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Memorize Scripture: Titus 3:14-15

Paul wraps up his letter to Titus with a final encouragement and an exchange of greetings. His final statement is his common expression of grace.

See this passage at Titus 3:14-15:

Titus 3:15-16

Paul gives Titus one last instruction in the first verse of this passage. He states that “Our people too must learn to devote themselves…”

This untranslated “too” ties this statement directly to the one before it where Paul tells Titus to help meet the needs of Zenas and Apollos. The believers on Crete, as well as you and I, must learn to meet the needs of others and do good works. This is not simply limited to the two men who brought Paul’s letter to Crete, but should be a way of life for all believers, meeting the needs of those around them.

Paul expands this though by giving two purposes for these good works.

They help provide for daily necessities

These are the things that we need each day to function. The idea behind this phrase means pressing needs or urgent necessities. In classical Greek, the idea is that of the necessary things of life. This would include things like food, clothing and shelter, but wouldn’t necessarily be limited to that. Indispensable wants would also be included in this idea as well.

They help us to not live unproductive lives

When we see and grasp each opportunity to do good works, we become fruitful. Paul encourages Titus to teach the believers on Crete to learn to seize these opportunities as they occur. Producing fruit is an indicator of our faith. If we do not display fruit, we show that we are not growing, and in John 15, Jesus warns that the unproductive branches will be pruned.

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Book Review – River’s Edge by Terri Blackstock

River's EdgeOccasionally, I really enjoy a good novel. And one of my favorite genres is the suspense or thriller genre. When I read fiction, it usually falls into this category.

Recently, I was able to pick up a copy of the third book in Terri Blackstock’s Cape Refuge series. Since I hadn’t read the first two books, I was hesitant to begin it, not knowing how much I had missed in the previous stories. So I did a bit of searching, and found a copy of the first two novels in the series in one volume.

After reading the first book, I was hooked. I devoured books one and two in three evenings, and then began to read River’s Edge.

This series is a pretty fun series to read, and the third installment is no different. These stories are about two sisters who live on a barrier island off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Their tiny island is rocked by the murder of their parents in the first book.

While they struggle to make sense of their new reality, plus run a halfway house that helps people get back on their feet, the island is faced with new tragedies in the second and third books. Solving the crimes is only part of the story plot. These sisters are also searching for the hand of God in the midst of personal and community devastation.

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Moving Forward When It Is More Comfortable To Stay Where You Are

Sometimes the hardest time to move forward is when things are going great.  I know that sounds kind of crazy, but it is definitely true. Sometimes it is more difficult to move forward when everything is going well than it is when you face tough circumstances.

Moving Forward

When times are tough, you have to make choices. You have to implement change. You have to take steps just to get through to the other side of the rough circumstances. You have to move. Everything depends on it.

But when things are going well, it is much harder to take steps that will get you to the next level. Our mentality is, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” And that’s a shame, because times like these are the perfect times to take strides to build yourself, or your church, or your business, to even greater things.

When things are going well, it isn’t time to relax and take a break. No, it’s time to move ahead with excitement and energy.

That is where we are as a church right now. Last year, we faced a pretty tough set of circumstances with some back taxes that had been neglected. On top of that we owed a balance on a couple of properties that the church had bought. We were making it, but God had greater things in store for us, and incredible lessons to learn.

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Book Review – Romans 8-16 For You by Timothy Keller

Romans 8-16 For YouOne of my favorite authors is Timothy Keller. And one of my favorite Bible Study series is the For You series from The Good Book Company.

So when I found that a new installment in this series was being released, I grabbed a copy as quickly as I could. This particular volume is the second half of the book of Romans, finishing what Romans 1-7 For You began.

As usual, Keller takes Scripture and brings it to a very understandable level. It doesn’t matter how familiar you may or may not be with Paul’s letter to the Romans, Timothy Keller can help you glean several gold nuggets of knowledge from each chapter that will deepen your walk with Christ.

Romans is one of Paul’s longer and deeper letters. It’s one of those books in the Bible that you have to read very carefully, or else you’ll miss something. And the chances are good that you’ll miss something anyway. Having a resource nearby, such as a commentary or a Bible study like this one, is incredible beneficial.

I have several commentaries on my shelf on the book of Romans for this very reason. Two of my favorites are the College Press commentary on Romans, by Jack Cottrell, and the IVP commentary by Leon Morris. Both of these have helped me immensely as I strive to understand Romans. But this second volume by Timothy Keller, paired with the first half, may just be my favorite go-to resource for Romans.

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Coffee Break – 02.23.2015

After missing last week, the Coffee Break is back on schedule! If you haven’t heard, our newest addition to the family was born on February 12, a healthy baby girl, bringing our family to a total of nine!

Coffee Break

20 Facts About Coffee – There are facts listed on this infographic that I didn’t know. And there are several that I’d like to research further, simply because I find them interesting, such as how many beans it takes to make other varieties of coffee drinks.

What You Can Do To Be Productive On A Snow Day – We have a lot of snow. For the first time this winter, there is enough for the kids to sled and build snowmen. They love it. But when it snows a lot, and sleets, and keeps many of us at home, a snow day can be very disruptive. Here are some ideas to enjoy the day, and still get something accomplished.

Droids Of Star Wars – Because I am a Star Wars fan. What else needs to be said?

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Memorize Scripture: Titus 3:12-13

Paul’s letter to Titus is almost complete. All that is left are a few personal greetings and instructions. And though these seem inconsequential, they actually provide some significant insight into Paul’s life and companions.

You can the first part of these personal greetings at Titus 3:12-13:

Titus 3:12-13

Throughout the letter, Paul has given some strong, long-term instructions to Titus, indicating that he was to stay in Crete. However, in his final remarks, he lets Titus know that he is considering a replacement for Titus, at least for a while, so that Titus can join him for the winter.

What this was for, we do not know. Perhaps Paul wanted to give some additional, more in-depth instruction to Titus about ministry. Perhaps he had a different task for Titus in mind.

Either way, he is considering two men as potential replacements for Titus: Artemus or Tychicus. One of these men will arrive soon after Titus receives this letter, quite possible carried by Zenas and Apollos, as indicated in verse 13.

Of the two possible replacements, we know nothing of Artemas. This is the only mention of him in the New Testament. The most logical assumption is that he is another of Paul’s pupils, and has been instructed on how to spread the message of the Gospel of Christ.