Now that we're saved, how should we relate to unbelievers? 

Once we start following Jesus, we don't stop living public lives in which we interact with people who don't follow Jesus. So how should we relate to unbelievers in our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and online? And how does our salvation affect our interactions with unbelievers? 

Titus 3:1-7  

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, 2 to slander no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing every consideration for all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. 4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He richly poured out upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  

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What difference does grace make?

In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John reflects on Titus 2:11-14, considering four key differences the grace of God makes in our life.

Titus 2:11-14  

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.

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Making the Teaching about Jesus Beautiful

According to the apostles of Jesus, the best way for Christians to fight slander against them and their beliefs is to live in such a way that the criticisms don't stick, especially with those who actually know them and live next to them and work with them. In fact, in Titus 2:1-10, Paul repeats this refrain three times, ending with the idea that by our way of life we should make the teaching about Jesus beautiful and attractive.

Titus 2:1-10

2:1 But as for you, proclaim the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.

9 Urge slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not stealing, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.  

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Sound Teaching Leads to Sound Living

What are some indicators of unsound teachers in the church? Why does sound teach matter so much? In this episode of the Bible in Life podcast, John reflects on Titus 1:10-16 to answer these questions. 

Titus 1:10-16

10 For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 who must be silenced because they are upsetting whole families, teaching things they should not teach for the sake of dishonest gain. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. For this reason reprimand them severely so that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.  

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God's People Need Good Shepherds

Shepherding is greater than leadership. 

The consistent image for leaders in the Bible is shepherds. And shepherds are among the sheep. Shepherds know the sheep and the sheep know them. 

Shepherds provide for and protect the sheep. 

This is why churches must have good shepherds - leaders, elders, overseers who embody godly character and serve the sheep as shepherds. 

Titus 1:5-9

5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders in every city as I directed you, 6 namely, if any man is beyond reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of indecent behavior or rebellion.

 7 For the overseer must be beyond reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not overindulging in wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, self-controlled, righteous, holy, disciplined, 9 holding firmly the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it.

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Four Fundamentals of a Solid Christian Life | Titus 1:1-4  

We never outgrow the fundamentals. This is true in sports or music or an everyday activity like driving. And it's also true in our Christian life. 

In fact, when life seems overwhelming or confusing or uncertain, one of the best practices is to return to the fundamentals. As Paul opens his letter to his colleague Titus, he reminds him of 4 fundamentals of the Christian life. 

Titus 1:1-4

1 Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago, 3 but at the proper time revealed His word in the proclamation with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true son in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.  

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Is Penal Substitutionary Atonement wrong?

Penal Substitutionary Atonement has been understood as one aspect of what it means that Jesus died for our sins. The basic idea is this: by dying in our place, Jesus' death achieved paid the penalty for our sins. 

My guess is, that sounds very familiar to you. It's been a very common and central understanding of Jesus' death. But in recent years it's become in vogue to dismiss this idea as beneath the dignity of a God of love. 

So is it false?

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Expect Little Change Without This 

In this episode John reflects on the importance of self-awareness, self-honesty, and confession for spiritual growth and human flourishing. 

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

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Let's Talk about Grumbling and Complaining 

It's common to tell kids "to do all things without grumbling or complaining." But who reminds us adults of that? 

Let's talk about it together. 

Bible Passages for this Episode: 

Do all things without complaining or arguments; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world

-Philippians 2:14-15

Numbers 11:1-6

1Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the ears of the Lord; and the Lord heard them and His anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some at the outskirts of the camp. 2 The people then cried out to Moses; and Moses prayed to the Lord, and the fire died out. 3 So that place was named Taberah, because the fire of the Lord burned among them.

4 Now the rabble who were among them had greedy cravings; and the sons of Israel also wept again and said, “Who will give us meat to eat? 5 We remember the fish which we used to eat for free in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic; 6 but now our appetite is gone. There is nothing at all to look at except this manna!”

Numbers 14:1-4

Then all the congregation raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night. 2 And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the entire congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or even if we had died in this wilderness! 3 So why is the Lord bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become plunder! Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 4 So they said to one another, “Let’s appoint a leader and return to Egypt!”  

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How (NOT) to Read Old Testament Stories 

Narrative, i.e., stories, is the most common form of literature in the Bible. And there are some exciting and even wild stories in the Old Testament. But how do those stories apply to our life? 

The New Testament affirms that they're written for our benefit. 

Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

1 Corinthians 10:6 and 11

"Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them."

"Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."

But how do they instruct us? How can we read Old Testament stories faithfully as the people of God today? 

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