“Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.” (v. 8)

How sound is your message?

In Titus, Paul is encouraging another young pastor, so that the church will be solidly organized and scripturally instructed. Among his encouragements, there is this: “Your message must be sound beyond reproach.”

What do you think he means by that?

Try this:

Instead of preaching opinions, preach the Word. Instead of cherry-picking your preferred passages, deliver its full counsel. Instead of proof-texting your predetermined points, exposit the text and its context.

All that, and…

…instead of using it like a reference, hold the Bible as wholly true, inspired, and authoritative.

If any of us—pastors or teachers or learners—root ourselves in that, then whatever we share with whomever we share it will be sound. Our message will always be grounded, and we’ll have the Bible’s own revelation (plus two millennia of faithful confidence) under our feet. Opinions can be assailed; truth cannot.

So…how sound is your message?

— Tyler