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Funeral Homily: Good Works and the Good Work
Marion Clark
Titus 2:11-3:8
Introduction
I had the privilege of being at the hospital with M and with J and D earlier in the day of J's death. I asked M if there was any particular Scripture she would like read. It so happened that she and J had been reading Titus and especially had been heartened by the passage that has been read today. My eyes lit up when she mentioned this passage. I had first preached on it nearly 30 years ago while in seminary for my preaching class. It makes for a great three-point sermon based on what it says about good works, and it struck me while reading it again by J's bed, how descriptive it was of J himself. Let me take us through it.
Text
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Let me comment on the term ''good works.'' There are good people who work. There are people who do work well. And then there are people who do work that is for the good of others. The work directly benefits other people. It might be to hold the door open for someone whose arms are full; it might be at great cost to come to the aid of someone in need. It is that kind of work which is being spoken of here.
The Apostle Paul is saying that the very good work of Jesus Christ-that work of dying on the cross so as to redeem people from sin-Christ did that work to produce people who are zealous to do good works. They don't begrudgingly help their neighbor out. They are quite pleased to have the opportunity to help. It's positive motivation for them.
Consider the next two verses (2:15-3: ...
Marion Clark
Titus 2:11-3:8
Introduction
I had the privilege of being at the hospital with M and with J and D earlier in the day of J's death. I asked M if there was any particular Scripture she would like read. It so happened that she and J had been reading Titus and especially had been heartened by the passage that has been read today. My eyes lit up when she mentioned this passage. I had first preached on it nearly 30 years ago while in seminary for my preaching class. It makes for a great three-point sermon based on what it says about good works, and it struck me while reading it again by J's bed, how descriptive it was of J himself. Let me take us through it.
Text
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Let me comment on the term ''good works.'' There are good people who work. There are people who do work well. And then there are people who do work that is for the good of others. The work directly benefits other people. It might be to hold the door open for someone whose arms are full; it might be at great cost to come to the aid of someone in need. It is that kind of work which is being spoken of here.
The Apostle Paul is saying that the very good work of Jesus Christ-that work of dying on the cross so as to redeem people from sin-Christ did that work to produce people who are zealous to do good works. They don't begrudgingly help their neighbor out. They are quite pleased to have the opportunity to help. It's positive motivation for them.
Consider the next two verses (2:15-3: ...
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