July 17, 2023

Titus 1:1-9 (HCSB)
Greeting
1 Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3 In His own time He has revealed His message in the proclamation that I was entrusted with by the command of God our Savior: 4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith. Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. Titus’s Ministry in Crete 5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town: 6 one who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 For an overseer, as God’s administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.

Barry Cobb
My wife and I have been members at Temple for almost 20 years. As I look at our congregation today, there are so many interesting stories to be told. Some of you have been members since the beginning, some of you are brand new. Some have come from other parts of the country (or world), and some have lived here all of your life. Regardless of our differences, God has us here for a reason. In today’s reading, we see Paul’s instructions to his “true son” Titus. While verses 6-9 show the characteristics that He is to look for when appointing elders, verse 5 is what sticks out to me. Paul starts this verse by saying “the reason that I left you in Crete”. Whether you’re here at Temple for a lifetime or just a season, God has a purpose for your time here. Let’s make every day count!