Titus 1:5-9 - Qualifications of elders

Elders are overseers or stewards of God’s house, which is His people. Elders are to watch and provide for the sheep that we in their care.

A man must have these qualifications to be appointed an elder and must maintain these qualifications to continue serving as an elder.

Titus 1:9 - An elder doesn’t have to be able to convince every single person who contradicts the Bible. Not even Jesus did that. He does have to be able to use a good working knowledge of the Bible to convince those with honest hearts.

Titus 1:10-11 - Elders must be able to silence those who rebel and upset the church and have the fortitude to actually do it.

[Sorry, no audio for this lesson due to technical difficulties.]

This present world?

Philemon 1:23 - Demas had fallen away.

Psalms 90:1-4 - This life is temporary.

Luke 5:5 - This world is frustrating sometimes.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 - This world offes no lasting satisfaction.

II Corinthians 3:4 - Satan blinds people to the gospel of Christ.

Serving God and going to heaven?

Matthew 16:26

Hebrews 11:24-26 - Fear God and walk in His ways.

Proverbs 19:23 - If your sould is safe, you can sleep satisfied.

I Timothy 6:17 - We should fix our hope on God instead of earthly riches.

Jeremiah 35:5-6 - The descendants of Jonadab are examples of how to follow commands. We should try to have a legacy of righteousness.

Psalms 51:12 - There is great joy in knowing that we had a part in someone’s salvation.

Aim at your target!

I Corinthians 9:24-27 - We must discipline ourselves to reach our target.

Hebrews 5:12-14 - We must study.

The divorce rate has risen greatly in the past 100 years.

In 1900 the rate was about 8%.

In 1940 the rate was about 20%.

In 1970 the rate was about 33%.

In 2011 the rate was about 50% of first marriages.

The rate was about 60% of second marriages.

The rate was about 73% of third marriages.

Regardless of the cause, God hates divorce.

One of the best safeguards against divorce is marrying a Christian.

I Kings 11:1-8

The four major causes of divorce have been listed as follows:

Sexual incompatibility

I Corinthians 7:1-3 - Husband and wife are to fulfill their duties to each other.

Financial irresponsibility

Galatians 5:3 - Christians are to show self-control.

Alcoholism

Proverbs 20:1 - Drunkenness condemned

I Peter 4:3-5.

Religious discord

It is a great strain to a marriage when both are not Christians.

Things that will make divorce impossible:

Love and respect for God’s law

Love and respect for one another

Do not be angry at the same time.

Do not go to bed angry.

Knock out selfishness. Do not say: “My mate is not treating me as he/she should.” Rather ask: “Am I treating my mate as I should?”

Summed up: be a Christian!