Salutations to Titus

How Henry Kissinger Learned the Power of Words

In 1934, Hitler's plague of anti-Semitism was spreading throughout Europe like wildfire. Some would escape it. Millions would die from it. But an 11-year-old boy named Heinz would learn from it. Heinz was a Jew who lived in the Bavarian village of Furth with his family. As tension mounted between the Jews and Germans in that community, Heinz's father, a schoolteacher, lost his job, and his family endured great hardship. Gangs of Hitler Youth roamed the neighborhoods of Furth looking for trouble. Young Heinz learned to keep his eyes open for them. Whenever he saw a gang of troublemakers, he would cross to the other side of the street. Sometimes he would escape a fight, but sometimes he couldn't.

One day, Heinz found himself face to face with a Hitler Youth. A beating appeared inevitable, but on this day he walked away unhurt, not because he put up a good fight, but because of what he said. Somehow, he convinced this troublemaker that a fight was foolish and unnecessary. From that point on, 11-year-old Heinz learned the power of words to avoid conflict, and for a young Jewish boy living in such a volatile, anti-Semitic climate, that was a skill he used often. In fact, it was a skill he perfected.

Fortunately, Heinz and his family escaped Bavaria and made their way to America. As the years have passed, his name has become synonymous with peace negotiations. Though he is still very much alive, he will be remembered as one of the greatest peacemakers of this century. You don't know him as Heinz. You know him by his Anglicized name, Henry…Henry Kissinger.

Source: Chris Bennett, "Find Your Missing Peace," SermonNotes.com

Problem People (Titus 3:9–11)

We wish we did not have “problem people” in our churches; but wherever there are people, there can be problems. In this case, Paul warned Titus to avoid people who like to argue about the unimportant things of the faith.

Have you ever been approached by a person; after a Bible study or church service; and got involved with them in all sorts of hypothetical questions of doctrine.

“Now, if this were true … if that were true …”

These kinds of things are about all they can say.

We are very inexperienced at these times; we should ignore them in a gracious way.

As it is, we miss the opportunity to talk with several sincere people who have personal problems and want help.

But there is another kind of problem person we should deal with: the “heretic.”

This word means “one who makes a choice, a person who causes divisions.”

This is a self-willed person who thinks he is right, and who goes from person to person in the church, forcing people to make a choice. “Are you for me or for the pastor?”

This is a work of the flesh (see Gal. 5:20). Such a person should be admonished at least twice, and then rejected.

Gal 5:20

20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions

NIV

How do we apply this in a local church? Let’s see one way.

If a church member goes about trying to get a following, and then gets angry and leaves the church, let them go.

if they come back (maybe the other churches don’t want him either), and if he shows a repentant attitude, receive him back.

If they repeat this behavior (and they usually do), receive him back the second time.

But if they do it a third time, do not receive them back into the fellowship of the church (Titus 3:10).

Why not?

“Such a man is warped in character, keeps on sinning, and has condemned himself” (Titus 3:11, literal translation).

If more churches would follow this principle, we would have fewer “church drifters” who cause problems in various churches.

Sometimes it's worse to win a fight than to lose.

—Billie Holiday, U.S. jazz singer (1915–1959)

Benediction (Titus 3:12–15)

In the closing verses, Paul conveyed some personal information to Titus, and reminded him of the main theme of the letter:

Vs. 14 Paul is bringing this plane in for a landing. He gives his final exhortation to Titus.

Titus 3:14

Insist that God’s people “learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives” (Titus 3:14, NIV).

We don’t know anything about Artemas; but Tychicus we meet him in Acts 20:4.

Acts 20:4

4 He was accompanied by Sopater, son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia.

NIV

He was with Paul in his first Roman imprisonment and carried the epistles from Paul to the Ephesians (Eph. 6:21),

Eph 6:21

21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing.

NIV

Col 4:7-8

7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.

8 I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.

NIV

Either Artemas or Tychicus would replace Titus on Crete, and then Titus was to join Paul at Nicopolis.

It is possible that Zenas and Apollos (see Acts 18:24ff; Titus 3:13) carried this letter to Titus. Paul had sent them on a mission and Titus was to aid them all he could.

Paul ended the letter to Titus with a variation of his usual benediction (see 2 Thes. 3:17–18): “Grace be with you all.”

Grace—and good works! They go together!

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 268.

Conclusion: