Doing Good - How Doing Good Will Change Your World, Part 1

Do you know what has the power to change your world? I mean, the world around you, where you actually live, your neighborhood, your apartment, your community. I mean, where you work actually being transformed if you want to know what actually works according to God. Stay with us. That's today.

Well, thanks for joining us for this Edition of Living on the Edge Chip Ingram Ro Living on the Edge as an international discipleship ministry featuring the Bible teaching of Chipin group. I'm Dave Druid. In this program, Chip continues his series Doing Good. What happens when Christians live like Christians? That's a phrase we say a lot around here because we know it's what actually makes a difference. We know that believers who sacrificially do good give hope to their families and their communities.

It's not a new idea. In fact, Chipps using the Apostle Paul's instructions to a young friend to explain how it works. So let's join him now for his message. How doing good will change your world. From the Book of Titus, Chapter three.

When people do good, they change their world.

And when we do good, we can change our world. When Christians act like Christians, people get loved, homes get healed. Communities and neighborhoods get changed. And the scripture says that when God's people do good, your world can actually be changed.

When the apostle Paul wanted to sum up the very reason why Jesus came to Earth first Timothy 115, he said this. This is a trustworthy statement. It's a statement that deserves full agreement that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

And then I love his last line, of which I am. The worst.

The word saved there literally means to be delivered. Jesus Christ came to Earth to deliver us and all men and all women and all children out of bondage, in sin and slavery and all the bad stuff it creates. And to deliver us into a new life in a new relationship. So what has the power? Let's get it down to where we live. What has the power to change your world? Your neighborhood where you work? Well, on the front of your notes, I'd like to suggest that there's three things there in the form of questions. Question number one is, what has the power to convince your neighbors and friends and coworkers that God's word is true? I would say it's safe to say in our day that by and large, in our culture, the Bible is no longer respected by many. Second question is, what has the power to restore your credibility and influence as a follower of Christ? We're viewed as judgmental, hypocritical, anti intellectual. What has the power to change that? Third, what has the power to make your neighbors and your friends and your coworkers actually come to you and want to explore a relationship with Jesus Christ? Some of us don't even believe that's possible.

But the answer to all three of those questions are very simple. And it's the exact same issue that was happening when the apostle Paul spoke to this young pastor, Titus. And he said, there's these Christians on this island called Crete. And because of the immorality there, because of the weakness of the Christians and false teaching, they don't live like Christians and Titus. Here's what you got to tell them. You tell them when they do good at home, when they do good at work and when they do good in their communities.

God's word will be honored. They will be respected and their neighbors will see the difference in their life. And they will flock to them and want to know how their lives can change.

And so open your notes, if you will. The question I want to ask and answer is, what does it look like for Christians to live like Christians for specifically? What's it look like for me and you to live like Christians in our community? Open your Bible, if you would, to Titus. Chapter three, if you skim up to Chapter two, you realize he's told older men how to live like Christians. He's told to older women how to live like Christians. He said to a younger man, This is how you need to live like a Christian. Younger women. And now he says in chapter three, remind the people. So this is for everyone to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate and to show true humility toward all men. So basically, Chapter one, here's how leaders need to live. Chapter two, here's how individuals need to live. Now, chapter three, he says to all people, and you'll notice there's six specific things that will demonstrate that Jesus is alive. That is true. That he loves people. And there's hope. And so notice in your notes. Here's what I did. I just made a quick point from each one of those. You want to change your community. You want your neighbors to think about Christ differently. Number one, obey the law. So what he says when he says be subject to rulers and authorities. And then he repeats it. Be obedient. The context is we need to obey the law. We need to obey the laws that we agree with. We need to obey the laws that we disagree with. I mean, every tax time.

Don't you just sit down and thinking, especially those of us that itemize. You know, this is sort of right on the gray area. And I could or I couldn't in.

And boy, they waste so much of my money and and some of you that have businesses where you have to decide whether you're going to declare or that cash that you receive or where. There's a lotta areas of obedience to the law.

And God says, here's the command.

Romans 13 seven render to all what is due them. Speaking of the government tax, to whom tax is do custom to who customers do fear, to whom fears do and honor to whom honor is do.

I don't know about you, but my heart breaks when I hear of people that have a very strong Christian testimony. And then it's revealed sometime later that they break the law and they're completely discredited. One of my favorite coaches is Jim Tressel High State University. And I had the opportunity because we were to event together and he was speaking and I was speaking. And so I got to know him in the back room and had a very strong Christian testimony. Wonderful guy. And if some of these sports fans know the story, a couple of his players were selling their jerseys and some things, memorabilia for a few hundred dollars here and there. And NCW rule the rules. If a coach becomes aware of that, he has to report it. And he was on a national championship run and it came to be known that he was aware of it and he didn't report it. And I'm sure there were parts of him that thought, you know, they're young kids are 20 years old. It's a crazy rule, but.

He's not the coach of Ohio State University anymore.

And remember later reading an article by some commentators and other coaches, you know, that Tressel, all he talked about was Christ and honor and and kids and raising up young man. See, he's a liar like all the rest.

See, we can't afford that.

We can't afford that. When I do my taxes, when I have these moments. Here's what I have to think about is a few hundred dollars or a few thousand dollars or getting away with a little something. Is that worth God's reputation and forfeiting the blessing of God? We want to change the world. Number one, we have to obey the law.

Number two, that little phrase, be ready to do whatever is good. Serve your community. God expects his followers to make wherever they live, your neighborhood, your community, wherever we live. He says you need to serve your community. The word needs to be prepared and active to serve the welfare of your community. Galatians Chapter six, verse 10 says. So then why do we have the opportunity? Let us do good to all people.

Let us do good to all people, and especially those who are the household of the faith.

Because we've got to transform the world in the way we transform the world is not by arguing with people, it's by obeying the law. It's by doing good and serving our community. And third, we are to guard our tongue. Notice the phrase here, slander no one.

Basically refused to be negative, guard your words about other people, critical views, untested information, you may have strong political views, you may disagree with people. You may think the world's going to hell in a handbasket. But be very careful what you put on your Facebook. Be very careful what emails you pass on to people. Be very careful in coffee shops how you speak about other people, because your name isn't simply in my case. Chip Ingram. It's Chip Ingram, son of the Living God. And it's not just your reputation, it's his reputation.

And we have been known for being so negative and so harsh.

And we pass on untested truth. And we attack. And I got news for you.

No one no one's heart is one that way. He says to this group in Crete and says to us, obey the law. Serve your community.

Guard your tongue. In fact, if you want a good test, a great verse to memorize. All my children would say they had to memorize this. Let no one wholesome word proceed out of your mouth.

But only such a word is as good for edification or building up according to the need of moment that it may give grace to those who hear no putrid, no corrupt to word comes out of your mouth because they identify you not just with your job or your family, but as a follower of Christ.

And your words have the power for good and for evil. Fourth, he says, refused to fight. It says be peaceable is how it's translated. Literally, the word is be a non fighter. Yes. Word to take a stand on the truth. But we're take a stand with grace. We're not in a cultural war. I hear that one more time. We're not trying to win a culture war. We're trying to win people's hearts. We're trying to care about individual people. If you win people's hearts and you love them and you take a stand for truth, but you do it with a winsome and grace and concern and and you treat people with dignity even if you disagree with them.

That's how the early church changed the world. That their culture was completely anti God.

But people just couldn't get over the fact that they were the people that helped the poor. They were the people that helped the lepers. They were the people that gave good for evil. Romans, 12, 17, 18 says never mean it's not a lot of room here.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the side of amen. Literally, that word respect is consider take into account. You don't have to agree with people, but they grew up and they've had experiences and they've been through some things. And this is how they look at life, respect what is right in the sort of moment, if possible.

And it's not always possible, but it's possible. So part of it depends on you be at peace with all men.

People who think so radically different than us need to meet someone like you. That is a thinking, loving, kind Christian that actually believes in the Bible, that is bold about your spiritual experience. Your life's been transformed. Your commitment in your relationships. And you come to work and you do excellent work and you can articulate your faith. And what they realize is you're not weird, you're not crazy, you're not angry, not harsh. You don't talk negatively. And they need to have a friend. People that strongly believe in abortion need to have a great Christian friend. Homosexuals in our community need to have a strong Christian friend. People who are just absolutely on the opposite end of the continuum of where we are politically. They need a strong Christian friend.

That's when the walls break down. This is what Jesus says. This is what Paul says to this young pastor.

This is how you turn around this immoral place called Crete Fourth. Be with a fifth, be winsome and forbearing.

The word means to be considerate, gentle, willing to yield one's rights.

The opposite is don't be stubborn and insisting on your own way. It has the idea of not clinging to your rights. We'd gotten this idea that these are my rights and this is how I view it. And.

You want a great example, John, in your notes. First, Peter to 18 to 25. If anyone had the right to cling to their rights, it was Jesus. But Jesus understood it wasn't about changing the Roman Empire. It wasn't about him having his rights. It says he set an example for us. And he says to those Christians through Peter, what credit is there if you suffer for doing what's wrong? In other words, if you cheat. If you lie. You steal and you suffer what credits that. But if when you do what is right and suffer for it. Are you ready? This finds favor with God for Christ suffered. And set for you an example that you might follow in his steps. And although he was reviled, he reviled not, but instead entrusted his soul to a faithful creator. So we don't we don't get to have our rights. It was his power. Meekness is not weakness. Meekness is strength under control. The strength not to spew back, the strength not to retaliate. The strength not to say I've got to have my rights. That's the spirit of God living inside believers who are following Christ.

He says in James 317, if you're wondering what's coming out of your mouth or your actions, if this is God's wisdom or the spirits wisdom, here's an here's a picture of the spirits wisdom. James 317. But the wisdom from above is first pure than peaceable. Gentle, reasonable. Full of mercy and good fruits. Unwavering without hypocrisy.

That's the litmus test for my attitudes when I quote forbear or put up with awe and consider it in a very godless world. Finally, he says, treat everyone like an M VIP, very important person. He says, show yourself humble to all men. Would you circle the word all?

I mean, do you realize how crazy this was in the Roman Empire to the slave? Treat everyone, all people. I mean, that Roman guard, your master who has beat you, Kate. Treat all men with humility.

And the reason I put like a VIP, like a very important person is I have remembered a story. I was a number of years ago, we were flying into Jaka to do some ministry. And if you've ever traveled internationally and go to a really big city, here we are. And it's like getting through immigration. There had to be like 400 some people. And I thought it's gonna take as long to get through this line as it did to fly here. And it's like and then there was this line and, you know, it said VIP. You know, no one's going in it. You know, a couple apparently important people. And then I'm in the back with our team like this and thinking we're gonna be here forever and ever and ever. And I saw this guy walking and he had a sign with two things that rarely go together. VIP and the name Ingram holding it up. And I'm thinking, gosh, I wonder what other Ingram was on this plane. And I realized it was me and our host in Indonesia was a retired general, General Mantri. He was involved in the ministry and he was hosting us. Well, I guess some retired generals have a lot of pool. And I mean, I went through here. And this man came, said, give me your passport, please. I gave him his passport. Don't worry about your luggage. Take take care of this. He flashed it. I mean, and then we got in a car and the traffic there is like, you know, Mexico City or Manila. I mean, like three days to get from one side of the city. We're in his car with these little flags. We start driving and everyone, the Red Sea parts. Now, listen carefully. I was treated like a very important person.

Because I was a friend of a general and God says to me and he says to you, I want you to treat these people that I have created and I want you to treat these people that whether they receive the gift or not.

I believe that every person on the face of the earth was worthy of the price tag of the blood of my son, Jesus. And so regardless of their color, regardless of their education, regardless if they're dirty, regardless if they're smelly, regardless if they're rich, regardless of their poor. I want you to treat every person 24/7 like a very important person, whether they have the penthouse or whether they're the elevator operator, whether they're the person in front of McDonald's or the people that owns the McDonald's chain. I want you to treat everyone, regardless of their political views, regardless of their lifestyles, regardless of how they live, regardless of how many tattoos or piercings they have or how many Rolex watches they wear.

I want you to treat them as a very important person. And the apostle Paul said, when we do that, you're change your community.

That's what we do.

Christians who live like Christians in our community obey the law, serve their community, guard their tongue, refuse to fight or Winterman for bearing. And they treat everyone like a VIP.

You've been listening to Chip's message. How Doing Good Will Change Your World. From his series. Doing Good. What happens when Christians live like Christians?

He'll be right back with his application. But before he is, I hope you'll take a second to go online or tap, share and encourage others to join us for the series. Chip is teaching through the Book of Titus and he explains why doing good is so much more than just a nice idea. The act of doing good is a catalyst that transforms both you and the world around you for the better. Jesus did good by breaking down barriers. Healing hurts and reviving hope. He's our example. It's simple, but it's not easy for a limited time. All the doing good resources are discounted, including the small group video study. How to order your copy or to send it to a friend. Just visit us online at. Living on the Edge dot org.

Tap special offers or give us a call at one eight eight eight three three three six zero zero three.

I'll be right back in just a minute to wrap up with some specific application to today's message. But as I think of what we've been teaching about, one of the things I'm seeing and hearing from God's people is I feel overwhelmed and confused. The world is so complex right now. The division is so deep in so many areas. As I watched the news and see what's happening, I just wonder what can I do? And what I want you to know is that this has happened before. It happened in the first century. And God gave us a very clear command that has the promise to make a difference. He says we're to love God with all of our heart, our soul, our mind, our strength, and sometimes we forget and love our neighbor as ourselves. The way you love your neighbor is by acts of kindness. It's by doing good. If you would like to get un paralyzed by all that's happening around you, let me encourage you get to three or five people or some people in a living room together and study this series. Doing good. Take action. Get on the offense. Realize God will empower you. Love never fails if you keep taking in media and hearing how bad everything is. You will get deeply, deeply discouraged. You are the light of the world. You're the salt of the earth. But you need the encouragement of others. And then let's start doing good to help you get started.

Our small group resources for doing good are currently discounted and shipping is free. Not only that, but we're so committed to helping you connect with others for a limited time. We've discounted all of our small group resources now to preview the videos or check out the study guides. Just go to Living on the Edge, dawg. Again, our web address is Living on the Edge. Dot o r g. You're sure to find one you think would be helpful. Gather your family or a few friends and see what God will do in you. And then through you to do good.

As we close today's program, you might be interested to know that what is taught in Titus had enormous impact in the first century and then the centuries to follow. And it was just a word to everyday people that, you know, treat everyone like a VIP. It was a word to say, don't judge anyone on the exterior. It was a word that just cut through Roman culture and the world's values. And you know that it was these early Christians. They they heard this. And to them, it was, oh, this is God's will. And so, you know what they did? They went out to the dump sites and when babies were abandoned, they rescued them. When the great plagues came, instead of running to the mountains like everyone else did at the cost of their life, they would nurse people back to health. They were the people that would walk in. And even when martyred, say, father, forgive them, they know not what they do. In only 300 years, the Roman Empire went from 12 followers of Jesus to 33 million out of the 60 million people in the Roman Empire. By the time of Constantine, it was ordinary, regular goodness that changed the world. We can change our world. One good deed at a time.

Well, just before we close, I want to say thanks to those of you who are giving regularly to the Ministry of Living on the Edge, you're making a huge difference, helping other Christians live like Christians. Now, if you're enjoying the benefits of Living on the Edge but aren't yet on the team, would you join up today? You can set up a recurring donation by calling us at one eight eight eight three three three six zero zero three or visiting us online at Living on the Edge, Dawg. Thanks for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do. Well, until next time.

This is Dave. Drew is saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge.