In the last two sermon, in our series in Paul's Letter to Titus, we saw Paul's instructions for Titus to appointed elders in every town on the Island of Crete, and these elders were to be above reproach. As Pastor Scott picks up the text in verse 10, of chapter 1, we see how great the need was for Titus to appoint such qualified elders, for unqualified leaders were rising up, who were false teachers. Therefore, Crete, like the church everywhere, needed elders who held to the trustworthy word, as taught, so that they cold teach sound doctrine and rebuke those who contradicted it. There are many teachers today that contradict sound doctrine, who are a danger to the church. Therefore, the need for such qualified leaders is as real today as it has been throughout church history.

Many look for all kinds of traits that they want in their pastor. They want a pastor that is a dynamic speaker, can draw a crowd, and can make his hearers feel good. But what does the Bible direct the church to look for in their leaders? Clearly in the qualifications for a pastor, as laid out in the New Testament, the most important trait a church should be looking for in a pastor is a godly character. One of the reasons this is the case is because the pastor is to lead by example. In this sermon Pastor Scott picks from last time, walking through what it means for an elder, or overseer, in the church to be above reproach. And as he continues teaching through Titus 1:5-9, these qualifications focus on the elder's character.

Many look for all kinds of traits that they want in their pastor. They want a pastor that is a dynamic speaker, can draw a crowd, and can make his hearers feel good. But what the Bible direct the church to look for in their leaders? Clearly in the qualifications for a pastor, as laid out in the New Testament, the most important trait a church should be looking for in a pastor is a godly character. One of the reasons this is the case is because the pastor is to lead by example. Therefore, the qualifications for an elder are not for an elder alone, but for the whole church. As Pastor Scott continues in our series in Titus, entitled How the Church Is to Be, we come to the passage on the qualification for pastor's or elders. Again, the emphasis of the Bible is looking at the pastor's character, and as Pastor Scott begins this section we see the first thing the Scriptures calls into examination is the elder's home.

In this sermon Pastor Scott starts a new series through the letter from the Apostle Paul to the pastor, Titus. In this letter we see Paul encouraging Titus to accomplish what Paul had left him there in Crete to do, which was to "put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town" (Titus 1:5). And as Titus was to do this we see the importance of the life in the church, living godly with good works among one another in the church and before the world, as we are to proclaim the Gospel and disciple those who repent and believe upon Jesus Christ to be saved. Therefore, in Titus we see how the church is to be, how it is to be lead, and how the church is to live out their faith.

The Apostle Paul said, in 1 Corinthians 15, that if Jesus has not been raised from the dead then we are without hope; our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins. But Christ has indeed been raised! And He really is alive! On this Easter Sunday, Pastor Scott walked through Matthew 27:56-28:15. Jesus really is alive. He really is who He said He is, and He is the only hope of salvation for guilty sinners. 

In our passage for this Good Friday, Matthew 27:27-56, we see the innocent Jesus is taken and crucified as a guilty criminal, when in reality He was the innocent Son of God dying in the place of sinners. Through the wicked choices and actions of wicked men, God was bringing about the salvation of guilty sinners who would trust alone in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. That is what we celebrate on Good Friday, on Easter, and every day our Lord gives us breath.

For Palm Sunday, 2021, Pastor Scott preached through the account, from Matthew's Gospel, where Jesus deliberately fulfills a specific prophecy made about Him by the prophet Zechariah. That prophecy foretold the Messiah riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as Israel's king. By fulfilling this prophecy Jesus was declaring himself, publicly, as Israel's Messiah and King. The crowds that followed Him also hailed Him as such. But it is clear they hailed Jesus as the king that they wanted, not for the king that He was and is. The end people in Jerusalem, witnessing this uproar, ask "who is this?" The reply demonstrated that those who were singing His praises didn't really understand who He was. What about you? Do you really know who Jesus is? Do you know the kind of King He is? Are you trusting in Him to be the king you want Him to be, or are you trusting in Him as the King He is?

In this, the last sermon in this series through Nahum, we see Nahum once again announce the destruction of Nineveh, but this time he gives the reasons why Nineveh would be destroyed. We also see God declare that He was going to shame Nineveh, then Nahum taunts Nineveh's pride, and lastly Nahum announces, for the last time, Nineveh's fall. Through out this series we have seen that God is against His enemies, and He fights for His people. If you have repented of your sin and placed your faith in Jesus Christ alone, for your salvation, then God is for you!

In the second chapter of Nahum, the prophet announces the coming attack of Nineveh, followed by a description of the attack and fall of Nineveh, then Nahum mocks the supposed strength of Nineveh, and lastly God give a reassuring word that He would indeed cause Nineveh to fall. God, through His prophet, declared the defeat of Nineveh decades before it happened, and as we look back on history it happened just as God said. As we have been studying the Book of Nahum, we have been studying God's Word. And what is very clear is that God does what He said He will do. God's Word is trustworthy and true, and we can know with certainty that He will fulfill all that He said.

In 1:2-8 we saw, in the previous message, the God who is righteously jealous, vengeful, and full of fiery wrath. In this passage we also saw that God is good, and for all who trust in Him He is a stronghold. Then, in 1:9-15, we see Nahum apply these truths about God to God's enemies and to His people. For His enemies this means wrath and destruction, and for His people this means comfort and peace. God's wrath is a comfort for HIs people. We can trust in the God of justice and comfort who will make every wrong right.