Training is the key

"You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine." -Titus 2:1 NIV

The Pastoral Letters in the New Testament gives us practiclas on how to be an effective leader in the Lord's church. Titus, a protege of the Apostle Paul and a partner in the gospel, was instructed how tro train and raise up new leaders. The foundation of such training is teaching the correct doctrine, which is to say to not distort the Truth about Christ.

In verses 2 through 11, Paul instructs Titus to teach believers about specific areas in their character. Verses 3 through 5 are especially eye-opening, because Titus is instructed to not only work with the womwn of the church, but in teurn train them to teach other women about specific needs of the home (specifically, how these women can be better wives and mothers). In the past it is interpreted to men that the men in the church lead the women lead the women. However, if you look closely, this passage has nothing to do with leadership, but training and meeting specific needs. While each individual Christian has different area of their character to deal with, the Point to Paul's instruction to titus is to train other believers and facilitate spirtual growth.

Training is the key to growth. It all starts with proper teaching of the Word and our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory Days

Note: this is an outline of a sermon delivered by Don Split of the San Diego church of Christ to the Sacramento Church on May 3, 2009:

Nehemiah 4: 1-5
-Is the church where you want it to be?
-Are your glory days ahead of you or behind you?
-Are you weeping or rejoicing?

There is NO deadness in God; it is time to build a new wall! It is time to thrive and not merely exist!

John 12:23-34
-Do you want to be one seed or many?
-Are you "sold out" for God?

II Peter 1:5-11
-Progress, NOT perfection! (it is all about spiritual growth).
-Examples: digging deeper in the Word, intimate prayer, sharing the gospel with new people, etc.
-Time to move on from the hurts of the past and make progress!
II Corinthians 4:16
-Focus on the unseen.
-Believe God has a lot in store for you and His church.

Personal thoughts: In the wake of the continual recovery from the hurts of the past, we as believers need to move forward. It is not only for the sake of our own salvation, but to touch people's lives through Jesus Christ. It all starts from reading the Scriptures daily, prayer, and devotion to one another (Acts 2:42-47, Hebrews 10:23-25). Growth starts NOW!