Your Job – Show and Tell

ByJim Stephens

Reading: Titus 2; Psalm 137

1 Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. 7 But mostly, show them all this by doing it yourself, incorruptible in your teaching, 8 your words solid and sane. Then anyone who is dead set against us, when he finds nothing weird or misguided, might eventually come around. (Titus 2:1, 7-8 MSG)

Paul commissioned Titus to be the pastor of the newly established church on the island of Crete. Paul’s instruction to Titus about how to establish a healthy church and raise up mature Christians is focused on the practical, everyday side of life.

They didn’t have the New Testament yet to base their teaching and practices on. They didn’t have a denominational headquarters to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. They didn’t know what came next in terms of development and growth, nor did Paul know how much time he had left to teach and train leaders.

They did, however, know the importance of establishing solid teaching that was strong on practical application and would lead to living Godly lives. Paul told Titus to teach people to live disciplined, responsible lives, and that it was most of all important to demonstrate his practical teaching in his own life.

That was Titus’ job:

  • Keep it Simple – Talk about the things that make for a disciplined and responsible life.
  • Show and Tell – Live an example: Teachers must apply their teaching to their own lives.
  • Solid and Sane – Nothing fancy, nothing weird. Teaching the truths that lead to a strong church and spiritually healthy people.

We have a lot more resources to work with than Titus had all those years ago in the island nation of Crete, but we still need solid teaching that is strong on practical application and leads to living Godly lives. And we still need pastors and teachers who will live what they teach and practice what they preach!

Prayer:

Father, I commit myself to live what I teach. I purpose to concentrate my teaching on the things that contribute to living responsibly and well. I ask for your help to live what I teach: a solid and sane life. May it be so!