Author, Audience, Agenda
Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ . . . . (Titus 1:1 NKJV)
When was the last time you turned to the book of Titus? There's a chance it's been a while because many Christians haven't had the opportunity to fully understand, much less appreciate, the importance of this epistle. But this is bound to change once we consider its author, audience, and agenda.
The first verse in Titus identifies the author as the apostle Paul. This is none other than Saul of Tarsus, who at one time made it his mission to exterminate the Christian faith from the face of the earth. But he experienced a life-changing encounter when God personally revealed Himself to Saul (which means destroyer) and gave him a new mission, nature, and name-Paul (which means small). This profound encounter with God's grace served as the source for everything in this book.
Paul wrote this letter to Titus, the pastor on the island of Crete, the location of one of the early churches. Paul described this manas a true son in our common faith (Titus 1:4 NKJV). I stress the words common and faith because they remind us that every believer shares the same faith in the same Savior. Therefore, this letter's audience isn't limited to Titus but applies to all Christians everywhere, especially us.
Finally, this letter was Paul's way of following up and reinforcing Titus in his responsibility to set in order the things that are lacking (Titus 1:5 NKJV). Thus, the agenda of this book was to get things in order by providing the pastor and his people with instructions they could live by.
Knowing the book of Titus was written by an author of great grace, to an audience that includes us, and with an agenda of setting things in order should create a sense of excitement in us as we set our hearts to studying and applying it. DIG - Identify the author, audience, and agenda of the book of Titus.
DISCOVER - What do you hope to discover by studying this book?
DISPLAY - Record the discoveries you make.
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At the age of 24, Bob Coy left a coveted position in the music industry to serve as an associate pastor with Calvary Chapel of Las Vegas. In 1985, Bob and his wife, Diane, moved to Fort Lauderdale and began Calvary Chapel of Fort Lauderdale. As senior pastor, he has become well known for his unique style in expounding the Scriptures, making them come alive and relate to those of us living in the 21st century. His teaching style emphasizes the believer's "life application" of the highest standards of God's truth while his delivery captures the loving heart of God's Spirit.
Pastor Bob has had the rare privilege of watching God's miraculous hand move in the individual lives of those in the fellowship as well as the corporate body as a whole. From the first meeting in a living room with four in attendance, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale has now become home to over 17,000 men and women from the tri-county area, and ranks as the eighth largest church in the country. Though many have tried to attribute its rapid growth to numerous reasons, no one is more surprised by the phenomenon than Pastor Bob, who gives total credit and all the glory to God alone.
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