
Title: Final Practical Advice.
Scripture: Titus 3:9-15
Date: 11242024
Bible Version: NKJV
BOTTOM LINE: Our faith is a journey that involves people, opportunities and obedience.
Commitment to Good Works (vs 9)
[Tit 3:9 NKJV]
But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.
But avoid foolish disputes- Paul encourages Titus to avoid foolish disputes. There were people in the local congregation who wanted to argue about unimportant things of the faith. In today’s culture, this is often centered around minor doctrine at best and trivial things that are not salvific.
Genealogies- Historical records of descent or lineage.
Contentions- The idea here is a heated disagreement.
Strivings about the law- Taking on and battling other people about the law.
They are unprofitable and useless- These things do not provide benefits and are useless. All of the above items are all characteristics of the false teachers (Titus 1:10-16). They could not settle in on Jesus only. They had to make it about Jesus plus something else.
The Enemy loves it when there is infighting in a church.
Dealing with Divisiveness (vv. 10-11)
[Tit 3:10 NKJV]
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
Reject a divisive man- The divisive man is the one who does not build the church up, they tear it down.
After the first and second admonition- Paul indicates that we are to reject this person or group after we have confronted and/or rebuked them.
Instead of building up the church, they create discord. —D.L. Moody
[Tit 3:11 NKJV]
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
knowing that such a person is warped and sinning- Paul goes on to indicate that this person has a skewed way of thinking.
Being self-condemned- Their actions condemn themselves.
Paul instructs Titus to simply focus on teaching the scriptures, not debating with divisive people.
Don’t Do Ministry Alone (vv. 12-14)
[Tit 3:12 NKJV]
When I send Artemas to you, or Tychicus, be diligent to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.
When I send Artemis to you, or Tychicus- Not much is known about Artemis other than he was a friend of Pauls. What we can gather is that as the church was growing so were the people. This would indicate that the Christian movement was advancing and people were growing. Paul’s was going to send Artemis or Tychicus to Crete to lead the church.
Come to me at Nicopolis- Paul wanted Titus to meet back with him in Nicopolis. This was a city that was on the west side of the Greek Islands.
[Tit 3:13 NKJV]
Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing.
Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste- We can infer that Paul had a need for both Zenas and Apollos at Nicopolis. Zenas was a lawyer. It is believed that Zenas was an expert in the Jewish Torah. Apollos was a Jew, a native of Alexandria. He was well versed in the scriptures. It is believed that they were the ones who delivered Titus this very letter we are reading. Paul instructed Titus to send both Zenas and Apollos to him and with supplies to make the journey.
[Tit 3:14 NKJV]
And let our [people] also learn to maintain good works, to [meet] urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Let our people also learn to maintain good works- Paul has made it clear that he wanted this congregation to maintain good works to meet the urgent needs.
Paul encouraged the congregation to maintain good works.
To meet urgent needs- Followers of Christ, life groups, and even a church can help meet the urgent needs in their community by maintaining good works.
That they may not be unfruitful- The idea of the church was not to simply come together, learn more about Jesus and sit dormant. The idea was to bear fruit.
Final Greeting (vs. 15)
[Tit 3:15 NKJV]
All who [are] with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace [be] with you all. Amen.
Greet those who love us in the faith- Paul asked Titus to greet the congregation.
Grace be with you all. Amen.- The beginning of this letter was to Titus. The closing was addressed to the entire congregation.
We have learned two great lessons from our study of Titus:
1. Trusting Jesus
2. Be Obedient
Allowing God to work in and through you on earth will give people a taste of heaven.
Lessons From The Closing of Titus:
1. Be committed to good works
2. Deal with divisiveness
3. Don’t do ministry/life alone
Reflection:
1. What does it have good works? What would this look like your life?
2. How can disiveness be destructive in the Church?
3. How can a Christians behavior negatively impact their witness?
Want to get practical?
🌱 Grow in Community - Join a Life Group
🤲 Join the Mission - I Want to Serve
📒 Devotional - Living With A Biblical Attitude
🙏 Pray - Intentionally pray for friends, family, and neighbors who don’t know Jesus.
⛪️ Keep Coming Back - Commit to being a part of the local church.