Titus Week 1: The Trustworthy Word of the Trustworthy God
This Sunday we began a new sermon series through the book of Titus. As Watkins Community Church enters a new season of ministry, I wanted to start with a letter that speaks directly to what it means to build a healthy church. Before we think about programs, growth, or ministry strategy, we must first understand what kind of people God has called us to be.
Paul begins his letter to Titus in a surprising way. Before addressing church leadership, confronting false teaching, or giving practical instruction, he begins with God Himself.
Paul introduces himself as "a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ." That isn't simply a greeting, it establishes the authority behind everything that follows. Paul isn't writing as a philosopher with new ideas or as a leader sharing personal opinions. He is writing as one sent by God to proclaim God's message.
One phrase in particular deserves our attention:
"...in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began." (Titus 1:2)
Why does Paul emphasize that God never lies?
The answer becomes clearer when we understand the culture of Crete. The people of Crete were surrounded by Greek mythology, where their chief deity, Zeus, was known for deception, manipulation, and self-serving ambition. Against that backdrop, Paul makes a powerful declaration: the God of the Bible is unlike every false god humanity has imagined.
He does not deceive.
He does not manipulate.
He does not change His mind.
He always keeps His promises.
This truth is foundational to the Christian faith. If God could lie, we could never fully trust His promises. We could never rest in the assurance of salvation. But because God is perfectly truthful, every promise He has made in Christ is completely secure.
That truth has profound implications for the church today.
Every generation is tempted to reshape God into something more comfortable or more familiar. We often create a version of God that fits our preferences instead of submitting ourselves to the God who has revealed Himself in Scripture.
Christianity does not invite us to invent God. It calls us to worship the God who has made Himself known through His Word and ultimately through His Son, Jesus Christ.
As we begin this journey through Titus, my prayer is that Watkins Community Church will become known for confidence in God's Word because we have confidence in God's character.
Every church develops a culture. Some become known for their traditions, their programs, or their personalities. My prayer is that our church would be known for something far greater, a people whose lives are anchored to the trustworthy Word of the trustworthy God.
When we truly know who God is, the gospel begins to shape every part of our lives. It influences how we worship, how we serve, how we forgive, how we love our neighbors, and how we speak about Christ. Like Paul, may we become people so saturated with the gospel that it naturally spills into every conversation.
That is the kind of culture we hope to build together, not one centered on ourselves, but one centered on the faithfulness of God and the beauty of the gospel.
I hope you'll join us next week as we continue our study of Titus and discover how the gospel shapes healthy churches and healthy Christians alike.
Personal reflection questions:
What picture of God most shapes the way I live? Is it the God of Scripture, or a god I've unknowingly created in my own image?
If someone listened to my conversations this week, what would they conclude I treasure most?
Do I trust God's promises as much as I trust my own feelings and circumstances?
What areas of my life reveal that I am struggling to believe God is completely trustworthy?
Is there an idol, something other than God, that has begun shaping my thinking, priorities, or decisions?
