Calling All Shepherds - Titus 1:5-9

I have a feeling that, you know, some of you are long time

churchgoers and some are visiting and.

I say that because. I've met so many.

People over the last week or so that have just.

Come up to me and said, hey, I I got to get my life.

Right, I got to come. To church.

You're going to see me on Sunday.

So if that's you, we're we're glad that you're here.

And I have to say, I really do believe we are.

In. A.

Cultural Moment in time Cultural moments are are times where

you're living in a period of time.

That will be looked back. On and.

People will see how you. Responded to the times that you

were living in and that's. Just that's just.

True of our time. We're going to look back at this

time and say what? How did?

How did it? All unfold what's which.

Direction did your life go? In this time and.

I have to say it's a. Very interesting time.

To be a pastor. To just be.

Talking to people about the questions of life right now and

I'm just going to share with you some of the the common themes of

the people I'm talking to right now.

Maybe you can relate. I have talked to some very

heavy. Hearted people over the last

week or two, people that are just sad for the state.

Of our country for the violence on display, the celebration of

of murder, angry and on either way in whatever direction you

land and all of that. I've met people who are just

feeling anxious. They're just think about.

The how fast the. News seems to be coming at us

and I've talked to parents who. Are like our school's.

Unsafe. I've talked to just people

thinking about the future and young adults thinking about a

life. To.

You know, to plan for and they're like the, the economy's

unstable and the, the world is just uncertain seemingly and

through the the anxious and the worried I've talked to.

People who just feel very. Confused right now?

Maybe you? Can relate to that, What do I

do? When my worldview or my my the

the foundation of my life just gets rattled and shook.

It it. It's in some ways good.

Because it causes you to search. And I have met many people and

maybe I'm talking to some of you now, people.

That are just. Searching for the answers of

life right now. And whatever the category is.

I'm going to. Actually start before we.

Get into our normal series in Titus.

I'm going to start by referencing a verse.

We looked at. For just a moment last.

Week as Jesus in his life. And time of earthly ministry was

surveying the state of his country Israel.

Notice how he described the times that he was living in.

It says in Matthew Chapter 9 in verse. 35 as Jesus.

Matthew 9 · chapter mention

Was going around and preaching and teaching and healing people

and and and getting a survey of the land the the condition.

Of his day. Says when he saw the multitudes,

he was moved with compassion for them because they were weary and

scattered like sheep, having no shepherd.

And I find that to be such a helpful reference point for our

time because in all of the conditions that I just read and

I know you relate to some of them.

If if I could look out. In our country, in our world

right now, I would say one of the the symptoms of the root.

Cause is that people are feeling.

Wearied. They're feeling burdened by life

and the times that we live in, and people more and more are

becoming scattered, no longer feeling united in a common

direction as a country. And for that there is.

An answer. This is This is.

Actually incredible time. Jesus looks out with compassion

and says. Pray to the Lord of Harvest that

laborers would. Go in that there's where.

Jesus sees scattered sheep. He sees an opportunity.

To help people. And I I think this should be our

response in such a time as. This we see.

Scattered, we read burdened people looking for guidance in

life and what God wants to offer these times is compassion to

bring people close to the. Heart of a Shepherd.

So the solution is. Raise up shepherds.

Raise up people. Who will offer guidance towards?

What? The actual answers are and and I

start. All of that because that's.

Exactly where we find ourselves in the word this morning.

So we. Started a series.

In the book of. Titus if you're if you got a

Bible, Titus is a very. Hard book to find, so I'll tell

you it's right. After.

Second Timothy, First Timothy, Second Timothy Titus is only a

couple chapters in my Bible. You can.

You can fit it on a page and last week we introduced.

This book with the desire for these.

Times to have. Grace to be godly people.

In such a time as this, and now we're going to look at the

second theme for that, which is the solution for the times we

live in. How do we?

Become not only godly. People, but also people.

That could offer guidance to lost and confused and weary.

People so today. We're going to look.

At a passage of scripture where Paul offers.

This man Titus, a solution to what was lacking in his ministry

that will be a solution to what we need for such a time as this.

So read with me starting in Titus chapter one verse 5.

For this reason, I left you in. Crete that you should.

Set in order the things that are lacking.

And here's the key. How do you set things in order?

Where there's lack, he says. Appointing elders in every city,

as I command you, as I give. You this list of qualifications

raise up. Leaders where there's

disorganization. Elders is just a word for

oversight or shepherd or leader. And there's going to be.

Specific qualities that we see. For people to begin leading.

The church that had lack. And before.

We look at those. Qualities I'll just point out, I

almost wanted to name the whole sermon series set in order

because Paul writes to Timothy and says, listen, in Crete, you

got some things to set in order in this in the church world

you're living in. Paul could have wrote that to

every church that he wrote. Which made-up the bulk of the

New Testament. Letters to churches.

Here's some things you got to set into order, and it's true of

every church since if you walk into the doors.

Of a church, you're going to find a.

Church that's doing the basics to honor God through the singing

of his praise in the ring of the word and there's.

All sorts of stuff that. Still need to get set in order

organized. Corrected built up true of this.

Church if you're visiting, if we've at all impressed.

You with the. Word or with singing, just know

that we got all sorts of things we're going to set.

It's never done until we get to heaven.

The church is a project. Of correcting and building up

and setting things in order and one of the.

Best ways you can do that is with.

Strong oversight and leaders is by raising up people who don't

just sit and listen the word and relax.

That's great. I might take the advice, I might

not, but people who are actually transformed by the word to be

influential in their sphere. Where things lack in your life,

do you know, there's things that lack in your family right now.

There's things that lack in your child's development.

There's things that lack in your relationship with your neighbors

and coworkers. And when we go through this, I'm

going to answer the question out front.

Is this just for elders and pastors?

Well. This is a non negotiable for

elders, pastors and leaders of this church.

This isn't according to the. Calvary Policy.

This is according to the word. But if we expect some sort of

revival? In the day and age we live in

for scattered and weary. People to.

Happen just by inviting your friend to church and listen to

what a. Pastor says about the Bible.

We're we're completely missing the.

Harvest. There are.

So many people who have yet to walk into a church and say, OK

pastor, sign me up and tell me what to do.

You know where they are. They're at your workspace.

They're in your neighborhoods. They're.

At drop off at school. They're friends that also are

scattered and weary, and it's going to start with godly people

offering guidance. To other people.

So as you think about what we're going to cover today, I want you

to take notes for two people. One.

For the leaders of church. Or any ministry you're part of.

Don't follow unqualified shepherds.

Save yourself heartbreak in church.

And then take notes for yourself.

There's nothing that we're going to go over as godliness and

attributes and characteristics to be aimed for and strong

leadership that isn't beneficial for your life.

In fact, as I was studying this, I thought I got to train my kids

how to be pastors now. Because.

Everything on this list will prepare them for the world

they're going to inherit to make them good.

Quality. Trustworthy.

People and I want that for every single one of you so that when

we. Leave this place.

Church doesn't. Stop.

Amen. And so now Paul says as I

commanded you, so he's going to say, listen, you don't just hand

out leadership influence to anybody.

There's actually the leaders that represent.

God's love. And God's heart and God's truth

and guidance forward. They have to be qualified

according to these three categories.

These three categories. Make up the bulk of your life in

Christ as well. So just know them and then we'll

go through them. It is the category of.

Family. The category of your character.

And the category of truth or doctrine or what is the

foundation by which you have your North Star for life?

That's doctrine and truth. So we start by the category of

how these leaders have to shepherd.

In the family it says in Titus chapter one verse 6, if a man is

blameless, the husband of one wife having faithful children,

not accused of dissipation or insubordination.

So a couple words that we don't necessarily.

Always use. We'll come back to that.

Here's the two categories for. The foundation of good and

healthy. Leadership by way of family is 2

categories. Your relationship with your.

Spouse. Husband to wife.

And your relationship with your kids.

It's got to start there if. That's not strong.

The guidance and the wisdom and the advice and the hope that you

can offer someone else will crumble at your actual witness.

We we want. The.

People who know us. Best.

To trust us most, Not the people who know our Sunday best, the

people who know us best. It is much easier to be a

Christian in this setting right now.

It's very easy to to. Come and say, OK, this all

sounds great, but the people who know you best are to measure

whether or not you are in fact. A good.

Shepherd. And so now we.

We we look specifically at the shepherds of church elders,

pastors, oversights of home. Churches, or what we call

Calvary communities, it says if a man is blameless and so let's.

Lest we disqualify every. Person right now let me just say

what this is saying. Blameless is not saying perfect.

There is one perfect person ever, and that is Jesus.

He who knew no sin became sin on the cross.

So that we could. Walk in his righteousness,

blameless in other translations. Better put, says above reproach.

Reproach is accusation. So this is a man who when you go

through the. List of qualities and characters

of what is. A solid person to follow and

receive guidance from. This is a person who wouldn't be

disqualified by any major air. Or lifestyle choice that you've

made. That would go against this list.

It's you're above. Accusation.

It's not. That you're without accusation.

People are going to accuse. You of all sorts of stuff

throughout. Time in leadership and in the

church. And recently people will say I

don't. Know if I like this leader?

The point is, when they point out something about you, they're

not actually opening up a a hidden.

Door where all. Of the skeletons in the closets.

Will be released. These are people whose lifestyle

matches. The things that we're going to

read on this list and, and the first thing is man of one wife.

It's a person that is committed to one person, man committed to

woman. Now, we can always contextualize

the New Testament because it was written in the 1st century and

there's no. Doubt that the apostle Paul.

Was writing to someone who was dealing.

With a culture that. Was much more accustomed to

polygamy and having more than one relationship with a woman

than than we are, at least at the moment.

But the main point is not just don't be polygamous.

It is be a faithful. Man, in other words, when you

make a promise, one of the ways we will measure.

Where there you keep your word is.

How we will measure the biggest promise you have made to another

human being in your life, which is the promise you made to your

wife. Faithful husbands are promise

keepers, as the measurement goes in that relationship.

Faithfulness is not just a resume point on your on a on a a

view of your marriage. It's a character trait.

From the abundance of your. Heart you stay.

Committed to one woman and as we.

Speak as people who are. Living in a culture that needs

North stars and guidance, can we not?

Just review the wreckage. Of people who have not gotten a

committed relationship right, This is one of the most

destructive things that can happen to your heart and your

soul. And if you're part of a family

to your family is when the covenant between man and woman

is broken. So the shepherds of God.

Keep that covenant. As a way to say.

We won't be a destructive person in other areas as well.

I'll say one more thing on the topic.

Men. You should also be the kind of

guy that one woman is. Happy to be with.

In other words, some people roll through different relationships

because they're miserable to be around and they're horrible

leaders and women don't want to. Be with them so.

Be a man that a woman would be honored to be in a covenant

relationship with. And while we're on the topic,

I'll speak to the women one of the.

Reasons our culture is scattered.

And wearied and burdened by just breathing the.

Air of our world. Is in the culture of dating.

There are, there is a. Generation of young people who

have been. Sold a lie that.

One women men are actually for some later time in life like

have fun, explore, go find out, you know, milk.

The cow before you buy it, that is.

Horrible advice and we're now living on the other.

Side of all. Sorts of returns on that

investment and it's heartbreaking to see.

People who have bought. That lie and they're shattered

because they did not look for the.

Virtue. Of a man who wanted to commit

solely and dependently on one other woman.

So may we be people who? Restore that virtue, so virtue

so that weary. People can see a little light in

the darkness and if you're single, we are praying for you

We you you are swimming in a in a very difficult culture right

now and if you're married, add some single people to your.

Prayer life we would love. To see some counterculture

marriages raise up in this time and and and now the household is

measured not just by. The racial relationship.

Between man and woman, but also. How?

What are your kids doing in the household?

What do your kids say about the leadership that you're?

Offering at its most critical, impactful level.

And that's why, it says having faithful children not accused of

dissipation or insubordination. So we don't.

Really. If.

Someone accused my kids of dissipation.

I'd be like. Is that good or bad?

I don't know so NIV says wild and disobedient reputation.

So if my. Kids were accused of that.

I would say you're right and I'm working on it, which is another

way to remind us all that when it says that the the children

should not be. Accused.

It's the. Same.

It's the same principle here. We're not looking.

For a, a, a. Bunch of men and women, husbands

and wives. That have their household.

So in order. That their kids are just.

Perfect in all of the. Ways you'll ever look.

From the outside in that that would again disqualify by I

think every parent in here, including me.

As of 24 hours ago, my kids came to the hip hop concert and they

left feeling like Tupac. I think you know, So I'm like,

listen, you got to humble yourself and listen to the

message. Of the rapper.

The the question isn't whether our kids are perfect.

In fact, I'm going to, I'm going to slow down here because I

think sometimes that burden gets put on kids within the church

setting and that's. Why we have?

Bad returns on what's called pastor kids.

They're like, I didn't want to be perfect.

I didn't like the pressure. And it's not just Pastor.

Kids, it's every. Kid in kids ministry right now

if we expect them to be perfect little citizens and and models.

Of the fruit of your discipleship.

Then they're going to get an undue pressure put on them.

So it's not that they'll never. Be wild or rebellious, Of course

they will be. How do you shepherd through it?

How can you be someone who is known?

By your By your ability. To actively shepherd and

disciple. Your.

Children in the way. They should go.

When they're not going. The right way.

And so may we. Also be.

Examples of this to a worn out culture.

I've heard so many people say I don't know if I want to bring

children into this world. Life is hard enough.

I don't. I don't have a vision for what

it would look like based off my. Childhood or what I see.

Around me, it seems like kids are just on their screens and

their little hellions wherever you take them.

And I'll just pass and. If that's all people are.

Seeing from the their view of parent to children, they should

pass. But let there be.

Lights in that dark, let there be children who honor and

respect their parents and parents.

Who care? For their children as their

primary fruit of ministry. So I'll speak to pastors,

elders, leaders, Bible study. Junkies, anyone who's ever

witnessed if you have any badge of ministry.

At all. And your kids need attention.

Put ministry on hold. If you are doing anything to

serve people outside of your family and your marriage needs

attention, focus on your marriage it.

Starts by the people. Who know you best?

So may we not be raising up a wave?

Of shepherds who look really. Good on paper, but their kids

know they're actually hypocrites.

So shepherd the family. And then it says Titus chapter

one verse 7, for a Bishop must be blameless.

As a steward of. God not self self willed, not

quick tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy

for money. So this is the beginning of now.

Your character's actually. Going to be called out.

It's not enough that you have, you know, a ton of leadership,

energy and experience in the corporate world and you really

want to do great things. What do you?

Actually, like in the abundance of your heart that we can see in

your. Behavior.

This is shepherd of character and it says.

A Bishop must be. Again, this is.

These are you, the elder, Bishop, pastor, these are all.

Used synonymously for someone who's overseeing.

A group of people that they're responsible for.

Washing the feet of and caring for their hearts and their

lives, says Bishop, shouldn't be blameless.

This is a header to say. Everything else on this list may

your life line up with. These characteristics.

So that no one could. Accuse you of.

Clearly being in violation of one of them, and I'm going to

keep saying this, people are hungry for.

Leadership that does. Not lead them astray.

Look at all of the. List and it's just don't do

this, don't do this, don't do this.

It's not that we live in a time where.

There is a lack of voices. Inviting you to be led by them.

There may be more leaders. Or.

Quote UN Quote influencers or life.

Coaches or people who will offer you advice.

Than there ever have been before.

We're not just looking for someone that you can follow the.

Lord wants to raise up people who have his heart.

So when you follow them, you're getting.

Closer to God. And so may we listen to this

once again, look at all of the things that Paul is going to

warn. Titus now, if they have.

These things, they're disqualified, not self willed.

This is a way of saying these are not arrogant people with

giant egos that use the phrase my way.

Or the highway. There's a lot of.

Leadership that you can get. People to follow just by.

Saying get with me or you're out and there's a lot.

Of great cult leaders who will tell you how to do it their way.

Or the highway. We're not looking for that.

And I also speak to parents once again.

Your kids aren't helped by. Arrogant and self willed

parents. Either our kids are little.

Disciples in the home, teach them, admonish them, build them

up, correct them, rebuke them, exhort them, but don't be

arrogant that you know they live under your roof and they've

never paid your rent so they have to do what they say.

I've removed that from my vocabulary.

I no longer say that and you shouldn't either.

And it goes down the list. Similar attribute, not quick

tempered. So there is a temptation as a

leader. To just say it how you see it.

And when someone does something you don't like, you just say,

well, I'm the leader, get behind me because.

I get to call the shots. And we live in a.

Culture of hot heads. Turn on any TV and you see two

people arguing back and forth, firing each other up and firing

up their. Base to.

Be a bunch of hot tempered people.

And so this is my leadership memory verse.

This has saved me, I think, from a lot of leadership.

Pitfalls. So I'll read it to you if you

are a leader. At all interested in offering

any kind of guidance to people who are looking for the answers

right now memorize James chapter one verse 19 with me so then my

beloved brother and I can say my.

Beloved fellow leaders, let. Every man be swift to hear and.

Slow to speak, slow to wrath. There it is.

Be someone that people can talk to and you'll listen.

You don't interrupt and you're slow to get angry.

And here's just a practical not to do while you're a leader.

Don't be given too much wine. There's all sorts.

Of ways you can just disqualified.

Not even by, you know, coming and saying, hey, we, we've,

we've noticed that your, your wine consumption is a little

high. You're doing great in every

other area. There's some.

Things that will disqualify you very.

Plainly because you're no longer available being a drunkard or

someone that's given to substance or someone that

medicates and self medicates through things that are not just

spending time with the Lord and being encouraged by the brethren

will. Disqualify you practically.

So Paul says in Ephesians, don't be drunk off wine, be

influenced. By the power of the Holy Spirit.

We want to be. People who are built.

Up and have great ideas, but let that come from the spirit and

not substance. And then it says not violent,

King James Version says not a striker, you know, not a hitter.

I just it starts at the at the at the level of children.

If if you hit. You can't be the line leader,

OK? I mean any.

Preschool teacher will tell you that that just disqualifies you

puts. You in time out puts you at the

end of the line and that just does not go.

Away as we get. Older in life, people that are

aggressive and violent are not going to.

Lead very well. But more than hitting, I don't

think any of you are going to accuse me of being violent.

Look at me, you know I, you know, I'm not a violent man.

But this is getting at the the heart of a leader too.

Not a bully. Doesn't give threats and

ultimatums and pushes people around with his position.

No loud voice, no intimidation. We.

We are. We are leaders who allow

ultimately Jesus to lead by. The power of the Holy Spirit in

His Word, and we're we're under. Shepherds to Jesus.

And another not, not greedy for money.

I mean, how many people in our culture even coming to church

and this is you right now. Let me just let me just say

thank you for making it this far.

You come to church and think, when are they going to do the

money talk? You know, when are they going to

actually? Say OK with your small.

Donation, we can build the next great thing.

And the Lord just told me we have to take a second offering

and some of you need to meet me in the lobby for VIP access to

influential leadership. And you're like, oh, I just, I

come to church and I just grit my teeth.

That that this is awkward and people don't want leaders who

are actually just after their billfold.

And it's not a 21st century problem.

It's all over the New Testament that godliness as a means of

great game game is to be dispelled as anything that any.

Leader should ever be after. And so I hope that, you know, we

would never be. Accused as a church who?

Is only after the money. That's one of the reasons, and

I'll say it again, that. We do as as a spirit LED.

Time of giving or encouragement. As possible if the Lord.

Puts it on your heart to give to this.

Church. Amen.

He will. Guide us where he provides.

And if the money goes down, we'll just we'll make it work.

I'm not worried about it. And there's no pressure on,

especially if you're new here, just donate to, you know, people

in need in your own life for. A little while before you ever

get the pressure to give so that.

The gospel would never be conflated with money.

And that's the disqualifier in in the 1st century and now and

that's again, it's not. For lack of people who?

Are signing up to lead you? We have influencers,

politicians, we have. All sorts of people who will

pass a. Basket and say follow me.

But what we're looking for in this time is.

People who lead others to the Great Shepherd, not just to a

church service. Not just too, you know, a

little. Good advice, but leaders that

are so. Willing to say just want you to

know Jesus. And so with that we now come to

some of the positive characteristics.

Some of the you know, you don't want to just be a leader that

doesn't RIP people off you actually.

Want to be a leader that blesses people?

With your sphere of influence, Titus chapter one, verse 8.

Be hospitable, a lover of what is.

Good sober minded. Just holy self controlled I

read. That list and I think Lord, may

it be so of my life, may I be someone that when someone reads.

This list they see a. Small glimpse of that in my life

and may it be. So of this church.

You know every good leader is going to set a.

Culture of leadership. That you can see the

fingerprints of these characteristics all over

everything. We do to be hospitable as to say

we are. Great hosts.

When come when someone comes that you've never met, you're

like. So glad you're here.

Wait, what can we get you? Who needs anything?

And we share. We're generous and we have

resources. That we're.

Open handed and we're open hearted with and to.

Be a lover of what is good. You know there's a.

There's a, there's a split. Going right down the paradigm of

our time and. The people who love what is good

are going to get. Dragged into the Kingdom.

I just think of what what Noah was leading us in our little

update from Canada and I'm like, this is the simplest thing.

It just warms my heart. Noah's like we went up to Canada

and we got some kids in a park. And we told him about the life

of. David and said people were, you

know, coming to. Hear about Jesus.

And and and we're just. Oh, that's so good.

We love these simple ways to just be do.

Gooders in our world and then. You know, you take it a step

further to your life. You read this lift list and it's

like, do you love this list for your life?

You love what is good. What God would say is godliness

for your life. And say, let this be true.

Of me sober minded. To be.

Sound judgment to be someone. That a weary.

And burdened person could come to, and you could give.

Clear. Wisdom to.

Because you're a clear thinker. And then it says holy this is.

Holy set apart, we're different kind of leaders, but also just.

Devout in our reverence for the times we live in and the

opportunity. We have to work while it is day.

Holy and devout to the mission of God in this.

Place for this time self. Controlled to be someone who.

Has your life? Together in discipline enough

that you can actually start focusing on a life beyond your

own. You know, if you're not

disciplined, if you don't have self-control, you're no.

Good to other people that the lack of self.

Control is a life that can only. Live for itself and so.

All of this can be summed up in what we.

Just read lover of what is good. And I'm just going to continue

to bring us back to this theme of the time we live in when you

put it on the bullets and we said.

Every week we're going to. See this theme unfolding last

week. We looked at this as.

One of the four legs. Of the of the table that is

your. Christian life and that is to

have grace for godliness. That's the goal is.

That in this time, as people look around, they say those are

the ones. That have this, they have this

different style of life, they have this.

Different aroma of love. They have this kindness and

generosity and charity. It's godliness.

It's being a light in the dark of our time, and it is the

whole. Point of this letter could.

Be summed up in one verse in the 2nd chapter, which we'll get to

soon. But Paul writes and says.

Jesus gave himself for us. That he might redeem us from

every lawless. Deed and purify for himself his

own special people. If you've been redeemed by the

blood of Christ, you've been born again.

You belong to him, and it says his own.

Special people, zealous for good.

Works. It's not.

Zealous to get to church. And know.

All of the theology. Not just zealous to make some

friends and get about your life. It's not zealous that now you're

in heaven and you can do whatever you want.

It's. Zealous to have your life.

Mean something Now? I want to just give you that

word because I think it's just rising to the surface of these

times. Zeal.

Intense, earnest pursuit. Of A cause or a goal.

Or a mission. And I'll tell you when, when,

when, when you live in a cultural moment.

It's almost like hot and cold just get ripped.

And everyone that was in the middle.

Has to choose a side. This just.

Zeal is rising up. It's.

It was zeal, the pursuit. Of God in your life, some of you

said I got to get to. Church I usually do other.

Stuff on Sundays, but something shook me to my core and now I

got to. Pursue God.

That's zeal. And it doesn't stop here.

We're. Supposed to have an earnest.

Pursuit of good works God. How can my life make a

difference to people around me? How?

Can I be like you? Where I I see scattered.

And broken and burdened people. And I have compassion.

To actually help. If you've been redeemed by

Christ, you have. Zeal for good works.

And now the $1,000,000 question is what are the good?

Works look like. And that is why you can't have a

solid family and overflowing character to the.

The glory of God. God without this last part,

which is to be a shepherd of what is true.

Titus, Chapter one, verse 9. Holding fast to the faithful

Word as he has been taught. That he may be able, by sound

doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

So he's describing Paul again, giving Titus this lens for who

to look for. It's someone who's willing to be

taught. What is true?

What's doctrine? What does the word say?

How was I designed to live? How am I designed to walk in?

Good works for the. Glory of God.

And and people who are willing to be.

Taught and they hold fast to that.

He says you find him and then they have.

The ability to exhort. And convict.

So they're sharing it, they're teaching it, they're they're

opening their word or their mouth.

To people who are lost. And scattered and saying.

Let me tell you about. God's design for your life and

then it. Says they're also able to.

Convict or contradict? So again, this is the line of

our times. Truth darkness that the battle

of the times, what you're feeling in the tear in your

heart like what am I supposed to do right now?

It is not left versus. Right.

I promise you there's something above that It's not.

Poor class. Rich class It's.

Not America and a foreign war or foreign enemy.

It is truth and deception. It is good versus evil.

It is those that. Have been redeemed by the king

of kings and the. Lord of Lords.

To be now be his messengers. Of truth to exhort.

And contradict those who don't know him.

And those, as it says, have their hearts veiled by the God

of this age. That's.

The line and so don't answer the question of what you do in this

time by choosing any. Other side of the aisle To be a

shepherd of truth is to be able to.

Exhort people on what? God.

Has designed for this time for your life.

And it brings us to the question, how can we shepherd

anyone? How could you influence anyone

from your children? To your spouse?

To your neighbor? How could you actually?

Offer any guidance to weary and burden people if you.

Yourself, don't hold fast to what is true.

If the shepherd has no truth, that the sheep have no answers,

and so the fundamental question of your life.

Is are you? Standing on the truth of.

God, Jesus says. I am the way.

The truth and the life. No one comes to the.

Father, except by. Me it is a narrow.

Gate of truth through Jesus Christ.

Paul says in the in the letter to the Ephesians, You were once

in darkness. Your hearts were veiled.

You were paying attention to all the noise and these earthly

chatters and endless debates of politics.

You were chasing after sin that was leading you astray and lying

to your. Face.

You once walked in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Walk as children of the light. Light is truth.

Walk. In the light.

So I'll just. Say this It does not matter what

is popular in these times, doesn't matter what is trendy or

what is comfortable. It doesn't matter what you want.

What matters is what is. True and as.

We said last week truth. Is found in Christ.

That's why it's so simple. Every week we're going to

navigate these times like we navigate all other times.

We're going to worship the living God who is the fountain

of truth, who created the heavens and the earth and

designed everything in it, and we're going to open the Word.

Week. By week and we're going.

To say, all right, Lord, what truth do you have for us?

To live in today, that's all we can do, and that is a call.

To. Reaching the next generation of

Kingdom shepherds and workers and people.

Who will? Carry the enduring truth.

Of God the battle is for. Truth.

And here's where we. Pull it all together.

Hold fast to the. Truth.

Exhort and share it and know that no one.

Will believe the truth of the word if your.

Character doesn't match the truth, so shepherd the truth and

shepherd your character and no one will believe.

Your character if they. Look into the fundamental way

that it's tested in your household and see.

That it all falls apart with the people.

That know you best. So in these times, we must.

Shepherd the truth of God. We must shepherd.

The character by the power of his Holy Spirit.

Allowing him to. Shape who we are.

As reflections of who he. Is.

And let it start in the household of God.

Thanks for joining us today. If you would like to watch the

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