Church plants on Crete needs sturdy leadership.

Paul gives Titus a blueprint for good works that adorn the gospel sound

teaching that transforms daily life.

This is Seek Go Create.

You're listening to read the New Testament in 90 days, 27 books in

order in context, while walking through the entire New Testament, the

way it was written, so you can hear it the way the first churches did.

Make sure if you haven't done it already, I keep encouraging you

to go to K two M Foundation slash.

T 90.

That is a hub that's got all, all the stuff you need, including some background

sources and information and links to all the episodes for this reading plan,

K two M Foundation slash NT 90 today.

Stop.

Titus short letter with a big assignment.

I like to say it packs quite the punch here.

Some key facts.

The author is Paul.

The date is AD 65, the year 65 in the first century.

The audience, while it's specifically written to Titus,

who has been establishing churches on the island of Crete.

But similar to one Timothy, this letter is meant to be heard by the churches.

So Paul is giving Titus public authority sort of writing to the

church through Titus the setting 35 years post or after the resurrection.

Paul seems to be moving quickly in some of the things he's writing now.

James and Peter, we know.

Have already been martyred, and I'm sure that that word has traveled throughout the

empire, so these people are aware of it.

There's a sense of urgency.

Let's look at who Titus is.

Titus is Paul's troubleshooter is the word we like to use.

My true child in a common faith.

He's a Greek convert.

He was never.

Circumcised.

Paul and Titus have known each other for at least 16 years.

We know they were together at the Jerusalem Council in 80 49, which was 16

years prior to this letter being written.

Paul refused to circumcised him.

Even under pressure, Titus became a test case for Gentile Freedom in Christ.

When the Corinthian church was fracturing, Paul sent Titus twice.

He was the first to deliver a painful letter.

Then to organize the collection for Jerusalem, Paul trusted him

with the hardest assignments.

Now, Titus has Crete young churches, no structure, a culture

that's notorious for dishonesty and false teachers are moving in.

This is exactly the kind of mess that Tus seems to know how to handle.

The historical context, in Rome, Nero's on the throne, and let's just

say he's persecuting Christians.

Okay?

We've discussed that in previous, in previous episodes.

We know that Nero is wreaking havoc in Jerusalem.

The temple is still intact.

Tensions are at a breaking point.

However, we're only five years that we now know.

Before the destruction occurs, the church, the leadership crisis is undeniable.

James has been killed.

Peter has been martyred Paul senses and knows that he's next.

He's establishing leaders everywhere, and these last few letters of Paul seem to be.

Getting leadership lessons in writing.

Let's talk about the island of Crete.

It's a large island on the Mediterranean trade routes.

Jews from Crete, were at Pentecost.

We know that from Acts two 11.

The gospel may have arrived early.

In other words, people may have left Pentecost and taken the

gospel back to the island of Crete.

We don't know that exactly, but we can speculate.

But the culture there is notorious.

Paul quotes a Cretin poet.

And this is his quote from chapter one verse 12.

Cretins are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.

That is strong words, but Paul's not insulting.

He's acknowledging the challenge.

Why?

Paul gives Titus a blueprint.

Appoint elders teach sound doctrine.

Build communities that can stand, own their own.

What you'll encounter in Titus.

It's practical and beautiful, good works that adorn the gospel.

You'll hear about appointing elders in every town above reproach,

able to teach self-controlled.

You'll hear a rebuke of false teachers who upset.

Whole families teaching for shameful gain.

Teach what?

Accords with sound doctrine.

Older men, older women, younger women, younger men, bond servants.

We we'll hear about all of those groups.

Adorn.

The doctrine, interesting term, so that in everything they make, the teaching

about God our savior attractive, the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation.

Training us to renounce ungodliness and waiting for the

Blessed hope saved by Mercy.

Zealous for good works, not by works of righteousness we

have done, but by his mercy.

I love this term, the blessed hope waiting.

For the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

In chapter two, verse 13, this isn't a distant expectation.

Remember this was written in 65.

The end of the age is.

Close.

The coming is soon.

Good works flow from the resurrection power.

The spirit poured out through Jesus.

Regenerating and renewing Chapter three verse five and six, one loaded sentence

captures everything Grace appeared.

Grace trains grace.

Weights.

You're gonna read Titus Nice short book.

Some of you're gonna be excited in one sitting.

And again, don't read this one lightly.

Paul puts a bunch of stuff in this letter to Titus in our next episode.

Woo.

I'm so excited.

We will get to John the last gospel.

It's gonna answer some.

Deep theological questions.

Basically, who is Jesus believe and have life in His name?

Make sure you're continuing to follow along with what we're doing

at K two M Foundation slash NT 90.

Now let's set the stage for reading this letter from Paul to Titus.

The fishing village smells of salt and olive oil.

You're sitting in a house near the harbor, one of a dozen believers gathered

after sunset, the day's work is done.

Oil lamps flicker against whitewashed walls.

Someone enters with a letter from Paul for Titus Titus Breaks the seal.

He reads aloud, appoint elders in every town.

As I directed you, the room shifts.

This is an advice.

It's a blueprint.

You think of the other islands, the other towns.

Paul is doing this everywhere, establishing leaders before

it's too late, James is dead.

Peter is dead.

Paul knows he's next.

For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people.

Outside the Mediterranean stretches dark toward Rome,

toward fire, toward martyrdom.

But here in this room, grace is training a people to wait for the blessed hope,

and that hope seems so close now.

Now let's read