I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said goodbye to them and went on to Macedonia.

relief - literally rest in my spirit....

relaxation of tension

Titus was the kind of guy who breathed life into people and situations.....

But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus

word used to describe the ministry of the Holy Spirit

to console someone

to provide encouragement in difficult times

to prop up someone who is having trouble standing

emphasis on presence and assistance

when they are downcast - lacking hope, dejected, discouraged

13 By all this we are encouraged.

In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you, and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling. 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.


the end result of two parties being genuine with each other.....

Titus was happy -

word that means to rejoice....

refreshed - enjoying the rest that comes from a job well done....

in the end everything had worked out as hoped.......and we all know that doesn't always happen.....

literally refers to your inward parts

deeply felt love, compassion for others

in the New Testament it is used to describe how the love of Jesus is illustrated in believers love for one another

In Php 1:8 the phrase ἐν σπλάγχνοις Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ is ambiguous. It may mean ‘because of the compassion which Christ Jesus himself has for you’ or ‘… for me.’ On the other hand, it may also be interpreted as characterizing the kind of love which Paul has for the believers, for example, ‘how I long for all of you, even with the kind of love Christ Jesus himself has for you.’

Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition., Vol. 1, p. 293). New York: United Bible Societies.

2 Corinthians 8:6
So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part.

you can do this.....

Titus clicked with the Corinthians.....he had the ability to jump into difficult church situations and influence a positive outcome

He was sent to Crete for that purpose....to minister to people described as liars, brutes, and gluttons....Titus 1:12

Titus was in the middle of encouraging, helping the Corinthians give a generous gift

described as an act of grace

16 Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you. 17 For Titus not only welcomed our appeal, but he is coming to you with much enthusiasm and on his own initiative. 18 And we are sending along with him the brother who is praised by all the churches for his service to the gospel. 19 What is more, he was chosen by the churches to accompany us as we carry the offering, which we administer in order to honor the Lord himself and to show our eagerness to help. 20 We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. 21 For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.

22 In addition, we are sending with them our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now even more so because of his great confidence in you. 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and co-worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives of the churches and an honor to Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that the churches can see it.

enthusiasm - desire, drive, willingness, eagerness vs 17

then passion, determination, focus, drive, in vs 19

takes initiative

sensitive to procedure

partnership - word koinonia- fellowship that occurs within the body of Christ, in this together

fellow worker - means to work with....

don't have to get him up in the morning

realizes ministry is labor intensive

(Illus. enjoys working with teams, can work alone but does well with teams transporting money, encouraging the church, doesn't see accountability as a burden - as seen in his willingness to submit to the process of getting the money to its intended destination free of accusations.....)

integrity - before God, who sees what man cannot, and before men who are a little bit more "show me"

proven - tested, reliable, esteemed, worthy of trust, has been certified "the real deal"

past tense - means this process has already been finished

(Illus. Aren't you glad that there is a process of testing, and the process implies a removal of impurities.....)

because it is a
word used to describe the refining of metals, cooking off the impurities....

17 Did I exploit you through any of the men I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus to go to you and I sent our brother with him. Titus did not exploit you, did he? Did we not walk in the same footsteps by the same Spirit?


Has the same attitude about ministry as Paul does -

exploit - take the greater share, want more, take advantage of you?

Has the same Spirit - reference to following the lead of the Spirit, both of them following the Holy Spirit and perhaps the same demeanor or approach

Headed in the same direction - same purpose

generally used to describe the path someone leaves behind after walking through life or through the woods, refers toa trail that someone has marked out for us