The Irreducible Limits of Tolerance in the Church

EFCCL The Irreducible Limits of Tolerance in the Church

Speaker: Pastor Tim Bruns
Scripture: Titus 1:10-16
Series: The Irreducible Gospel

1. Someone has crossed over the line of truth and tolerance when:
1. they disregard authority.
   Titus 1:10
2. they teach what is contrary to truth.
   Titus 1:11, 14; 3:9; 1 Timothy 1:6-7; 6:3-5; 2 Peter 2:1
3. the fruit of their ministry is spiritual disaster.
   Titus 1:11, 16; 3:9; 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:23
2. Someone has rightly set boundaries for truth and tolerance when they:
1. define and defend their core beliefs.
   Titus 1:9; 1 Timothy 1:10b-11, 6:11; Hebrews 5:14-6:1a; Ephesians 4:11-14
2. correctly confront false teaching.
   Titus 1:11, 13; 3:10; 1 Timothy 1:18-19, 6:12; Romans 16:17; 2 Timothy 2:25-26; 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15
3. encourage and extend grace toward others.
   Jude 17-23

The Irreducible Qualifications for Leadership in Christ's Church

EFCCL The Irreducible Qualifications for Leadership in Christ's Church

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Titus 1:5-9
Series: The Irreducible Gospel

It is an almost unheard of thing that a local church should rise above the level of her leadership. This being the case, God's people should give special attention to the selection of their leaders.

1. With regards to reputation before the community, church leaders should be blameless (vv. 6-7).
2. With regards to their leadership in their own families, church leaders should be:
• faithful to his wife (v. 6).
• in control of his own children (v. 6).
3. With regards to vices to be avoided, church leaders must not be under the control of any one of the five strong temptations:
• pride: overbearing (v. 7).
• temper: quick-tempered (v. 7).
• drink: given to drunkenness (v. 7).
• power: violent (v. 7).
• money: pursuing dishonest gain (v. 7).
4. With regards to virtues to be pursued, church leaders should show themselves to be:
• hospitable (v. 8).
• those who love what is good (v. 8).
• self-controlled (v. 8).
• upright in their dealings with others (v. 8).
• holy—devout in their relationship with God (v.8).
• disciplined (v. 8).
5. With regards to doctrine, church leaders must:
• hold firmly to the inspired message (v. 9).
• encourage others by sound doctrine (v. 9).
• refute those who oppose sound doctrine (v. 9ff)

Implications
Once we have determined the scriptural qualifications for leadership in Christ's Church, we may give our attention to several important implications growing out of Paul's teachings on leadership.

1. The character of church leaders is more important than the word used to designated their roles in the church.
2. The character of church leaders is more important to our Lord than their gifts, experience, training, or past successes.
3. The maturity of church leaders is more important than their age.
4. The past indiscretions of church leaders are less important than evidence of present holiness.
5. The godliness of church leaders is more important than their gender.
6. The ability of church leaders to control their own family and themselves is more important than their ability to control others.

Action Steps

1. Know and apply these criteria for leadership when selecting or affirming church leaders.
2. If you have a concern about a church leader, take your concern directly to him.
3. If you still suffer from a past hurt at the hands of a church leader, actively seek personal healing.
4. Seek to make the work of your church leaders an occasion for joy rather than burden (Hebrews 13:17).

The Irreducible Truth about Our Service to Christ

EFCCL The Irreducible Truth about Our Service to Christ

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Titus 1:1-4
Series: The Irreducible Gospel

In Paul’s opening statement about his role as a servant of God, each and every follower of Christ may find an apt description of his or her own responsibilities as a servant.

1. The purpose of our service to Christ is to bring men and women to _________ ______ _________ and thus to ________ (vv. 1-2).
2. The result of our service to Christ is to be _________ __________ (v. 2).
3. The method of our service to Christ is ________________ (v. 3).
4. The effectiveness of our service to Christ depends upon ________________ (vv. 3-4).

Personal application: How would you evaluate your own service to Christ?

On the Mountaintop with Jesus, Part 2

EFCCL On the Mountaintop with Jesus, Part 2

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11
Series: Lessons from the Mountaintop

As we have seen throughout this series of studies, the mountaintop is where God meets with His children to prepare them for life in the valley below. But it is also, on occasion, a place of testing and temptation.

On the mountaintop, we learn that:

1. Attaining to life’s heights only increases our felt need to prove ourselves (vv. 5-6).
2. Those who rise to the top may be expected to be tempted to "cash in" on their privileged position (v. 6).
3. As we ascend the mountain of success, we must keep in mind that the world's kingdoms cannot grant us the fulfillment we seek (vv. 8-9).
4. In the end, even those who attain to great heights are permitted no "shortcuts" (vv. 8-10).

Conclusion: It is often the case that we face our most severe temptations when we are lifted up to great heights. But there is no temptation too great for God’s provision.

On the Mountaintop with Jesus

EFCCL On the Mountaintop with Jesus

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Luke 9:22-36
Series: Lessons from the Mountaintop

From the mountaintop, we can see things that cannot be observed from the valley below.

1. On the mountaintop, God prepares us for spiritual battles to be fought in the valley below (v. 37ff).
2. On the mountaintop, God prepares us for our own personal cross (v. 31).
3. On the mountaintop, God gives us a glimpse of the greater glory still to come (v. 32).

Personal application: One does not go to the mountaintop to buy God’s love or to get His blessing on our plans, but to gain a glimpse of His glory and to be prepared for life in the valley below.

On the Mountaintop with Elijah

EFCCL On the Mountaintop with Elijah

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: 1 Kings 18:20-40, 19:1-18
Series: Lessons from the Mountaintop

Once on the mountaintop, our job is to quiet our hearts and listen for what God has to say
to us.

1. On the mountaintop, God sometimes speaks through the fire (18:38).
2. On the mountaintop, God more often speaks to us in a gentle whisper (19:12-13).
   
3. On the mountaintop, God sometimes speaks a word of recommissioning (19:15a).

 Personal application: What is God saying to you today?

• He is speaking to me through the _____________, and He is saying ______________________________.

On the Mountaintop with Moses

EFCCL On the Mountaintop with Moses

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Exodus 34:1-14
Series: Lessons from the Mountaintop

In the Scriptures (both Hebrews and Greek), the mountaintop is the place where we encounter God and gain the vision to make our lives count to the fullest in the valley below. 

• The first lesson to be learned on the mountaintop is the lesson of God's glory (Exodus 33:18). 
• The second lesson to be learned on the mountaintop is the lesson of His revelation (Exodus 34:6, 10). 
• The third lesson to be learned on the mountaintop is the lesson of fellowship with Him (Exodus 34:2-5). 
• The fourth lesson to be learned on the mountaintop is the lesson of God's provision (Exodus 34:10-11, Deuteronomy 34:4). 
• The fifth and final lesson to be learned on the mountaintop is the lesson of vision (Deuteronomy 34:1). 

Personal application: 1) Do I take time to meet God on the mountaintop? Where? When? 2) What lesson is God teaching me during my times with Him on the mountaintop? 

On the Mountaintop with Abraham

EFCCL On the Mountaintop with Abraham

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Genesis 22:1-19
Series: Lessons from the Mountaintop

Mountaintop experiences are not all "mountaintop experiences," if you know what I mean. They are not all sunshine and light. There is a dark side to the mountain a place of testing. The following are three lessons from the "dark" side of the mountain:

1. On the dark side of the mountain, God tests our faith in Him (v. 1).
• Will you trust Me with the thing you love most?
• Will you trust Me even when you can't understand what I'm up to?
• Will you trust Me for the impossible?
2. On the dark side of the mountain, we learn that God means us no harm (vv. 11-12).
3. On the dark side of the mountain, the man or woman of faith will receive God's provision for today and His blessing for tomorrow (vv. 13, 15-18).
• God's provision for today is exactly what we need (v. 13).
• God's blessing for tomorrow is more than we can even imagine (vv. 15-18).

"To this day it is said (by those who have been with God on the dark side of the mountain), 'On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided!"

A Church Enjoying Life Together

EFCCL A Church Enjoying Life Together

Speaker: Pastor Marty Voltz
Scripture: Acts 2:42-47
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

Unlike many professing Christians in the West today, the early believers were known not for their anonymity, but rather for their shared life. Among the words that best describe them is “together.”

1. A hint of life together (Mark 3:31-35, Matthew 18:19-20).
2. The promise of life together (Mark 10:28-30).
3. The fulfillment of life together (Acts 2:42-47).
• Together in their submission to the apostolic teaching
• Together in prayer
• Together in generosity
• Together in worship
• Together in evangelism
• Together in heart and mind (Acts 4:32)
4. A picture of this life together (1 Corinthians 12).
5. The enjoyment of life together (Acts 2:46-47).

Many of us find the “dream” of life together more pleasant than the actual experience. But Christ has called us to turn this dream into a reality!

A Church That Never Stops Proclaiming Jesus as the One and Only Savior of the World

EFCCL A Church That Never Stops Proclaiming Jesus as the One and Only Savior of the World

Speaker: Marty Voltz
Scripture: Acts 5:40-42
Series: The Church You've Always Dreamed Of

From the very beginning, the church’s central message has been “Jesus Christ, the one and only Savior of the world!” (See Acts 2:22, 36; 3:6, 16; 4:2, 10, 12, 17-18, 26, 29-30; 5:28-32, 40-42; and 28:31.)

Five observations about the church that never stops proclaiming Jesus:

1. It is a church that has rightly understood ______ __________ (Acts 2:22).
2. It is a church that will be used of God to _________ those who are ________ ________ from those who are ________ __________ by the _______ ______ (Acts 4:1-4)
3. It is a church that will _____________ ______________ (Acts 5:40).
4. It is a church that will never need fear ___________ _____________ to the ________ _____ ______ ______ (Acts 2:37-39).
5. It is a church that will be known by all for her _____________ ___________ to the _________ _____ ________ _________ (Acts 5:42).

Bottom line: The church that never stops proclaiming Jesus as the one and only Savior of the world is the church that will be found faithful at the return of our Lord!