week 8

of the requirements for the completion of the course,

HOMI 601-B02

Foundations of Expository Preaching and Teaching

by

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Overall Theme of the Book of Titus: Paul’s encouragement to Titus to lead the church in Crete in sound doctrine which leads to high moral conduct.

Chapter Themes: Chapter 1 - Elder Qualification, Chapter 2 - Sound Doctrine, Chapter 3 - Biblical Morality

Homiletical Outline: 1:5-9, 1:10-16, 2:1-15, 3:1-11

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Title of Sermon: Identifying Godly Leaders. (Titus 1:5-9)

Main Idea of the Sermon: God has called men who exemplify Godliness in all areas of their life to lead the church.

Introduction Theme: Those who are called to lead the church should be set apart in the way in which they conduct their lives. Paul gives Titus a list of characteristics of what an elder in the church should live like.

Interrogative: What are the qualifications of an elder?

Transition Sentence—emphasizes the MIS: In the text we see four different identifying elements in the characteristics of an elder.

First Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: An elder will keep Godly commitments. (1:5-6)

Illustration: Culture has changed. Times of worship are no longer a priority for many even in the church…

Transition Sentence: Life can get busy. Things can get in the way. What will other say about your priorities when it concerns caring for the bride of Christ?

Second Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: An elder will display Godly conduct. (1:7)

Illustration: When I was in the Army, I had a soldier that always showed up late. He was one of the most talented men I’ve ever known, but he was unreliable…

Transition Sentence: Everyone makes mistakes, but how would the people who encounter you daily describe your conduct?

Third Sermon Division: An elder will live with Godly character. (1:8)

Illustration: I remember the first time I ever cussed in front of my mother. My language hadn’t been good for a while, but I was able to control it when I got home. She was none the wiser until one day when I forgot where I was. What was inside finally came out.

Transition Sentence: Character is often hard to see at first glance, but over time worldly character will spill over, just as Godly character will. How will people describe your character?

Fourth Sermon Division: An elder will have Godly convictions. (1:8)

Illustration: Transformation of the Gospel—testimonies of how the Gospel produced spiritual fruit in God’s word and in the pews…

Conclusion Theme: Eldership is not an appointment that should be taken lightly by the church. Paul has clearly illustrated what the church ought to be looking for as it calls men to lead in the ministry of the church. As the church uses these qualifications to discern whether a man is qualified for this calling, they ought not forget the equally important role that prayer should play in the process.

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Title of Sermon: Confronting Ungodliness (Titus 1:10-16)

Main Idea of the Sermon: To teach sound doctrine, the church must be willing to confront false teaching and those who perpetuate it.

Introduction Theme: Paul calls upon the leaders of the church to beware of people who perversely come in the name of the Lord to serve their own selfish ambitions. They are to be guarded against and confronted to protect the sanctity of God’s holy church.

Interrogative: How should the church respond to those who divide, deceive, and defile the word of God to accommodate their own ideas?

Transition Sentence- that emphasizes the MIS: In the text Paul gives Titus three characteristics of people who should be confronted?

First Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: Those who are divisive should be confronted. (1:10-11)

Illustration: I served on a deacon body in a church in Virginia. After one particularly difficult deacons meeting, I was approached by one of the deacons looking for a few sympathetic ears to take sides with him. This church was on the cusp of a leadership breakdown…

Transition Sentence: Division takes the focus off of the Gospel and places it on individuals, so it is important that divisions be confronted for the unity of the church.

Second Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: Those who are deceptive should be confronted. (1:12-14)

Illustration: Have you ever known someone who just conformed to the thought patterns of the people around them? When I was younger, I noticed about myself that I would start talking like whoever I was around. When someone would talk down about another person, I would join them because I wanted to be accepted. My desire for acceptance resulted in deception…

Transition Sentence: Deception breaks down the church from the inside out, so we must confront and remove deception for the unity of the church.

Third Sermon Division: Those who are defiling should be confronted. (1:11-12)

Illustration: The catholic church has been riddled with scandal concerning priestly misconduct which began coming to light in the 1980s. For many years these scandals were covered up for a number of different reasons. The truth of the matter is that these “leaders” of the church were defiling the sanctity of the body…

Conclusion Theme: Confronting ungodliness is not an easy resolve. Christians must be prayerful in their desire to pursue truth and righteousness before taking action. Confrontation in the church should be done with grace and humility so that Christ-mindedness can be exalted. When we try to look like Christ in our response, we benefit the unity of the body of Christ.

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Title of Sermon: Live a Godly Lifestyle (Titus 2:1-10)

Main Idea of the Sermon: The Bible calls all believers to live righteously, regardless of age or station.

Introduction Theme: We live in a generation when right is called wrong and wrong is called right. The church must stand on the authority of God’s Holy Scripture to be set apart from the world. We should not look the same as the world, but instead we ought to look like Christ to the world.

Interrogative: What does it look like to live a Godly lifestyle in the 21st century?

Transition Sentence- that emphasizes the MIS: In the text we are given three examples of believers who are called to live righteously.

First Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: Live righteously as an older man or woman. (v. 1-3)

Illustration: John Piper wrote a book entitled Don’t Waste Your Life in which he cites a reader’s digest article about a couple who retired early. The article states “Now they live in Punta Gorda, Florida, where they cruise on their 30-foot trawler, play softball and collect shells.” Piper notes the great tragedy and waste of these great years of ministry…

Transition Sentence: our calling to ministry and righteousness does not have a cutoff age, nor does it have a start “age”.

Second Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: Live righteously as a younger man or woman. (v. 4-8)

Illustration: When I was in middle school I had a classmate whose dad was a Baptist preacher. The classmate cursed and talked constantly about inappropriate behavior he had participated in. I was a relatively new believer but couldn’t understand how this person, who claimed to be a Christian, showed no fruit of a redeemed person…

Transition Sentence: We are called to live righteously when we receive Christ into our heart.

Third Sermon Division: Live righteously where God has called you. (v. 9-10)

Illustration: In the book of James, the author (James) greets his audience who are in the dispersion. These are people who are fleeing for their lives because of their faith. Their season was being hated and persecuted, yet James tells them to “count it joy”…

Conclusion Theme: We are called to live righteously as believers. Paul does not add any caveats to righteous living, nor does Christ when he tells us, “be holy because I am holy.” Our righteousness should result from the redemption we have already received and as a sign of the hope we have in eternity with Jesus.

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Title of Sermon: Be a Godly Church (Titus 3:1-11)

Main Idea of the Sermon: Christians have received new life in Christ. Their lives ought to look different than the rest of the world’s. Therefore, the church ought to look different than the world.

Introduction Theme: God sent Christ to earth to be a substitute for our sins. When we respond to Christ through repentance, our lives ought to look different causing our churches to look different. A Godly church should be filled with people who understand God’s grace and respond in obedience to His word.

Interrogative: Why should the church be concerned with works if Christ’s death is sufficient for our sin?

Transition Sentence- that emphasizes the MIS: In the text we are given three reasons for which we ought to do good works.

First Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: We have been called to good works. (v. 1-3)

Illustration: When I was a kid I remember asking my dad “why?” when he asked me to do something. His response was because I told you so…

Transition Sentence: We perform good works because scripture mandates it.

Second Sermon Division that reiterates the MIS: We are regenerated for good works. (v. 4-7)

Illustration: Have you ever known someone who you thought just had a natural inclination for something? Maybe someone who you know has an incredible singing voice and they’ve never even had a vocal lesson.

Transition Sentence: When we are redeemed, we are regenerated for good works.

Third Sermon Division: We will benefit from our good works. (v. 8)

Illustration: I used to love shopping with my mom when I was a kid. I know many of you are thinking, “what boy likes to go shopping?” But I knew what awaited me at the end of that shopping trip. My mom loved for me to spend time with her. And I would gladly do so. At the end of the trip we would always get a treat…

Fourth Sermon Division: Division is not a good work. (v. 9-11)

Illustration: There was a member of my former church who was on the pastor search team when our pastor was called. He was a deacon and he and his wife served on every committee of the church in some capacity. Against his recommendation, the pastor was hired…

Transition Sentence: God has called us to be a people of good works for His glory.

Conclusion Theme: Understanding why we should be a people of good works is essential to how we go about fulfilling that calling. When we reflect the love of Christ in our actions, people want to experience that love. When people experience that love, they get to hear the Gospel. When people hear the Gospel, some come to know Christ and heaven rejoices. God is exalted.

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