Authority has a terrible reputation right now, and we get why. It can be used to control, shame, and silence. But we argue there’s another reason people hate authority: it interrupts our obsession with personal freedom, and it forces us to face the possibility that some things are actually true. That’s the tension behind Paul’s letter to Titus, written to a young leader serving on Crete, a culture marked by drunkenness, sexual immorality, and spiritual blindness.

We walk through Titus 2:15 and the three commands that form a practical church game plan for cultural impact: speak, exhort, and reprove. First, we make the case for ordinary gospel conversations, not just sermons. We talk about bringing Jesus Christ into the hallway, the backyard, the workplace, the flight, and the dinner table, and we connect that to “sound doctrine” that shapes real life: integrity, self-control, parenting, responsibility, and honest work.

Then we turn up the intensity. Exhortation is more than information; it’s an invitation with urgency, grounded in the grace of God that offers salvation, the blessed hope of Christ’s return, and a call to be zealous for good deeds. And yes, we also go to correction. Real worship and real discipleship alter us like a tailor, not just iron us. We close with the hard truth: people may try to disregard you when you speak with biblical authority, but faithfulness means staying clear, prepared, and courageous.

If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review. What part of the plan do you need most right now: conversation, motivation, or alteration?

What does it look like to live a holy life? In In Pursuit of Holiness, Stephen shows you how to think clearly, resist sin, and live differently in a culture that pulls you the other way. Move beyond information to real application. Get your copy today and take your next step with Christ. https://bit.ly/4v5aktw

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