 311 00:29:12.125 --> 00:29:14.125 tomorrow, the health that you're enjoying today. 312 00:29:14.385 --> 00:29:15.805 It, it might change completely 313 00:29:15.945 --> 00:29:17.205 by the time you go to the doctor. 314 00:29:17.355 --> 00:29:20.085 Next. God often calls his people 315 00:29:20.185 --> 00:29:23.165 to new things into new places, and it's never by accident 316 00:29:23.165 --> 00:29:24.565 and it's often uncomfortable. 317 00:29:24.905 --> 00:29:26.205 In fact, it's worth asking. 318 00:29:27.105 --> 00:29:29.005 If you think God is calling you to something 319 00:29:29.005 --> 00:29:30.805 that's really familiar and really easy 320 00:29:30.905 --> 00:29:33.405 and really comfortable, it's worth asking, is it God 321 00:29:33.405 --> 00:29:34.965 that's actually calling you to that? 322 00:29:35.225 --> 00:29:37.925 Or is it just you? And I'm not saying 323 00:29:37.925 --> 00:29:39.085 that comfortable things and, 324 00:29:39.105 --> 00:29:40.605 and pleasures and all that is bad. 325 00:29:40.605 --> 00:29:43.525 If God has given you those, praise him. Enjoy him. 326 00:29:43.595 --> 00:29:45.045 Give him glory for that. 327 00:29:45.865 --> 00:29:48.965 But as I look through scripture, what I see is God has, 328 00:29:49.125 --> 00:29:52.245 I can't find one example of God calling someone specific 329 00:29:52.305 --> 00:29:55.165 to something really easy and familiar and comfortable. 330 00:29:57.025 --> 00:30:00.445 And if there's any parting shots that Paul gives to Titus 331 00:30:00.445 --> 00:30:02.565 before he signs off this letter, I think we can agree. 332 00:30:02.565 --> 00:30:06.525 It's in verse 14. He says this, let our people learn. 333 00:30:07.305 --> 00:30:11.045 In fact, this is the last command, the last imperative given 334 00:30:11.105 --> 00:30:12.205 to Titus in this letter. 335 00:30:12.855 --> 00:30:17.205 Learn that the people of God need to be learning. 336 00:30:17.205 --> 00:30:18.965 And by extension that pastors 337 00:30:18.965 --> 00:30:21.045 and church leaders need to be teaching. 338 00:30:21.235 --> 00:30:22.805 This is not a new idea he's 339 00:30:23.005 --> 00:30:24.165 introducing here in in the closing. 340 00:30:24.265 --> 00:30:26.125 In fact, if you've been tracking along, he, 341 00:30:26.125 --> 00:30:29.085 he shared this idea throughout the word teach has 342 00:30:29.085 --> 00:30:30.125 already been used three times. 343 00:30:30.305 --> 00:30:31.645 The word taught past tense. 344 00:30:31.715 --> 00:30:34.285 Another time the word doctrine, which basically means 345 00:30:34.925 --> 00:30:37.405 biblical teaching four more times the command 346 00:30:37.405 --> 00:30:38.925 to remind them three more times. 347 00:30:39.115 --> 00:30:42.405 It's clear from start to finish of this letter that pastors 348 00:30:42.405 --> 00:30:44.885 and leaders of this church need to be teaching. 349 00:30:44.885 --> 00:30:47.805 And that everyone here needs to be learning. 350 00:30:48.585 --> 00:30:51.965 And the command form of learn in the Greek, it's manino. 351 00:30:52.925 --> 00:30:54.725 I love this, that it's a cognate 352 00:30:54.725 --> 00:30:59.485 with the word disciple itself, meaning that followers of g 353 00:30:59.545 --> 00:31:03.125 of God, disciples are by nature learners. 354 00:31:03.525 --> 00:31:06.645 I think that's really cool. And since we're commanded 355 00:31:06.645 --> 00:31:10.845 to learn, we, we need to be reminded how disciples learn. 356 00:31:12.355 --> 00:31:15.565 Well, before I was a pastor, I was a teacher for 11 years. 357 00:31:15.585 --> 00:31:17.685 And basically a teacher's job is 358 00:31:17.685 --> 00:31:19.805 to make sure students learn that's what they do. 359 00:31:19.825 --> 00:31:22.925 And so, uh, my job, um, is to teach these kids. 360 00:31:22.925 --> 00:31:24.565 And, and in my observation, 361 00:31:24.565 --> 00:31:26.205 what I've learned is there's three basic 362 00:31:26.395 --> 00:31:27.885 ingredients needed for learning. 363 00:31:28.985 --> 00:31:31.765 You need instruction, you need observation, 364 00:31:32.345 --> 00:31:34.245 and you need practice, instruction, 365 00:31:34.435 --> 00:31:36.085 observation, and practice. 366 00:31:36.265 --> 00:31:39.085 Let me give you an example. My son recently 367 00:31:39.085 --> 00:31:40.365 learned to play the guitar. 368 00:31:40.425 --> 00:31:42.205 And actually he's getting really good, 369 00:31:43.345 --> 00:31:45.405 but he didn't learn to play the guitar just 370 00:31:45.405 --> 00:31:47.165 by reading a book about guitars. 371 00:31:47.425 --> 00:31:49.485 He didn't learn by, uh, uh, 372 00:31:49.585 --> 00:31:51.485 by just getting together in a men's group 373 00:31:51.545 --> 00:31:53.245 and talking about guitars. 374 00:31:53.745 --> 00:31:57.085 He learned through instruction and observation and practice. 375 00:31:57.145 --> 00:32:00.405 So, uh, for instruction, he's got this app that he goes to 376 00:32:00.405 --> 00:32:02.565 and he can look up the chords to all the songs he wants 377 00:32:02.565 --> 00:32:04.525 to learn for observation. 378 00:32:04.525 --> 00:32:06.645 He goes to YouTube and he watches these 379 00:32:06.645 --> 00:32:07.765 master guitar players. 380 00:32:07.785 --> 00:32:09.405 He sees the shape of their hands 381 00:32:09.425 --> 00:32:11.645 as they form these complicated chords. 382 00:32:11.645 --> 00:32:14.205 And he observes the songs by listening to them over 383 00:32:14.225 --> 00:32:15.925 and over hearing the rhythm and the tempo. 384 00:32:15.925 --> 00:32:17.645 So he knows how they're supposed to sound, 385 00:32:17.985 --> 00:32:21.565 and then he practices repetitions are required. 386 00:32:21.625 --> 00:32:23.165 He practices and he practices 387 00:32:23.165 --> 00:32:25.685 and he practices until it sounds just right. 388 00:32:26.035 --> 00:32:28.165 Instruction, observation, practice. 389 00:32:28.715 --> 00:32:31.405 Paul has been saying these same things from start to finish 390 00:32:31.425 --> 00:32:35.845 of this book that disciples in the church need instruction. 391 00:32:36.425 --> 00:32:38.365 We need observation, we need practice. 392 00:32:38.365 --> 00:32:40.605 And our instruction comes right here. 393 00:32:41.765 --> 00:32:44.445 Biblical doctrine is our instruction. 394 00:32:44.475 --> 00:32:48.005 This is why we gather weekly to learn what God's word has 395 00:32:48.005 --> 00:32:49.605 to say because we so quickly forget. 396 00:32:49.635 --> 00:32:51.965 It's why we teach classes like re-engage 397 00:32:51.965 --> 00:32:54.365 and hope for parents so that you can see 398 00:32:54.365 --> 00:32:56.045 what biblical doctrine has 399 00:32:56.045 --> 00:32:58.645 to say about the most important relationships in life. 400 00:33:00.025 --> 00:33:01.685 But we don't just need instruction. 401 00:33:01.685 --> 00:33:03.045 We also need observation. 402 00:33:03.625 --> 00:33:07.365 We need strong parents modeling what it looks like. 403 00:33:07.365 --> 00:33:09.645 We need strong husbands, strong wives. 404 00:33:10.185 --> 00:33:12.565 We need strong single men and strong single women. 405 00:33:12.625 --> 00:33:14.605 We need, uh, pastors and elders 406 00:33:14.605 --> 00:33:17.805 and mentors in place that are living out the kind 407 00:33:17.805 --> 00:33:19.725 of godly living that we are to observe 408 00:33:19.745 --> 00:33:21.125 and model our lives after. 409 00:33:21.225 --> 00:33:23.205 We need to observe and learn from them. 410 00:33:23.985 --> 00:33:27.325 And we need practice. We need repetitions. 411 00:33:27.985 --> 00:33:30.005 We need to practice what we're learning is true, 412 00:33:30.005 --> 00:33:31.325 what we're observing in others. 413 00:33:31.385 --> 00:33:34.245 And thankfully, life gives us those opportunities in every 414 00:33:34.525 --> 00:33:36.885 single interaction, in every single relationship. 415 00:33:37.145 --> 00:33:38.645 We simply just need to learn 416 00:33:38.865 --> 00:33:40.605 to see the people God puts in front 417 00:33:40.605 --> 00:33:41.925 of our eyes every single day. 418 00:33:42.395 --> 00:33:44.565 Instruction, observation, practice. 419 00:33:45.075 --> 00:33:48.005 Okay, so what are we supposed to be learning? 420 00:33:48.075 --> 00:33:49.645 Well, let's look back at verse 14. 421 00:33:50.355 --> 00:33:52.645 This might sound familiar if you've been tracking along 422 00:33:52.645 --> 00:33:53.725 with us throughout the series. 423 00:33:53.785 --> 00:33:55.645 He says, let our people learn 424 00:33:55.645 --> 00:33:57.405 to devote themselves to good works. 425 00:33:59.065 --> 00:34:02.045 The gospel is not an intellectual pursuit. 426 00:34:02.375 --> 00:34:03.405 Field note number two, 427 00:34:03.865 --> 00:34:07.045 the gospel is lived out with good works. 428 00:34:07.975 --> 00:34:10.325 We're not commanded to learn just for the sake of learning. 429 00:34:10.855 --> 00:34:14.445 We're commanded to learn sound doctrine for the purpose 430 00:34:14.585 --> 00:34:15.645 of living it out. 431 00:34:16.865 --> 00:34:18.885 The gospel isn't just our means of forgiveness. 432 00:34:18.885 --> 00:34:21.245 Gospel living is never intended to be passive. 433 00:34:21.385 --> 00:34:23.045 The gospel invites us. 434 00:34:23.425 --> 00:34:26.845 It it invites us to, to enjoy that freedom in a response 435 00:34:26.845 --> 00:34:30.645 by leaving our me centered way of, of living behind 436 00:34:31.025 --> 00:34:32.685 and enjoying the abundant life 437 00:34:32.715 --> 00:34:34.565 that good works can provide for us. 438 00:34:34.945 --> 00:34:38.845 The gospel demands of response from our lives. 439 00:34:40.055 --> 00:34:42.005 Jesus taught this idea in John 14. 440 00:34:42.065 --> 00:34:44.245 He says, if you love me, you'll keep my commandments. 441 00:34:44.245 --> 00:34:46.245 In other words, if you love me, then you'll live this out. 442 00:34:47.275 --> 00:34:49.445 Look at what Jesus' brother said, uh, James. 443 00:34:49.945 --> 00:34:52.165 He said, what good is it? What good is it my brothers? 444 00:34:52.165 --> 00:34:54.245 If someone says he has faith 445 00:34:54.505 --> 00:34:58.525 but he does not have works, can that faith save him? 446 00:34:59.195 --> 00:35:03.205 What good is that? So also, faith by itself, 447 00:35:03.265 --> 00:35:07.005 if it does not have works, is dead. 448 00:35:08.335 --> 00:35:09.965 Still not convinced. Look at 449 00:35:09.965 --> 00:35:11.965 what Paul says in Ephesians two 10. 450 00:35:11.965 --> 00:35:13.085 He says, we were, 451 00:35:13.305 --> 00:35:16.645 we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. 452 00:35:17.105 --> 00:35:20.045 For what? For good works. 453 00:35:21.015 --> 00:35:22.645 Bonus one, the Apostle John, 454 00:35:22.885 --> 00:35:24.605 I don't know if we have this on the, on the side screens, 455 00:35:24.605 --> 00:35:28.245 but he says in one John two, four, that if you claim 456 00:35:28.385 --> 00:35:31.445 to know him but you aren't obeying his commands, 457 00:35:31.445 --> 00:35:32.685 that you are a liar. 458 00:35:33.755 --> 00:35:34.805 Well, that's uncomfortable. 459 00:35:36.565 --> 00:35:38.845 Devoting ourselves to good works is not just 460 00:35:38.995 --> 00:35:40.165 what we're supposed to learn. 461 00:35:40.555 --> 00:35:41.765 It's why we're supposed to learn. 462 00:35:41.785 --> 00:35:44.205 And it's how we're supposed to be living our lives. 463 00:35:44.625 --> 00:35:47.605 And this is all about the gospel. Don't misunderstand. 464 00:35:47.755 --> 00:35:48.885 It's all for the mission. 465 00:35:49.385 --> 00:35:51.845 If you're lacking purpose, as you sit here today, 466 00:35:51.865 --> 00:35:53.845 the gospel supplies that for you. 467 00:35:53.855 --> 00:35:56.725 Think about what devoting yourselves to good works does. 468 00:35:56.725 --> 00:35:57.765 First in your own heart. 469 00:35:59.765 --> 00:36:02.045 I mean, we saw it last week in the, in the, 470 00:36:02.045 --> 00:36:03.765 in the previous paragraph, uh, right 471 00:36:03.765 --> 00:36:07.725 before this text that we were once foolish, disobedient, 472 00:36:07.985 --> 00:36:11.365 let astray slaves to various passions and pleasures. 473 00:36:11.665 --> 00:36:13.285 See, apart from the gospel, 474 00:36:14.825 --> 00:36:17.205 before the gospel entered our lives, the way 475 00:36:17.205 --> 00:36:18.725 that we walked was in service 476 00:36:19.105 --> 00:36:22.085 to our own imaginary tiny me kingdom. 477 00:36:24.155 --> 00:36:29.005 This tiny kingdom, a kingdom of one, you living 478 00:36:29.225 --> 00:36:32.725 for yourself, devoting yourself to yourself 479 00:36:32.865 --> 00:36:35.925 and expecting everyone else to devote themselves to you too. 480 00:36:37.985 --> 00:36:40.885 So with every good work that we do in response 481 00:36:40.885 --> 00:36:43.485 to the gospel, we're reminding ourselves it's 482 00:36:43.805 --> 00:36:44.965 actually not about us. 483 00:36:46.075 --> 00:36:49.365 That we can set aside our selfish ambition and vain concede, 484 00:36:49.365 --> 00:36:54.165 and even just for a moment that we, we would learn to live 485 00:36:54.225 --> 00:36:56.125 for others as we serve them. 486 00:36:56.555 --> 00:36:58.885 Paradoxically, this is where you find joy in life. 487 00:36:59.905 --> 00:37:02.005 And, and then that's what it does in your own heart. 488 00:37:02.005 --> 00:37:04.285 But think about what devoting yourselves to good works does 489 00:37:04.305 --> 00:37:06.365 for the sake of the gospel, for the sake of those 490 00:37:06.365 --> 00:37:07.445 who are hearing the message. 491 00:37:07.455 --> 00:37:11.885 We're trying to share this message that you've been called 492 00:37:11.885 --> 00:37:13.685 to share the good news of Jesus' death 493 00:37:13.685 --> 00:37:14.925 and resurrection, the forgiveness 494 00:37:14.925 --> 00:37:16.725 that he offers by his grace. 495 00:37:17.455 --> 00:37:18.965 We're, we're not called to just walk 496 00:37:18.965 --> 00:37:20.165 around and tell people this. 497 00:37:21.535 --> 00:37:25.365 We're we're commanded to live it right where you are 498 00:37:26.345 --> 00:37:29.005 in your homes, in your community, at work, 499 00:37:29.005 --> 00:37:30.765 in the grocery store, at the soccer field, 500 00:37:30.815 --> 00:37:32.725 every single day in each interaction, 501 00:37:32.745 --> 00:37:34.565 in each relationship in life. 502 00:37:34.635 --> 00:37:36.525 Paul is saying, we have to learn 503 00:37:36.525 --> 00:37:38.005 to devote ourselves to do this. 504 00:37:38.305 --> 00:37:41.605 In fact, the gospel sharing mission depends on this. 505 00:37:42.795 --> 00:37:45.645 There's absolutely nothing mystical to this field. 506 00:37:45.645 --> 00:37:49.845 Note number three, we need to learn to align our lives to 507 00:37:49.845 --> 00:37:52.925 what we already believe is true about Jesus Christ. 508 00:37:53.795 --> 00:37:58.365 There's a gap. What good is it if we claim 509 00:37:58.365 --> 00:38:00.245 to have faith, but we're doing nothing about it? 510 00:38:01.235 --> 00:38:05.485 It's no good at all. Paul says, it's fruitless. 511 00:38:08.495 --> 00:38:09.645 James says it's dead. 512 00:38:10.435 --> 00:38:13.205 John says, you might be a liar if you claim to have that. 513 00:38:14.465 --> 00:38:18.085 Be careful. There are eternal implications here. 514 00:38:19.045 --> 00:38:21.005 A sincere claim to faith is not synonymous 515 00:38:21.155 --> 00:38:22.725 with a sincere saving faith. 516 00:38:24.025 --> 00:38:27.485 The evidence of saving faith is good works, 517 00:38:27.545 --> 00:38:29.125 or perhaps more strongly put. 518 00:38:29.745 --> 00:38:33.205 The evidence of inauthentic faith is a lack of good works. 519 00:38:33.705 --> 00:38:36.005 In other words, it's possible to, 520 00:38:36.185 --> 00:38:37.925 to have good works apart from faith. 521 00:38:37.925 --> 00:38:39.525 Just look at every single humanitarian 522 00:38:39.525 --> 00:38:40.805 organization on the planet. 523 00:38:41.185 --> 00:38:44.165 But it is impossible to have true, 524 00:38:44.165 --> 00:38:46.965 authentic faith apart from works faith 525 00:38:46.985 --> 00:38:49.805 and good works are inseparable with true faith. 526 00:38:50.435 --> 00:38:52.405 Good works aren't a burden, they're a joy. 527 00:38:52.425 --> 00:38:54.405 But Paul is saying they have to be learned 528 00:38:54.405 --> 00:38:57.005 because it doesn't come naturally to us with our me kingdom. 529 00:38:57.195 --> 00:38:58.325 Selfish hearts. 530 00:38:59.305 --> 00:39:00.525 So notice Paul suggests 531 00:39:00.525 --> 00:39:02.005 that some needs are more urgent than others. 532 00:39:02.105 --> 00:39:06.125 And, uh, whatever campus you attend, you need to know 533 00:39:06.125 --> 00:39:09.005 that there are urgent needs that need to be met by you so 534 00:39:09.005 --> 00:39:10.845 that we are not seen as unfruitful. 535 00:39:10.845 --> 00:39:12.405 There's needs that you can meet 536 00:39:12.625 --> 00:39:14.645 and your campus pastors can tell you more about that 537 00:39:14.705 --> 00:39:17.285 as the at the wrap up or go find them and ask them. 538 00:39:18.185 --> 00:39:20.525 But I wanna look, I wanna examine what are the good works 539 00:39:20.525 --> 00:39:23.405 that Paul is telling Titus that he, his church needs 540 00:39:23.405 --> 00:39:24.845 to devote themselves to, 541 00:39:24.845 --> 00:39:26.445 because I think we can learn from these as well. 542 00:39:27.595 --> 00:39:29.125 Well, to do that, we gotta go back 543 00:39:29.125 --> 00:39:31.805 and look at the whole letter as a whole. 544 00:39:31.805 --> 00:39:33.325 And the term good works 545 00:39:33.385 --> 00:39:36.885 or works itself is used eight times throughout this letter. 546 00:39:37.435 --> 00:39:39.245 Okay? He's not introducing something new. 547 00:39:39.265 --> 00:39:40.645 And, uh, as we go back 548 00:39:40.645 --> 00:39:43.485 and look at that, uh, you might think that good works. 549 00:39:43.645 --> 00:39:46.005 I think our mind naturally goes toward these large scale 550 00:39:46.005 --> 00:39:50.525 humanitarian efforts like, uh, feeding the hungry 551 00:39:50.865 --> 00:39:52.765 and finding shelter for the homeless. 552 00:39:52.765 --> 00:39:53.805 Those things are good and, 553 00:39:53.805 --> 00:39:55.045 and they're talked about elsewhere, 554 00:39:55.065 --> 00:39:56.805 but they're not here in this text. 555 00:39:56.855 --> 00:39:59.205 Those aren't the good works that Paul is talking about. 556 00:39:59.705 --> 00:40:02.085 Go back and look at them. You'll see that the good works 557 00:40:02.085 --> 00:40:05.765 that he describes are all lived out in our daily 558 00:40:05.765 --> 00:40:07.245 interactions with other people. 559 00:40:08.415 --> 00:40:11.165 We'll see that the good works he talks about are all about 560 00:40:11.235 --> 00:40:13.885 character in our relationships 561 00:40:13.995 --> 00:40:16.405 that good works are never impersonal. 562 00:40:16.435 --> 00:40:17.925 That in every interaction 563 00:40:18.105 --> 00:40:19.965 and every relationship that we would learn 564 00:40:19.965 --> 00:40:21.925 to devote ourselves to good works 565 00:40:22.025 --> 00:40:23.805 by showing godly character with others. 566 00:40:25.065 --> 00:40:26.645 Let me remind you of some of the good works. 567 00:40:26.645 --> 00:40:29.525 Paul calls out specifically, he says, showing integrity, 568 00:40:29.715 --> 00:40:32.965 dignity, sound, speech, that that means just speaking 569 00:40:32.965 --> 00:40:35.885 what is true, self controlled, obedient, quiet, 570 00:40:36.065 --> 00:40:38.845 not quarreling, gentle showing courtesy to all people, 571 00:40:38.845 --> 00:40:41.285 showing hospitality, not arrogant, not quick temper, 572 00:40:41.465 --> 00:40:42.725 not violent, not greedy. 573 00:40:42.725 --> 00:40:46.245 These are, are just a few of the kinds of good works that, 574 00:40:46.275 --> 00:40:48.285 that Paul has told Titus he needs to teach. 575 00:40:49.745 --> 00:40:52.205 And we could look at each single one of them and, 576 00:40:52.205 --> 00:40:54.645 and preach a sermon on every single one separately. 577 00:40:54.665 --> 00:40:56.085 But for today's purposes, 578 00:40:56.495 --> 00:40:59.285 we're just gonna look at one self-control. 579 00:41:00.945 --> 00:41:04.445 We need to learn to devote ourselves to self-control. 580 00:41:05.635 --> 00:41:08.485 This term, uh, appears four times in this letter. 581 00:41:08.505 --> 00:41:10.565 So that repetition alone should get our attention. 582 00:41:10.665 --> 00:41:11.845 The, the word self-control. 583 00:41:11.905 --> 00:41:15.165 It means, uh, temperate, moderate in passion, 584 00:41:15.365 --> 00:41:17.165 sensible curbing one's, uh, 585 00:41:17.485 --> 00:41:20.085 tendency toward overly emotional outbursts. 586 00:41:21.545 --> 00:41:23.845 We need to learn to be gentle. 587 00:41:25.025 --> 00:41:27.205 We need to learn to be courteous, not angry. 588 00:41:27.205 --> 00:41:29.885 People holding up signs at rallies, not fighting 589 00:41:29.945 --> 00:41:32.725 for what's right with, with violence, not engaging in 590 00:41:33.235 --> 00:41:35.205 loud heated debates all over the place, 591 00:41:35.505 --> 00:41:38.845 not posting long angry rants on social media. 592 00:41:39.585 --> 00:41:41.085 We need to learn to devote ourselves 593 00:41:41.105 --> 00:41:42.645 to a different way of life. 594 00:41:43.345 --> 00:41:47.205 By the way, I I have never once argued or debated 595 00:41:47.345 --> 00:41:49.805 or fought someone into a relationship with Jesus Christ. 596 00:41:49.915 --> 00:41:51.445 I've never seen that happen. 597 00:41:51.865 --> 00:41:53.205 And Paul is saying the same thing. 598 00:41:53.665 --> 00:41:54.845 We should live different than that. 599 00:41:55.225 --> 00:41:57.605 We should be quiet, we should be dignified, 600 00:41:57.785 --> 00:42:00.085 we should be self controlled. 601 00:42:00.585 --> 00:42:01.805 And don't misunderstand me. 602 00:42:02.345 --> 00:42:03.685 I'm not saying that we should be passive. 603 00:42:03.825 --> 00:42:06.245 In fact, I'm saying that we should actively pursue 604 00:42:07.055 --> 00:42:08.165 godly, uh, good works. 605 00:42:08.315 --> 00:42:10.725 That we should be pursuing good deeds all 606 00:42:10.745 --> 00:42:12.125 for the sake of the gospel. 607 00:42:12.675 --> 00:42:15.325 That every interaction, every single relationship on earth 608 00:42:15.385 --> 00:42:18.325 as we go about sharing, uh, these good works with them, 609 00:42:18.395 --> 00:42:20.245 that the gospel itself would be 610 00:42:20.245 --> 00:42:21.845 so much more clearly communicated 611 00:42:21.845 --> 00:42:23.005 than our words could ever do. 612 00:42:23.605 --> 00:42:25.005 I mean, you guys, how are we supposed 613 00:42:25.005 --> 00:42:26.485 to share a compelling gospel? 614 00:42:26.625 --> 00:42:29.805 The greatest story of love this world has ever seen? 615 00:42:29.825 --> 00:42:31.605 If we're walking around angry 616 00:42:31.745 --> 00:42:36.365 and arguing with everyone, our lives need to match 617 00:42:36.675 --> 00:42:39.245 what we believe is true in the gospel of Jesus. 618 00:42:39.425 --> 00:42:41.765 We don't want to give people an easy excuse 619 00:42:41.825 --> 00:42:44.165 to dismiss the message because our lives don't match up. 620 00:42:46.295 --> 00:42:48.225 This is a, a good point for me to pause 621 00:42:48.285 --> 00:42:51.465 and to confess, I need to devote myself 622 00:42:51.465 --> 00:42:52.665 to learning self-control. 623 00:42:54.345 --> 00:42:57.665 I like to think of myself as a passionate and direct person. 624 00:42:58.485 --> 00:43:01.505 Uh, the pastors around here, in fact, they find my level 625 00:43:01.605 --> 00:43:05.145 of passion and my level of direct directness like hilarious. 626 00:43:05.685 --> 00:43:09.745 Um, and sometimes in meetings they will intentionally say 627 00:43:09.745 --> 00:43:12.145 things that they know will fire me up just, 628 00:43:12.335 --> 00:43:13.505 just to amuse themselves. 629 00:43:13.505 --> 00:43:15.705 They, they do this. I I am a passionate person. 630 00:43:15.735 --> 00:43:17.865 They know that actually Pastor 631 00:43:17.965 --> 00:43:19.225 Dwayne, he's the worst at this. 632 00:43:20.325 --> 00:43:24.865 Um, sometimes I say things that are true, but 633 00:43:24.865 --> 00:43:27.265 because I lack self-control, they should just, 634 00:43:27.265 --> 00:43:29.425 they're things that are better left unsaid. 635 00:43:30.455 --> 00:43:32.435 You want to hear a confession, uh, of one 636 00:43:32.435 --> 00:43:34.075 of the dumbest things I ever said as a pastor 637 00:43:34.855 --> 00:43:35.915 of, of course you do. 638 00:43:35.935 --> 00:43:37.675 It might be the only thing you remember today, right? 639 00:43:38.815 --> 00:43:42.355 Um, one day back when I was the Apex Campus pastor, 640 00:43:42.505 --> 00:43:44.275 this woman walked up to me after service 641 00:43:44.375 --> 00:43:45.835 and she was really mad about something. 642 00:43:46.115 --> 00:43:47.915 I honestly don't remember what she was mad about. 643 00:43:47.915 --> 00:43:49.795 Something what I thought was trivial. 644 00:43:49.795 --> 00:43:53.395 Either it was too loud or not loud enough or too hot, 645 00:43:53.395 --> 00:43:56.995 or not hot enough or too much haze or maybe not enough haze. 646 00:43:56.995 --> 00:43:59.515 I don't know. It probably wasn't, not enough haze. 647 00:43:59.515 --> 00:44:00.995 No one's ever asked for more haze. 648 00:44:02.215 --> 00:44:03.995 But anyway, she was really mad 649 00:44:03.995 --> 00:44:07.235 and she actually asked for an apology. 650 00:44:07.375 --> 00:44:08.915 She said, you need to apologize to me. 651 00:44:08.915 --> 00:44:11.915 And I found that really aggressive. And so I did. 652 00:44:12.185 --> 00:44:15.395 Here, here's what I said. I said, you're right. 653 00:44:16.755 --> 00:44:20.875 I do owe you an apology. It actually is our fault. 654 00:44:21.385 --> 00:44:25.195 Somewhere along the way, we made you think that our services 655 00:44:25.215 --> 00:44:27.235 around here are all about you. 656 00:44:27.735 --> 00:44:31.925 I'm so sorry about that. Yeah, that's what I said. 657 00:44:32.185 --> 00:44:35.645 Her jaw dropped and then my jaw dropped, 658 00:44:35.665 --> 00:44:37.445 and I thought, oh my gosh, tell me that. 659 00:44:37.445 --> 00:44:39.405 I didn't just say that, that I was just thinking that, 660 00:44:39.405 --> 00:44:41.245 please, but no, I said it. 661 00:44:41.625 --> 00:44:44.005 And no, I never saw her again at a hope service 662 00:44:44.115 --> 00:44:45.325 ever again, as you can imagine. 663 00:44:45.785 --> 00:44:46.925 And also side note, 664 00:44:47.005 --> 00:44:49.525 I am no longer the campus pastor at Apex. 665 00:44:49.625 --> 00:44:52.565 Uh, um, Doug is way nicer. 666 00:44:52.825 --> 00:44:55.285 He is way more self-control than I could ever be. 667 00:44:56.145 --> 00:44:57.325 The point is, I'm still learning. 668 00:44:57.485 --> 00:45:00.445 I need to devote myself to learning self-control. 669 00:45:02.635 --> 00:45:04.205 It's hard, right? 670 00:45:05.245 --> 00:45:08.325 I mean, even when we have instruction, 671 00:45:08.755 --> 00:45:12.125 even when I read God's word every single day, even when, 672 00:45:12.275 --> 00:45:16.165 when, uh, I have mentors around me, people that I look up 673 00:45:16.165 --> 00:45:19.285 to, to observe from, even when, when, when I have practice 674 00:45:19.285 --> 00:45:21.565 and every interaction and every relationship, learning 675 00:45:21.565 --> 00:45:24.285 to devote ourselves to self-control is just hard. 676 00:45:24.295 --> 00:45:25.325 Let's just confess that. 677 00:45:27.685 --> 00:45:30.725 I mean, how are you supposed to learn to show self-control 678 00:45:31.185 --> 00:45:33.525 to your spouse or to your ex-spouse 679 00:45:34.435 --> 00:45:36.205 when they disappoint you or they hurt you? 680 00:45:36.255 --> 00:45:39.865 Again, students, how are you supposed 681 00:45:39.865 --> 00:45:43.585 to learn self-control when you walk into class on the first 682 00:45:43.645 --> 00:45:46.305 day and you see that kid that's been bullying you online? 683 00:45:48.655 --> 00:45:50.395 How are you supposed to learn self-control with, 684 00:45:50.395 --> 00:45:52.835 with the simple things, the everyday things like posting on 685 00:45:52.835 --> 00:45:53.915 social media, things 686 00:45:54.145 --> 00:45:56.555 that make us look better than we actually are. 687 00:45:57.015 --> 00:45:59.355 We need to learn self-control. 688 00:45:59.415 --> 00:46:02.235 And sometimes instruction, observation 689 00:46:02.335 --> 00:46:04.315 and practice aren't enough. 690 00:46:06.895 --> 00:46:08.555 We inevitably fall short. 691 00:46:08.775 --> 00:46:10.235 In fact, maybe you're sitting here today 692 00:46:10.235 --> 00:46:12.755 and you're thinking, yeah, I know that I fall short. 693 00:46:12.815 --> 00:46:16.355 In fact, I know there is this impossibly huge gap 694 00:46:16.355 --> 00:46:18.915 between the way I'm living my life and, 695 00:46:18.935 --> 00:46:20.835 and the God that I say I believe in. 696 00:46:22.395 --> 00:46:25.335 And I hope no one else will find out how big that gap is. 697 00:46:25.335 --> 00:46:28.295 Well, the truth is, we all have that gap. 698 00:46:29.565 --> 00:46:31.095 None of us measures up. 699 00:46:33.155 --> 00:46:35.575 And so there's one more thing we need in order to learn 700 00:46:35.575 --> 00:46:37.535 to devote ourselves to these kind of good works. 701 00:46:38.605 --> 00:46:42.295 Paul gives it to us in the last five words of this letter. 702 00:46:42.835 --> 00:46:45.735 He says, grace, be with you all. 703 00:46:47.085 --> 00:46:48.435 Grace is good news, you guys. 704 00:46:48.535 --> 00:46:52.155 And Paul knew we needed one more reminder of his grace. 705 00:46:53.245 --> 00:46:57.835 Grace is the undeserved love of God to all people 706 00:46:58.795 --> 00:47:00.075 revealed to us in Jesus Christ. 707 00:47:01.105 --> 00:47:05.995 Feel. Note number four, God's grace closes the gap between 708 00:47:06.815 --> 00:47:07.995 how we live our lives and 709 00:47:07.995 --> 00:47:09.555 what we believe about Jesus Christ. 710 00:47:11.335 --> 00:47:13.955 For the Christ follower grace fills every gap. 711 00:47:14.705 --> 00:47:17.155 What we don't know, grace teaches what we don't have. 712 00:47:17.365 --> 00:47:20.995 Grace provides what we are not. Grace makes us. 713 00:47:20.995 --> 00:47:22.635 You guys look at this verse. It's incredible. 714 00:47:23.055 --> 00:47:25.915 Uh, it's from two Corinthians nine, eight. 715 00:47:26.025 --> 00:47:30.685 Paul says, God is able to make all grace abound to you so 716 00:47:30.685 --> 00:47:34.285 that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, 717 00:47:34.505 --> 00:47:39.005 you may abound in every good work, all things, all times. 718 00:47:39.425 --> 00:47:40.965 That's how big his grace is. 719 00:47:41.145 --> 00:47:43.645 And we've seen throughout Titus that God's grace, 720 00:47:43.665 --> 00:47:47.125 it teaches us, uh, it it teaches us in two directions 721 00:47:47.125 --> 00:47:50.405 that not only saves us, it teaches us to say no 722 00:47:50.405 --> 00:47:53.605 to certain things, to renounce bad behaviors so 723 00:47:53.605 --> 00:47:55.605 that we can say yes to better things. 724 00:47:56.985 --> 00:48:00.085 His grace encourages us 725 00:48:00.425 --> 00:48:03.085 and enables us to do what we couldn't do without it. 726 00:48:03.265 --> 00:48:05.685 But we have to be careful. This relationship that exists 727 00:48:05.925 --> 00:48:07.085 between work, uh, 728 00:48:07.105 --> 00:48:09.485 and grace in the gospel is often misunderstood. 729 00:48:09.485 --> 00:48:12.285 There's some bad theology traps that we can fall into. 730 00:48:12.345 --> 00:48:13.725 So let me remind you of a few. 731 00:48:14.625 --> 00:48:18.565 The first one is this, that, um, that we could think that 732 00:48:18.705 --> 00:48:21.445 by our good works, we could somehow earn some credit into 733 00:48:21.445 --> 00:48:25.645 our God accounts by what we're doing, by serving 734 00:48:25.745 --> 00:48:28.765 or by tithing, that we could somehow tip the scales in our 735 00:48:28.765 --> 00:48:30.965 favor or climb the rope on our own 736 00:48:30.965 --> 00:48:32.205 effort to get into heaven. 737 00:48:32.915 --> 00:48:35.405 Well, let me make this as clear as Paul does in scripture. 738 00:48:36.505 --> 00:48:40.285 We are saved by grace, not by our good works, 739 00:48:41.025 --> 00:48:43.205 but for our good works. 740 00:48:44.915 --> 00:48:48.125 Good works don't make us acceptable to God. 741 00:48:48.905 --> 00:48:50.925 That's the opposite of what the gospel teaches. 742 00:48:51.295 --> 00:48:55.125 Jesus didn't come so that he could teach us how 743 00:48:55.125 --> 00:48:56.965 to make ourselves acceptable to God. 744 00:48:56.975 --> 00:48:59.285 Jesus came to save those who 745 00:48:59.385 --> 00:49:01.485 by their nature are unacceptable. 746 00:49:01.985 --> 00:49:04.365 That's the gospel. That's the good news. 747 00:49:04.905 --> 00:49:06.765 And there's another trap that we often fall. 748 00:49:06.765 --> 00:49:08.525 And there's people here that say, you know what? 749 00:49:08.885 --> 00:49:11.005 I don't have to do good works. This isn't for me. 750 00:49:11.215 --> 00:49:14.885 Since God has executed a not guilty verdict on my life, 751 00:49:14.885 --> 00:49:16.805 because of the grace of Jesus Christ, 752 00:49:17.365 --> 00:49:18.605 I don't have to do good works. 753 00:49:18.825 --> 00:49:22.285 His law doesn't matter to me. In fact, I'm not under law. 754 00:49:22.505 --> 00:49:25.845 I'm under grace. And that last part is true. 755 00:49:27.065 --> 00:49:28.685 It comes from Romans six 14. 756 00:49:29.585 --> 00:49:31.525 But the fact is this, that the law 757 00:49:31.585 --> 00:49:34.565 of God is written on the hearts of his children in order so 758 00:49:34.565 --> 00:49:37.165 that we might know what it is to love him. 759 00:49:37.625 --> 00:49:39.125 That's Romans two 15. 760 00:49:39.545 --> 00:49:41.205 See, God's law and God's grace, 761 00:49:41.205 --> 00:49:42.845 they're not an opposition to one another. 762 00:49:42.855 --> 00:49:44.485 Grace and obedient works. 763 00:49:44.515 --> 00:49:47.485 They, they go together like two petals of a bicycle. 764 00:49:49.285 --> 00:49:51.125 I wanna explain what this looks like in my own life. 765 00:49:52.705 --> 00:49:56.405 Uh, God's grace humbles proud hearts like mine. 766 00:49:58.035 --> 00:50:01.445 When I remember God's grace, it teaches me to ask 767 00:50:02.025 --> 00:50:04.725 for feedback in areas that I'm weak, like self-control. 768 00:50:05.305 --> 00:50:09.565 His grace teaches me daily to pray and ask for his help. 769 00:50:09.865 --> 00:50:11.805 His grace teaches me to apologize 770 00:50:11.945 --> 00:50:14.285 to my wife when I've wronged her, his grace, 771 00:50:14.465 --> 00:50:16.005 it also encourages me. 772 00:50:16.065 --> 00:50:17.405 It spurs me into action. 773 00:50:17.405 --> 00:50:18.845 When my life is getting lazy 774 00:50:18.905 --> 00:50:22.965 or sloppy, it starts to close the gap between what I believe 775 00:50:23.465 --> 00:50:24.725 and how I'm living my life. 776 00:50:26.025 --> 00:50:27.725 And his grace allows forgiveness. 777 00:50:29.485 --> 00:50:31.965 I don't know that there's anything better than I can tell 778 00:50:31.965 --> 00:50:34.045 you that because of the grace of Jesus, 779 00:50:34.185 --> 00:50:37.285 if your faith is in him, you are forgiven. 780 00:50:38.665 --> 00:50:41.965 I'm forgiven. And God made a way for for us to walk in 781 00:50:41.965 --> 00:50:43.605 that forgiveness every single day. 782 00:50:43.605 --> 00:50:47.685 Your debt has been paid in full, his grace, 783 00:50:48.465 --> 00:50:50.605 it saves us, it trains us up. 784 00:50:50.905 --> 00:50:52.005 It transforms us. 785 00:50:53.235 --> 00:50:56.005 This is the story that the Bible tells from 786 00:50:56.005 --> 00:50:57.285 Genesis to Revelation. 787 00:50:58.785 --> 00:51:00.165 The Bible is a story of rescue. 788 00:51:01.105 --> 00:51:03.125 The Bible is a story of redemption. 789 00:51:03.305 --> 00:51:06.005 And perhaps above all the, the Bible is a story 790 00:51:06.005 --> 00:51:08.485 of God's loving grace for you and for me. 791 00:51:08.485 --> 00:51:12.085 The Bible tells us that we were created in God's image, 792 00:51:12.225 --> 00:51:15.725 not not an accident by some primordial sludge 793 00:51:15.725 --> 00:51:18.125 that came together and started living and, and thinking 794 00:51:18.125 --> 00:51:19.405 and breathing and loving. 795 00:51:19.555 --> 00:51:20.765 Like that's crazy. 796 00:51:21.065 --> 00:51:24.765 No, that God spoke and we were created in his image. 797 00:51:24.765 --> 00:51:27.045 And because we're created in his image, that means 798 00:51:27.045 --> 00:51:29.405 that every single person on earth has 799 00:51:29.405 --> 00:51:30.765 dignity inherent in them. 800 00:51:30.765 --> 00:51:33.205 That we should treat them with respect just 801 00:51:33.205 --> 00:51:35.245 because they're also made in God's image. 802 00:51:35.465 --> 00:51:38.605 But sadly, tragically, we see that the image of us, 803 00:51:39.895 --> 00:51:44.045 God's image, uh, in us rather has been spoiled. 804 00:51:44.395 --> 00:51:46.125 It's been tainted by our sin. 805 00:51:47.585 --> 00:51:50.005 And after sin enters into the story, we see 806 00:51:50.005 --> 00:51:52.485 that God doesn't just give up on us and move on that. 807 00:51:52.635 --> 00:51:54.005 Instead, we see God 808 00:51:54.145 --> 00:51:56.805 as this relentless pursuer and lover of people. 809 00:51:56.905 --> 00:51:59.165 And he puts this plan of action into place, 810 00:51:59.595 --> 00:52:01.725 this rescue plan, this plan of redemption, 811 00:52:01.915 --> 00:52:03.045 this plan of grace. 812 00:52:03.345 --> 00:52:06.005 And by grace, God gives us his law. 813 00:52:06.585 --> 00:52:08.005 He gives us his commands. 814 00:52:08.095 --> 00:52:10.205 These are his grace that he gives it to us. 815 00:52:10.635 --> 00:52:13.765 It's not to, to keep us locked up in a box and not have fun. 816 00:52:13.975 --> 00:52:16.685 God's law teaches us what's right and wrong. 817 00:52:16.985 --> 00:52:18.765 It keeps us away from the things that are, 818 00:52:18.765 --> 00:52:21.285 that are gonna hurt us from the guilt and the shame 819 00:52:21.305 --> 00:52:23.525 and the suffering that sin causes. 820 00:52:24.495 --> 00:52:26.565 God's law is a grace to us. 821 00:52:27.865 --> 00:52:30.485 The problem is none of us is able to keep it. 822 00:52:32.035 --> 00:52:34.805 Each of us have failed over and over. 823 00:52:34.855 --> 00:52:35.965 We're all found guilty. 824 00:52:36.025 --> 00:52:40.445 And so by his grace, God sends his only son Jesus Christ, 825 00:52:40.625 --> 00:52:42.085 God himself in human form. 826 00:52:42.465 --> 00:52:46.165 And nobody lived like Jesus lived. You should see the grace. 827 00:52:46.225 --> 00:52:47.365 You should read about it in the 828 00:52:47.365 --> 00:52:48.765 gospels, the grace He showed others. 829 00:52:49.105 --> 00:52:51.005 No one lived like him. No one loved like him. 830 00:52:51.225 --> 00:52:54.245 He was obedient to all the places in this that we failed. 831 00:52:54.345 --> 00:52:57.525 He was victorious in every way that, that we were defeated. 832 00:52:58.385 --> 00:53:01.845 And then amazingly astonishingly by his grace, 833 00:53:02.295 --> 00:53:06.085 Jesus willingly hung on a cross for you and for me. 834 00:53:07.345 --> 00:53:12.045 He endured a brutal execution, taking our place, one perfect 835 00:53:12.635 --> 00:53:15.765 sinless sacrifice in exchange for all of us. 836 00:53:18.145 --> 00:53:19.605 And Jesus didn't stay dead 837 00:53:21.025 --> 00:53:23.325 By God's grace, he rose again. 838 00:53:23.635 --> 00:53:26.605 He's alive. We sang about it today. He is our living hope. 839 00:53:27.275 --> 00:53:29.005 He's a he's resurrected. 840 00:53:30.545 --> 00:53:33.285 And the moment that we confess that the moment 841 00:53:33.285 --> 00:53:36.325 that we believe, the moment we confess with our mouth 842 00:53:36.325 --> 00:53:37.365 that Jesus is Lord, 843 00:53:37.365 --> 00:53:38.445 and we believe in our hearts 844 00:53:38.445 --> 00:53:40.605 that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. 845 00:53:41.165 --> 00:53:42.165 Titus says in three seven 846 00:53:42.195 --> 00:53:45.045 that we will be justified by his grace. 847 00:53:45.515 --> 00:53:48.645 Justified. That word I I was taught years ago 848 00:53:48.645 --> 00:53:51.885 that justified, meant, justified, never sinned. 849 00:53:52.205 --> 00:53:54.205 I gotta tell you, it's so much better than that, 850 00:53:55.315 --> 00:53:57.165 that we were, when we're in Christ, 851 00:53:57.535 --> 00:54:00.325 we're not put back into the way that things were with Adam 852 00:54:00.385 --> 00:54:01.485 and Eve before sin. 853 00:54:01.485 --> 00:54:02.965 It's so much better than that. 854 00:54:03.385 --> 00:54:05.445 We learn that scripture teaches us that he 855 00:54:05.445 --> 00:54:08.485 who knew no sin became sin on our behalf so 856 00:54:08.485 --> 00:54:11.005 that we could become the righteousness of God. 857 00:54:11.065 --> 00:54:15.245 You guys, that's unthinkable the victory that we sang about, 858 00:54:15.355 --> 00:54:19.365 that Jesus, uh, accomplished his obedience, all of 859 00:54:19.365 --> 00:54:22.805 that is credited to our account if we are found in him. 860 00:54:23.625 --> 00:54:27.685 That's good news. This is by grace, not by work so 861 00:54:27.685 --> 00:54:28.965 that no one can boast. 862 00:54:29.985 --> 00:54:32.805 And having accomplished all that he set out to do, 863 00:54:33.505 --> 00:54:34.685 he ascends into heaven. 864 00:54:35.425 --> 00:54:37.965 And he's seated right now at the right hand of the Father, 865 00:54:38.305 --> 00:54:40.205 the, the, the writer of Hebrews. 866 00:54:40.205 --> 00:54:43.125 He says, he's upholding the universe by the word 867 00:54:43.125 --> 00:54:44.325 of his power, by grace, 868 00:54:44.395 --> 00:54:46.165 he's holding everything together in your life. 869 00:54:46.195 --> 00:54:48.085 He's giving you the breath, you're breathing, 870 00:54:48.115 --> 00:54:49.245 he's sustaining it all. 871 00:54:50.465 --> 00:54:52.165 We learn that he lives in constant 872 00:54:52.165 --> 00:54:53.365 intercession on our behalf. 873 00:54:53.515 --> 00:54:55.725 It's like he's seated at the right hand of the Father 874 00:54:55.785 --> 00:54:57.525 and he is saying, yeah, that one 875 00:54:57.525 --> 00:54:58.685 right there, that's our boy. 876 00:54:59.625 --> 00:55:04.165 That's our girl. Holy and beloved and righteous and pure, 877 00:55:04.165 --> 00:55:05.885 because I paid the price for them. 878 00:55:06.235 --> 00:55:07.325 They're debt is paid. 879 00:55:09.785 --> 00:55:11.805 And Jesus doesn't leave us by going to heaven. 880 00:55:11.805 --> 00:55:14.245 He doesn't leave us alone. By his grace, 881 00:55:14.785 --> 00:55:18.125 he sends the Holy Spirit that when we put the moment, 882 00:55:18.145 --> 00:55:21.165 we put our faith and trust in Jesus, the Spirit indwells us. 883 00:55:21.225 --> 00:55:24.845 It lives He, he lives within us. He transforms us. 884 00:55:25.105 --> 00:55:26.565 He molds us. He shapes us. 885 00:55:26.635 --> 00:55:30.245 He's growing us up into the measure of the stature 886 00:55:30.245 --> 00:55:31.525 of the fullness of Jesus Christ. 887 00:55:32.035 --> 00:55:33.365 Paul says in Ephesians four, 888 00:55:35.385 --> 00:55:37.725 his grace is closing the gap between 889 00:55:37.725 --> 00:55:39.165 what we believe and how we live. 890 00:55:39.385 --> 00:55:42.205 His grace is in planning in us a new hope and a new purpose. 891 00:55:43.115 --> 00:55:48.005 It's allowing us, uh, this new mission to share this grace 892 00:55:48.005 --> 00:55:50.005 with others, that as, 893 00:55:50.145 --> 00:55:52.525 as we join in this worldwide rescue mission, 894 00:55:52.625 --> 00:55:55.765 as we live out these good works, as we share the good news 895 00:55:55.765 --> 00:55:58.205 of Jesus' death and resurrection, that we will get 896 00:55:58.205 --> 00:56:00.165 to experience this life change in other people. 897 00:56:00.165 --> 00:56:02.085 That we will see people right in front 898 00:56:02.085 --> 00:56:04.485 of our eyes move from death toward life. 899 00:56:04.955 --> 00:56:07.165 They'll find freedom by grace. 900 00:56:07.305 --> 00:56:10.405 His family of families is growing today by grace. 901 00:56:10.865 --> 00:56:12.365 His kingdom is expanding. 902 00:56:12.445 --> 00:56:14.565 We celebrate it every time we celebrate a baptism. 903 00:56:15.865 --> 00:56:19.245 And by grace, his story is not over. 904 00:56:22.015 --> 00:56:23.605 Jesus is coming back. 905 00:56:25.745 --> 00:56:28.565 And when he does make no mistake, evil 906 00:56:28.625 --> 00:56:30.245 and all of his proponents are gonna be 907 00:56:30.245 --> 00:56:31.445 judged and punished forever. 908 00:56:34.465 --> 00:56:39.245 But those of us that remain faithful to the end, and I pray 909 00:56:39.705 --> 00:56:44.365 and I'm found among them, I pray my wife 910 00:56:44.545 --> 00:56:46.205 and my children are found among them. 911 00:56:46.725 --> 00:56:49.365 I pray that you remain faithful to the end. 912 00:56:49.365 --> 00:56:51.965 No matter how hard the world gets, no matter 913 00:56:52.225 --> 00:56:56.125 how shiny the things of the world are, remain faithful 914 00:56:56.265 --> 00:56:58.405 to the end because if we do, 915 00:57:00.345 --> 00:57:02.805 his word teaches us that we are gonna be exalted, 916 00:57:02.805 --> 00:57:04.485 we're gonna be glorified, we're gonna be 917 00:57:04.485 --> 00:57:06.565 with him forever in eternity. 918 00:57:07.385 --> 00:57:09.525 You gotta read about it in Revelation 21 919 00:57:09.525 --> 00:57:12.485 and 22, that what we've been after, what God's been 920 00:57:12.485 --> 00:57:14.205 after from the very beginning will become true. 921 00:57:14.205 --> 00:57:15.725 That we will be as people 922 00:57:15.905 --> 00:57:19.125 and he will be our God forever the way that it was designed 923 00:57:19.145 --> 00:57:22.365 to be, except this time without sin ever having a chance 924 00:57:22.385 --> 00:57:24.405 to separate us again from the love 925 00:57:24.555 --> 00:57:26.085 that is ours in Christ Jesus. 926 00:57:28.835 --> 00:57:30.045 It's a story of grace 927 00:57:30.045 --> 00:57:32.165 that we read about from beginning to end. 928 00:57:32.355 --> 00:57:35.605 It's a story of the gospel. It's available to you. 929 00:57:36.965 --> 00:57:39.165 I wish I could describe his grace better to you. 930 00:57:40.645 --> 00:57:43.525 I wish I had more passion. I wish my words didn't fall flat. 931 00:57:43.645 --> 00:57:46.765 I hope I sing about his amazing grace until the day I die. 932 00:57:49.745 --> 00:57:51.485 I'm glad you stayed with me to the end. 933 00:57:51.785 --> 00:57:54.205 I'm glad you didn't leave early 934 00:57:54.225 --> 00:57:56.805 to go tailgating like an NC State fan after halftime. 935 00:57:59.715 --> 00:58:03.805 Otherwise, you might have missed one last reminder to Titus 936 00:58:03.825 --> 00:58:04.925 of his amazing grace. 937 00:58:07.605 --> 00:58:09.745 The gospel demands a response. 938 00:58:10.695 --> 00:58:13.265 Imagine what it would look like if we all responded 939 00:58:13.645 --> 00:58:17.425 by living the gospel, by sharing the gospel. 940 00:58:18.965 --> 00:58:23.945 It demands a response. So how will you respond? Lemme pray. 941 00:58:26.685 --> 00:58:28.585 God, I thank you for your grace. 942 00:58:29.905 --> 00:58:31.865 I ask today, what does the gospel look like? 943 00:58:32.985 --> 00:58:34.705 I think it looks like your son, Jesus. 944 00:58:36.765 --> 00:58:39.585 God, I pray that we wouldn't just people that walk 945 00:58:39.585 --> 00:58:40.825 around talking about Jesus, 946 00:58:41.145 --> 00:58:42.425 although we probably need to do that more. 947 00:58:42.645 --> 00:58:45.745 God, I pray that we would be people that live your gospel, 948 00:58:46.255 --> 00:58:48.825 that we devote ourselves to learning these good works. 949 00:58:51.325 --> 00:58:52.905 God, that in every interaction 950 00:58:53.045 --> 00:58:54.305 and in every relationship, 951 00:58:55.575 --> 00:58:58.945 that we would see the people right in front of us, God, 952 00:58:59.455 --> 00:59:03.465 that all of it would be for your glory and for our good. 953 00:59:03.875 --> 00:59:07.025 Thank you for your amazing grace, we pray in Jesus' name. 954 00:59:07.295 --> 00:59:08.295 Amen. 955 00:59:19.495 --> 00:59:20.495 Such A good word. 956 00:59:21.435 --> 00:59:24.165 Such a good reminder. And Paul, the apostle, 957 00:59:24.465 --> 00:59:28.165 so faithfully reminded Titus, which these 958 00:59:28.185 --> 00:59:30.925 so many years later is continuing to remind us 959 00:59:31.065 --> 00:59:34.205 of his amazing grace, I hope the grace 960 00:59:34.205 --> 00:59:37.405 of our Lord Jesus Christ still amazes you. 961 00:59:38.345 --> 00:59:41.245 Or maybe for the first time it clicked tonight 962 00:59:41.545 --> 00:59:42.605 and it amazes you. 963 00:59:43.625 --> 00:59:46.685 And if something is happening in your heart, in your life, 964 00:59:47.625 --> 00:59:51.325 and the grace, the unmerited, kindness, unmerited favor 965 00:59:51.945 --> 00:59:54.525 of God, not about your good works to earn something, 966 00:59:55.225 --> 00:59:58.405 but about how much he loved you and gave himself for you. 967 00:59:58.865 --> 01:00:00.925 If that's making sense for the first time, man, 968 01:00:00.925 --> 01:00:03.085 don't leave here without talking to one of us 969 01:00:03.085 --> 01:00:04.085 or going to next steps. 970 01:00:04.665 --> 01:00:07.685 Or if you're online putting something there in the chat 971 01:00:08.565 --> 01:00:11.245 ham beginning to understand his amazing grace. 972 01:00:12.225 --> 01:00:15.245 And I love how Dave showed us so clearly 973 01:00:15.555 --> 01:00:18.365 that it's his amazing grace that closes, 974 01:00:18.365 --> 01:00:20.885 that gap closes man. 975 01:00:20.945 --> 01:00:25.565 And I need that grace daily that closes that gap between 976 01:00:25.715 --> 01:00:28.325 what I believe, what we believe and how we live. 977 01:00:29.305 --> 01:00:31.365 And one of the ways that we live out those good 978 01:00:31.365 --> 01:00:32.525 works is in serving. 979 01:00:33.595 --> 01:00:35.885 Dave talked about urgent needs 980 01:00:35.885 --> 01:00:37.365 because that's what Paul talked about, 981 01:00:38.115 --> 01:00:39.685 good works and urgent needs. 982 01:00:39.785 --> 01:00:42.045 And at each of our campuses here at Hope, 983 01:00:42.065 --> 01:00:45.165 we have urgent needs for people to step up 984 01:00:45.165 --> 01:00:46.725 because we are a family 985 01:00:47.425 --> 01:00:49.565 who loves God follows Jesus and shares hope. 986 01:00:49.565 --> 01:00:53.645 But how we love God, how we follow Jesus, how we share hope 987 01:00:54.275 --> 01:00:57.405 happens through our family responsibilities. 988 01:00:57.915 --> 01:00:59.845 Some might call them family chores, 989 01:01:00.625 --> 01:01:02.885 but those responsibilities are good works. 990 01:01:03.705 --> 01:01:06.925 And those responsibilities sometimes look like welcoming 991 01:01:06.925 --> 01:01:07.965 people into the parking lot 992 01:01:07.965 --> 01:01:10.725 or into our church as a part of first impressions. 993 01:01:10.755 --> 01:01:14.165 Sometimes those good works, those good responsibilities 994 01:01:14.235 --> 01:01:18.165 that serving looks like raising up the next generation 995 01:01:18.265 --> 01:01:19.925 by pouring into them in kid city 996 01:01:19.985 --> 01:01:22.605 or in middle school ministry or high school ministry. 997 01:01:23.665 --> 01:01:25.045 We have urgent needs. 998 01:01:25.705 --> 01:01:29.885 And if the Holy Spirit is working on you to get involved in 999 01:01:29.885 --> 01:01:31.885 what he's doing in 1000 01:01:31.885 --> 01:01:34.965 and through this church, I wanna encourage you just do this. 1001 01:01:35.075 --> 01:01:38.165 Text the word serve to 7, 2, 9, 8, 9. 1002 01:01:38.455 --> 01:01:41.005 It'll take you to a link. You'll be sent a link. 1003 01:01:41.025 --> 01:01:43.325 And then on that link, first thing you do, 1004 01:01:43.545 --> 01:01:44.845 put the campus that you attend. 1005 01:01:45.425 --> 01:01:47.885 And as soon as you put in that campus, you will see 1006 01:01:48.415 --> 01:01:51.765 those urgent needs at the top of the page there. 1007 01:01:52.505 --> 01:01:56.645 We would love for you by the grace of God. Don't worry. 1008 01:01:56.645 --> 01:01:59.045 And don't worry about not being equipped to do it. 1009 01:01:59.045 --> 01:02:02.125 The grace of God fills that gap. And we'll help you out too. 1010 01:02:04.085 --> 01:02:06.245 I know some of you are planners in this place, 1011 01:02:06.345 --> 01:02:09.245 and so you like to plan things far in advance. 1012 01:02:09.625 --> 01:02:14.125 So knowing that we wanted to leave you today with some dates 1013 01:02:14.305 --> 01:02:16.765 to save that are coming up in the month of August, 1014 01:02:17.265 --> 01:02:20.285 two very important dates to put on your plan. 1015 01:02:21.065 --> 01:02:22.725 The first is August 10th. 1016 01:02:23.745 --> 01:02:26.645 It is our Vision Night, our All in Vision Night. 1017 01:02:26.675 --> 01:02:28.685 It's going to be at 5:00 PM right 1018 01:02:28.685 --> 01:02:29.765 here at the Raleigh campus. 1019 01:02:30.275 --> 01:02:32.325 It's where all of our campuses come together. 1020 01:02:32.325 --> 01:02:33.845 We're gonna worship together, we're gonna pray together. 1021 01:02:33.895 --> 01:02:36.245 We're gonna hear from Jason, our lead pastor, some 1022 01:02:36.245 --> 01:02:39.805 of our elders about where God has us, where he's taking us. 1023 01:02:40.185 --> 01:02:42.245 And we are in an exciting season. 1024 01:02:42.785 --> 01:02:45.325 So please plan to join us on the 10th for 1025 01:02:45.325 --> 01:02:46.565 that all in Vision Night. 1026 01:02:46.565 --> 01:02:49.805 And two weeks later on the 24th, it's going to be similar, 1027 01:02:49.945 --> 01:02:52.565 but it's what we're calling a campus family 1028 01:02:52.665 --> 01:02:53.965 prayer experience. 1029 01:02:55.025 --> 01:02:57.485 And at that time, at that gathering, 1030 01:02:57.485 --> 01:02:59.285 that prayer gathering families 1031 01:02:59.545 --> 01:03:01.725 of the campuses coming together, praying together, 1032 01:03:01.725 --> 01:03:03.125 hearing from the campus pastor 1033 01:03:03.225 --> 01:03:06.005 and other campus leaders of what God is calling us 1034 01:03:06.005 --> 01:03:08.325 to do specifically in our communities. 1035 01:03:08.905 --> 01:03:12.205 So please be with us on the 10th of August and the 24th. 1036 01:03:13.145 --> 01:03:15.285 If there's anything that we can do to serve you 1037 01:03:15.285 --> 01:03:17.965 or your family, please let us know if you're here 1038 01:03:18.275 --> 01:03:20.685 with us today and your new stop 1039 01:03:20.705 --> 01:03:23.405 by our next steps if you're joining online, thank you 1040 01:03:23.425 --> 01:03:24.725 so much for being with us. 1041 01:03:25.425 --> 01:03:28.805 And as Paul said, as he ends the letter and we end tonight. 1042 01:03:29.495 --> 01:03:32.725 Grace be with you all. Amen.