Titus 3:1-15 Titus 3 begins with a bad word. It calls for us to submit. Depending on your translation it may read: to be subject to, to put yourself under, or to yield. How do you feel about this word? How do you feel about living this out?One of the unique teachings of Christianity is a willingness to submit. The world tells us to assert our rights and make life about us, while Titus is told to t...  Read More

Titus 2:1-15 I am so thankful for teachers. I send my kids to school every day and am grateful that there are a multitude of people who daily teach my kids. I often look at their work and proclaim I could never do what they do. And that is true, but the challenge of Titus 2 is every leader is meant to be a teacher, and every believer is a leader, so we are all called to be teachers.As you read thr...  Read More

Titus 1:1-16 We begin the third pastoral or leadership epistle of Paul today. We move from letters written to Timothy to a letter written to Titus. A man strategically placed on an island to impact it with the gospel. The primary way he was to do this was by raising up more leaders. Paul’s desire was for Titus to multiply himself into the lives of others. He was called to be a leader who made lead...  Read More

2 Timothy 4:1-22 Flip through a handful of news channels and you will see talking heads spinning the day’s events in a dozen different ways. People tend to zero in on the voices with which they agree and tune out or disparage the rest. In many cases, this allows them to stray from the truth. We only hear what we want and resist the hard truths that we need to hear.Paul’s warning to Timothy in vers...  Read More

2 Timothy 2:22-3:17 Someone recently described themselves as being on the struggle bus as they attempt to follow Jesus. Though it is hard, it is worth it. In fact, everything in life that is valuable takes effort, intentionality, and work. We need to commit each day to becoming more conformed to the likeness of Christ. To conform to Christ is to see every area of our lives transformed. We must see...  Read More

2 Timothy 2:1-21 My kids used to love playing dress up. They would put together costumes and walk around the house pretending they were superheroes and princesses. Costumes may feel like a thing of our past, but Paul essentially challenges Timothy to live in permanent dress-up mode.Timothy is called to see himself as a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. As a soldier he is to stay focused on the ma...  Read More

2 Timothy 1:1-18 2 Timothy is our second pastoral epistle/leadership book. It continues the theme of 1 Timothy concerning the qualifications and actions of a leader. If you were to write down all the qualifications you think are important for leadership, what would they be? Do they match Paul’s list?Paul begins his letter to Timothy by describing the importance of faith. Our relationship with God ...  Read More

1 Timothy 6:1-21 What are you running to? All of us live with a goal and a finish line; the only question is what they are. What is your life's purpose, what are you pursuing, and what is the goal of your life? Leadership demands that we chase after the right things and climb the right ladders.Paul challenges Timothy to, "Flee from all this (pursuit of wealth), and pursue righteousness, godliness,...  Read More

1 Timothy 5:1-25 Everyone needs a rocking chair in the kitchen. When my mother was elderly, dealing with cancer, and sitting in a rocker in my kitchen area, she quoted my grandmother who said, “A rocking chair always needed to be in the kitchen.” When I inquired more about the statement, she explained that as a woman aged, she could live with the family, sit in a rocker in the kitchen and still be...  Read More

1 Timothy 4:1-16 We are in a war for truth. Since the Garden of Eden, Satan has been spreading lies and enticing people away from the truth of God. His work has never stopped and continues in our lives and those around us. The question is: how are you going to fight amid this battle?The way we fight in this spiritual war is to walk in and communicate the truth. We need to stand firm on the truth a...  Read More

1 Timothy 3:1-16 What are the most critical qualities of leadership? What characteristics should we seek in prospective church leadership? Is it the successful businessman? Is it a wealthy individual or a charismatic person with lots of friends? Paul wants us to understand the necessary qualifications for a person in leadership according to 1 Timothy 3.So often modern leadership is focused on comp...  Read More

1 Timothy 2:1-15 If you were to take over a company, what is the first thing you should do? If you were promoted to boss, what should your first act be? If you are a new parent or entering into a marriage, what is the best first step you should take as a leader? Paul in 2 Timothy 2 is going to help us answer these questions.We might think leadership starts with casting vision or making a loud, ene...  Read More