In our last visit we found the phrase “doing what is good” or something close to it is mentioned 8 times in the book of Titus. We tried understanding what each reference had to say based on the context. Now we need to put it into an outline to organize our thoughts and remember them better.
Here’s what I came up with: for the title – the church is the seedbed for nurturing what is good in our lives. 1. Exhibiting what is good. 2. Encouraging what is good. 3. Enablement for doing what is good.
Now let’s amplify each point. Under exhibiting what is good notice that often a false belief system results in a lifestyle that’s unfit for doing anything good. This is seen in the lives of false prophets referred to in the closing verses of chapter 1.
Titus is encouraged to influence young men by teaching with integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that can’t be condemned, and setting an example by doing what is good. To exhibit what is good in your behavior you need to examine your belief system. Foundational to sound living is Sound doctrine. Loving what is good motivates you to exhibit what is good, resulting in an eagerness to do what is good. Christian behavior is caught by others, often without them even being aware of it. It’ll cause them to ask, “What makes you tick?” It also rebukes and silences critics.
May God inspire and enable the church to nurture lives that exhibit what is good.
