June 21, 2026 - “We were ... but when ... so that ....” Titus 3: 3-8

Jun 21, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Vultures Circle Your Thoughts

The mind becomes a battleground where unwanted thoughts swoop like scavengers. Just as vultures signal death’s proximity, toxic thoughts—pride, envy, malice—signal spiritual decay. These patterns once defined believers’ lives before Christ, as Paul reminds Titus. But transformation begins by naming what circles overhead. Eternal life starts now, not at death—a reality requiring vigilance against thoughts that steal holiness. [56:02]

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.”
(Titus 3:3, NIV)

Reflection: What “vulture thought” has circled your mind this week? How does naming it as part of your “we were” past help you reject its claim on your present?

Day 2: From Committee to Kettle – When Thoughts Land

A single vulture resting seems harmless, but a committee becomes a wake when feeding. So it is with thoughts entertained: envy tolerated becomes relational poison, pride indulged becomes arrogance. Jesus exposed this progression—evil springs from internal choices, not external rituals. Transformation requires recognizing when circling thoughts land and breed. [58:12]

“What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.”
(Mark 7:20-22, NIV)

Reflection: Which landed thought have you mistaken as harmless? What practical step could prevent it from becoming a “wake” affecting others?

Day 3: Temptation’s Nest-Building Process

Sin grows like a vulture’s nest—twig by twig. James maps the progression: desire’s lure, conception’s compromise, sin’s birth, death’s harvest. The desert fathers named eight root temptations; Jesus faced three tailored tests. Both reveal temptation’s craftiness—it rarely attacks head-on but offers plausible half-truths needing immediate rejection. [59:25]

“Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.”
(James 1:14-15, NIV)

Reflection: Where have you allowed “twig gathering”—small compromises that build toward sin? What truth could dismantle this nest today?

Day 4: The Three R’s of Thought Surgery

Jesus modeled neural combat: Recognize the thought’s origin, Reject its lie, Replace it with truth. Neuroscientists confirm—we can’t stop thoughts but can choose which to host. Paul’s “take captive” command becomes practical through Christ’s template, transforming mental battlegrounds into renewal sites. [01:07:00]

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
(2 Corinthians 10:5, NIV)

Reflection: What recurring thought needs “surgery” today? What Scripture could become your replacement truth?

Day 5: When Nests Need Demolishing

Some nests require more than shooing—they demand repentance’s wrecking ball. Like vultures leaving residue, entrenched sins stain relationships and require repair. Confession cleanses; restitution restores. The desert fathers knew even “sadness” (disappointment with God) could become a nest—all need Christ’s liberating fire. [01:10:18]

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
(1 John 1:9, NIV)

Reflection: What sin residue needs cleansing? Who might need your courageous confession or practical repair this week?

Sermon Summary

Paul frames Titus 3 with a three-part movement. “We were,” then “but when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,” and finally “so that.” The former life sits plain on the page: foolish, deceived, enslaved to passions, hating and being hated. The gospel does not shrug and say “I’m not perfect, I’m just forgiven.” The Spirit aims at real change. The text names salvation as more than a legal acquittal. Justification by grace settles the debt, but the Spirit is poured out to make people spiritually alive and actually renewed.

Eternal life rises as the goal-line of this work. “The hope of eternal life” is not only future. Eternal life is “the life of the age to come,” and it starts where the Spirit starts. Breakthroughs of the kingdom begin now. Holiness, healing, and a beautiful life do not wait for the grave.

The vice lists in Paul’s letters serve that aim. They do not bury people in shame. They locate the fight. Evagrius helped here too. Lust, anger, pride, sloth, envy, greed, gluttony, and a deep sadness that feels disappointed with God trace the root thoughts beneath the fruit. Jesus backs it up. In Mark 7 he says the problem springs from the heart. The uncleanness is not on the hands. It is in the inner life.

James then maps the slide. Temptation starts with a thought, then drags and entices, then conceives, then gives birth to sin, and finally to death. The old saying about birds lands it. No one can stop birds from flying overhead. Anyone can keep them from building a nest. Jesus models how. He recognizes the voice, rejects the lie, and replaces it with the Father’s word. Thoughts become things, so thoughts must be taken captive and traded for truth.

When the line has been crossed and a nest has been built, grace does not quit. Repentance comes first. Then repair with those harmed. Then restoration by the Spirit and the help of others. The Son still sets people free. The Spirit still renews minds. The church is called to stop flirting with vultures circling in the yard and to welcome eternal life breaking in now.

Key Takeaways

1. Not just forgiven, truly transformed Forgiveness is real, but the Spirit’s aim is renovation, not a spiritual hall pass. Titus 3 names legal acquittal and living renewal in one breath. Identity shifts as the Spirit makes a person alive, not merely safe. The old list is “what we were,” not what we must remain. [49:14]
2. Eternal life starts with the Spirit “The life of the age to come” begins when the Spirit takes up residence. That future holiness throws light into the present, yielding real tastes of healing, wisdom, and love. Hope is not a delay tactic. It is power in the now that raises dead habits into living obedience. [50:58]
3. Recognize, reject, replace your thoughts Temptation first comes as a thought. Jesus shows how to spot the voice, shut the door, and fill the mind with God’s truth. Because thoughts become things, attention becomes discipleship. What the mind holds, the life soon carries. [64:06]
4. Repent and repair when sin nests When a thought conceives, repentance must lead the way back. Repair with those harmed is part of holiness, not an optional extra. Restoration often needs community and prayer, because entrenched patterns do not leave by polite suggestion. [70:18]
5. Pray through the eight thoughts Evagrius’ list is a wise daily examen that surfaces where the battle is hot. Naming lust, anger, pride, sloth, envy, greed, gluttony, and disappointed sadness turns fog into focus. The Spirit meets honesty with help, and temptation loses power when it is dragged into the light. [116:32]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:34] - Forty days stirring and purpose
[44:44] - Titus 3 frame: we were, but then, so that
[46:24] - We were: foolish and enslaved
[47:25] - But then: mercy saves and renews
[50:22] - So that: devoted to doing good
[50:58] - Eternal life now, not later
[52:14] - Naming sins and vice lists
[53:49] - Evagrius’ eight thoughts tool
[57:46] - Jesus on the heart’s defilement
[59:25] - James maps temptation’s progression
[61:34] - Birds and nests of temptation
[64:06] - Recognize, reject, replace
[69:43] - When sin conceives: repent and repair
[74:33] - Freedom, restoration, and response

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

Observation Questions

In Titus 3:3-8, Paul uses a three-part structure: “we were,” “but when,” and “so that.” What specific contrasts does he highlight between the “we were” and the “so that” sections?
Jesus lists “evil thoughts” in Mark 7:20-23 (e.g., greed, envy, arrogance). How does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on the root of sin being internal rather than external? [58:12]
James 1:14-15 describes temptation’s progression: desire → enticement → conception → sin → death. What imagery or metaphor does the sermon use to illustrate this process? [01:01:34]
According to the sermon, how did Evagrius categorize the “root thoughts” behind sinful actions, and why is this helpful? [53:49]

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul pair “justification by grace” with “renewal by the Spirit” in Titus 3:5-7? How do these two aspects of salvation work together?
Jesus says sin originates in the heart (Mark 7:20-23). How does this challenge common cultural ideas about what makes someone “good” or “bad”? [57:46]
James compares sin’s progression to a biological process (“desire… conceives… gives birth”). What does this metaphor reveal about the danger of unchecked thoughts? [01:00:48]
The sermon argues that Evagrius’ list of “eight thoughts” (e.g., pride, sloth) helps “turn fog into focus.” Why might naming specific root sins be more effective than vague self-reflection? [56:32]

Application Questions

The “recognize, reject, replace” method is modeled by Jesus. What practical step could you take this week to identify and replace a recurring unhealthy thought with God’s truth? [01:04:06]
Which of Evagrius’ eight thoughts (lust, anger, pride, sloth, envy, greed, gluttony, disappointed sadness) most often distracts or entangles you? How could you “drag it into the light” through prayer or accountability? [56:32]
When has a “bird” (temptation) in your life built a “nest” (habitual sin)? What would repentance, repair, and restoration look like in that situation? [01:10:18]
The sermon says eternal life includes “tastes of healing, wisdom, and love” now. What specific area of your life needs the Spirit’s renewal to reflect “the age to come” more fully? [50:58]
How could you incorporate a daily “examen” (reflection) using Evagrius’ eight thoughts to increase awareness of spiritual battles? What time or tool would help you do this consistently?
The church is called to “welcome eternal life breaking in now.” What would it look like for your small group to actively pursue holiness together instead of settling for forgiveness alone?

Sermon Clips

43s

#ThoughtsMatter

“``Thoughts become things. And so the first thing you have to do is you have to recognize that a thought is not just an innocent thing. You have to do something with it. Then secondly, if it is not of god, then you reject it, or you can say you rebuke it. What you just kinda say, no. I'm not accepting that. I'm not agreeing with that. I am rejecting that. That is a lie that's not from God. And so you're taking a position on it. Jesus clearly did that when he understood that what Satan was saying, he's like, I'm not buying into that. I'm not even discussing that with you. I'm just shutting it down.”

32s

#TakeEveryThoughtCaptive

“So the apostle Paul puts it this way, second Corinthians chapter 10 verse five, he says, we have to take every thought captive. So when there's a thought there, we need to we need to take hold of it, and we need to say, is this from God or is this not from God? The good news is most of the time, it's obvious. Not all the time, but most of the time, it's obvious. So the first thing is we have to recognize. We have to recognize it's a thought, and we have to recognize, by the way, that thoughts become things.”

65s

#EternalLifeStartsNow

“But that word word eternal life literally means life of the age to come. And the eternal life doesn't just start when we die. The life of the age to come starts when you have the holy spirit in you. There are tastes, there are breakthroughs of of the kingdom that become part of your possibilities. Jesus said that Satan has come to steal and kill and destroy the thief, but he came to bring abundant life. He came to bring eternal life. He came to say what life is going to be like for to have glimpses of it, have parts of it. We're gonna be completely holy and glorified when that time comes. But guess what? Even now, there can be areas of our life that become beautiful and holy holy and healed.”

49s

#DailyPrayerAgainstTemptation

“I pray pray every time I go into the the laundry room of my prayer rooms. I I use that, and I just say, lord, where am I being tempted? Lead me not into temptation. Right? Lord, have I fallen into any of these? Lord, am am I being tempted in any of these? And I hope I don't too terribly disappoint you, but there's never been a day yet that I haven't had at least one. And there have been some days I've had all eight. I'm not proud of that, but I'm just telling you, this is a this is a lifelong journey. There's always one, two, three that just seem like, yeah, this is where temptation is coming, or this is where I failed in temptation and I need forgiveness.”

60s

#SadnessAsDisappointment

“And then the one that that didn't make it into the seven deadly sins, and you're gonna be shocked when you hear this one. So listen. He calls it sadness. And so I had to do some digging. What in the world is he talking about? What he's talking about, and we would probably use a different word today, is he's talking about being disappointed in God, feeling like God hasn't come through for you. So so his experience when he looks at the scriptures, his experience when he looks at the lives of people who have been trying to figure this, he said, these are these are these are eight areas where where we just are under attack. Lust, anger, pride, sloth, envy, greed, gluttony, and this kind of disappointment with god.”

45s

#IdentifyTemptationSource

“In James chapter one, he talks about how sin progresses or how temptation progresses. And he says this, when tempted he doesn't say if by chance you're tempted. No. He says when it does happen. When tempted, no one should say, god is tempting me. For god cannot be tempted by evil nor does he tempt anyone. I want you to just kinda hold that as as kinda the first movement is when you're tempted, you gotta decide where is the source of this. Where is it coming from? Is is God in this, or is is Satan in this? Is God in this, or is this the sinful flesh?”

43s

#MoreThanJustForgiven

“It it doesn't mean that that we're completely free from all of that. Right? There's still some junk that hangs onto us, but what Paul is wanting us to see is we're not meant to stay there. I don't wanna I mean, maybe you have good reason for this if you if you ever have had this bumper sticker on your car, but I personally will not have this one on my car. The one that says, I'm not perfect. I'm just forgiven. I get it. But I don't want there to be an excuse to say, don't think I I'm not gonna look any different than anybody else. I just happen to be on Jesus' good good list on his good side. No. There's part of we were.”

46s

#PurchasedAndSpiritFilled

“So this thing that that we were, Jesus came and and purchased us. By his grace, he justified us, but he also poured out the spirit on us so that we could actually become spiritually alive, have spiritual wisdom, have spiritual insights. So not only did he did do that, but he did it so that we would understand the hope of eternal life. Now clearly, you understand this at the at the obvious level, that when we die, there's the hope of eternal life. When we are right with God through Jesus Christ, there's a hope of eternal life.”

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June 21, 2026 - “We were ... but when ... so that ....” Titus 3: 3-8

Devotional

Day 1: When Vultures Circle Your Thoughts

Day 2: From Committee to Kettle – When Thoughts Land

Day 3: Temptation’s Nest-Building Process

Day 4: The Three R’s of Thought Surgery

Day 5: When Nests Need Demolishing

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

June 21, 2026 - “We were ... but when ... so that ....” Titus 3: 3-8

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