Titus2
WhatMakesAGoodChurch?
Webeginthismorningbypickingupwhereweleftofflastweek–Paulisthemiddleof
providingsomementoringtoTitus,whohasbeensenttotheislandofCretetogive
guidancetothechurches.He’sjustbeentoldwhattolookforwhenappointingmento
leadershipinthechurchandnowPaulisgoingtotellhimwhatkindofbehaviorsto
encourageamongthepeopleofthechurch.
Here’stheoverarchingmessage:GodhascalledChristianstoliveaparticularway,a
distinctway,awaythatlooksdifferenttopeopleoutsidethechurch,andiscompellingto
them.Heiscallingmen,women,young,old,workersandbosses,tolivealifeofintegrity,
purpose,andcommitmenttoGodandothersinsteadofourselves.
Whetheryou’re16or66,whetheryou’reamanorwoman,whetheryouworkforothersor
theyworkforyou,Godhassomethingtosayaboutyourlife.Hehasashapeyourlife
shouldtake,andthereissomeoneorsomegroupHewantstoreachthroughyou.God
wantstomakeadifferenceinthelifeofsomeoneelsebymakingadifferenceinyoufirst.
Butalongtheway,therearesomehardthingsthatneedtobesaid,somechallenging
things,andsoPaulbeginsandendsthechapterwithanencouragementtoTitustodothe
hardthing,saythehardthings.InthemiddlewefindguidancefromGodonhowweshould
liveandthepromisewehave.Readwithme:
Titus2:1Butasforyou,speakthethingswhichareproperforsounddoctrine:
2thattheoldermenbesober,reverent,temperate,soundinfaith,inlove,in
patience;3theolderwomenlikewise,thattheybereverentinbehavior,not
slanderers,notgiventomuchwine,teachersofgoodthings—4thattheyadmonish
theyoungwomentolovetheirhusbands,tolovetheirchildren,5tobediscreet,
chaste,homemakers,good,obedienttotheirownhusbands,thatthewordofGod
maynotbeblasphemed.
6Likewise,exhorttheyoungmentobesober-minded,7inallthingsshowing
yourselftobeapatternofgoodworks;indoctrineshowingintegrity,reverence,
incorruptibility,8soundspeechthatcannotbecondemned,thatonewhoisan
opponentmaybeashamed,havingnothingeviltosayofyou.
9Exhortbondservantstobeobedienttotheirownmasters,tobewellpleasinginall
things,notansweringback,10notpilfering,butshowingallgoodfidelity,thatthey
mayadornthedoctrineofGodourSaviorinallthings.
Thefirstgrouptobeaddressedistheoldermenwhoaretold:(vs2)“besober,reverent,
temperate,soundinfaith,inlove(agape),inpatience.”
Here’stheideal:oldermenshouldbeastrong,dependablepresenceinthelifeofthe
church,intheirfamily,andineveryothersetting.Theyshouldbespirituallyhealthy,
anchoredtothefirmfoundationofChrist,providingguidanceandstabilitytoothers.Older
Christianmenshouldbelikethatlighthousethatgetspummeledbymassivewaves,butthe
waterjustbreaksarounditanditgoesonprovidingguidance,showingthewayfor
everyonewhoneedsdirection.
Paulsaysweshouldlooktotheoldermenofthechurchforanexampleoffaith,love,and
patience.Theyhavestoriestotellofthethingsthey’veseen,they’vegotscarsandregrets
andyearsofexperiencetopassontotherestofus.Andweneedtobeseekingthemout.
Weneedtolistentotheoldermenandwomenofthechurch,weneedtoaskfortheir
stories.They’refartherdowntheroadwe’reallon,weneedtolearnfromthemhowto
navigatetheobstacleswefacetodayandgathersomeinformationonwhatliesahead.
Godwantstheoldermenofthecongregationtobethekindofmenothersarelookingfor,
lookingupto,drawingencouragementandstrengthfrom,learningfrom.Whenthestorms
oflifestirupgiganticwavesthatsmashandcrashandroar,Godwantsyoutobethe
lighthouseswealllooktoforguidanceandreassurance.And,Hewantsthattobetrueof
peopleoutsidethechurchtoo.Hewantsyourunsavedneighborandsisterandcoworker
andbosstoseethethingshappeninginyourlifeandtoseehowyou’rehandlingthem,and
marvel.Hewantstouseyoutoprovokethemtoaskdeeperquestionsaboutlifeand
meaning.
Butthatmeansyou’vegottoavoidsometraps,you’vegottobeawareoftheditchesyou
canfallinto.
Youneedtobesober–youneedtoavoidthethingsthatwouldtakeawayyouredgeor
yourfocus.Thespecificcontexthereisnotbesomeonewhojustsitsarounddrinkingona
regularbasis.
Therearethosepeople,aren’tthere?Peoplewhopasstheirdayswithasix-pack,ortwelve
pack,orbottleandaremotecontrol.Don’tbethatguy.Don’thangoutregularlywiththat
guy.Stayawayfromsubstanceabuseofanykind,besober,bevigilant,beawareofwhatis
goingon,bemoreconcernedaboutothersanddon’tjustcheckoutbecauseyou’reoldand
tired.Standfirm,holdyourground,andlookoutforothermenyoucanpourinto.You
havevaluablelessonsyou’velearned,passthemon–butdon’tjusttellyouroldwarstories
forthesakeofrelivingtheglorydays,helptheyoungermenseehowtheycanimproveor
beencouragedbythethingsyou’veexperienced,learned,orseen-showthemhowit
appliestothem.
Andnotice,Godwantstogiveyouaplaceofhonor,butHealsowantsyoutobehonorable.
SoPaultellsTitustoencouragethegrownmenofthecongregationtobetemperate,orselfcontrolled.Andtobereverent.Theideais,oldermenshouldbedignified.OneGreek
lexiconsays:“august,venerable,reverend.”Nowthatdoesn’tmeanyouwearallblackanda
littlewhitecollar,itmeansyou’rerespectable,youcommandrespectwithoutdemandingit.
Youcarryyourselfwell,andhaveagoodreputation.
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
2
Therearesomeofyouinthisroomwhoaremodelsofthisforme.You’rethekindofmanI
wanttobelikewhenIgrowup.Idon’twanttobethatguywhodoesn’trealizehowoldhe
is,who’salwaystryingtodressandactlikehe’sstillinhis20’s.Iwanttoagewell,like
someofyou,tobevenerable,respectable.Yougivemesomethingtoaspiretobecauseyou
makemethinkmoreofChrist,notless.Andthat’sthewholepoint–weneedoldermen
whoshowChristtothechurchandtheworld,whogiveussomethingtoaimforasthe
yearstickby.
Butmen,theonlywayyou’regoingtobeabletodoallofthatforus,isifyouareanchored
inwhatChristhasdoneforyou.
Watchingthelighthousewithstandcrushingwavesisimpressive,butifitwasnotattached
toafirmfoundationitwouldtoppleandrollrighttothebottomoftheocean.Men,youare
abletobeallofthesethingsthatweneedyoutobe,onlywhenChristisyourfoundation
andstrength.Andthen,youcanbeasourceofguidance,strength,andencouragementto
allofus.
Ofcourse,it’snotjustthemenwhoarecalledtobeanexampletothechurchandthe
community:3theolderwomenlikewise,thattheybereverentinbehavior,notslanderers,
notgiventomuchwine,teachersofgoodthings.
Ladies,there’sthatsameword:youtooshouldbereverent,august,venerable,dignified.
Youshouldbethekindofwomanotherslookupto,settinganexample,walkingapath
worthyforotherstofollow.
Butitdoesn’thappyautomatically.Aginggracefullytakeseffortandattention,yetyoudoit
becauseit’shelpfulforothers.It’seasytogiveupandstopcaring,it’seasytobetired,and
youhaveeveryrighttobe,butGodiscallingyoutostayengaged–toberegalintheway
yourespondtothingsandthewayyougoaboutyourlife.Don’tbecomethatbitteroldlady
everyoneavoids.Betheoneeverybodywantstobenear,becausetheyseeChristinyou.
Asweage,wesettledeeperintocertainhabitsandpreferences.Iremembermywife’s
grandmaloveddrinkingtea,butonlyonekind:EarlGrey.Don’tbuyheranotherkindof
tea,shedidn’tlikealltea,shelikedEarlGrey.Thepointis:asweage,wecangetsetinour
ways,ouropinions.Andifwe’renotcareful,wecanalsobegintotalkdownaboutanyone
andanythingelsethatdoesn’tagreewithourway.SoPaulwarnsolderladiesespecially
aboutsomethingweallneedtobeawareof:don’tbeaslanderer.Youhaveyourthoughts
andopinions,there’snoneedtobecuttingaboutthosewhodon’tsharethem.Guardyour
tongue,guardyourmouth;haveaheartthatisopentoothers,don’tbeclosedand
judgmental.
Keepingguardoveryourmouthwillhelpnotonlywithwhatcomesout,butwithwhatgoes
inbecausejustthelikethemen,you’renottobegiventomuchwine.You’renottobe
overlyfondofitoranyothersubstancethattakestheedgeoff.
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
3
Asweage,wefrequentlyhavemorediscretionarytime,andmorediscretionaryincome,
we’veacquiredsomematerialgoodsinthislifeandit’spossibletositbackandjustenjoy
whatwe’veaccomplished.SomeamountofthatisOK.Youshouldenjoythefruitsofyour
labor.Butdon’tgobuildingyourentirelife,routine,andschedulearounddoingwhatever
youwanttodo–Godiscallingustohaveamuchgreaterimpactbygivingourlivesawayto
others.
Youarecalledtobeteachersofgoodthings.Muchlikethemen,therearelessonsyou’ve
learned,thingsyou’veexperiencedthatyoucanshare.Andtherearewomeninthischurch
andinyourcommunitywhowouldlovetolistenandtalkandreceivefromyou.Thereare
womeninthischurchwhowouldlovetoknowthatyouareprayingforthem.Thereare
womeninthischurchwhowouldlovetolearnmoreaboutJesusandtheBibleandpractical
waystorelyonthemasmothers,daughters,wives,andworkers.Andyouaretheones
theyshouldbelookingtoforthathelp.Areyouavailableforthem,orareyousomewhere
elsecaughtupinirreverentbehavior,slanderandwineoranythingelsethatiskeepingyou
fromthegreatopportunitiesthatcouldbeyours?
OurladiesmeetonWednesdaynights,Thursdaymornings,andonceamonthonSaturday
forbreakfast.Andthat’sjusttheladiesonlygatherings.Womenareapartofourhome
groupsandsmallgroupsandstandingaroundinthehallwaysandfoyerbeforeandafter
theservice.Gooutbytheplaygroundaftertheserviceandyou’llfindmomskeepinganeye
onthekids.Olderladies,areyouinthoseplaces?Areyouavailablefortheyoungerladies,
becauseIcantellyousomething:theywantyou.Theyneedyou.Theysayitthemselves,
butGodalsosaystheyneedyouto4admonishtheyoungwomentolovetheirhusbands,to
lovetheirchildren,5tobediscreet,chaste,homemakers,good,obedienttotheirown
husbands,thatthewordofGodmaynotbeblasphemed.
Now,Iknowthispassageprovokesareactioninsomepeople.You’vegotquestionsand
“whatabouts?”oryou’vealreadygotananswerorexplanationorexcuse,andIwanttoask
ifyoucouldjustsetallthatasideforaminute.Let’shearwhatGodsaysfirst,let’smake
sureweunderstandthat,andthenwecanasksomeofourindividualquestionsaboutour
modernlives.
BecauseIwanttostartwithwhat’sontheline.TheScripturesayswhenayoungwomanis
notlivingaccordingtoacertainpatternadoorisopenedfortheWordofGodtobe
blasphemed.That’sprettyserious.Doyoubelievethat?Doyouacceptthat?Doyou
understandthatwhenpeoplelookatyouandyourlife,theyareeitherimpressedbywhat
theysee,provokedtoaskquestionsaboutwhatmakesyousodifferent,anddrawntothe
Godyouserve,ortheyfindreasonstomockandcallyouahypocrite,andsaythattheWord
ofGodandchurchandallthatotherChristianreligiousstuffisjustajoke.
Now,that’snotjusttrueofyoungwomen,itappliestoyoungmentoo.Infact,itappliesto
allofuswhobearthenameofChrist.Whenpeopleseeus,whentheygettoknowus,when
theyobserveourlives,theyshouldseesomethingattractiveastheyseeChristinus.There
shouldbeexternallyobservableevidenceofwhatGodisdoingwithin.Andifwewilllet
HimorganizeourlivesaccordingtoHiscommandsinsteadofourpreferences,itwill
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
4
happen.Butifweresist,ifwemakeexcuses,thereareconsequences–theWordofGod
maybeblasphemed.Ijustwanttomakesureweallunderstandwhatisatstakehere
beforewereacttowhattheScripturessay.
So,whatdotheysay?Well,thefirstthingtheysayisyoungerwomenshouldlovetheir
husbandsandtheirchildren,whichneverceasestoamazeme.Thisisthefirstthingolder
womenareencouragedtoteachyoungerwomen.Whyisthat?
Well,remember,thereisonlyoneBibleanditappliestoallpeopleacrossalltheagesof
historyandallaroundtheworld.ThereisnotanAfricanBibleandanAsianBibleanda
EuropeanBible.ThereisnotaBibleforthe1st-5thcenturyandanotherforthe21stcentury.
ThisoneBiblespeakstoallpeople,inallplaces,atalltimes.Andoneaspectofthetime
whenTituswasministeringwastheideaofarrangedmarriages.Backinthefirstcentury,
andstill,insomeplacestoday,amarriageoccurredbecausethefamilythoughtitwasa
goodidea,notbecausethecouplehadfalleninlove.NotallthemarriagesonCretewere
heldtogetherbymutualattraction,butaccordingtoGod,therecouldstillbelove.
Andeveninourmodernagewhenattractiondoesformthebasisformostmarriages,
peoplestillneedtohearthisinstruction.I’msureinaroomthislarge,therearewomen
herethismorningwhoneedsomeencouragementinlovingtheirhusbandsandtheirkids.
Whyisthat?Becausemarriageandparentingarenoteasy.Theyaredemanding.They
requireyoutothinkaboutandsacrificeforandserveothers.Andthat’snotalwaysfun.
ButtheScripturesaysthewayawomanfulfillshergreatestobligationtoherfamilyisof
theutmostimportanceandwillreflectpositivelyornegativelyonGod,thegospel,andthe
church.So,sheneedstoknow,andberemindedof,theloveGodhasforherpersonally,and
thenattempttoshowtheloveshehasreceivedtoothers.
Sheiscalledtolivealifethatiscategorizedasbeing5discreet,chaste,homemakers,good,
obedienttotheirownhusbands,thatthewordofGodmaynotbeblasphemed.
Iunderstandthislistcanaggravateladiestoday.Iunderstanditrubsyouthewrongway,
thisisthekindofstuffaradicalfeministlovestomockandscorn.Itgivesherammunition
tosayallthechurchwantstodoisrollback100yearsofprogressinwomen’srightsand
liberalagendas;it’sregressiveandmisogynist.Butfriends,that’sreactionary,andthere’s
moretosayhere.Solet’sworkthroughsomeofthis.
Firstofall,let’sremembertheculturalcontextwhenthiswaswritten.Tituslivedinthe
firstcentury,onanislandinthemiddleoftheMediterraneanSeaduringthedaysofthe
RomanEmpire.He’snotspeakingtocareerwomentellingthemtogiveuptheircubicle
andgetbacktopassingoutpopsicles.
Thisisnotacommandforthewomantostayhome.Itisacommandforyoungwomento
loveandliveinamannerthatisattractivetoothers.Let’sgobacktoourfundamental
understandingofmarriage:marriageissupposedtobetheresultofjoiningtwolives
togetherintoone.Thatmeans,foraChristiancouple,thereisnosuchthingashercareer.
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
5
There’snosuchthingashiscareer.It’sallonejointventure,onepartnership,onemission,
onevision,onepathwayforhimandher,together.Andeverythingtheydo,everychoice
theymake,shouldbeinalignmentwiththatonelife,thatonepurpose.
Theproblemcomeswhenwe,menorwomen,begintoprioritizeourcareeroverourother
commitments.Whenwestarttoaskourfamilytoacceptsacrificessowecangetthe
positionorpromotionwewant.Whenweforgetthere’sonlyonelifeinourmarriage,there
arenolongertwo.Andyoucan’tliveonelifeintwodirections.Youbothneedtobe
workingtogether,inagreement,abouthowtospendyourlivesforthegloryofGodandthe
goodofothers.
Soladiesifitfitswithintheoverallplanforyourmarriage,ifit’smutuallybeneficial,you
canworkoutsidethehome,that’sabsolutelyfine.Weneedscientistsanddoctorsand
lawyersandsmallbusinesswomen.Butyoucannotmakeanidoloutofyourcareer,andhe
can’tmakeanidoloutofhis.Youhavetofindyouridentityinyourmarriageandyour
familyfirstbecausethesearetheprimaryresponsibilitiesGodhasgivenyou.Thisiswhere
Godwantstoseeyouexcel.
Yourhusbandandyourchildrenneedyou.Don’tallow,anddon’texpectsomeoneelseto
bemoreconcernedfor,committedto,orapprovingofyourhusbandorkidsthanyouare.
You’reallsupposedtobeoneteam.Whenitcomestoyourmarriage,theBiblesays,“What
Godhasjoinedtogether,letnomanseparate”andthatincludesseparationinducedbythe
aggressivepursuitofacareer.
Whenyoucaremoreaboutworkthanaboutyourmarriageorfamily,whenyouputmore
effortandattentiontowardworkthanyourmarriageorfamily,you’retransgressingthe
Scripture,you’releavingwhatGodhasgivenyouandcalledyoutointhepursuitof
somethingelse.Ifyourcareerisleadingyouawayfromyourhusbandand/oryourkids,
youneedtotakeatimeoutandconsider:areyousurethisisreallyhowGodwantsyouto
bespendingyourlife?Yourcareerismeanttobeawaytoprovideforyourfamily,nottear
itapart.
Agodlywifebringsthefullweightofhergiftingsandabilitiestobearupontheonelife
createdbetweenherandherhusband.Maybesheaccomplishessomeofthatoutsidethe
home–insteadofmakingclothesforthekidslikeawifein7thcenturyEurope,sheearns
moneyandbuysthemonline.Maybeinsteadofeducatingherkidsathomesheearns
moneytosendthemtoagoodschoolortoprovideforsportsandactivities.Maybeinstead
ofgatheringwildberriesandbakingbreadalldayoverafirelikesomewomenstilldoin
partsoftheworld,shehasitdeliveredtothefrontdoorbyAmazonorGiantwithmoney
fromthepaychecksheearnedoutsidethehome.Allofthatisfine.
TheProverbs31womanboughtrealestateandhadherownstartupcompany–avineyard
sheplanted.Shemadegoodsandsoldthemataprofit,shehadentrepreneurialabilityand
ranabusiness.Butwhobenefittedfromallhereffortinthemarkets?Herhusbandandher
family.
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
6
Yousee,thefocusisnotontheeasyquestionofwherecanandcan’tshework,thefocusis
onthedeeperquestion,“Whydoesshework?”Whatisitalltoaccomplish?Isittogiveher
asenseofself-worth?Isitforsomesubjectivenotionoffulfillment?Orisitforthegloryof
Godandthegoodofothers,inunitywithherhusband,whileprioritizingherfamily?
It’snoteasyladies.Butthat’swhytheolderladiesaresupposedtobepouringintoyouand
helpingyou.Andthat’swhytheoldermenaresupposedtobedoingthesameforthe
youngermen.We’reallsupposedtobeinthistogether.We’resupposedtobenefitfrom
beingwithotherChristiansinthebodyofChrist.Andwhathappensaswedothatisour
livesbecomeattractivetothoseoutsidethechurchandinspiringtoeachotherinside.
There’snotmuchtimeorneedtodigintotheinstructionsforyoungmenandservants,
becausethey’rereallyjustechoesofthethingswe’vealreadyheard:beincontrolof
yourself,forthesakeofothers.Theinstructionisalmostexactlythesameaswhatwe’ve
alreadydiscussed.Noonegetsoffeasy.We’reallinthistogether,eachseekingtoknowthe
LordandmakeHimknownasweloveoneanother.Andhere’sthesummaryofitall,why
wedoit:
Titus2:11ForthegraceofGodthatbringssalvationhasappearedtoallmen,
12teachingusthat,denyingungodlinessandworldlylusts,weshouldlivesoberly,
righteously,andgodlyinthepresentage,13lookingfortheblessedhopeand
gloriousappearingofourgreatGodandSaviorJesusChrist,14whogaveHimselffor
us,thatHemightredeemusfromeverylawlessdeedandpurifyforHimselfHisown
specialpeople,zealousforgoodworks.
Friends,brothers,sisters,fathers,mothers,IknowthethingswehaveseenintheScripture
thismorningcanbedifficult.Iknowthereisalottothinkabouthere.Iknowthereare
someissuesthatdon’thaveeasyorsimpleanswers.Thereiscomplexityinvolved.And,
doingthesethingswillmakeyoulookstrangeatworkandintheneighborhood.You’re
goingtomakedecisionsdifferentlythanothersdo.Anditmaycostyou.Butyou’renoton
thesametrackaseveryoneelse.Theirpathleadstoadifferentdestination.
You’relookingfortheblessedhopeandgloriousappearingofourgreatGodandSavior
JesusChrist.They’renot.Soyoucan’tjustfollowthemandtheircareerpathsanddaily
routines,theirvacationandretirementplans.Youcan’tusethemasyourrolemodelsor
inspirationinallthings.We’recalledto[deny]ungodlinessandworldlylusts,…and…live
soberly,righteously,andgodlyinthepresentage,becauseweareGod’sownspecialpeople,
zealousforgoodworks.
Thereisapurposeforyourlife.Youarespecial.TherearegoodthingsGodwantsyouto
do.Butremember,HeisinvitingyouintoHiskingdom;He’snotofferingtohelpyoubuild
yourown.It’sgoingtolookdifferent,butit’sgoingtobebetter.Ipromise.LifelivedHis
wayisalwaysbetter.
Andifyoufindithardtoreceivethismessagetoday,Iwantyoutonoticeitwashardforthe
peoplewhohearditfirsttoo.NoticehowthechapterendsasPaultheapostletellsTitus:
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
7
15Speakthesethings,exhort,andrebukewithallauthority.Letnoonedespiseyou.
Friends,thisisthewordofGod.I’mjustHismessenger.ButIwanttoseeyouwin.Iwant
toseethingsgowellforyou.
YouneedtoattendachurchthatspeaksfromallofScripture.Youneedtoattendachurch
wheretheysayhardthings.YouneedtogatherwithotherChristianswhoaren’tlooking
fortheeasyexplanationoralibi.YouneedChristiansandpastorsinyourlifewhowill
speakthetruthinlove,andwrestlethroughhardthingswithyousothatyougrow
stronger,thepeopleinyourlifebenefitfromthatstrength,andpeopleoutsidearedrawn
in.
Iwanttoclosethismorningbydoingsomethingrare.Iwanttotakealittlesurvey.If
you’reherethismorningandyouwouldlikeanoldermanorwomantopourintoyourlife,
tohavelunchwithyou,tograbcoffee,togofishing,orplaygolf,orwhatever,butifyou
wouldliketohaveanolderChristianinvestintoyou,wouldyoujuststandupforaminute
–you’renotcommittingtoanything,we’renotplanninganything,you’rejustsaying,yes,I
wouldlikethat.
OK,nowlookaround.Iwantustoseethatpeopleareopentobeingtaught,tobeingled,to
beingcounseledandguided.Andmaybeyou’retheonetodoit.
Aftertheservice,orinthenextweekortwo,maybeyoucouldapproachthemandsay,
“hey,Isayyoustandup,whatareyoulookingfor?”Andifyou’renottherightpersonfor
them,maybeyoucanhelpfindsomeonewhois.Men,gettogetherforcoffeeorlunchon
Saturday.Women,offertoconnect.Maybesomeofyouolderladiescouldbeahelptothe
youngerladiesbywatchingtheirkidssotheycangetout.Letthemgoforarun,orgoto
Targetwithoutkids.Canyouofferthemsomethingsmalllike2or3hoursaweek?Go
theirhouseormeethere.We’vegotspaceforthekidstoplayandtoysforthemtouse,just
contacttheofficeandmakesurewedon’thaveanothergroupusingthespace.
Maybesomeofyoustandingcanreachouttosomeoneelsewhoisstanding,maybeyou’rea
littlefartheralongtheroadoflifethantheyare.
WearethebodyofChrist,wearethechurch,wearethefamilyofGodandwearecalledto
meetoneanother’sneeds,toinstructandencourageoneanother,towalktheroadoflife
togetherasweallheadtowardsthecomingkingdom.Wehaveindividualexperiencesand
wisdomtoshareandtremendousobstaclesandburdenstobear,andGodwantstouseus
beHishandsandfeetinthelivesofoneanother.Willyouletthathappeninyourlife?
Let’spray.
Copyright2017TheCityGatesChurch–NoDistributionBeyondPersonalUsePermitted
8