Field Notes of an Ordinary Pastor
10 links to check out over the weekend…
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The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 3:3
v3a: When we consider what we were like before God saved us, it should “reduce pride” and stop us being “impatient and bitter, harsh and severe,” and produce hope toward those who currently are as we once were.
v3b: We were foolish, “lacking true spiritual understanding and knowledge, ignorant of heavenly things”; disobedient, “headstrong and hardhearted, resisting the word and rebellious”; deceived, “wandering from the ways of truth and holiness”; enslaved, “worldly people think they simply enjoy their pleasures, [but] the Word calls it slavery”; living in malice and envy, desiring “another’s harm and [rejoicing] in it” and begrudging and complaining at another’s good; hateful and detesting one another, “those who are sinful, living and indulging themselves in sin, are hateful to God and all good people.”
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
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The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 3:1-2
v1: “Forgetfulness of duty is a common weakness,” so we “need to be reminded and encouraged” to do what God requires of us. “Ministers are people’s reminders of their duty. Just as in their prayers they are reminders on behalf of the people to God, so in their preaching they are reminders from God to the people.” One duty required of us is to submit to the government over us when what they ask, “is lawful, honourable, and what they may legitimately require by virtue of their office.”
v2: “Loose and uncharitable talk is displeasing to God and harmful among people.” Therefore, “if no good can be spoken,” then we should “say nothing rather than speak evil unnecessarily. We must never take pleasure in speaking ill of others,” including “misrepresentations, insinuations of bad intentions,” and “speaking of things outside our reach or understanding.” We need to be reminded of this, so that by our behaviour we don’t “displease and dishonour God and discredit Christianity.”
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:13-15
v13: Our great hope is “heaven and its happiness.” When Jesus appears, this hope will be a reality as we will “be where he is,” and we will “behold his glory.” This future that will be ours should stir us up “to lead a good life” and “to live well” as we wait.
v14: By taking on flesh, Jesus, the Son of God, “could obey, suffer, and die for humanity and be fit to deal with humanity on their behalf.” He did so not just to bring us pardon and forgiveness, but “to purify as well.” If we “love and live in sin,” we “trample underfoot redeeming blood” because “the intention of Christ’s death” was to make “for himself a people that are his very own by purifying them.”
v15: Pastors are to teach “the truths and duties of the Gospel, the duties of avoiding sin and living lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly in this present world.” They “must not be cold or lifeless in communicating” this, “as if they were ordinary or insignificant things.” No, “they must call on people to take note and obey, and not be hearers only… but doers of the word.”
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
Sermon I preached on Matthew 16:13-20 at Banstead Community Church on 16th January 2022.
1. Jesus will grow His church
2. Jesus will guard His church
More sermons can be found HERE
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The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:11-12
v11: The gospel brings salvation. It both “reveals and offers” salvation “to sinners and ensures it to believers.” This “salvation from sin and wrath, from death and hell,” is “open to all,” to Jews and to Gentiles, “and all are invited to come and share in its benefits.”
v12: God’s grace in the gospel brings salvation and it leads to transformation by giving “directions about what to shun and what to follow, what to avoid and what to do.” It “first teaches us to stop doing what is evil, to abandon sin,” to put away “ungodliness, irreligion, all unbelief, worldly passions, neglect or disrespect of the divine Being,” and “not loving him, fearing him, trusting in him, or obeying him as we should.” But then it teaches us to do what is good, to “live soberly with respect to ourselves, properly governing our appetites and passions,” to “live uprightly toward all others… doing good to others according to our ability and their need,” and to “be godly toward God, by fulfilling the duties of his worship and service.”
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
Lord God Almighty,
You graciously and generously fill our lives with many wonderful things.
You bless us with friends, family, and wealth that most people in this world can’t even imagine.
We confess today that we are prone to love your good gifts far more than we love you.
We covet and long for things that you haven’t given us,
or we are filled with fearful anxiety if we think that you might take away the things or people that we have come to love so much.
Father, thank you for your deep and endless mercy to rebels like us.
Thank you, Jesus, for enduring for us the full fury of your Father’s just hatred for sin,
and for paying the price for every single idolatrous thought, sinful act, and moment of unbelief we would engage in.
Holy Spirit, help us to see our many idols, and incline our stubborn hearts to repent.
Open our blind eyes to see the Lamb of God lifted up for us, so that his redeeming blood could cleanse us.
Amen
Source: Adapted from Prone to Wander by Barbara Duguid & Wayne Houk
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10 links to check out over the weekend…
(Photo: Ryan McGuire)
The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:9-10
v9: Submission to the commands of our employer does not means “either obeying or pleasing them absolutely, without any restrictions… If God’s command and the earthly master’s [employer’s] compete with each other, we are instructed to obey God rather than a human being.” But where what we are told to do is “lawful” and “not against the will” of Christ, we should strive to please them and do our duty as a way that we serve Christ.
v10: Working humbly, obediently, and faithfully is one of the ways we commend the gospel and make the teaching of Christ attractive to those outside the church, and “demonstrate the excellences of his truth and ways.” Christian employees should stand out as being “more obedient and submissive, more just and faithful, and more conscientious in their positions” because we want to please Christ by our work.
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:6-8
v6: Young men are to be exhorted and urged to be self-controlled. They are to be “considerate, not rash; teachable and submissive, not stubborn and headstrong; humble, not haughty or proud.” Being self-controlled “will prevent much sin and sorrow.”
v7: Pastors must be good examples to the flock. They “cannot expect to teach others very successfully” if they do not conduct themselves well. Without a good example, “he will tear down with one hand what he builds with the other.” A good example will “both teach things and impress the things taught.” Pray for your pastors.
v8: The life of a pastor must be “consistent with their teaching” and “their teaching must be consistent with the word.” There will always be those who are “watching for them to stumble” and who “will try to find or pick holes in their teaching or behaviour.” Pastors must therefore keep watch over both their life and their words “so that no just cause can be found against them.”
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:3-5
v3: “Women are to hear and learn their duty from the word as much as the men do.” Older women are to behave and act as “is right for holy people, such as they profess to be and should be.”
v4: Older women must teach the younger women. If their “actions and behaviour are consistent with holiness,” they will teach “by example, by their good life.” This isn’t the only way they are to teach the younger women. They should also be “instructing and advising them in the duties of religious faith according to their age.”
v5a: Young women are to be encouraged “to have a good personal character” and “to do their duties with regard to their husband and children” (if they are married with children).
V5b: Failure of believers, both men and women, to live out their faith in everyday life, especially in their relationships, harms the cause of Christ in the eyes of the world.
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)
The Big Read – Daily Read
Titus 2:1-2
v1: Christians need instruction, not only in general matters, but also practical and particular teaching. We need practical teaching regarding “what belongs to [our] age, place, or condition of life.” Leaders “must teach people their duty, all people and each person” to “equip them for the service of God and make them strong in it.”
v2: Older men “must conduct themselves in everything in a way” that is faithful to the truth of the gospel, not only for the sake of their spiritual “health and fitness for service,” but also “so that they may both advise and set an example to younger men.” Even in their older age they must “be on their guard against” any “weaknesses and temptations” they are prone to.
Devotional notes adapted from Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
(Photo: Brad Neathery)