Titus Connection Volume #19 Number 10, October 2025

WISE INTENTIONAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

TITUS CONNECTION

Volume 19, Number  10 – October, 2025

Intentionally Developing Multigenerational Leaders

Throughout The World

Greetings.  William Carey, missionary to India, once said he “could plod”, determined and zealous to be faithful to the calling on his life from the Lord.  Paul had that attitude and kept the focus, being obedient to the Lord for many years.  I pray I can be faithful in a similar way as I live out my life.  The Youth Ministry article focuses on social media and some guidelines.  Mike

Paul’s Razor Sharp Focus

Zeal and determination of people from around the world have been portrayed throughout history.  American Wiley Post was the first to fly solo around the world in 1933.  In 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Nepali Tenzing Norgay were the first people to climb Mt. Everest and survive accomplishing that feat.  Then in 1975, Junko Tabei from Japan became the first woman to climb Mt. Everest and live to talk about it.  Finally in 1954, Roger Bannister, Englishman, was the first to break the four-minute mile.  These were all feats many felt would never occur.  Yet with zeal and determination, these monumental feats occurred.

          Paul the apostle can easily be classified in the same category for the most zealous and determined individuals to ever live.  Paul was a ROCK on the religious scene.  “If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” – Philippians 3:4-6    What a pedigree.

          Paul’s father was a Pharisee.  Paul was a Pharisee (a member of an ancient Jewish group or sect distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law – a Jew of Jews!).  Circumcised on the eighth day as good Jewish boys should, Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin which happened to the tribe of the Saul, the first king of Israel and one of two tribe to return from the Exile.  Also this guy was from Tarsus, a capital city and home to a great university.

          Paul became a top notch Pharisee as he studied under Gamaliel who was a leader in the Sanhedrin, well respected teacher of the Law, honored by all the people,  and dealt with Peter and John, (Acts 5:34-40).  This guy was zealous as he knew Jewish law and on top of all this, personally persecuted Christians (Acts 7:57-58), the enemy to the Jews.  Paul was near perfect in keeping the Law (Acts 26:5).  Just try to top that pedigree!

          Then literally he was knocked off his horse and his world turned upside down.  Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:1-6) was on the way to Damascus to kill Christians, zealous as zealous you can get.  Paul heard Jesus’ voice (Acts 22:4-11) and his life was changed, ultimately commissioned to the take the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15-16).

Quickly he was told he would suffer for Jesus.  Did you hear that statement when you became a believer?  Paul did not shy away from this responsibility.  He zealously took this role on head on.  Am I willing to be obedient to my calling or purpose, even if it means suffering?

Here is why even with the Jewish pedigree Paul owned, Jesus was sold out for the Lord, willing to suffer and lead the Church to the Gentiles.  “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” (Philippians 3:7-10).

What do you want out of life?  What Paul did in life before encountering Jesus was nothing.  He felt that what was to his profit, was considered loss for the sake of Christ.  The only thing that mattered was the suppressing greatness of knowing Jesus, the power of His resurrection and being a part of sharing in the sufferings of Jesus.  Becoming like Him in His death and attain the resurrection of Jesus.

My relationship with Jesus needs to be top priority.  Everything else was comparably nothing to this relationship.  To know Jesus should be our ultimate goal.  Is there anything above your relationship with the Lord?  Are your priorities wrong?  Our faith and living out our faith is the most important responsibility we have on earth.

Paul gave up everything to know Jesus in the best way he could.  What needs to change in my life to be able to say that statement for me?   When we become one with Christ by trusting in Him, we experience the power that raised Jesus from the dead and that power helps us to live morally renewed and regenerated live.  But first die to sin.  Drink in Jesus and be obedient to what you know and watch yourself grow.

YOUTH MINISTRY  –   Social Media Can Be a Mask

          Have you considered that various forms of social media can be considered a hypocrite?  Let me explain.  The term hypocrite meant a mask or an actor or actress, someone who is portraying a character or a role other than what is reality.

          During the Roman and Greek empires and time of Jesus, places like Capernaum held plays in a large amphitheater.  In those days there was not a public address microphone system or proper lighting, so the further you were from the stage, the harder it was to see the actors and actresses. Life-size masks were created to portray a role being played or an emotion, and the actors would hold these masks up on stage.

          The term hypocrite was well known, portraying someone that you in reality were not, the negative connotation of hypocrite came from this link between acting and pretense. Over time you essentially were described as someone who portrayed a certain character or belief in real life while secretly being different.  The word hypocrite can be traced back to the masks worn by actors in ancient Greek theater.

          Social media can be hypocritical.  We hide our true selves, often portraying all the good we have going in our lives!  Who wants to hear about the tough, bad things happening for us?  Even back in the dark ages when all we had was a phone (with no video or texting), we still could hide our true self.  Only face-to-face interactions can you for the most part the body language facial expressions and the true tone of one’s voice.  Granted on a phone call you can sometimes discern tone of voice but even so, we can “put on a happy face” when briefly talking to someone over the phone.

          Today, social media comes in many forms.  It is so easy to be opened up to truth but also scrutiny, criticism, flattery, cruelty and reality.  Be ever so careful to what you watch and read.  Psalms 119:9,11 gives clear guidance.  “How can a young person stay on the path of purity?  By living according to your Word.  I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  Every Christian needs to consistently be reading and meditating on God’s Word so to be able to combat what is being thrown at you.

          Be ever so careful of fake news in all shapes and forms.  My favorite pro sports team has news sent out from all over the media world.  I have to watch actual interviews of coaches and players to realize much of what is “news”, is simply fake or a small element of truth was blown out of portion.

          In the Old Testament, Joseph (Genesis 39) was a healthy, handsome, well-built young man in his 20’s.  He was a slave, a piece of property to Potiphar, the captain of the Egyptian army, a powerful man.  Potiphar also had a beautiful, attractive model-looking wife who desperately wanted the slave Joseph to come to bed with her.  She attempted this a good number of times.

During the last attempt, she was alone in the house with Joseph and she grabbed him, pulling him to her bedroom.  Joseph did not stop to pray at that moment but rather literally ran out of the house.  If he had stayed to pray, he would have been caught in her trap.  Joseph ended up in prison because she cried, “Rape” though he was innocent.  Social media can be terrible traps for young people if used wrong.  Get into the Word of God and have people hold you accountable to how you are involved in social media.  Otherwise, you can be destroyed morally, emotionally and spiritually.

Social media can and has been used for great, wonderful uses.  But as Christians we need to combat, fight the negative, evil that lurks through this tool.  Before you blow off and toss aside what is being shared here, consider these words.  “My (young person), listen to what I say, and treasure my commands.  Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.  Cry out for insight and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.  Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.”  Proverbs 2:1-5

Please be careful.  Older Christians have suffered difficult things in our lives and by encouraging you to not head in a certain direction, it is not to take the fun out of life but to protect you.  Wisdom can come from the suffering people have experienced.

Social media is a gift but it also dynamite in your hands.  One wrong use of this tool and you can be damaged for a long time and even for life.  “And now, dear (young friends), one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”  Philippians 4:8