Category Archives: witness
mission: avoid distraction
Titus 3:8b-11. Paul instructs Titus to proclaim the gospel of justification by grace (5) and to also insist that the church devote themselves to good works (1, 8, 14). The good works are in response to the Holy Spirit’s washing … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, divisions, faithfulness, genuineness, gospel, grace, sanctification, witness
Tagged Titus 3
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mission: insist on good works
Titus 3:1-8a. Paul is the champion of salvation by grace, apart from works. He teaches that in this text when he says that God “saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own … Continue reading
mission: model a transformed community
Titus 2. God’s grace has appeared to all people, and has brought salvation (11). It has appeared in the person of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness … Continue reading
mission: facilitate order
Titus 1:5-16. The Cretans were not known for their honesty and trustworthiness. They were likely to fall for false teachings, and Paul warned Titus that the island had “many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers” (10). Titus was tasked … Continue reading
mission: preach the faith
Titus 1:1-4. Paul had placed Titus in Crete for the reason that Timothy had been stationed in Ephesus. Titus was a missionary, tasked with the establishment of the newly planted churches. Titus was a disciple of Paul – or, as … Continue reading
Posted in church, destruction in hell, eternal life, faith, gospel, resurrection, witness
Tagged Titus 1
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mission: be devoted to discipling
2 Timothy 2. False teaching had infested Ephesus, so Paul warned Timothy to avoid its “irreverent babble” because it would “lead people into more and more ungodliness” (16). He instructed Timothy not to debate these teachers, because their “foolish, ignorant … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, divisions, faithfulness, gospel, grace, holiness, ministry, missions, sanctification, scriptures, witness, works
Tagged 2 Timothy 2
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mission: do not be ashamed
2 Timothy 1:8-18. Most of the leaders in the churches of Asia Minor had already stopped visiting Paul – apparently ashamed that he was still imprisoned. In this section, Paul explains why Timothy should not join them, in deserting him … Continue reading
Posted in church, commitment, faithfulness, gospel, Holy Spirit, missions, witness
Tagged 2 Timothy 1
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mission: revive the passion
2 Timothy 1:1-7. Paul’s final words to Timothy are recorded in this letter. They reveal the priorities of a man who was impassioned with the gospel. He was motivated by the “promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus.” … Continue reading
mission: manage the ministry
1 Timothy 5:1-6:2. As a missionary, tasked with the role of developing the churches in Ephesus, Timothy had the responsibility to see to it that the various ministries were staffed. Paul gives him instructions on how to honor those who … Continue reading
Posted in church, integrity, leadership, ministry, missions, trust, wisdom, witness
Tagged 1 Timothy 5, 1 Timothy 6
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when Christ comes: three questions answered
1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11. Paul had been instructing the Thessalonians about making Christ come into their city by sharing the gospel and thus building the kingdom. He now answers three questions about the hope of Christ coming again physically and setting … Continue reading
Posted in faith, hope, love, self-control, sleep of death, witness
Tagged 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Thessalonians 5
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Devotions 