Doing Good - Why Doing Good Matters So Much, Part 1

When you think of someone doing good deeds. What comes your mind giving a gift say a kind word, maybe even community service that's really good, but there's more. In fact, there is a power not quoted in good deeds but in doing good in the Bible talks about an amazing power that happens when we do good. I can't wait to tell you about today. Welcome to this Edition of Living on the Edge division of these daily programs is to intentionally disable Christians Bible teaching just a minute will launch our series called good. What happens when Christians live like Christians over the next several programs to reveal how our simple choice to change the world around us family and one neighbor. If you're looking for more practical ways to make this happen. Stick around after every message in the series to hear some additional thoughts from trip okay. If you have a Bible open now to Titus chapter 2. Let's join Chip as he kicks off the series with this message. Why doing good, matter so much. Doing good is powerful, doing good changes the course of people's lives in as we do good to other people. I don't know about you, but it does something inside of us as well that doing good is positive. It's powerful.

It's rewarding and in fact, the Bible commands us to do good, but I think were living in a day where doing good has kinda fallen on hard times. There's a couple extremes that keep us from doing good the way God wants us to. People say will if it's by grace that you're saved in no why do good, God loves me anyway right been religious people get really upset about that for good reason. And so they try and correct it with the other extreme and the other extreme is then will if you really want God to love you than they make it conditional and you need to stop doing these five things and start doing the seven things in and on these days always have to do these things and so you get legalism over here and you get sorta like grace that doesn't have any impact in so all the way back in the early church. These two extremes were troubling and they begin to discredit Christianity and so there's a whole book to write a whole book in the New Testament written just to help you and me understand what doing good. Looks like the why of doing good. The water doing good in the how to do good and what it does for us.

What it does for God and what it does for other people. I put some teaching notes if you want to pull those out how to get a little overview of what it means to do good and as we do. That's one of those words. It has a broad meeting, Webster says.

Doing good is the opposite of bad or poor or evil. Someone who is good has favorable character. The word always has a sense of moral purity and doing good or being good. Some synonyms are its productive wholesome it enhances it blesses it encourages, it helps and improves and provides means good.

The Bible's definition says it's acts designed specifically to benefit others.

When we do good works there acts that are designed specifically to benefit other people and reveal the characteristics of God. The apostle Paul. Apparently we don't have lots of details that he and a young pastor were doing ministry on this island island of Crete a number of people come to Christ and there was a number of smaller cities on this island and the churches started popping up and there were followers, many of them probably just house churches and some of them were growing and so the churches began to grow, but this island of Crete a couple thousand years ago. They were known for their moral laxness. They were known for their corruption and so the church is beginning to give birth in it for this amazing message about forgiveness and grace, but they're getting pulled back to their old culture. At the same time a group of people who say hey we can fix that they start making up a bunch of rules and false teachers come in and so Paul writes a very brief letter three short little chapters to this young pastor. He says now we were there and I want you to go back and finish the job and then he writes an entire book on this issue of doing good what it looks like why do you do it.

Notice the three problems were in the church and as I read these. They seem to be the three problems in the church today. Number one believers lives don't match their beliefs. Believers conducts are discrediting their message and these false teachers are ruining families of destroying the church. So if you are non-Christian you went to Crete and you met many of the Christians there, he would say. They say they love God and he live this holy life, but boy they don't coordinate. They were saying you you you should really investigate what it means to be a follower of Jesus, God's come to the planet is forgiven, your sins were following him. They say will you know when we read about Jesus. We hear about him. We look at your life. This doesn't matter.

Sounds a bit like America. In fact, we have the highest percentage of people ever in America by the last Gallup report to say I have no spiritual affiliation. We have a generation of people that are disillusioned with the church and organized religion sound, not against God. I'm not even against Jesus but today what when I've been in church situations I meet religious people and those who claim to profess being followers. The disconnect is so deep I don't trust it at all. I had good parents but they were Christians. I never open this book until I was 18 years old and so my parents did what their parents did. They went to a church like their parents took them to and so I went to church like that about the time I was 15. What I saw was hypocrisy. People who didn't take this seriously.

They didn't live it. They didn't expect me to limit they said one thing live in a different way.

So by the time I was about 15 or 16 I said I'm done with God I'm done with church I'm done. I mean, we didn't use the Bible much but I thought it could be to good either. All because people's lives didn't reflect what the very words of Jesus top and so notices assignment this young pastor honey.

I do not envy him, although in some ways I think of cutting out the same job.

Straighten out the mess, teach sound doctrine confront air and transform cities by doing good.

He says when faith is real and legitimate people live it out good that they do they solve the biggest problems in people's lives.

They love people that no one cares about and literally the gospel and the messages validated by the purity of people's lives and the concern they have for others. By doing good. And so the issue then an issue now is kind of the same.

If in fact were completely forgiven Avenue standing with God and are saved by grace.

Why does it really matter if you do good or not.

And since I think it's really fallen on hard times because I think in some ways, even those of us that are really seeking to walk with God. I think there's sort of an unconscious lease. This is my confession doing good is important is like icing on the cake.

If you do good. You know great job.

It's really not required and what you gonna see his first look at the structure of this book chapter 1 is about doing good in the church. Chapter 2 is about doing good in relationships and he'll give five specific relationships and define what good looks like chapter 3 talks to all Christians and says when you go to work when you when you go to work out when you coached Little League team. This is what it looks like in the everyday workaday world. This is what it looks like to do good in the world. And so the entire book is about doing good and you'll see that he gives Titus three specific assignments. Let's just look at chapter 1, I just want to do an overview. Paul says he's an apostle. It's the longest introduction to any of his epistles. He says I'm an apostle of a bondservant.

This is from the commandment of God and and he's basically saying look all my authority is invested in this young guy can what he has to say comes from God through me. So you better listen and if you've been involved ever in a turnaround or big problem in an organization you will ball team a franchise or even a church if things are going badly and you want to change and where you start everything rises and falls with leadership is a chapter 1 is about. We've got to get good leaders in the church so noticing your notes. I just put a highlight.

He says I want you to appoint elders leaders and all these different little churches and by the way, here's what a good leader is these blameless in his marriage and family, blameless in character, hospitable, and in case you missed it.

Lover of what is good and then you get sore. These moral qualities that are self-controlled, upright, holy discipline, theologically sound and able to ignore the truth if you want to fix an organization you can't just get good leaders in place.

What you do you get rid of the bad ones sources.

These false teachers, review, confront them, look at the words.

This is not good. There deceivers here talkers ruining whole families that they're dishonest that they promote the values and the morality of Crete instead of Christ and this will come as a shock. Are you ready as we study this little bit later. There's people actually using the name of Jesus and saying spiritual things to get rich is that shocking or what I mean is not even TV and he says address that and then noticed the summary after he says you gotta deal with these false teachers. He says they profess to know God.

Their words but by their deeds, their actions, they deny him. He says there are testable their disobedient and look at that last line there unfit for doing any. Here's our word. Good thing it's all I want you to know is he sees can address the issue of doing good with the leaders first. Chapter 2 opens up. He says okay Titus it's one thing to do with leadership.

Now here's what want to do.

I want you to teach people what good looks like in every relationship. So here here's a start.

Start with the people that should know the most tell the older man.

This is what good looks like in relationships tell the older women. This is what good luck.

Looks like tell the younger women, younger men. In fact tell the slaves because every relationship is a reflection of Christ and the validity of who he is and what he said or it discredits him and then after he gives this right in the center. The second assignment of of teaching what is good. We had a theology of doing good pieces for the grace of God that appeared and that offer salvation to all people.

This same grace that saves you. It teaches us to say no to all ungodliness and worldly passions, negative and positive to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age and then sort of this clause that gives perspective. While we are waiting for the blessed hope of the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ and in sort of disqualifying clause. Not only is Jesus called God here in our great Savior, but he gives his mission, who gave himself to redeem us from or out of all wickedness to becoming his very own people, and then notice what kind of people we are eager or zealous to do what is good and so the summary is these are the things that you have to teach the third area in this entire book is so what's it look like to do good in the world and I hope you're getting the idea that doing good is more than sort like a little list of good little deeds and try to be a nice little good person is talking about a mindset and a thought life and a relational aspect where you are literally allowing the spirit of God to produce a life of Christ begins to play out in how you live, how you think and how you relate inside the church and outside the church. In so doing good out of the world.

He says remind God's people to.

Here's what good looks like submit to authorities. Be ready to do what ever is good to slander no one be peaceable and considerate show true humility to all men, and that he gives the reason that were to do good to all mobile explore that a bit more when we get to that chapter and then he gives a theology of not doing good but becoming good is he doesn't want to confuse you so much.

You do not get saved by good works, but what is going to say is is by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the spirit. It's by God's mercies that you are saved and he's gonna make this big point doing good doesn't get you right with God, but those who are right with God always end up doing good because of who lives inside of them. With that if you still have your Bibles open the other thing I did is I started to trace some themes through the book because I want you to get this idea that good has to do with who you are sort of the godliness in a moral capacity and look at chapter 1 and an oncologist. I'm just zooming so you don't have to follow too closely almost lean back and listen to all these words that are repeated about so this is what good looks like verse one. It's a knowledge of the truth so speaking of salvation that leads to godliness, you might circle that word that it's about being godly or godlike.

And then when he talks to leaders listen to these words about what it means to be good in terms of your character be blameless.

Verse five. Skip down to lines be blameless. Don't be overbearing, don't be quick-tempered, don't be given to much wine. Don't be violent. Don't be pursuing dishonest gain all those of the opposite of being good and then the opposite of being good are these Christians are liars and evil brutes and lazy gluttons. Nothing is pure. By contrast, notice leaders are to love what is good and is just the opposite. At the end of chapter.

False teachers are unfit for doing anything good. All I want you to see is he is pounding this home in chapter 2. Get the same character qualities. Notice that older man is the temperate were the respect self-controlled sound in faith endurance. Those are all character issues and to be reverent and then to not slander, not be addicted to much wine. When he speaks of the older women in character issues teach the younger me self-controlled and pure and to be kind says then slaves don't talk back. Don't steal show respect be trusted. Don't be ungodly and then as you look here, he goes all the way through and says teach them what is good. Be an example verse six. By doing what is good a people last verse in the chapter that are eager to do what is good and finally we get to chapter 3 and he says that there to be people who are ready can imagine this.

It's like right on the tip of eager and ready to do whatever is good in every circumstance with every person with every event. This what he says is what we need to teach all of God's people to do.

By contrast, are not argumentative. They don't quarrel don't slander their obedient have you got the idea that may be doing good is more than just icing on the cake and trying hard to build better moral person. It has to do with your relationship with yourself in integrity. It has to do with how you relate to every person in your home, a roommate, your family, your kids, your neighborhood and where you work. It has everything to do then with your specific actions to become an agent like Christ that solve the deepest relational and hurting and needs of people around you, this book is about doing good and it describes what happens when Christians live like Christians the transformation that happens through us and the transformation that happens deep inside of us. Now with that. Here's what I want to do.

You'll notice that there's three assignments. There's one about the leaders there's one to teach about relationships and the third one here is about God's people. But the question why does good, really, really matter. The thesis of his argument is chapter 2 verses 11 through 14 not uncommon in Connor ancient literature where you can have bookends and you talk about issues here. You talk about issues here and often the core of what you want to say is right in the middle of the book and saw to take the remainder of our time and build the case for what he says. Chapter 211 through 14 of why doing good matters so much so I'm on the back page ready.

If you have a parent you might pull it out. Some indicated little work to do and hear what you can find is therefore specific reasons why doing good doesn't just matter. It matters so much.

Reason number one. Doing good reveals God's passion for people. In fact, you might even put above passion, his grace filled passion is loving.

Passion is the idea but verse 11 says for the grace of God has appeared, that offer salvation to all people.

When he says the grace of God has appeared, that word appeared. We get our word for each epiphany and the grace of God. The reference here is to his incarnation.

His perfect life is love his resurrection all that Jesus is and all that Jesus did cancel what the apostle Paul sings, look, you cretins are you like kidding me. The world was dark in the world was that without hope and like light burst and the light became was the very son of God, fully man and fully God, born of a virgin, he lived the perfect life. He offered his life. He rose from the dead, and there's hope the grace of God, the hope of all mankind has come any offers forgiveness of sin and salvation right relationship and what is in them is that your good works either affirm that or deny that what you do what I do. The reason that I turned away from Christianity and the Bible and all religion was what I experienced in church shining brightly is what God calls us to do. He says you need and I need in order to shine the light on what is true. Let your light so shine your actions, your good works, let it so illuminate the people can see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.

You've been listening to the first part of his message. Why doing good matters so much from a series doing good. What happens when Christians live like Christians, the Bible teaches that were saved by God's grace and by your faith in.

So where does that leave doing good works.

I mean, why does it matter how we treat one another through chips teaching in the book of Titus will learn how our decision to do good for another person is more than just a simple gesture. It's an opportunity to impact their life. Don't miss the easy ways you can practice doing good every day and that we could dramatically change our world for the better. For more information about our resources for this series go to LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA 333-6003 or go to the chipping remap trips with me here in studio now and check the title of the series, doing good, sounds a little unusual. I mean, doesn't everyone want to do good, one should take a minute and explain what the series is really all about. Will Dave, you're right. Doing good just two words is a little odd for a series. But actually it's the theme of the book of Titus.

It is the apostle Paul writing to this young pastor in the midst of, I mean the absolutely most corrupt, immoral Las Vegas on steroids of its day, and I think so much of the division and disunity and discouragement that were living within our day. God wants to break through that he wants to break through the darkness. He wants to take these seemingly impossible and challenging situations where you know we get cynical and you know it doesn't matter what you do you know the whole world is gone bad. Doing good is God's antidote to that.

The second thing is doing good does something. I mean this is scientifically proven when you do good when you're altruistic. I mean, when you meet a need when you're kind to someone when you take care of someone when you're thinking of other people what we've learned is it produces joy at the Scripture says, back to the word for grace in the word for joy is the common root in the Greek language, but when we do good when were generous with our time when were generous in meeting a need.

When were doing good deeds not to earn God salvation but as a result of our salvation to extend his love. It does something very powerful.

It takes our focus off of ourselves and then third. I think many Christians are so adamant and from for good reasons to say that were not saved by our good works that somehow then they must not matter that much in the fact of the matter is, is that because we are saved, because the Spirit of God lives inside of us, because Jesus loves people and he dwells inside of us doing good is the natural outflow and outcome of people who are genuinely born again by the spirit of God. So I've gotten great responses to the series and I cannot wait.

As I picture in my mind literally hundreds of thousands of people taking small acts of doing good as we study together. Thanks, Chip will be sure to join us for this entire series and also let me encourage you to get together with some friends were a few couples from your church and go through the small group study, it'll really transform your mind to learn more about that. Go to LivingontheEdge.org or call AAA to 333-6003 Listeners, special offers will now here's drip with some final thoughts from today's message as we close today's program I want to invite you to go on a very exciting journey with me. In fact, if you have never gone to our website go to LivingontheEdge.org. The title of the series is doing good and download the message notes. I put a picture of the whole book of Titus craft out in the notes how it all fits together, especially for those of you that might lead a small group or really want to study this book because here's what I've seen the book of Titus is the greatest treatment in the New Testament about the value and the importance of doing good. I have to tell you I was actually shocked at how much that I learned so let me encourage you to go on this journey with us and begin thinking about when and how do you do good. How do you do good in your home. How you do good work you do good at the coffee shop.

How you do good where you work out. How would your neighbors say that you do good not to earn your salvation, but to demonstrate the reality and the power and the glory of God. Here's what I meant to tell you when you do good, God is honored and the light shines on the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Assignment for today. Do one specific good deed to someone. Let's see what happens great encouragement Chip Banks will just before we close owner thank those of you who regularly give to the ministry of Living on the Edge you're making a big difference in helping Christians live like Christians if you're enjoying the benefits of Living on the Edge, but are get on the team would you do that today. You can set up a recurring donation by calling us at AAA 333-6003 or by visiting us@livingontheedge.org app listeners Donate thanks for doing whatever the Lord leads you to do well for all of us here, this is Dave Gurley saying thanks for listening to this Edition of Living on the Edge