The Weekly Bulletin of the Livingston Church of Christ

Meeting at 639 2nd Street, Livingston, CA 95334

Office: (209) 394-3511 | Preacher: Jovan Payes
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Somebody is Watching Me (2)| Jovan Payes March 20, 2011

Jesus of Nazareth taught that true religion is not one that is News and Notes
accomplished through various holy acts “to be seen of men” to garner
personal religious praise (Matt. 6.1, 2, 5, 16); nevertheless, disciples of A Note to Our Visitors:
Jesus are called to live a life that is demonstrative of “subjection” (Gr. Welcome! We want you to
know you are our honored
hypotasso) to the Lord’s desires and will (1 Pet. 2.13, 19; 3.1, 5, 7; 5.5).
guests. Let us know how we
A life lived in submission to God is a powerful demonstration of faith
can serve you. We have free
in a world of onlookers. Everett F. Harrison, in this connection, writes:
biblical literature and offer
At a time when the New Testament canon was incomplete, much free home bible studies.
less collected, when the doctrines of the faith had been preached in Ed Strickland | Undergoing
few places with such publicity and thoroughness as to give the care at Memorial in Merced.
populace an understanding of Christianity as a system of truth, it Needs continued prayers.
was imperative that every believer should preach with his life so as Remember in Prayer: our
to adorn the doctrine and commend it to others. (459) Dreams, Rozella (ribs), Pat
This observation of Christians in the first century is enlightening. The O’Hara (cancer), Victor
New Testament clearly teaches the importance of a Christian example. Barrios (grieving), Fred
(neck), Linda (knees), Gerald
Likewise is this seen in Paul’s letter to the evangelist Titus; in which,
(recovery), Hazel (recovery),
our study continues on the importance of genuine Christian living. Living
Mike (back), Shelly (testing),
a life where Christ is seen in a person does not materialize out of thin air;
Tammy (upcoming surgery)
it is derived from the teaching of “sound doctrine”. Connie Payes (dialysis), Elsa
Sound Doctrine Avalos (Alzheimer’s).
Hypocrisy is condemned because of its fraudulent nature (Tit. 1.16), it March 25-27 | Stronger
claims an allegiance to God but is void of any demonstration in the Marriages Seminar at the
person’s life. Consequently, from the Divine point of view, such are so Ripon church of Christ.
atrocious that they are regarded as “detestable”, “rebellious”, and “unfit” March 25-27 | Face Your
for spiritual service (Tit. 1.12). Giants family camp in
In order to develop genuine followers of Jesus of Nazareth, Paul Oakhurst (Turlock).
required Titus to “teach what accords with sound doctrine” (2.1). Those
March 27 | Dress Your
who share the gospel are required to lay out the elements of Christ’s
Banana Fellowship. See sign-
teaching. One cannot represent themselves as a disciple of Jesus without
up sheet.
knowing his instruction. Teacher and student take note.
The teaching Titus provides is to be “what accords with sound March 31-April 2 | Recharge:
doctrine”. The teaching is “distinguished” (Vine 2.55) from other kinds of Excellence in Ministry in
Monterrey, CA.
learning by the health related metaphor “sound” (Grk. hugiaino). To be
“sound” means, in a literal sense, “to be healthy, sound in health” (Vine April 2 | Ladies Day at the
2.589). It emphasizes a strong hygienic constitution. Hughson church of Christ.
The word is found twelve times in the New Testament. Hugiano is
 Schedule of Services Somebody is Watching Me (continued)
Sunday Services used four times in its literal sense (Luke 5.31, 7.10, 15.27; 3 John 2). The
Bible Class 10 AM remaining eight instances are metaphorical. In Titus 1.13, being sound in
(Classes for All Ages) faith reflects a robust Christian life. It is hoped that they be “healthy like
Morning Worship 11 AM a horse” when it comes to their Christian living. In other words,
Evening Worship 5 PM Christians are to live “correctly” in balance to the truth of the gospel.
4th Sunday Services In seven other passages, Paul associates this idea of healthiness as a
Bible Class 10 AM metaphor for “true and incorrupt” teaching (Thayer 634; 1 Tim. 1.10, 6.3;
(Classes for All Ages) 2 Tim. 1.13, 4.3; Tit. 1.9, 2.1-2). To be healthy is to be free of any agents
Morning Worship 11 AM that corrupt one’s hygienic profile; metaphorically, then, our teaching is
Birthday Fellowship Meal to be distinguished by the fact that is it free from any corrupting agents.
Afternoon 1:30 PM The Range of Christian Living
Wednesday Services By teaching “what accords with sound doctrine” (Tit. 2.1), Titus is to
Bible Classes 7 PM set forth the principles of pure Christian living. These principles are
(Classes for All Ages) evident in the guidance Paul gives him in 2.1-10. This passage may be
Daily Bible Readings outlined in the following way (Jackson 334-44): (a) Instruction for the
3/20 Psalm 40 Aged (2.2-5), (b) Instruction for the Younger Men (2.6-8), and (c) Servants
3/21 Psalm 41 and Masters (2.9-10).
3/22 Psalm 42 Paul concludes every section with an appeal to consistency of
3/23 Psalm 43 believers so that God’s word may not be reviled (2.5), that onlookers will
3/24 Psalm 44 have nothing evil to say about Christians (2.8), because Christians must
3/25 Psalm 45 adorn themselves with the apostolic teaching (2.10). The Christian is to
3/26 Psalm 46 live a life that is beyond reproach. Read below and reflect:
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound
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in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be
livingstoncoc.wordpress.com reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are
& to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their
twitter.com/lcocupdates husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home,
kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God
may not be reviled.
Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself
in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching
12 days and counting for… show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be
condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having
nothing evil to say about us.
Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they
Monterey, CA are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing
March 31 to April 2 all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of
www.rechargeme.org God our Savior. (Titus 2.2-10 ESV, emphasis added)
Sources
Harrison, Everett F. 1941. “Exegetical Studies in 1 Peter Part 7.” Bibliotheca Sacra 98.392 (October): 459-68.
JOVAN’S OFFICE HOURS Jackson, Wayne. 2007. Before I Die: Paul’s Letters to Timothy and Titus. Stockton, Calif.: Courier Publications.
Tuesday to Friday Thayer, Joseph H. 1889. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Repr. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1962.
Vine, William E., Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr. 1984. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.
9:30 AM to 3:30 PM Nashville, Tenn.: Nelson.