Dear Brethren,

MEDITATION
10  For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially
those of the circumcision,  11  whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole
households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest
gain.  12  One of them, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil
beasts, lazy gluttons.”  13  This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply,
that they may be sound in the faith, Titus 1:10-13

OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION

1. Challenges in the Ministry
a) The threat of false teachers
b) A short list of what they were like in the days of the Apostle Paul
i) Insubordinate
ii) Idle talkers
iii) Deceivers
iv) In Paul’s time the Jews posed a threat to the church

2. Protecting the Church
a) The mouths of false teachers must be stopped
b) They subvert families (households)
c) They teach things they should not
i) False teachings
ii) Wicked teachings

3. Understanding the false teachers
a) They seek dishonest gain
b) They were liars

c) They were compared to beasts
d) They were also gluttons
4. Dealing with them appropriately
a) They must be rebuked
b) They must be stopped for teaching unsound things
c) There must be wisdom and maturity in facing false teachers

APPLICATION TO LIFE AND MINISTRY

1. Guarding ourselves
a) From falling into error
b) From ending up poorly in ministry

2. Guarding the Church
a) We need to guard the souls in our church
i) Members may not know how to defend their faith
ii) We must not let wrong doctrines to infiltrate the Church
iii) It is our duty to guard the Church faithfully
iv) This is a responsibility given to us as pastors
b) We need to have the following essential qualities
i) Knowledge
ii) Wisdom
iii) Courage

Let us take our roles as pastors/ missionaries very seriously. May we be found faithful!

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charles Tan