Sunday School Lesson

1. Titus 1:1-5, 10-16
Living With Opposition
“My soul is among lions” Psalm 57:4
August 11, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The Glory of God!
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1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of
God.
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2. References
• Spurgeon, Charles H., Among Lions, A sermon preached on September 4,
1879 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle.
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible NKJV (Nashville, Nelson
Publishing, 1997).
• NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing, 1985).
Focus of Lesson Today
• Read Titus 1:1-5, 10-16.
• Discuss misconceptions of Christians on how we should be treated by the
world.
• Study sermon by Charles H. Spurgeon preached 140 years ago on
Christians living in a hostile world.
Introduction to Titus
• This is Paul’s letter to Titus in Crete after establishing a church.
• The letter was written after Paul’s first imprisonment in Rome.
• The theme is the inseparable link between faith and practice, belief and
behavior.
• It also addresses instruction on Christian living and qualifications for
church leaders.
Paul’s Trip to Crete in 62 AD
Introduction to Letter to Titus
• Paul was familiar with Crete, having landed on it during his fourth
missionary journey.
• Crete was originally settled by people from Palestine.
• Believers in the church were not organized in a manner that promoted
spiritual growth.
• The churches had no leadership and no elders to serve as overseers or
teachers.

3. Titus 1:1-5 NIV
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ to further the faith of God’s
elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— 2 a faith and
knowledge resting in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,
promised before the beginning of time, 3 and at his appointed season he has
brought his word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the
command of God our Savior,
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left
unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.
• Titus 1:6-9 gives the qualifications for elders (overseers).
Titus 1:10-11 NIV
10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially
those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are
ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that
for the sake of dishonest gain.
“those of the circumcision group.”
• A reference to the Judaizers.
• They believed that in order to be Christian, you must follow all Jewish laws
in addition to believing in Christ.
• Circumcision was the issue of Judaism they were most adamant about.
• They must have been very disruptive and aggressive in their beliefs.
Titus 1:12-15 NIV
12 Even one of Crete’s own prophets has said: “Cretans are always liars, evil
brutes, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, so
that they will be sound in the faith 14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or
to the commands of those who reject the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure,
but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both
their minds and consciences are corrupted.
• The ungodly do not hold anything sacred, including life, and especially
the things of God.
Titus 1:16 NIV
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are
detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
• Paul is saying that we can know the ungodly by their behavior.
• Truly, their actions speak louder than their words.

4. Paul described the behavior of the ungodly in Galatians.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and
debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage,
selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the
like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
• How are Christians to live in this environment?
• Suggestions by Charles H. Spurgeon.
Charles H. Spurgeon 1834-1892
• English Preacher of Reformed Baptist Tradition.
• Pastor of Metropolitan Tabernacle of London for 38 years.
• Preached “Among Lions” on 9/4/1879.
• “Among Lions” is considered one of Spurgeon’s top 10 sermons.
• The Spurgeon Library is located at Midwestern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Kansas City, MO.
Scripture for “Among Lions.”
Psalm 57:1-4 NKJV
David is hiding from King Saul, who is trying to kill him
1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
For my soul trusts in You;
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
Until these calamities have passed by.
2 I will cry out to God Most High,
To God who performs all things for me.
3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
He reproaches the one who would swallow me up. Selah
God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
4 My soul is among lions;
I lie among the sons of men
Who are set on fire,
Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
And their tongue a sharp sword.
The characteristics of lions
• Skilled hunters.
• Execute their skills with precision.
• Protective.
• Brave & dominating.
• Willing to fight.
• Humans usually lose a fight without a weapon.
• Have a distinctive roar.

5. Who are the lions in life?
• Satan is described by Peter as a lion:
• 1 Peter 5:8 NIV
8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a
roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
• The lions in our life are those who Satan puts in our path to distract us from
becoming more like Jesus.
• God can allow these to remain on our paths to help us to grow more like
Jesus.
The lions in our lives can be…
• Family members.
• Co-workers.
• Bosses.
• Persecutors of our beliefs.
• People of differing political viewpoints.
• Maybe other immature Christians.
Sermon Outline “Among Lions” by Spurgeon:
1. Comfort for when your soul is among lions.
2. Advice when your soul is among lions.
Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• You will have fellowship with your Lord and with His church.
- Remember that you are followers of a Crucified Lord and will be hated
by the world, as He was.
- The inspired description of a Christian is the taking up of a cross.
- He who is a friend of the world is an enemy of God.

6. Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• You will have fellowship with your Lord and with His church.
‐ Prophets and God’s servants were persecuted in OT times.
‐ Christians have been persecuted and martyred for their faith
throughout history.
‐ Christians in Rome were fed to the lions.
Jesus explained why the world will hate His followers.
• John 15:18-20 NIV
18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you
belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not
belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why
the world hates you. 20 Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is
greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you
also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.”
Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• You should be driven nearer to God.
‐ Philippians 3:10-11 NIV
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the
fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
• Endeavor to be very calm and happy.
- Love others all the more the less they love you – repay their enmity with
love.
- Do not dwell on defending yourself by casting pearls to swine.
- Matthew 7:6 NIV
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If
you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you
to pieces.”
Jesus taught about loving our enemies.
• Luke 6:27-31 NIV
27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who
hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If
someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give
to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do
not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

7. Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• Remember, the lions are chained.
- Remember Daniel in the lions’ den.
- Daniel 6:22a NIV
22a My God sent His angel and he shut the mouths of the lions.
- The lions can go no further than God permits.
- Do not be afraid; the lion can roar but they cannot harm your soul.
Daniel in the lions’ den.
Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• When your soul is among lions, there is another lion with you.
- Jesus is with you as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
- Jesus has all authority and power.
- Revelation 5:5 NIV
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the
tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the
scroll and its seven seals.”
Jesus has the final victory over Satan and death.
• Revelation 20:10 NIV
10 And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning
sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.
• 1 Corinthians 15:54-55 NIV
54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the
mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death
has been swallowed up in victory.”
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

8. Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
• Remember, you will come out unharmed.
- Daniel came out unharmed from the lions’ den.
- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were not touched by King
Nebuchadnezzar’s fire and Jesus was seen attending them in the fire.
- Daniel 3:24-25 NKJV
24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and
spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into
the midst of the fire?”
They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”
25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son
of God.”
Jesus in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
Comfort: “My soul is among lions.”
- Psalm 37:6 NIV
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,
the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
Advice: “My soul is among lions.”
• If you dwell among lions, do not irritate them!
- Pulling on the lions’ whiskers will only irritate them.
- Lions challenge conflict and are looking for a fight.
- Matthew 10:16 NIV
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as
shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.”

9. Advice: “My soul is among lions.”
• If you dwell among lions, do not irritate them!
- Proverbs 12:16 NIV
16 A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
- Romans 12:18 NIV
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with
everyone.
- Billy Graham: “If you wrestle with skunks, even if you win, you lose!”
• Do not roar yourself.
- Your way of meeting them is not by losing your temper and becoming
a lion yourself, but you must conquer them with gentleness, patience,
kindness and love.
- Romans 12:21 NIV
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• Do not be cowardly.
- Approach the enemy with determination, courage, steadfastness and
calmness.
- Proverbs 16:7 NIV
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,
He makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
- 2 Timothy 1:7 NIV
7 For God did not gives us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of
love and of self-discipline.
• If you believe it necessary, pray for the Lord to move you in His
providence to quieter quarters.
- You are not bound to endure persecution, if you can help it.
- Matthew 10:23a NIV
23a “When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.”
- The end of the model prayer gives us permission to seek relief.
- Matthew 6:13 NIV
13 “And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.”
• The braver thing is to ask for grace to stay with the lions and tame them.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is
made perfect in weakness.”
- Philippians 4:13 NIV
13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

10. The goal of living with opposition and among lions:
• Matthew 5:16 NIV
16 “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see
your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
• The ultimate goal is for them to accept Jesus Christ as Savior.
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NIV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through Me.”
Romans 3:23 NIV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NIV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NIV
8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters, and all liars‒their place
will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death” if they do not repent.
‐ To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.

11. Romans 6:23b NIV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NIV
7 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he shall be My
son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart
that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and
are saved.
Romans 10:13 NIV
13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/