Review

• The universal church is NOT composed of local churches. It is composed of individual Christians.

Oversight

“church”

• Jesus is the head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). There are no earthly leaders.
• John 10:14
• Matthew 16:18

“churches”

• Elders are to be appointed in every church (Acts 14:23; Titus 1:5).
• Acts 15:2; 20:17; Philippians 1:1
• I Peter 5:1-2
• There is no reference to elders being overseers of anything other than a local church.
• I Thessalonians 2:13
• Acts 8:18
• Acts 15:7, 12-13 – They were revealing what God had already decided. It was not men getting together to decide church doctrine.

Treasury

“church”

• There is none.

“churches”

• Churches collect and use money on a congregational level. (I Corinthians 16:1-4; Philippians 4:15-16)

Work of the church

“church”

• The word “church” in this sense simply refers to all saved people (Ephesians 5:23-29; Hebrews 12:22-24), but they are not a universally functioning entity.
• Romans 16:16 – Multiple churches sent greetings, but this is not a collective action.

“churches”

• Churches engage in lots of different actions and work.
  • Help needy saints in the local church (Acts 6:1-6)
  • Help needy saints in other churches (Romans 15:26)
  • Add/subtract members (Acts 9:26-28; I Corinthians 5:13)
  • Assemble to worship God and edify each other (I Corinthians 14:23-26)
  • Have overseers and deacons (Philippians 1:1)
  • Make decisions (I Corinthians 16:3)
  • Help sinners repent (Matthew 18:17)
  • Partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Corinthians 11:17-24)
  • Sing spiritual songs (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Pray (I Corinthians 14:15)
  • Teach God’s word (I Corinthians 14:26)
  • Collect money (I Corinthians 16:2)
  • Sound forth the word (I Thessalonians 1:8)
  • Support preachers in other places (Philippians 4:15-16)
  • Etc.
• The work was done on a local level.

Takeaways

• Don’t think of the church as a denomination.
  • Romans 14:12
• Jesus is my primary authority, not the local church.
  • Acts 11:20-26
  • Local churches make mistakes!
  • No person has the authority to rewrite God’s rules.
• The local church is a spiritual team.
  • Philippians 1:27

Introduction

• Genesis 2:18-25 – God created the marriage relationship.

Stats from Barna

• Currently married: 46% (down from 66% in the 1950s)
• Cohabitation is considered morally acceptable by a majority of people.
• God’s marriage law has not changed.
• Christians are experiencing divorce as often as the general population now.
• Young people believe in marriage less and less.

What is the standard?

• Mark 7:8
• Is it possible for people who have been married a long time to give bad advice? Yes!

Let’s start with some basic Bible truths.

• Ecclesiastes 11:9
• II Timothy 4:3-4
• James 1:21-25

Companionship, part 1

God’s purpose in marriage

• Genesis 1:27, 31 – God’s creation was “very good”
• Genesis 2:18 – At the beginning of Day 6, Adam’s situation was described by God as “not good.”
• Genesis 2:22 – Eve was created during Day 6 to solve the problem of Adam’s loneliness. That was the purpose of Eve – not to help him in the garden. Her purpose was companionship.
• Malachi 2:14

When we stop sharing life together, the marriage erodes.

• Ephesians 5:25, 28, 33
• Titus 2:4
• Dave Carder – “Anatomy of an Affair”
  • Tell-tale signs of a degrading marriage
• Romans 12:15
• “When you are in pain, the world stops and I listen.”

Part 3: The depth of Israel’s apostasy (Judges 17:1-21:25), continued

Moral and societal corruption (Judges 19:1-21:24), continued

Chaotic aftermath (Judges 21:1-24)

Final verdict (Judges 21:25)

Review

Historical context of Judges

• Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and then thoroughly and repeatedly warned against the pitfalls of living in Canaan (Deuteronomy 4, 11).
• Covers a period of about 300 years and depicts part of the transition from “house of the father” (e.g., Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) ➡ tribal confederacy ➡ dynastic monarchy.
• The Israelites go from a time of relative unity (under Moses and Joshua’s leadership) ➡ assimilating with heathen nations ➡ anarchy and civil war
• Proverbs 26:11

Outline of Judges

• Chapter 1-2 – The roots of Israel’s apostasy
• Chapters 3-16 – The downward spiral of Israel’s apostasy
• Chapters 17-21 – The depths of Israel’s apostasy
• Latter part of the narrative focuses on two points (Judges 21:25):
  • “In those days, there was no king in Israel.”
  • “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
• Several graphic depictions of God’s judgment (Ehud and Eglon) but also of wanton violence and depravity (Levite’s concubine).

Israel’s downward spiral

• Judges 2:19
• Rejection ➡ Reaction ➡ Retribution ➡ Repentance ➡ Rescue ➡ Relapse

Conclusion

• Hebrews 12:28-29, 1

God is strong, we are weak

• Job 38:1-7
• Job 38:22-24, 28-30
• Genesis 8:22
• Matthew 5:36
• Job 38:25-27, 33-38
• We have so little control!
• Psalms 147:1-11, 15-20 – Just praise God! Fear the Lord and praise Him.

Count your (basic) blessings

• I Kings 17:10-12 – The widow had nothing left.
• Philippians 4:11
• II Corinthians 11:27
• I Timothy 6:8

It’s wise to be prepared.

• Matthew 25:1-13
• Matthew 25:41
• We must be prepared spiritually.

Titus 2

Titus 2:1-10 – Instructions for various categories, continued

• Titus 2:5 – See I Peter 3:5. Submission should not be out of fear.
• Titus 2:6-8 – Young men are to be sensible and have self-control. See I Timothy 4:12. Be sound in speech.
• Titus 2:9-10 – See I Timothy 6:1-2.
• Notice the four purpose statements:
  • Titus 2:4 – “so that they may encourage the young women”
  • Titus 2:5 – “so that the word of God will not be dishonored”
  • Titus 2:8 – “so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us”
  • Titus 2:10 – “so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect”

Titus 2:11-14 – “the grace of God has appeared”

• Titus 2:14 – See I Peter 1:18-19. God wants us to be zealous for good works – not just avoid evil.

Titus 2:15 – “speak and exhort and reprove with all authority”

• The authority comes from God – it is not anything in the speaker.
• The Bible must be the reason we do or teach things. We can’t just say, “because I said so.”

Titus 3

Titus 3:1-3 – General reminders

• If we are being disobedient and constantly griping, we are sinning!

Titus 3:4-7 – “He saved us”

• Titus 3:5 – “Washing of regeneration” here likely refers to baptism.

Titus 3:8-9 – “Speak confidently … avoid foolish controversies”

Titus 3:10-11 – “Reject a factious man”

• Try to work with a divisive man, but if he won’t stop causing trouble, he must be removed from the group.

Titus 3:12-15 – Final greetings