Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Titus 2:10-13 10 So that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior  attractive. 11  For the grace  of God has appeared  that offers salvation to all people.   12  It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,  and to live self-controlled,  upright and godly lives  in this present age,   13  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing  of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ In the second chapter of Titus, Paul exhorts Titus to teach sound doctrine and then he applies it to each age group: older men and women, younger men and women, and servants, which is also translated slaves.   Importantly Paul links Christian behavior to the attractiveness of the gospel for people outside of the church. Paul summarizes the teaching to each age group by saying, " So that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. "   One commentators says this,  Thus we see how ‘the doctrine of God our Savior

Titus 1:5-9 The reason I left you in Crete  was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders  in every town, as I directed you.   6  An elder must be blameless,  faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.   7  Since an overseer  manages God’s household,  he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.   8  Rather, he must be hospitable,  one who loves what is good,  who is self-controlled,  upright, holy and disciplined.   9  He must hold firmly  to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine  and refute those who oppose it. Today we start Paul's short pastoral letter to Titus, which is similar to two letters he wrote to Timothy.  This epistle was written by the apostle Paul to encourage his brother in the faith, Titus, whom he had left in Crete to lead

2 Timothy 4:6-8   For I am already being poured out like a drink offering,  and the time for my departure is near.   7  I have fought the good fight,  I have finished the race,  I have kept the faith.   8  Now there is in store for me  the crown of righteousness,  which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day —and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. As Paul continues to encourage Timothy to be faithful to his calling to preach the gospel, he reflects on his own life.  Paul had been through many trials and tribulations and is imprisoned as he writes this letter.  Despite his circumstances he is at peace with his life.  He says he has already been poured out like a "drink offering".  Drink offerings were things sacrificed and offered up to God and in other cases "gods".   The essence of the thing offered was drained out and given to God sacrificially.  In Jesus' case, his blood was poured out on the cross so t

2 Timothy 3:14-17  " But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it,   15  and how from infancy  you have known the Holy Scriptures,  which are able to make you wise  for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.   16  All Scripture is God-breathed  and is useful for teaching,  rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,   17  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." As Paul continues to coach his protege Timothy, he reminds him of the importance of scripture.  This is the Word of God he had grown up learning about from his mother and grandmother.  I would have loved to see how his mom and grandmom taught him the holy scriptures.  It obviously had a big impact on him.  Not only did he learn it, but he became convinced of it.  This can only mean that he experienced its truth through application in real life which gave him confidence in it.   Import

2 Timothy 2:1-3 2  You then, my son,  be strong  in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.   2  And the things you have heard me say  in the presence of many witnesses  entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.   3  Join with me in suffering,  like a good soldier  of Christ Jesus. Paul continues to encourage Timothy in his calling to be the pastor of the church at Ephesus.  He says something which at first might seem unusual.  He says, " Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus ." Twenty five times Paul encouraged Timothy to "be strong", and this time it was strength in the grace given through Jesus.   God is always there to give us strength but Guzik says, " God makes the resource of His strength available to us. Yet it does not come as we sit back passively and suppose that God will simply pour it into us. He brings His strength to us as we seek Him and rely on Him instead of our own strength." Paul says to

2 Timothy 1:5-6  "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.   7  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid,  but gives us power,  love and self-discipline." As we begin Paul's second letter to his protege Timothy, we see Paul's deep concern for him.  Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus, one of the most strategically located churches Paul had planted.  Timothy was a younger man and had a tendency toward timidity.  We don't know exactly how it manifested itself, but Paul uses phrases like, "be strong in the grace of God in Christ Jesus." Or, "Remain strong like a soldier in battle."  This could be related to dealing with internal conflicts in the church, or from preaching the gospel where there was the threat of persecution.  The latter seems probable since Paul himself was imprisoned for preaching the gospel.  So Paul reminds him when he laid han

1 Timothy 6:2These are the things you are to teach and insist on.   3  If anyone teaches otherwise  and does not agree to the sound instruction  of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,   4  they are conceited  and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words  that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions   5  and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth  and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. Paul is always concerned about good teaching.  Why? Because bad teaching can lead people away from Christ.  Bad teaching can be a slippery slope for either legalism or cheap grace.  Legalism is teaching that leads people back to trying to measure up to the law. It never works.  The law doesn't change anyone. Cheap grace is when you are taught you are forgiven so you can do whatever you want and then just ask forgiveness.  It is trading on the grace of God.

1 Timothy 5:1-8 5   Do not rebuke an older man  harshly,  but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men  as brothers,   2  older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.  3  Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need.   4  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents,  for this is pleasing to God.   5  The widow who is really in need  and left all alone puts her hope in God  and continues night and day to pray  and to ask God for help.   6  But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.   7  Give the people these instructions,  so that no one may be open to blame.   8  Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied  the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. Since there was no welfare system in Paul&#