Titus Our Brother

2 Corinthians 12:13-18 - How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong! Now I am ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you, because what I want is not your possessions but you. After all, children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less? Be that as it may, I have not been a burden to you. Yet, crafty fellow that I am, I caught you by trickery! Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?


1 Corinthians 9:12 - If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.

Philippians 2:17 - But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

2 Corinthians 8:19-20 - What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift.

Application:

· Am I ready to surrender my rights because of love for others?
· Is my service to God joyful?
· Do I provide a good example in handling money?
· Am I carrying out the Lord’s work in a proper, ethical and honest manner?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Our Brother

2 Corinthians 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.


2 Timothy 1:1-2 - Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, in keeping with the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 10:32-33 - Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God—even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

Hebrews 2:11 - Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

1 Corinthians 1:2-3 - To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 1:7 - To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Application:

· Am I holy and dedicated to God?
· Eternal life is available to all who will receive it through faith in Christ
· Do I live to glorify God?
· Jesus makes His people holy through His blood
· Am I set apart as holy? Do I reflect God’s holiness?
· Have I been called to God? Do I stand before Him as a holy one?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Speaks Against His Brother...Speaks Against The Law

James 4:9-14 - Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 2:8 - If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right.

James 5:9 - Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Isaiah 2:22 - Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?

Conclusions:

• The law of love is called royal because it is the supreme law that is the source of all other laws governing human relationships
• The royal law is the summation of all laws
• James calls for patience toward believers as well as unbelievers
• “The Judge is standing at the door!” is a reference to Christ’s second coming and the judgment associated with it
• The New Testament insistence on imminence arises from the teaching that the last days began with the incarnation
• We have been living in the last days ever since the incarnation
• The next great event in redemptive history is Christ’s second coming
• The New Testament does not say when Christ’s second coming will take place, but its certainty is never questioned and believers are consistently admonished to watch for it
• It was in this light that James expected the imminent return of Christ
• “Stop trusting in man” means cease from man or give up on man
• “Stop trusting in man” describes the rejection of the Messiah
• Ironically, the one Man who should have been trusted and esteemed was rejected, given up on by men
• The Messiah alone was (and is) worthy of the esteem wrongly given to frail leaders

Application:

• Do you keep the royal law?
• Are you patient toward others and do you watch for Christ's second coming?
• Do you trust in man?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Brother In Humble Circumstances

James 1:5-11 - If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Psalm 119:113 - I hate double-minded men, but I love your law.

Isaiah 40:8 - The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

Conclusions:

• A double-minded man is unstable in all he does
• Wisdom enables one to face trials with pure joy
• Wisdom is not just acquired information but practical insight with spiritual inclinations
• The plans and purposes of the nations will not prevail

Application:

• Are you a double-minded person?
• Do you ask God for wisdom?
• Do you believe the word of God stands forever?

All Scripture verses from NIV

Comclusions derived from NIV Study Bible