A Teacher Worth Following Handles the Word with Gravity
Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
This is a message that is much needed today, isn’t it? In a culture which is obsessed with entertainment (vacuous, flippant, vulgar and irreverent entertainment at that), we can very easily apply these tastes and expectations to preaching. It is very easy to look at preaching as another form of entertainment. Or, in a culture where entertainment must consistently push the envelope in order to attract attention or remain relevant, the preacher can feel pressure to lace his preaching with what is edgy, shocking or controversial.
What Paul is presenting to Titus is a vision for preaching and leadership which is founded, not upon personality or the ability to captivate an audience, but upon integrity, and dignity. He lays forth a vision for exemplary leadership which is known for handling the word of God soundly, so that others could not say anything to cast aspersions.
But many preachers have allowed their teaching ministry to be shaped more by the entertainment industry than these Apostolic commands, haven’t they? The pulpit becomes half inspirational chat and half stand-up routine. Or it becomes half shock-jock and half variety show. Instead of preaching the word plainly and stretching people to adopt an attitude of reverence, many preachers cater to the culture by using the methods of the culture. The result is some preaching which is increasingly vapid and juvenilized.
As a consequence, the word of God is neglected and misrepresented. The power of the gospel, which is designed to powerfully confound earthly wisdom through its counter-cultural message (and methods), becomes neutered through conformity. It is paraded in trendy garb and is robbed of its eternal relevance.
But Paul tells Titus that he was to speak with dignity, integrity, and gravity. His speech was to be thoroughly biblical so that if any accusations came, they would have to be redirected from Titus, to God himself. In all things, Titus was to carry out his life and ministry in such a way that others would not be able to credibly accuse him of anything.
In our modern day, rarely is the word lived, and preached and received in such a reverent manner.
We, like Titus, are to understand the weightiness of preaching the word of God. There is gravity to the occasion. For this reason, we like Titus, are to be careful to keep a close watch on how we present and represent the word of God.
Bring Us the Book
I want to show you an event in the history of Israel in which we witness a wonderful example of reverence for the word of God. In this text we find Israel, after the walls of Jerusalem have been rebuilt. The seventh month, full of Jewish festivals which had gone unobserved during captivity was approaching. The people asked to hear the word of God and so Ezra brought the law before the assembly and read from it.
Nehemiah 8:5-12 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Also [Heads of Levitical families] Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading…
In this awesome passage we find the people gathered with hungry hearts. They were starving for the word of God. They told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. Ezra! Bring the book! Let us hear the word of God! We want to be reminded of all that the Lord has commanded us!
…9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." 11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.
And so Ezra read the word, but he didn’t just read it. Ezra and the Levites also explained the word of God to the people so that they could understand it. And notice the affect of this plain reading and clear explanation of the word of God – the people wept. The people wept tears of repentance. Yet, as they heard and considered all that God was and all that God had done for them, their tears gave way to joy. Look at verse 12:
And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.”
Such reverence, such desire and what a response — repentance and joy. And why? Because Ezra and the Levites put on a song and dance? Because they entertained? Because they had tear jerking stories, intriguing anecdotes and compelling illustrations? Because their market research taught them the perfect way in which to communicate to these people? No. This amazing response was all the result of the word of God spoken clearly, and explained plainly.
These tears of joy flowed not because the message affirmed the people or conformed to them, but because it powerfully confronted them while remaining in its purest form.
A teacher worth following backs up his conviction that the Bible is the word of God with the very manner in which he presents it. He preaches with dignity. He preaches in a way which is worthy of respect. He takes the task of preaching seriously. His tone matches the text.
Silly humour in the pulpit. Political preferences in the pulpit. Sexually provocative language in the pulpit. It is all out of place. The word of God is to be handled with reverence. This reverence is first seen in that the teacher is careful to teach accurately what the word of God actually says, and second in that he communicates it with gravity.
Its this type of teaching that removes itself from the realm of viral trendiness and establishes itself as eternally relevant.
Titus 2:7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Have you developed an appetite for the word of God so that you appreciate teaching which simply helps you to understand and apply scripture without entertainment?
Does the preaching that you listen to convict and challenge you, as well as comfort you?
If you are a preacher, are you guilty of doubting the eternal relevance of the gospel's counter-cultural message?
