Titus 2:15

Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise you. Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey and to be ready for every good work. Speak evil of no one; be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were once foolish and disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us. Through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, having been justified by grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying.

And these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

Father, we ask as we open the Scriptures that You would open Your living Word to us, that You'd open our hearts, that we would be receptive, Lord, ready to receive what it is that You want to speak to us, what You want to teach us. And God, that we would be open to the working of Your Spirit and transforming us.

Lord, we come here this morning recognizing Your goodness, but we also recognize how far we are in so many ways from that and from what You desire of us. I pray, God, that by Your grace and by the work of Your Spirit, You would continue that work of transformation, even that work of what we read here in this passage, the regeneration and renewing of the Spirit. God, work that in us, we pray. We ask this in Jesus' name. And all those that agree said, Amen.

You can be seated. Amen.

This week, it was hard not to be bombarded by the constant raucous anger of our society, especially as it pertains to the political craziness surrounding things happening on our southern border.

This topic hits pretty close to home for us living here in San Diego County because we are just about 50 miles away from the southern border. It is something that is local news for us, but it has also been national news and discussed quite a bit in our culture. I am not necessarily interested in venting all of our different ideas, views, and positions on these matters because, in any family— and a church family is a family— there are differing opinions and views.

You have probably experienced discussions and debates that can arise during family gatherings when you have a different opinion than Uncle so-and-so. We don't want to get into those things. I do hope that as we walk with Jesus, we are learning more and more how to disagree agreeably, which seems to be a lost art in our culture today. There are many different opinions and views on this topic that cause conflict. The level of anger from left to right, and vice versa, in our culture is very high. This is not just in this political debate, but in every political debate we seem to have. There is a heightened sense of conflict that arises.

When I see these things in our culture, I find myself reflecting not just as a Christian or a follower of Jesus, but especially as a leader and pastor within the church. I wonder how I should respond and how I should encourage others to respond in the face of these issues. How should we carry ourselves as followers of Jesus, as Christians, if we find ourselves in conflict with the policies of those in authority over us?

In any culture, there will always be instances where those in authority bring forth ideas or policies that we might not agree with. So, what should we do if we believe that these actions are in conflict with the nature of God and the Scriptures? How should we respond if we think that the authorities and rulers in our society are acting foolishly, or perhaps with malice or hate? We might assume that their motivations are wrong or come from a place of evil desires. These are the thoughts that may go through our minds.

How do we respond when we see these things happening in our culture? Well, as is almost always the case, we happen to be at a place in the Scriptures...

I believe there is something to say about the very specific question: How should we respond when we're in a culture like that? It is interesting; I find it fascinating that the Apostle Paul, who wrote this 2,000 years ago, knew that the natural inclination of what we call our flesh—our human nature—would be resistant to the teaching that comes forth in the passage. We will see this in Titus chapter 3. This is why I think he began with a word of exhortation at the end of chapter 2, in verse 15, where he says to Titus, "Speak these things, exhort and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise you."

Those words, "let no one despise you," show Paul anticipating that the things Titus would be teaching might conflict with people's human nature. However, he still needed to speak it and preach it. Paul is essentially telling Titus to speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Don't back down. This leads us to a very simple point: There are some truths worth offending over.

If you're an English teacher, I realize that this might not be the best grammar, so feel free to write the correct grammar in the margin of your sermon guide and maybe correct me later. As I reflect on this, it becomes clear as we read through this passage and other passages in the New Testament that there are some truths in the Scriptures that are worth offending over. That is exactly what Paul is saying when he instructs Titus to let no one despise him but to speak these things and exhort with all authority. Don't back down when you share these truths.

I'm sure you've noticed that in the 21st-century Western culture we live in, particularly here in Southern California, the only thing that seems totally off-base or out of bounds in our society today is offending someone. We live in a culture that is hypersensitive to anything that might come across as offensive. As a result, we often find ourselves tiptoeing around various topics. We don't want to say anything that might make someone feel bad, and that is the constant state of our culture.

When I say that there are some truths worth offending over, I want to clarify that I don't think we should make it our aim to purposefully offend. Sometimes it seems like Christians believe that this is a prophetic gift—some sort of special ability to go around saying whatever they want without regard for how others feel. However, that is not a spiritual gift.

You might be accused of just being a jerk, and that's not a spiritual gifting. In the categorization of giftings given in the Scriptures, you don't find that as a spiritual gift. That's just sometimes our fallen nature coming through. We don't go around trying to offend people; that's not our aim. However, we do need to realize that there are strong truths in the Bible that can be offensive and challenging. We still need to make sure that we give forth what the Scriptures have to say.

We need to speak, and sometimes we need to exhort. At times, we even need to rebuke. A rebuke is speaking against someone's perceptions, ideas, thoughts, actions, or words. There are times when we need to rebuke. I believe that there will come a day when we see this happening. We've seen it happen in other places, like to the north of us in Canada, and in various places in Western Europe. Coming to a nation near you very quickly, there are going to be legislative moves that put the church in a difficult position. Certain passages of Scripture will be set aside by our culture, which may say that you will not be able to speak this because it's too offensive or discriminatory, whatever it may be.

There will be moves in our culture that try to push us into a place where they say, "You cannot speak that." How should Christians respond to that? We will continue to speak forth the Word of God. We will always continue to do that, even if our culture or the governing authorities say that we are not to do so. We will do this because of a very simple truth. The next book that comes after this, which we will be teaching, is 2 Timothy. In the fall of this year, we will be going through 2 Timothy.

In 2 Timothy chapter 3, Paul says, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it is useful. It's profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the child of God, the man or woman of God, would be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The reason we will stay committed to God's Word is that we believe it to be the inspired Word of God—God-breathed. He gave it to us. Even though it might sometimes conflict with our society, culture, or even our human nature, we recognize that the inspired Word of God is useful for setting the right line of doctrine.

In that setting of the right line, it reproves us where we're wrong, corrects us where we're wrong, and instructs us in righteousness. Therefore, we will always be committed to giving forth the Word of God because we believe that by the Word of God, we are equipped for every good work.

We are thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now, it's really interesting. In 2 Timothy chapter 3, when Paul says that, just a few sentences later, he states in chapter 4, verse 3, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables."

We're there. At various times in culture, we find that we move into that space where the culture does not want to hear what God has to say from His Word. However, just because the hard heart of humanity and a broken society doesn't want to hear the instructive, informative Word of God, it doesn't mean that we should back down from it. We need to be those who clearly give forth the Scriptures because it is inspired, God-breathed, and it is for our good.

So, Paul says to Titus, "Speak these hard truths. Exhort. Call people up to a higher level of living." If necessary, in doing that, there may need to be a rebuke. They may need to be reproved from unholy attitudes or actions. He says to do this with all authority. You need to speak these things with all authority, even if the things that you're speaking might be despised by the culture.

But what are the sorts of things, what are the hard truths that he says you need to speak and exhort? Look at chapter 3, verse 1. This is the hard truth that the nature of the people that Titus was going to be speaking to might find resistance towards: "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, and to be ready for every good work."

As I mentioned, Titus and 2 Timothy were written right around the same time. Titus was written just a little bit before 2 Timothy. It's fascinating that in the passage I read in 2 Timothy chapter 3, he says that you're to give forth the Word of God because it helps people to be ready for every good work. That same phrase, "every good work," is found here in this passage. He says, "Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work."

So how can we, as followers of Jesus, be ready for every good work? First, we need to understand that God calls us to walk in good works, good works that would glorify Him. How can we be those that are ready for every good work? The New Testament, the doctrine of the Scriptures, here exhorts us and instructs us.

To be submissive to and obey the authorities that govern you is a principle that can be challenging for many. We may have a really hard time with this point, primarily because of our fallen nature. This is simply the reality of human nature; we often resist submission to and obedience to the authorities over us.

How many parents are here? If you're a parent, you’ve likely experienced the defiance of a two-year-old. Two-year-olds exemplify the human tendency to resist submitting to and obeying authority. I have had four children, and I have observed this behavior firsthand as they navigated their two-year-old phase. In our family, it seems that the two-year-old stage often extends into three and even four years old. Many of you may relate to this experience.

This resistance to authority is a reality we must acknowledge. When the Scriptures instruct us to be submissive to and obey the authorities that govern us, there are several passages that emphasize this truth. However, objections often flood our minds. One common objection arises when we read Paul’s writings in Titus or other letters where he mentions submission to authority. Some might think, "Paul must have lived under a government that was much better than ours. He couldn’t possibly understand how difficult it is for us to submit to authority."

This assumption is incorrect. Paul wrote these letters around the mid-60s AD, nearly 2,000 years ago. The governing authorities he referred to were those of the Roman Empire, and at that time, the emperor was Nero, a notorious figure known for his madness. It is a mistake to assume that Paul was in a utopian society where it was easier to submit to authorities; it was not.

Another objection that often arises among Christians reading these passages is the belief that we cannot submit to authorities if they disobey God. This is a common concern I hear whenever I discuss this topic with people. They ask, "What if the government is calling us to do something that is in opposition to God's commands?"

To the character, the nature of God, or the command of Scripture? We cannot obey that. And to that, I say, yes, you're right. Yes, you are right. If the governing authorities are calling us to do something that is in opposition to the character, the nature, and the command of God, then we have the opportunity; we have the right, really, as citizens of heaven, as ambassadors of the Kingdom of God, to submit to God more than man.

We see this even in the Book of Acts. The disciples, the early followers of Jesus, were commanded in the early chapters of Acts, specifically chapters four and five, not to preach or speak in the name of Jesus. But Jesus had told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of Christ, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. So we have opposition: culture says to do this, and Jesus says to do that. What do we do? Well, they said, "Shall we obey God more or man?" No, we're going to obey God more than man. That's what we would refer to as civil disobedience.

So, are Christians to always obey, even if the culture or the governing authorities are saying to disobey God? No. But we need to understand that we only disobey those authorities if they are in direct opposition to the nature, the character, and the command of God. We don't disobey just because we don't like them or their rules. That's not what the Scriptures tell us to do.

Additionally, we need to recognize that if the governing authorities we live under are calling us to do something that is in opposition to the command of God, and we say, "No, we will obey God more than man," we need to be ready to potentially suffer the consequences of that civil disobedience. Read through the New Testament and church history, and you will see many instances where Christians have stood in opposition to governing authorities that were calling them to do things against the command of Scripture. Many times, those Christians suffered the consequences of those governing authorities.

I can't help but think of Jesus. The crucifixion of Christ was God-ordained for our justification and salvation. However, in the context of time and history, why was Jesus crucified? He opposed the religious structure of His day because it was not in line with the nature and character of God.

When Jesus goes into the temple, the Gospels picture Him driving out the money changers who were allowed to be there by the religious structure of the day. Jesus was opposing a religious structure that had gone contrary to God, and He suffered the consequences.

If you read through the Book of Acts, you see this happen with the early apostles. The Apostle Paul opposed the religious structure of his day and some of the political issues of his time. He suffered the consequences of that. There are times and places in which we are to civilly disobey when those in authority over us call us to do something that is in opposition to the command of God. However, we understand that in such situations, we might suffer the consequences.

This may be a reality we experience in the American Christian context in the not-too-distant future. There may come a time when our government says we are not allowed to preach certain passages of Scripture that they classify as discriminatory or hate speech. This is happening in certain parts of the world right now, although it hasn't necessarily happened much here in the U.S. That day may come. What do we do in response to that?

We will continue to preach the Scriptures. We will always continue to preach the Scriptures because they are inspired for our good, but that may mean we suffer the consequences. What do you do if you suffer those consequences? I believe we should ensure we understand our rights.

If you read through the Book of Acts, you see this with the Apostle Paul. When the religious structure of the day came against him because he didn't align with their position and they wanted to kill him, he appealed, which was his right to do. He appealed to the highest governing body of the land at that time—Caesar. He had rights as a citizen of Rome to do that.

The Scriptures provide us with this kind of guidance. We need to make sure we understand and use our rights. Should it ever come to a point in our nation where we are told that we cannot speak or preach the Scriptures, we have the wonderful protection of the First Amendment. We will continue to use that freedom of religion and freedom of speech. However, it may come to the point where we have to stand before judges, as is the case in some situations. We have the right to do so.

Yet, we also have a rule given in Titus chapter 3 and in other places that instructs us to submit to the governing authority. There is a tension there, and anytime we find a tension, we must navigate it carefully.

In our own lives and experiences in relation to the Word of God, we need to be very careful to prayerfully approach those things. Paul, in Romans chapter 13, was writing to Christians who were right in the epicenter of the Roman Empire, the capital city, Rome, and who were living under the authority of Nero, a totally unrighteous emperor. Paul says in Romans chapter 13, verse 1, "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God."

I guarantee those words would have been tough to swallow for the Christians living in Rome at that moment. They were watching all the crazy things happening under Emperor Nero, and Paul states that the authorities that exist are appointed by God; they are there because God put them there. We may really wrestle with that depending on who the leaders are in our nation, our state, or our county, but we must constantly return to the Scriptures and understand that there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.

He goes on in Romans chapter 13, verse 2: "Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment upon themselves." They might experience the civil judgment of those magistrates if they stand in opposition to them, for rulers are not a terror to good works—this is the ideal—but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he, the magistrate, is God's minister and avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

If you ever find yourself in a position of authority, whether in the church, the household, society, or a corporation, understand that God wants you to be a minister of Him in that place. Sometimes we think the ministers of God are only the pastors, but if you are in any position of authority, you need to recognize that you are God's minister for justice. You need to do what is right. This is why we read in Malachi, or Micah chapter 6, "He has shown you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly before God."

So, if you ever find yourself in a position of authority, recognize that you are there as a minister of God; you are God's minister. Romans 13:4 states that you are there for good, but if you do evil...

Be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is God's minister to avenge and execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore, you must be subject not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. Because of this, you also pay taxes. How many of you love paying taxes? Because of this, you also pay taxes, for they who receive those taxes are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Again, in context, Paul was writing to Christians in Rome under Nero, and this is a heavy thing. There’s a tension because my fallen nature does not want to submit to the authorities that are over me. But the exhortation of Scripture is to obey those who are in that spot.

Paul continues, saying, "Remind them." Look at this; this is the next exhortation that he gives to the Christians in Crete and to Californians. In Titus chapter 3, verse 2, he says, "Remind them to speak evil of no one." Well, that's challenging because what's the first thing we want to do when we don't like those who are in authority over us? Remind them to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Point number three: followers of Jesus make it their aim to be meek, humble peacemakers. It’s fascinating that it didn't take long for the early followers of Jesus to begin to be called Christians. What's fascinating about it is that they began to be called Christians by those who are outside the church, by non-followers of Jesus. This happens in Acts chapter 11 when the church was in an area called Antioch of Syria. The non-Christians of that region began to call the followers of Jesus Christians.

The word "Christian" has this idea of being little Christ or imitators of Christ. The early Christians were identified by the non-Christians as being imitators of Christ. Hopefully, that term "Christian," which maybe you have applied to you, is because you're an imitator of Christ and not just because you have a "Not of This World" sticker on your car.

That people who see us say that's an imitator of Jesus. Well, what was Jesus like? We read through the Gospels, and what we find is that the descriptive words used in Titus chapter 3, verse 2, could describe Jesus perfectly. Paul exhorts Titus to encourage the Christians on the island of Crete to be this way, to be Christ-like in their behavior.

How would they be Christ-like? For one, they were to speak evil of no one. The actual word used when he says "speak evil" is blaspheme, from which we get our English word "blaspheme." We are not to blaspheme anybody, even the authority structures above us that we don't like. We are not to speak evil of them. Another way of thinking about this is that we are not to engage in character assassination against those in authority over us. We should avoid what's called an ad hominem attack, where we attack the individual. We may not like their ideas, but often we venture into this area of character assassination.

If you want to know what that looks like, just spend ten minutes on Facebook; you'll see it everywhere you look. Or go and look at the news articles you read online and scroll to the very bottom to read the comments. Have you ever read the comments on news articles? That's where you see all the character assassination. In that context, Paul says, "Listen, you're a follower of Jesus; don't be like that." Instead, he says to be peaceable. I can't think of anything more Christ-like than being peaceable.

About 700 years before Jesus came, there was a prophecy given—a very famous prophecy about the nature and character of the Messiah Jesus. It's recorded in Isaiah chapter 9, verse 6. One of the things that it says about His character is that He is the Prince of Peace. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." One of the qualities that should be demonstrative of the children of God, Christians, is that we are peacemakers; we are peaceable. Not only that, but He says we should be gentle. The word "gentle" can mean mild, patient, or moderate.

In another one of Paul's letters, specifically in Philippians chapter 4, verse 5, he says, "Let your gentleness be known to all men." This means that all people should see in our lives, both mine and yours, that we are gentle peacemakers. Not only that, but we should also be those who show humility to all men. Titus chapter 3, verse 2, emphasizes how we are to be known in society.

Yet, quite frankly, it seems that many Christians in our current American climate and culture are known more for being obnoxious than for being peaceable, gentle, and humble. Jesus, on the other hand, was known for being peaceable, gentle, and humble. Even when He was being led to the point of condemnation and death on the cross, it is said that He opened not His mouth. That is striking.

We are called to imitate Jesus, which is often not in line with my nature. My inclination is not to be peaceable, gentle, and mild. I am one of those people who much prefers a martial arts approach. I practiced martial arts for many years, so I know how to deal with situations when someone disagrees with me. I know how to respond in my flesh. However, James says in the New Testament that the rage of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God.

There is an inclination to try and force our way, but what is amazing is that, as you study Christian history, you find that the oppressive Roman Empire was effectively dethroned not by the opposition of obnoxious Christians, but by the peaceful, gentle meekness and humility of the Christian church. Read Christian history; it is phenomenal what God was able to accomplish through His people walking in Christlikeness.

We are called to this. We need to make it our aim to be meek and humble peacemakers. We must remember this as we look again at Titus chapter 3, specifically at verse 3.

The renewing power of the Holy Spirit is meant to transform every aspect of our nature. In another place, Paul wrote, "If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. All the old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." This is the new covenant, which was prophesied 500 years before Jesus came. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied this transformation that God wanted to bring about in His people. In Ezekiel chapter 36, verse 26, God said, "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of you and give you a new heart of flesh."

God's aim under the new covenant, which Jesus ushers in, is to remove that broken, hard, stony heart and to give us a new heart. He seeks to transform us radically from the inside out by the power and presence of His Holy Spirit. The renewing, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit is meant to transform every aspect of our nature—not just our internal thoughts and emotions, but our external actions and words. God wants to completely transform us by the rejuvenation of His Spirit.

This new covenant is a new covenant of grace. It is not something that we accomplish by our own religious efforts or hard work; it is something that God transforms in us by His grace. Look at verse 4 again: "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward men appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy, He saves us." This reminds us of those famous verses in the book of Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God ordained beforehand that we should walk in those things. We are not made righteous in our behavior or transformed by our good works, but we are transformed by the abiding power and presence of the Holy Spirit so that we can do good works and show forth the glory of God in this world. However, we can never forget who we were; we must never forget where we came from. By His grace and His mercy, we see it there in verse 5.

We ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, and serving various lusts and pleasures. We lived in malice, which is wishing harm on other people, with envy, hateful, and hating one another. What was it that changed us? When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, according to His mercy, He saved us.

Now, I want you to note this very well: what was it that drew you to Christ for salvation? It was His kindness, His love, and His mercy. What do you think is going to draw people who might be classified as foolish, disobedient, and deceived to the saving power of Jesus? Is it going to be your obnoxious, hurtful, heavy-handed demeanor? No, it is going to be the kindness, love, and mercy of God at work in us and through us.

He says in verse 5 again, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Spirit, whom He poured on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior." Having been justified by His grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. It is the renewing power of the Holy Spirit that transforms every aspect of our fallen nature, and this is by His work of grace in us.

He goes on in verse 8, "This is a faithful saying." This good news of God's grace is a faithful saying. Titus, I want you to affirm this constantly. Keep telling the church there this over and over again. Tell them of the grace of God that took them from being foolish, deceived, hateful, and malicious to being His heirs of eternal salvation. Tell them this constantly so that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.

The gospel should inspire our good works, which are good and profitable for all. When we receive the good news of the gospel, we realize that God took us when we were deceived and malicious by nature, and He, by His grace, saved us. When we understand the greatness of the mercy of God and the good news of the gospel, that good news begins to inspire us to live out the good works that He prepared beforehand for us to walk in this world. Those good works are good, and they are ultimately profitable for all people.

This culture, North County San Diego, needs to see not just in our lives but also in the lives of those who attend Emmanuel Faith, Mission Hills Church, or North Coast Church. They need to see the body of Christ—Christians—being inspired by the gospel of Jesus to walk in a way that is right and good. This will ultimately be the best thing for our culture and society: to see Christians walking contrary to their fallen nature. That's what this culture needs to see, and that's why Paul strongly urged Titus, 2,000 years ago, to constantly affirm these things and speak this continually. It is the grace of God that transforms us from being children, sons, and daughters of disobedience to being the recipients of His grace for eternity.

Would to God that He would see us walking this out, that we would let our light so shine before men that they would see our good works and, as a result, glorify our Father in heaven. We need God's grace. Amen.

So would you stand with me? We're going to close in prayer and ask God to fill us once again with His grace and His Spirit to transform us in this way. Father, thank You for Your grace that justifies us and deals with all of our past sin. But, Lord, Your grace not only justifies us and deals with our past sin; Your grace also addresses our present condition—the fallenness of our human heart—so that our lives would be Christian, not because we went to church or were baptized, but...

We would be Christians because we are identified as imitators of You. That people would see in us Your character traits and qualities inherited in us by the Spirit abiding in us. God, do a work in Your church. Pour out Your grace on us this week, that on Monday, Tuesday, and the rest of the week, when it is our nature to respond with frustration or to respond in anger, we would respond with Your self-control, mercy, grace, and patience.

God, enable us to walk in those things, that the fruit, the evidence of Your abiding Spirit, would be in us: love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. All of these things would characterize us in the way that we respond to our spouse, in the way that we interact with our children, and in the way that we interact with our co-workers—those that are below us and those that are over us. God, let Your grace be evident.

It may be that as we stand here this morning, you realize that you have never received the grace of God, and you would like to receive His grace and forgiveness today. If that's you, I want to give you a chance to prayerfully receive the forgiveness of Jesus by leading you in a simple prayer. If that's you this morning, would you just lift up your hand?

Is there anyone here who wants to receive the forgiving grace of God? I see you over here on the right. Anyone else? Right there in the middle, in the back. God bless you. If you want the grace of Jesus to come into your life, to save you, forgive you, and transform you, just lift up your hand high.

If that's you, I want to lead you in a prayer of faith. Where are you at? Would you just pray with me out loud?

Dear Jesus, I know I need You. I know I can't save myself; I've tried to. God, would You come into my life and forgive me? Transform me by Your grace and help me to follow You by faith for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.