First Baptist Lenoir City

• The Attitude toward the Aged

• The Actions of the Aged

• The Army of the Aged - Serving with wisdom, availability, & maturity - 70s, 80s, 90s, 100s

Senior Adults are not viewed with respect in many places in the world. Unfortunately, that same attitude sometimes shows up in the church.

Paul wants Pastors like Titus and Timothy to embrace the senior citizens in their congregations. I Timothy 5:1-2. Paul described Timothy in three distinct ways:

(1) He was relatively young - I Tim 4:12

(2) He was physically weak - I Tim 5:23

(3) He was spiritually fearful/timid - II Tim 1:5-7

I. Listen to the Scriptures on Senior Adults (The strength of sr adults)

Lev 19:32; Exodus 20:12 (Eph 6:2-3); Deut 32:7; Psalm 37:25; Prov 16:31; Isa 46:3-4

Abram & Sarai (100 & 90) - Genesis 17:15-17 - had Isaac which in Hebrew means “laughter”. Who do you use as an example today?

Moses - Got God’s assignment at 80 years of age. It would be a 40-year commitment.

Our recent Christmas Series -

Simeon & Anna - Luke 2:25-38. He was looking forward to passing on, and she was described as being “very old”. They both served the Lord without any thought of retiring from doing the Lord’s work until God took them home!

II. Look to the Aged for Leadership

1. Titus 2:1-2

• What Eliab was to Titus 1

• Rehoboam is to Titus 2 - I Kings 12:4-11 (his lack of wisdom divided a fractured country).

GODLY LEADING must be accompanied by GODLY LIVING & GODLY TEACHING

I. Our Statement of Faith - The Scriptures

II. The Theology of Truth

1. God’s Word is Divinely Inspirational - Matthew 4:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16

2. God’s Word is Transformational - Psalm 19:7-10; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 15:16; Hebrews 4:12

3. God’s Word is Directional - Psalm 119:105; Romans 15:4

4. God’s Word is Verifiable - Acts 17:11

5. God’s Word is Eternal - Isaiah 40:8

6. God’s Word Christ-Centered - Luke 24:44-46

III. The Restoration of Order - 1:9-11

1. Hold fast - 1:9a

2. As taught - 1:9b

3. So that - 1:9c

a. Able to give instruction in sound doctrine - 1:9d

b. (Able) to refute those who contradict - 1:9e

GODLY LEADING must be accompanied by GODLY LIVING & GODLY TEACHING

I. Our Statement of Faith - The Scriptures

II. The Theology of Truth

1. God’s Word is Divinely Inspirational - Matthew 4:4; I Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 3:16

2. God’s Word is Transformational - Psalm 19:7-10; Psalm 119:11; Jeremiah 15:16; Hebrews 4:12

3. God’s Word is Directional - Psalm 119:105; Romans 15:4

4. God’s Word is Verifiable - Acts 17:11

5. God’s Word is Eternal - Isaiah 40:8

6. God’s Word Christ-Centered - Luke 24:44-46

III. The Restoration of Order - 1:9-11

1. Hold fast - 1:9a

2. As taught - 1:9b

3. So that - 1:9c

a. Able to give instruction in sound doctrine - 1:9d

b. (Able) to refute those who contradict - 1:9e

The NT Church is Primarily a place for God. It’s a place for God’s Word to be established. It’s a place for God’s Son to be exalted. It’s a place for God’s people to be equipped. It’s a place for God’s plan to be engaged.

I. The Foundation of God’s Church - The Worldview of our Faith is TRUTH. The Truth of God is found in His Word:

a. In the Spoken Word - Genesis 1; Matthew 4:4 (mouth of God); II Timothy 3:16

b. In the Written Word - Exodus 20 (finger of God); I Peter 1:16-21

c. In the Word Made Flesh - Jn 1:1,14

II. Two Worldviews - Truth & Lies

(As in Crete so in every place people gather corporately - You will either hear the Word of God or the word of man, I Thessalonians 2:13. There will be truth or tales. Why should truth be so important to us?

1. Satan seeks to destroy truth through deception and doubt - In John 8 he is called a liar and the father of lies.

a. The truth sets people free – John 8:32

b. The truth makes people holy - John 17:17

c. The truth leads people to Heaven - John 14:6

d. The truth fights off the Tempter and his temptations - Mt. 4:1-11

III. What a Pastor Must & Must not be -

(Looks can be deceiving - Most of you know who David is. Many of you know who Samuel is. Few know much of anything about Eliab - I Samuel 16:6-7. He was the oldest son. He was the obvious choice. But he wasn’t.

1. What a pastor must NOT be - 1:6-7

2. What a pastor MUST be - 1:8-9

3. A lover of strangers (hospitable) - “never met a stranger (philoxenos vs xenophobia); Luke 10:25-37; Romans 1:8-13; Galatians 6:9-10

4. A lover of good things - II Tim 4:6-8

5. A sensible man - Level-headed, Keeps a cool head - Acts 23:5

6. Just - upright; a stand-up guy

7. Devout - practice what you say you believe

8. Self-controlled -