4 October 2020 AM – Titus 2:15 – Tit20 – Scott Childs
Introduction: When I was in Bible College, I worked in the college kitchen to help pay my school bill. My duties were to assist the cooks, clean the walk-in coolers, and put deliveries in the walk-in freezer. If I had failed to do those duties, I would have lost my job.
Preachers also have duties. Some of those duties are discussed in our text this morning.
Transition: This verse reveals three duties of a preacher, but in many ways, all three of his duties apply to every Christian.
1. Know the Word
a. He cannot preach what he does not know
1) These things refer primarily to the doctrines noted in Titus 2:1-14. The exhortation (Tit 2:1-10). The explanation (Tit 2:11-14).
a) These doctrinal teachings are God’s Word.
b) God inspired them. God breathed them to Paul who wrote them down.
c) They are God’s mind revealed to us. Someone once said that the Bible is God’s mind concerning everything we need to know to live the Christian life.
d) They are sound doctrine or health-giving teaching. You cannot be spiritually healthy without obeying God’s Word. (Proverbs 13:13) “Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.“
2) In a general sense, these things apply to all of God’s Word. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.“
b. Every preacher must be a student of the Bible
1) Of all men, the preacher must study Scripture. He must know it well. To young preacher Timothy, Paul wrote, (2 Timothy 2:15) “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.“
2) The preacher must hold firmly the Word. (Titus 1:9) “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.“
3) This is also true of every Christian. Do you daily study the Bible? Do you journal what you learn each day? Are you daily growing in your knowledge of God’s Word?
a) Charles Spurgeon, the notable Baptist preacher once said, “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
b) D. L. Moody, another great preacher, noted, “Sin will keep you from this Book or this Book will keep you from sin.”
c) If you do not follow a Bible reading schedule and read to feed your soul each day, you will lack God’s direction and His closeness in your life.
The Preacher must know the Word.
2. Preach the Word
a. He must speak
1) A key element of preaching is speaking. It is true, every Christian should preach with his life. Jesus said, (Matthew 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” A Christian can preach by writing (e.g., letters, emails, Facebook, etc.). However, the main way a preacher preaches is by speaking.
2) God chose to use preaching to spread the Gospel. (Romans 10:14) “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (1 Corinthians 1:21) “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.“
3) God specifically calls some men to be pastors, evangelists or missionaries. Their main job is to speak or preach the Word. Paul charged preacher Timothy to, (2 Timothy 4:2) “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.“
4) Titus received this charge to speak these things. It was not a suggestion; it was an imperative command. He must study carefully the things that the Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write and then he must speak them. He was to be a messenger of the King of kings.
5) A little boy returned home after attending Sunday school. His mother asked, “Who was your teacher?” and the little boy answered, “I don’t remember her name, but she must have been Jesus’ grandmother because she didn’t talk about anyone else.” Illustrations Unlimited
6) What a testimony! Every Christian has the duty to speak the Word to those around him. If you know Christ, you have a moral obligation to share with others the Good News that can rescue them from hell.
b. He must exhort
1) We saw this word exhort back in Titus 1:9. It means to call someone to your side to admonish, instruct, beg, comfort, or encourage. It means to press with earnestness. Henry
2) Titus was to encourage the Cretian believers to flesh out these practical sound doctrines.
3) A preacher must preach the whole counsel of God. He must uphold both grace and duty. Paul was able to say, (Acts 20:27) “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.” Sometimes we need to hear things from God’s Word that convict us. They may hurt our feelings and wound our pride, but they are the words we need to hear the most. They are for our good.
4) The preacher must not be a man-pleaser. He must not fear what people will say. (Proverbs 29:25) “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.“
c. He must rebuke with all authority
1) The word “rebuke” means to convict, refute, expose, correct, or chide. In other words, he must reprehend any who may disregard these sound doctrines.
2) Though this is an unpleasant task, the preacher must do it with all authority or with authoritativeness. He is speaking the Word of the Lord God of heaven. He need not be ashamed of his divine message.
The Preacher must know the Word and he must preach the Word.
3. Live the Word
a. This verse ends with another command.
1) “Let no man despise thee” is a command.
2) The word despise may mean to consider or examine on all sides; to set one’s self in thought above another; to contemn or to despise.
b. How should we interpret this command?
1) It may mean let no one contradict you or despise what you say. How could a preacher prevent that? If he preaches something that others dislike, he cannot control their response.
2) It may also mean let no one condemn you. This seems more likely. In other words, give the listener no justifiable occasion for rejecting the Word. Be kind and tactful. Speak the truth in love. Conduct yourself in a way that will command respect.
3) As we speak out for Christ, our lives must support what we say. Jesus said many harsh words to religious men of His day, yet His life backed up His lips. He spoke the truth in love. None of us can effectively preach the doctrines of this chapter if we do not first practice them.
Conclusion: The work of a preacher is more than just putting together a talk for Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. As we have learned this morning, three of the preacher’s duties are to speak the Word, preach the Word, and live the Word. Pray for me that I might faithfully fulfil them as your pastor.
If you are a Christian, many of these duties apply just as readily to you. All around us live people who need to hear the Gospel before it is too late.
If you are not sure you are a Christian, please speak to me about it.
