Well, brethren, what a joy and honor it is for me to be with you at this conference. It's been a while since I was at this specific conference, I was trying to remember whether this was the venue. What I remember the most was the joy that I had in the fellowship among God's people, and also learning from other preachers who were here. And no doubt that's also something of what I have already begun to enjoy as I have been among you in the last 24 hours or even more. I've been asked to speak on the subject of making disciples among the nations.

It's a subject that has to do with the great work of missions. And if you're someone who has become familiar with your Bible in a positive sense, you know that it's the great subject that fills the pages of scripture. From the time of the fall in the Garden of Eden, God already commits himself to the redemption of a people for himself, chosen in eternity and ultimately to bring them home in eternity. In between, we hear the words of a people that are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. That's what God is doing across history.

In the midst of all the details that we often read about in the various forms of media, we mustn't lose sight of the fact that God has a great and glorious agenda so that we might be a part of it. I want to deal with it from the book of Titus. So if you have your Bibles with you, turn with me to Titus and chapter 2. Titus chapter 2. I've been quite impressed with the fact that we still have at this hour of the night, quite a number of children in here.

And I'm excited about it, because in the midst of what I want to speak about this evening, I also want to say something to the children. Because no doubt If you are a child in here with your parents who are Christians, they've told you about the people that often go to far away lands to go and speak to people there about Jesus. And as they share that with you, your young mind must seek to try and picture what that must be like. And perhaps you see it in pictures and drawings in books, and you imagine that perhaps one day you too might find yourself in such a place. Well, it is that topic that I want to cover as we look at Titus and chapter 1 and chapter 2.

I want to anchor my thoughts on the very first verse in Titus and chapter 2 where the Apostle Paul says to Titus, but as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. The Apostle Paul uses that as the second direct assertion that Titus must carry out. Earlier in chapter one, I will show you a little later, there is again a statement that he makes there, which is really saying, this is the imperative that I am living for you Titus, as I leave you in Crete. I want us to look at three issues from this verse which will cover chapter one and chapter two. First of all, who was Titus?

Secondly, what is the task that is being given in this verse? And then thirdly and lastly, why is he being given this task, this job, this imperative? Just those three as we go through the topic of making disciples among the nations. Let's begin with the first. Who Titus was?

You notice in the text that we have just read that the apostle Paul says, but as for you, and he has in mind there, as for you, Titus. In other words, you may have friends, you may have relations, you may have other co-workers that you are involved in ministry with, but Titus, I am distinguishing you from everybody else because I have a specific task that I want to live with you. Who is this Titus? Why should Paul fish him out from so many other people to give him the responsibility that we'll be looking at in a few moments. Titus is often thought about as the other person other than Timothy, and rightly so, because we do have in the past two epistles Titus, rather Timothy on one hand and Titus on the other.

But what might not come to your attention is the fact that whereas Timothy is mentioned, for instance, in the life of Paul in the book of Acts, Titus is not even mentioned there at all. The first time we come across Titus is in Second Corinthians, where in fact he's spoken about quite a number of times, at least eight times by the apostle Paul. And there we learn a lot concerning this individual. He is a person who was very dear to the Apostle. In fact, we see it here, isn't it, in Titus 1 and verse 4, where Paul says to Titus, my true child in a common faith.

It was someone that he had no doubt discipled in the long haul. He had spent time investing into the life of Titus, the way in which a parent will invest so much time and energy and teaching into the life of an actual biological or adopted child. To Titus, my true child in a common faith. But the first time that we at least see where Paul and Titus' lives would have come together is in Galatians and chapter 2. Galatians chapter 2 and this is what we read at the very beginning of that passage.

Galatians two and this one. Then after 14 years, says the apostle Paul, referring to 14 years since his last visit to Jerusalem. He says, I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas. And then he says, taking Titus along with me. Those were the early years of Paul's ministry.

And from what we are reading here, he had already begun to invest some time into the life of Titus. And therefore he groomed him. And now as he was making his way to Jerusalem to go and present himself before the leaders of the church, especially the apostles, he carries this young man along with him. It is also in Galatians chapter two that we learn that Titus was Greek. We read there in verse three, But even Titus, who was with me, was not forced to be circumcised Though he was a Greek other words Paul chose him taught him justification by faith only made him appreciate what we call today the doctrines of grace.

And out of that enabled Titus to realize that he did not need to go through that which made so many individuals in the Jewish context to see themselves being related to God by covenant relationship. That Jesus and Jesus alone was sufficient. Well, by the time we are now getting back into 2 Corinthians, we see Paul, especially using Titus as he was ministering into the non-Jewish world. Paul in that letter speaks about a time that he was in Troas and while he was there, he was rather uncomfortable to spend his time there because he was looking forward to being with Titus. And consequently, he crossed over into Macedonia that he might be with him there.

And when he got into Macedonia, he was glad when he finally reunited with this young man called Titus. But from there, he sent him over into Corinth, where he helped with the raising of finances and other logistical means to help with the situation of famine that was in Judea. Titus was a dependable individual that he could consequently work with in this way. In fact, if I could just take you to one more verse in 2 Corinthians, it is in chapter eight and verse 23 where Paul refers to Titus as one that was his core worker. Second Corinthians and chapter eight, verse 23.

The apostle Paul there says, as for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. In other words, yes, he was a young man that I groomed from the beginning. He's a young man that I sent to do work across Europe in those days. He's a young man that now has become my fellow worker, my partner in the gospel, someone who is very dependable to me. It is this Titus that he now as he's laboring in Crete leaves behind that he might do work there that for one reason or another, the Apostle Paul was not able to finish.

Why have I taken so much time looking at this individual about whom Paul says, but as for you. Well, it's quite simple. In the light of the topic that we are dealing with, making disciples among the nations, the point I want to make out of this is this that if we are to make disciples among the nations we Who are pastors? Church leaders Fathers and so on must begin with making godly disciples here at home. We must invest in the young lives that God has been pleased to bring our way.

We must pour biblical knowledge into their lives. We must teach them Christian doctrine so that they are deeply grounded in the faith of our fathers. We must bring them along in our lives so that they might see what it means to be not only a Christian servant, but a Christian man. As they are observing our lives, going about ministry, that they might see something of what it really means to live under the lordship of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the context of our churches we can think for instance of internship programs Where these young men come from wherever it might be, so that as they are with us, our lives are being exposed to them.

They are able to see what it means to serve the Lord with all of one's mind, heart, soul, and strength. As iron, sharpening iron, something of the grace of God in our lives ends up being left into their lives as well. It is that which indeed prepares individuals in due season to say I too will answer the call of God and seek to be faithful because God has exposed my eyes to a disciple of his who is genuine gold. Let me ask that question. Are we doing that?

Are we investing in younger lives, pouring what we know into them, Being vulnerable exposing our lives to them as they come alongside us so that that which God has birthed in us may now be born in them as well so that we can in due season see in them partners, fellow workers in the gospel, individuals that we can as it were send out knowing very well that there was going to be an impact for Jesus Christ where they have gone. Now this has two sides to it. One is that of us who are older investing in those who are younger. But may I also speak to those who are younger to learn to listen to mom and dad to the elders of our churches when they are seeking to train us to be the men and women that God wants us to be later on in life. It's so easy for us to get carried away with the pop stars who tend to pretend to be real gold through social media and other forms of media, whom we have never really lived with.

They call them opinion makers. It's a lie. That dad and mom may not be perfect, but there is the work of God, the work of the Holy Spirit in that person's life. You are with them for day after day, week after week, month after month, year in and year out. Subject your life to their training.

It is out of that that God will make you a person that he can use later on in life. I hope you're listening to me young people. Don't get deceived by those you only see behind a screen. They are real human beings that God has placed over you so that they can sharpen you for the life to come. The Bible speaks about such individuals having you as an arrow in the aquifer, that one day they might shoot you out to go and do that which God wants you to do.

Be patient with them as they are sharpening your life. Sharpening your life. It may not be comfortable, but I want to assure you that in their hands you may come out a Titus out of the hands of Paul. Let's also move on to what he was being asked to teach. We are told back in our text, but as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

We've already noted that Paul had had to leave Titus on the island of Crete. And when he left him, we notice in chapter one that he asked him first of all to ensure that godly elders are appointed for the churches that were being established. We see that in Titus chapter 1 verse 5 down to verse 9. I'm particularly interested there in two things. First of all, these leaders were to be godly.

No compromise there. It explains why Paul had not appointed the elders before he left. Because you cannot microwave elders. You can't do that. It takes time for individuals to mature.

And so Paul was already in a hurry to do that. And when time came for him to leave, he could only leave responsibilities in the hands of Titus. Titus, make sure that you finish off this work and make sure that the individuals that you are appointing are Godly as individuals, Godly in the running of their homes. And then the second thing about them was that they were to be stalwarts of the faith, to be doctrinally grounded. Verse 9, Titus chapter 1 and verse 9, He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

I'm particularly interested in that phrase as taught. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught. In other words, it is somebody who has been humble enough to be taught the doctrines of God's word so that he may be able to teach others. He's not a maverick who wants to somehow be original in his own belief system, wanting to start something that other people may now become followers of. No, what you want are men who are faithful, faithful and in that sense, trustworthy.

Why was that important to Paul? Well, it's because The moral climate in Crete was the exact opposite, as it goes on to show in verse 10 going downwards. Look at the way Paul puts it there in verse 10. For There are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. Individuals who don't want to sit down and listen, sit down and learn in humility.

Individuals who already think they know everything and you can't teach them at all. Paul is saying such individuals must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shame, for gain what they ought not to teach. Look at what one of the cretan prophets was saying in verse 12, one of the cretans, the prophet of their own said, cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy glattons. And Paul says aloud, amen to that statement. This testimony is true.

That was the moral or immoral environment in which the gospel was being planted on this island. And what Paul is saying is this, that Titus, the work we are doing there must go beyond people merely professing faith in Christ. The work we are doing there must go beyond people merely professing faith in Christ. The work we are doing there must have individual lives transformed unto godliness. And as morally bankrupt as the environment might be, the church must be different.

And the reason why I'm leaving you there is to make sure that that difference shines like the stars with the dark background of the night. The church must stand out by its people. Look at the way he finishes his account in chapter one, verse 16. He says, they profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and fit for any good work.

Imagine yourself being a missionary and being sent out into some part of the world where the people are morally bankrupt. Immorality is the way of life. Drunkenness is rife. And you have to plant a church there. It's not enough to simply have individuals saying, yes, I now belong to Jesus.

It's not enough. You want their lives to be different. And that's what we are finding in chapter two, therefore, when Paul says, but as for you teach what are called with sound doctrine. It's not so much teach sound doctrine. Of course he must teach sound doctrine.

But he's saying teach a kind of life that is fitting with, that is in line with sound doctrine. So that when people listen to what we are teaching and they see the kind of people that profess to be Christians, the two are aligned to each other. And he therefore now talks about what he is to teach the older men. I think we know this in verse two. He speaks about what he is to teach the older women in verse 3.

He teaches what the older women must teach the younger women in verse 4 and 5. He teaches what Titus must teach the younger men in verse six. And finally, he teaches what Titus should teach the slaves in verse nine and verse 10. And if you read all those verses, you will notice it's not so much the issue of doctrine as how these people should live. How they should live?

From the inside out. And you can be sure it's a major contrast compared to the way in which people were living in the environment. They must be godly. Now, before I get onto my application, I want us to notice, Specifically in verse seven and eight, the Titus must be a good example in all of this. Verse seven and eight, very quickly there.

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works. And in your teaching, show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. In the midst of your teaching ministry tightness, your life must be a good example of what your teacher. In other words, people should not say to you, your life is so loud we can't hear what you are saying. Now brethren, if we are to make disciples among the nations, Our missionaries must have godliness with integrity.

Those individuals we are sending into the nations of the world, Allow me to put it this way, there must be eldership quality at home. We mustn't say to ourselves, you know, This son of mine is of no good here. Perhaps if we send him to Africa, he may just do some good. No, a thousand times no. Because such individuals make a mess of the Christian message.

It's not long before the indigenous people they find that this is simply gold plating. On the inside You have termites that have eaten away everything. There's corruption, there's decay, there is immorality, every form of vice. It hardens the local people. It does.

You see, a roving evangelist can easily get away with him because he comes into town, preaches his regular three nice sermons. Everybody thinks he's a great preacher and assume therefore he's a great Christian. And off he gets onto the next plane, he's going back to America. It's not like that with a missionary like Titus whom you send on the ground. If he's not genuine stuff from the inside out, It's not long before those who are close to him begin to notice the absence of the fruit of the Spirit.

The stench begins to give way. They pinch their nostrils for as long as they possibly could and finally they say enough is enough, this Christianity is false and the abandon ship altogether. So here's the challenge. Those individuals on whom you are laying your hands and saying let's now send them to the nations, can you appoint Can you appoint them as elders in your church? If you can't, then keep them here.

Continue to nurture their lives. Continue to nurture their lives. Invest into their lives. Until you can say yes. If it was not for the call to go away, we would have kept them here in the church's leadership.

I want to make a hearty appeal there. If we are going to produce real solid disciples among the nations, we must send among the nations real solid disciples from here. Speaking to the children, let me put it this way, You need to first of all learn to be obedient and faithful under the hands of your fathers and indeed your mothers. And indeed your mothers, once you learn those basic lessons and your life conforms to that, the potential for usefulness in God's world goes through the roof. But you need to learn that at home.

At home. Let me quickly hurry on to my last point. Why was Titus to teach this? Well, just verse 11 down to verse 14. Verse 11 to verse 14.

And it's Simply this, that God's grace is powerful. God's grace changes lives. God's grace transforms sinners into saints on earth. God's grace is our only hope. Look at the way Paul puts it to Titus in verse 11.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation notice for all people. That word all there is not everyone without exception. It is everyone without distinction. In other words, old men and old women, young men, young women, slaves or free, it doesn't matter. When the grace of God invades the human soul, the background does not matter.

What's going to happen is this. Yes, we don't. Bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. That's what the grace of God does. It doesn't matter what a person's background might be, whether they are American or African, Whether they are white or black, whether they are educated or uneducated, it doesn't matter.

If the grace of God invades that soul, you can be sure that there will be this transformation that enables you as a teacher to stand before them and say, friends, this is what it means to obey Jesus. And trust me, they will. Because God is at work through his grace All we need to do is make sure that as we are teaching them It is around the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ It is the gospel that must lay the solid foundation Paul puts it that way, isn't it? In verse 13 and 14 notice how much Jesus is packed in those two verses verse 13 waiting for our blessed hope the appearing of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us, to redeem us from all lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people of his own possession who are zealous for good works. The point there is obvious.

A ministry that exposes people to the purpose of the life and death, resurrection, ascension, heavenly rule of our Lord Jesus Christ provides the solid foundation on which they can base their obedience to the Lord. In other words, If we are going to make disciples among the nations, ours must not be a legalistic message saying to people, live like this and live like this and live like this, they will fail. Ours must be a gospel message. We must be rich with Christ. And As people appreciate this Jesus in his saving grace, they respond to that message and lives get transformed.

It doesn't matter what their background might be. And here's my final application, therefore, as I hurry on to close, and it is this. In this room, with so many people, we have people with a lot of baggage, a lot of baggage that makes up our background. And it's very easy for us to use that baggage in our background as an excuse for failing to live the life that God wants us to live. And often people do that, don't they?

They go to psychologists and say, well, I was traumatized when I was a child in one one the other the background in my home in my neighborhood wherever it was traumatized that's why I'm living like this the point is where the grace of good comes that baggage remains behind. God changes lives. And wherever the gospel goes, there is baggage. There is. Those of us who are preachers must still say we're going to make disciples for Jesus even there.

It doesn't matter what the background might be. We are carrying the most potent weapon in the whole universe. The apostle Paul puts it this way, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God. All that we would believe it and in believing it go across the globe to declare to men and women chained in sins that they would shine with the brightness of the glory of God because of Jesus Christ.

Let's pray. Our Father in heaven, Thank you for the example of Paul and Titus. Thank you for the way in which Paul was an example to his spiritual son. Titus learned his lessons well and thus even on that little island, disciples of Jesus Christ could be nurtured and multiplied. Help us to follow after this example and glorify yourself for Jesus sake.

Amen. Thank you.