Ministry Focus

The Five Pillars of Titus Precepts Ministry

Righteousness in the Church

The Greek word in the New Testament for our English word church is ekklesia. Its literal meaning is "to call out." In secular Greek, ekklesia referred only to an assembly or meeting.

The New Testament reveals a development of the word ekklesia from the nontechnical meaning of "assembly" to its current theological designations for "a called out people of God" or "an assembly of the people of God." There are 109 occasions in the New Testament where the ekklesia church is presented in this light.

So, if the 21st Century church is "an assembly of the people of God" what are the responsibilities of the local church?

Well, the Apostle Paul wrote nine of his thirteen N.T. epistles directly to local churches and three to pastors of local churches.

Paul gives detailed instructions concerning worship services (1 Cor. 11:1-16), communion (1 Cor. 11:17-34), gifts (1 Cor. 12) and officer responsibilities (1 Tim. 3; Titus 1) for local churches. We will not go into detail; that's your study assignment.

Paul looked upon the local church as an institution with programs, plans and purpose. The local church has many responsibilities; below are listed some of the key ones:

    1. To Love God
         "Unto the ... church of Ephesus     write" (Rev.2:1). "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because you have left your first love" (Rev. 2:4).
Churches have a responsibility to elevate and exalt, promote and praise that "name that is above every name" (Phil. 2:9).
    2. To Glorify God  (Eph.1;5,6,11,12,14; 3:21; II Thess.1:12)
         How do we glorify God?
         a. Through praise and prayer.
         b. Through our fruit bearing.
    3.  To display God's grace (Eph. 2:7;3:6,10;1Pet. 2:9).
    4. To evangelize the world (Matt. 28:19,20; Mark 16:15; John 20:21; Acts 1:8; Luke 24:36-48).
    5. To baptize believers (Matt. 28:19).
    6. To instruct believers (Matt. 28:19;Phil. 4:8;1 Tim 4:6;5:17; II Tim.2:2,24,25).
    7. To edify believers (Eph. 4:11, 12,16; Jude 1:20; II Pet.3:18; 1 Cor. 4:26;1 Thess.5:11).
    8.  To discipline believers (There are three kinds of N.T. discipline:
         a. Self-discipline (1Cor.11:31; II Cor.7:1;1 John3:2).
         b. Sovereign discipline (Acts 5:5,10; Eph. 5:26,27; John15:2; Heb. 12:10; 1 Cor. 11:32; 1 Pet. 4:17).
         c. Church discipline (Matt.18:17; Rom.16:17;1 Cor.5:6-13;Gal. 6:1; II Thess 3:6,14; Titus 3:10,11; II John 1:10.).
    9. To provide fellowship for believers (Acts 2:42;1 Cor.1:9; II Cor.8:4;13:14; Gal.2:9;Phil.1:5;2:1;1 John 1:3,6,7).
    10. To care for its own in time of need (II Cor. 8:9; 1 Tim. 5:16; James 1:27).

Righteousness in the Church

The basis of Christian fellowship - The Person of Christ (1 John 1:3).
The nature of Christian fellowship - Sharing (Acts 2:44-47; 4:32,34,35).
The dangers of losing Christian fellowship - Sin (1 Cor. 10:16,21).
Living right in the Church requires us to confess our faults one to another (James 5:16).
Live in Unity (Acts 2:44;4:32; Eph. 4:1-7)
Be generous (Acts 2:45;4:34,35; Eph. 4:28-32)
Be steadfast in doctrine, fellowship, ordinances and prayer (Acts 2:42; Eph. 4:14-16)
Be joyful (Acts 2:46,47; Eph. 5:18-21)
Rebuke sin in each other (Eph. 5:11;1 Tim. 5:20)
Forgive one another (II Cor. 2:6,8; Col. 3:13;Eph. 4:32).
Bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2).
Gently restore one another (Rom. 14:13,19).
Prefer the weaker brother (Rom. 14:13-19).
Comfort and exhort each other (1Thess. 4:18;5:11).
Pray one for another (James 5:16).
Edify one another (Heb. 10:24;Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess. 5:11).
Admonish one another (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16).

Righteousness in Your Personal Life

"Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against You" Psalm 119:11.

Right living must embrace the Word of God as The guide for our personal lives.

By embracing the truths of God's Word the personal life of an individual is changed from the inside out. A Christian leader once said, "if the sanctifying power of the Word of God is not applied to our lives we will become slaves to our own self-destructive desires."
God's Word gives instruction for righteousness. It inspires us to walk in holiness, instructing and correcting us in our daily lives.

God's Word helps us keep our focus on the Kingdom of God. We are told to "... seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness..." God's Word teaches us to have purity of thought, action and speech as we imitate Christ.

If we keep the precepts of God's Word first and foremost in our minds and thoughts, our personal lives will be in proper alignment with His Spirit as we go throughout each day. And we will be "epistles known and read of men" wherever we go.

Righteousness in Society

Here are some things that we, today, can learn from the Christians in the early years of Christianity:
    1. They took the teachings of Jesus at face value. They refused to compromise with any other pagan religions or worldly behavior.
    2. They clearly understood and totally accepted the Christian doctrine of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
    3. There was a power manifest in the Christian disciple of that day that demonstrated the certainty of their declarations.
    4. They abandoned sins when they became Christians. They lived exemplary lives and demonstrated a standard of virtue unknown in the ancient world. They exhibited a godly life in times of much depravity.
    5. The early Christians were of one mind concerning God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the depravity of sin, the necessity of holiness, the inspiration of Scripture and the importance of prayer.

Those early Christians should be our example for living out our lives in our society today, wherever that may be.

Christians must refuse to compromise with the pagan religions and worldly ways of society today. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one can come to the Father by any other way. There is absolute truth in the Word of God.

Worldy opinion and political correctness make Christian doctrine and beliefs seem out of step with "modern thinking." The Bible says that there will be a time when wrong things will be believed to be right and right things wrong. Well, it looks like that time has arrived!

You can live right in today's society if you follow the precepts of the Word of God and allow the Holy Spirit to strengthen you in the inner person. You can live a victorious life in Christ today!

Righeousness in the Home

Psalm 19:7 says, "the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

God has given definite rules pertaining to right living in every area of our lives. His word does not change when we are hidden from the public eye; our behavior should be consistent regardless of where we are at any given time.

Make no mistake about it, we are conveying a message to our families as we live out our lives before them; it is either a good, positive witness for the Lord or one that falls short of what is expected of us.

By having a right relationship with God, we will be determined to follow His word by living out its precepts, principles and commands unswervingly each day of our lives.

Acts 1:8 says, "...be witnesses first in Jerusalem ..." Jerusalem, is home and that is where we begin to live out our witness before we go elsewhere.

A holy life is honored by God. When you are walking with God your heart, mind, body and behavior are to be holy and blameless.

The home is the place where we can "adorn the gospel" for those closest to us.

In the Book of Titus, we read that the truth of God's Word produces godliness in all who embrace it. When we embrace purity of thought, our actions and responses are Christlike; when we put on forgiveness and love we can live in peace; when we are gentle and understanding, we create a safe haven for our family and the seeds of righteousness will flourish there.

"The strength of our nation lies within the homes of its families."

"But as for you, speak up for the right living that goes along with true Christianity." Titus 2:1 Living Bible