Broadway Baptist Church Maryville Tennessee

In our passage this morning, I want us to consider the hymn known as the Magnificent (glorifies) (Luke 1:46-56) (this name comes from the first word of the hymn in its Latin version). This song is the first of four hymns recorded in Luke's birth narrative and it is patterned after Hannah's song of praise in 1 Samuel 2:1-10.

The Children's Choir at Broadway Baptist Church presents its Christmas Program.

The Adult Choir at Broadway Baptist Church presents its Christmas cantata.

What is the “key” to understanding the Bible? Last week we finished our study of the 5 solas of reformation with a look at “solus Christus” or “Christ alone” and we emphasized that Christ is the central figure in the Scriptures. Failing to comprehend the “Christo-centric” nature of the whole Bible causes us to lose sight of the “grand or meta-narrative” of the Scripture. The Bible is the record of the self-revelation of God to the world, therefore, we would expect there to be a plot and direction to the story. Christianity teaches that the self-revelation of God to the world reached a culmination in the Incarnation, when the “Word became flesh”. If so, then the Incarnation would have to be this central interpretive principle of the Bible. The Incarnation of Christ occurred “in the fullness of time or when the set time had fully come” (Galatians 4:4), again suggesting an overarching plan, a meta-narrative. Often at Christmas we are so focused upon the nativity scene filled with shepherds and wise me

Protestant Reformed theology affirms that Scripture and its teaching on grace and faith emphasize that salvation is “solus Christus”, by Christ alone – that is, Christ is the only Savior (Acts 4:12). The centrality of Christ is the foundation of the Protestant faith. The Reformers rejected the sacerdotal (priestly) system altogether, and substituted for it the general priesthood of all believers, who have direct access to Christ as our only Mediator and Advocate, and are to offer the spiritual sacrifices of prayer, praise, and intercession. As the apostle Paul said, “There is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,” (1 Tim. 2:5).

We continue our study of the 5 solas of the reformation this morning by examining "soli Deo Gloria" which is Latin for "to the glory of God alone". This declaration forms the very heart and soul of the reformation. The reformers were consumed with "all" glory being given to "God alone". This is the motivation for all that they sought to teach and to do.

Chris Carpenter, Pastor at Hope Community Church, delivers this morning's sermon as part of the Eagleton Community Partnership

Former Broadway Baptist pastor Dr. Robert Brown is the guest speaker at the service celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Broadway Baptist Church.

Last week we laid a foundation for the 5 solas of the reformation by looking briefly at “sola scriptura”. The reformers were convinced by Scripture that the work of salvation was a work of God not man, and not the church. The word “sola” is really one of the most significant words of the Protestant Reformation.

This week, on October 31st, we will mark the 500 year anniversary of one of the most significant events in church history. On October 31, 1517 a frustrated Augustinian monk nailed a document to the church door in Wittenberg containing a list of 95 theses for debate concerning the matter of the sale of indulgences. This monk's name was Martin Luther! Although this attempt at reforming the church is the most famous, it is certainly not the first. The reformation was preceded by numerous attempts to call the church back to the Scriptures. Among these men and women were: Peter Waldo (Died by 1218) John Wycliffe (1330-1384) Jan Hus William Tyndale (1494-1564) Not only were there these forerunners of the reformation, there were also numerous contemporaries of Luther that God used to shape the reformation. Two of the most notable were: Ulrich Zwigli (1484-1531) John Calvin (1509-1564)

Paul's letter to Titus proves to be both extremely practical in calling all believers to be engaged in “good deeds” and extremely doctrinal in declaring how “we are saved” by God's work of grace. Paul would hold that there should be no contradiction between what a person believes and how a person behaves. Paul emphasizes a faith that produces “good deeds”. Then he reminds us that the good work of God has given us the spiritual life to produce the fruit of good works!

This morning's sermon on Spiritual Maturity is presented by Keith Ross.

Paul instructs Titus to remind the Christians in Crete that their conduct was to be reflective of a changed, transformed life. The culture of Crete was notoriously evil and pagan creating a dark backdrop on which the light of the gospel can be displayed. Question: Should the Christian (and the church) seek to reflect the holiness of God or should we seek to look, act and think like the world in order to win them? Evangelical churches are divided on the issue.

This morning we gather together as the faith community that meets at Broadway! We are united this morning by the bond of faith and the work of grace that God has wrought in us. We are all broken, needy sinners who have by the grace of God been redeemed! We are vastly different, yet each of us are in a process whereby we are being transformed into the image of Christ! One of the main themes of the book of Titus is the relationship between grace and good works. The same grace of God that brings salvation at the moment of faith, is the same grace of God necessary for the continuing work of sanctification.

Today we move into the final epistle of the pastorals, the letter to Titus. Before we examine the salutation found in verses 1-4 let's refresh our memory concerning an introduction to the pastoral and to Titus. Paul's major emphasis is upon encouraging Titus as he had Timothy, to be faithful! The major theme of the Pastoral Epistles would involve, “the faithfulness of leadership and the orderly function within the church brings the greater glory to God and the Gospel”. Paul's objective was to encourage these young men to be “firm in the faith” and to teach the church how to relate to one another as to the best bring glory to God.

Paul, the aged warrior, closes his letter to Timothy with thoughts of the many friends, co-laborers and associates. Paul lists no less than 17 individuals in these closing verses, the kingdom's work is vast and requires a host of workers. Paul was a great disciple-maker, he had poured his life into the lives of others and they were now actively engaged in carrying on the ministry while Paul was sidelined in prison.

Chapter three is a chapter of great contrast! The contrast between a hardened, calloused, depraved Christ-rejecting culture and the clear, exhortation for Timothy to proclaim the God-breathed, Holy Scripture that is able to “give you wisdom that leads to salvation”. This morning we will only examine the first half of the chapter dealing with the “perilous times”, and then next week we will focus on the “precious truth”.

Paul continues his instruction to Timothy concerning being an approved workman in light of the false teachers that were so common and prominent in Ephesus. If we are going to be useful to Master, we need to pay attention to Paul's instruction to Timothy.

Paul urged Timothy to remind his hearers that they needed to be faithful workmen, diligently searching and studying God's word.

This morning's text fits beautifully with us sharing Communion! The Lord's Supper was instituted by our Lord on the night in which He was betrayed and arrested, as the disciples were sharing the Passover meal with Him. The Passover was a perpetual feast that served to remind the Israelites of their redemption from Egypt's bondage. Likewise, the Lord's Supper reminds every believer that they have been redeemed by a great sacrifice; the sacrifice of God's One and Only Son!