Mexborough Baptist Church Sunday 18th April 2021
We welcome everyone to the service today - wherever you are, whatever time of day it is, may God bless our gathering.
Call to Worship
How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron,
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron,
running down over the collar of his robes.
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion.
For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life for evermore.
Psalm 133
This psalm celebrates the blessing of good family life, whether that's our natural families or as the family of God. We're all looking forward to being together more as families and the family of God, but even as we are still scattered we are still family. We gather together as we share this service and our first song reminds us that Jesus is with us - 'As we are gathered, Jesus is here' click on the link
We respond to Jesus' presence by giving him all the praise - 'I Exalt Thee' click on the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxkoBVt-bD0&ab_channel=Psalm23
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Intercessions
Hear us, Risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. O Lord, our hearts overflow with sounds of exultation and victory. We will say it again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” This is your doing, O God, who is our strength and salvation, yours alone, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Father God, we pray for our Queen and her family as they mourn the death of Prince Philip, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather. Please be their comfort and consolation at this time as they adjust to life without him. We pray for all who are mourning loved ones who have died.
Father God, we pray for our church family and the time when we can be together again. Much has changed in the last year; please guide us into the future, show us what you want the church to be like, what you want the church to do, that we may enjoy the blessing of life together and that the blessing might overflow to those around us.
Father God, we pray for those who are not well... name those known to you ... that they may know your love and peace and healing in their lives.
Father God, we pray for our world, especially those countries where the number of covid cases and deaths are high and rising. Lord, have mercy and bring healing to these places and an end to covid in our world.
Hear us, Risen Lord, our resurrection and our life. O Lord, our hearts overflow with sounds of exultation and victory. We will say it again and again, “Jesus has triumphed! Jesus is exalted!” This is your doing, O God, who is our strength and salvation, yours alone, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Amen.
Just before Trevor Mather shares with us his thoughts on his New Testament character, Titus, we sing a wonderful Charles Wesley hymn that is a great favourite of many - 'And Can it be' click on the link
Thank you, Trevor....
Today, we will look at a young man in the New Testament, whom Paul refers to as his partner and fellow worker. His name is Titus 2 Cor. Ch 8 v 23. Paul and Titus were close associates in spreading the Gospel of Jesus and serving the churches that Paul had established during his missionary journeys. It all started during Paul’s first missionary journey, when Titus responded to Paul’s preaching about Jesus being the Saviour and Titus became a believer.
Titus was a Greek and a Gentile. Very little is written about him, he is not even mentioned in the book of Acts, written by Luke, and we can only glean about the contribution Titus made, from the letters of Paul in 2 Corinthians, Galatians and the letter to Titus. In fact he is only mentioned 13 times in Paul’s writings.
We first hear about Titus when Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem and they took Titus with them Galations 2 v 1-5. A controversy had arisen about Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and whether or not they should be compelled to be circumcised Acts 15:1-2. It was Titus who stood before the Jerusalem Council, who proved the test case to show the apostles and other Jewish believers how a non Jew could love God as much as they did and become a follower of Jesus – like most of us!
A significant work was done by Titus in the church at Corinth. This was a church Paul established during his second missionary journey. He spent eighteen months there and had a real affection for the believers, but it was a church in constant need of correction and encouragement. Although it possessed many spiritual gifts, it was, at the same time, weak. It was surrounded by idolatry and immorality and they struggled with their faith and lifestyle.
Through his letters, Paul tried to instruct them in the faith. There were some who questioned Paul’s authority as an Apostle of Christ, and could be antagonistic towards Paul and other Christian brothers whom Paul would send to encourage them, e.g. 1 Corinthians Ch 16 v 10-11. Timothy is the one who delivered the letter we know as 1 Corinthians to the church at Corinth. The letter confronts the Corinthians about their sins and shortcomings and calls them not to blend in with the world and accept its values. He tries to advise them on divisions within the church and when his advice is not taken and their problems not solved, Paul visits them a second time, which is known as a painful visit for both Paul and the Church 2 Corinthians 1 v 1-2 and 2 Corinthians 13 v 1-2. Towards the year 56, Paul sends Titus from Ephesus to Corinth with full commission to remedy the fall out between Paul and the Corinthian church. During this journey Titus served as a courier for what is known as the “severe letter” from Paul. That has been lost to us but is referred to in 2 Corinthians 2 v 3-4.
Titus now has another job to do that Paul mentioned in 1Corinthians 16 v 1-2, that is to organise the collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem who had suffered famine. With the upset in relationships, the collection scheme had slowed down to a standstill. The more delicate task for Titus was smoothing over a tense situation which had arisen by the severe letter he had previously delivered.
We first hear about Titus when Paul and Barnabas went up to Jerusalem and they took Titus with them Galations 2 v 1-5. A controversy had arisen about Gentiles coming to faith in Jesus Christ, and whether or not they should be compelled to be circumcised Acts 15:1-2. It was Titus who stood before the Jerusalem Council, who proved the test case to show the apostles and other Jewish believers how a non Jew could love God as much as they did and become a follower of Jesus – like most of us!
A significant work was done by Titus in the church at Corinth. This was a church Paul established during his second missionary journey. He spent eighteen months there and had a real affection for the believers, but it was a church in constant need of correction and encouragement. Although it possessed many spiritual gifts, it was, at the same time, weak. It was surrounded by idolatry and immorality and they struggled with their faith and lifestyle.
Through his letters, Paul tried to instruct them in the faith. There were some who questioned Paul’s authority as an Apostle of Christ, and could be antagonistic towards Paul and other Christian brothers whom Paul would send to encourage them, e.g. 1 Corinthians Ch 16 v 10-11. Timothy is the one who delivered the letter we know as 1 Corinthians to the church at Corinth. The letter confronts the Corinthians about their sins and shortcomings and calls them not to blend in with the world and accept its values. He tries to advise them on divisions within the church and when his advice is not taken and their problems not solved, Paul visits them a second time, which is known as a painful visit for both Paul and the Church 2 Corinthians 1 v 1-2 and 2 Corinthians 13 v 1-2. Towards the year 56, Paul sends Titus from Ephesus to Corinth with full commission to remedy the fall out between Paul and the Corinthian church. During this journey Titus served as a courier for what is known as the “severe letter” from Paul. That has been lost to us but is referred to in 2 Corinthians 2 v 3-4.
Titus now has another job to do that Paul mentioned in 1Corinthians 16 v 1-2, that is to organise the collection for the poor Christians in Jerusalem who had suffered famine. With the upset in relationships, the collection scheme had slowed down to a standstill. The more delicate task for Titus was smoothing over a tense situation which had arisen by the severe letter he had previously delivered.
In Titus, Paul recognised strong character and commitment to carry out what was asked of him. He was a trouble-shooter, a peace maker, administrator and missionary. 2 Corinthians Ch 7 v 5-10 gives us the picture of Paul waiting for news from Corinth as a father seeks news of his wayward child. He meets up with Titus in Macedonia who tells him the good news that the mission had been successful. Paul is so overjoyed that he writes the book 2 Corinthians. Titus, full of enthusiasm and affection for the Corinthian church, takes this letter in which Paul states in 2 Corinthians 12 v 14, "I am ready to visit you for a third time." Read also 2 Corinthians 8 v 16-18.
It is worth reading the book of Titus in the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul addressed to Titus. In the three chapters, Paul is giving instructions about caring for the Church in Crete. This all came about when Paul had been released from house arrest in Rome after two years. He and Titus went to Crete with the Gospel. The Cretans had a bad reputation, one of their own poets had said of them, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” Titus 1 v 12.
It is worth reading the book of Titus in the New Testament. It is a letter from Paul addressed to Titus. In the three chapters, Paul is giving instructions about caring for the Church in Crete. This all came about when Paul had been released from house arrest in Rome after two years. He and Titus went to Crete with the Gospel. The Cretans had a bad reputation, one of their own poets had said of them, “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons” Titus 1 v 12.
When Paul’s presence was needed elsewhere after only a short time there, Paul commissioned Titus to continue the work that had been started. One early church father said, “This is an indication of the esteem Paul held for Titus. He was to appoint elders in each town with the qualities of the task needed. What would qualify them for the task? To preach the truth. To be ready to do good works. To keep the Church pure. To live as a faithful example. To rebuke false teaching."
These things speak to any church that desires to be sound in what it believes for it to grow in faith and also for the benefit of every individual.
As I have said before, the world at its worst needs the church at its best. Although others may not appreciate our efforts in living Godly lives, our Lord called us to be living examples of our faith in every situation we find ourselves in. Let us encourage each other to use our time and talents and gifts like Titus in order to serve God completely in whatever we do. I am sure that on the day of the Lord, we will hear these words, along with Titus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25 v 21.
As I have said before, the world at its worst needs the church at its best. Although others may not appreciate our efforts in living Godly lives, our Lord called us to be living examples of our faith in every situation we find ourselves in. Let us encourage each other to use our time and talents and gifts like Titus in order to serve God completely in whatever we do. I am sure that on the day of the Lord, we will hear these words, along with Titus, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25 v 21.
Trevor has shared with us that Titus was a trouble-shooter, a peace maker, administrator and missionary. Each of those is a big deal and Titus was all of them! How did he do it? Maybe when he was feeling under pressure the words of Psalm 121 came to mind. Listen to the words of this psalm put to music and let the words sink into your soul - 'I Lift My Eyes' click on the link
Lord, let us look to you for help in every situation we find ourselves in. We know that in whatever task or role you give us to do, we cannot get very far in our own strength; we need your help, your mind, your word to enable us to be and do what you desire for us. 'May the Mind of Christ My Saviour live in me from day to day' click on the link
Family Corner
We have a memory verse song from Paul's letter to Titus - Titus 2:11-12 (NIV) click on the link
Here is a colouring page for you to print off and colour in.
Titus was a great example of a servant of God and of God's church. His work was to enable the church, that is the Christian people gathered together in a particular place, to be what they needed to be in order to reflect God to the community around them, to teach them that they too were servants of God and to enable them in their task - to proclaim Jesus. We sing our closing hymn together - 'Ye servants of God your Master proclaim' click on the link
Amen!
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