It's been said that we form an impression of people within seconds of talking with them. If that's true, then our impression of the Apostle Paul after reading a few verses in Titus is that he is passionate about the Gospel. His message isn't formulaic, though it appears in all his letters. It doesn't get redundant with every letter he writes. Instead, it further reveals that when Paul gave his life to Christ . . . he gave it all. Have you done the same?
If there's one thing the Apostle Paul could never be accused of, it was lacking passion. In fact, you won't find a more passionate Christian in the New Testament other than Christ Himself! Why is that? Well Paul tells us himself in Titus 1:3. So let's open our bibles to that passage and discover the answer together.
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a brother named Titus and encouraged him to serve Christ with enthusiasm and dedication regardless of circumstances. But in that letter he also made the profound confession that although he considered himself a free man socially and politically, he also considered himself a slave. Why is that? Find out in this message, "From One Slave to Another."
The Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a brother named Titus and encouraged him to serve Christ with enthusiasm and dedication regardless of circumstances. But in that letter he also made the profound confession that although he considered himself a free man socially and politically, he also considered himself a slave. Why is that? Find out in this message, "From One Slave to Another."
It's been said that in this life there are two certainties: death and taxes. In his journal, King Solomon agrees with the former. Death is coming, he opines, whether you're a prince, pauper, or porcupine. But without the spiritual revelation of an eternal perspective, this truth can lead to despair. When we look around--under the sun--, we do observe impending death for all living things. Keeping our eyes on the Creator of the sun, however, helps us make the most of our present earthly purpose and look forward to our ultimate destination.
Does it ever feel like the liars, cheaters, and short-cut-takers always seem to get ahead? In Ecclesiastes, King Solomon made the same observation. He laments that evil people seem to win, but he also concludes that God will be the final judge of all deeds done on earth. Yes, judgement is coming, and there are just two possible outcomes: Guilty or Pardoned. Pay the penalty of eternal wrath--or settle out of court by accepting the work of Jesus as your merciful Advocate.
People throughout history in every culture have held the belief of eternal life. Because we are made in God's image, we are designed with this innate sense of eternity. It's why we are ultimately dissatisfied with the things of this life. In these verses, we are reminded of God's eternal sovereignty as He writes the story of our lives--amid the challenging chapters and the beautiful ones. And through it all, God desires us maintain an eternal perspective and find joy.
Here, King Solomon interrupts his journal with a poem that may be familiar to some of us. By contrasting opposite experiences of life's journey, he asserts that every aspect and activity is God-designed and purposeful. Between our birth and death, there will be times to dance and mourn, to plant and reap, to gain and to lose. But peace will be woven through it all only when we live each day with the perspective of the Divine security we have through Jesus Christ.
Man's pursuit of the dream job has not changed since the days of King Solomon. Today people continue to look for that perfect, fulfilling, life-affirming position--but most of us find only frustration. In these verses, Solomon acknowledges that life--and our job, whatever it may be--is a gift from God. Life under the sun is always enriched with a focus on God. So, whether your work is writing computer code, building houses, or changing diapers, you will only find satisfaction when you work to bring glory to God (Colossians 3:23-24).
In Extravagant Grace, Part 2 (Philippians 4:4–5), Stephen Davey teaches that believers are called to display grace in a disappointed and self-centered world through two qualities—a resolution to be joyful and a reputation for gentleness. Joy, he explains, is not dependent on circumstances but flows from the Holy Spirit, the gospel, and trust in God’s sovereignty—even in suffering. Gentleness, often misunderstood as weakness, is strength under control—a willingness to yield, be courteous, and respond to hostility with grace. Using vivid examples from history, culture, and personal experience, Davey challenges believers to demonstrate joy and gentleness as living testimonies of Christ’s presence. Because “the Lord is near,” Christians can embody supernatural calm and kindness, showing a frustrated world the reality of God’s transforming grace.
In Extravagant Grace, Part 3 (Philippians 4:6–7), Stephen Davey teaches believers how to conquer anxiety through prayer and trust in God. He compares worry to a deadly anaconda that strangles faith, urging Christians to “be anxious for nothing.” Instead of allowing fear to consume them, they are to replace worry with prayer—bringing every concern to God with gratitude. Davey explains that worry pulls believers apart, while thankful prayer realigns their hearts toward God’s power and presence. The result is a supernatural peace that “guards hearts and minds in Christ Jesus,” a peace flowing directly from God’s own character. This peace doesn’t come from understanding circumstances but from trusting the God who controls them all. Through continual, thankful prayer, believers display the extravagant grace of God by living free from fear and full of peace.
In his sermon on Ecclesiastes 7:1–14, Stephen Davey explains how Solomon shifts from raising life’s troubling questions to offering God-given wisdom for living well. Davey highlights four truths Solomon teaches: contemplate your mortality, because facing death cultivates serious thinking and a life of purpose rather than pretense; choose wise companions, since the rebuke of the godly is far more valuable than the shallow laughter of fools; cultivate godly character, resisting the pull of anger, corruption, impatience, and nostalgic fantasies about “the good old days”; and consider your Creator with humility, recognizing that God ordains both prosperity and adversity, the straight paths and the crooked ones, to deepen trust in Him. Davey concludes that Solomon’s inspired counsel urges believers to live with sober perspective, intentional relationships, steadfast integrity, and humble dependence on the God who shapes every season of life.
Stephen Davey’s sermon “Reconcilable Differences” (Philippians 4:2–3) explains that real church and family life are messy, which is exactly where extravagant grace must be practiced. Using humorous and honest stories, he shows that grace is more than a doctrine we receive from God—it’s a costly, deliberate way of stooping low in attitude and action toward difficult people. Paul’s appeal to Euodia and Syntyche models gracious confrontation: he names them, refuses to take sides, reminds them of their shared labor in the gospel, and urges them to “live in harmony in the Lord,” enlisting a trusted “true companion” to help them reconcile. Stephen Davey draws out principles that disagreements are inevitable, even mature believers don’t always disagree agreeably, and small conflicts—if unchecked—can damage an entire church. Instead of taking sides, spiritually mature believers should step in to untangle issues and protect the unity of the body, remembering that everyone’s name is written in the book of life. He concludes with the example of a Christian bus driver whose daily, practical kindness creates a community of grace, urging believers to let that same grace characterize their relationships in the church.
In Father Abraham, Part I (Romans 4:1–3), Stephen Davey introduces Abraham as Paul’s prime example of justification by faith, not works. He explains that Abraham lived 2,000 years before Paul, proving that salvation by faith is not new but has always been God’s plan. Abraham, the forefather of Israel and “friend of God,” was revered for righteousness, yet Scripture reveals his flaws—fear, deceit, and unbelief—showing that his justification came by faith alone. Davey warns against relying on human reasoning or cultural religion, urging believers to ask, “What does the Bible say?” Like Abraham, sinners are declared righteous not by merit but by trusting God’s promise of redemption through Christ. God credited righteousness to Abraham’s account by grace, illustrating the same salvation available to every believer today.
