Difficult And Divisive

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Welcome
Announcements
†CALL TO WORSHIP based on John 15:1-9 Paul Mulner, Elder
Minister: I am the vine, Christ calls out, you are the branches.
Congregation: We come because we seek to abide in Christ.
Minister: The branches that remain in him bear much fruit.
Congregation: We come because we long to be faithful disciples.
Minister: Abide in my teaching, he calls, and you will abide in him.
Congregation: We come to glorify the Father with our lives.
Minister: Come, all you who know his voice, abide in the true vine.
Congregation: We come to abide in the love of Christ. Let us worship God!
†PRAYER OF ADORATION AND INVOCATION
†OPENING HYMN OF PRAISE #241
“O God Beyond All Praising”
†CONFESSION OF SIN & ASSURANCE OF PARDON
TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION
Congregation: Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, and deeper than our sin. Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes, our refusal to relieve the suffering of others, our envy of those who have more than we have, our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure, our indifference to the treasures of heaven, and our neglect of your wise and holy law.
Help us to change our way of life so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what you command, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Psalm 72 Pastor Austin Prince
Psalm 72 ESV
Of Solomon. 1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! 3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness! 4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor! 5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations! 6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more! 8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth! 9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust! 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! 11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him! 12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper. 13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy. 14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight. 15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! 17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! 18 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. 19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen! 20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.
THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16, ESV)
CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
†PSALM OF PREPARATION #85
“You Were Pleased to Show Your Favor”
SERMON Titus 3:9-11 // Difficult & Divisive
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Guide us, O God, by your word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in you truth find freedom, and in your will discover your peace through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
TEXT Titus 3:9-11
Titus 3:9–11 ESV
9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.
AFTER SCRIPTURE
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.
INTRO
A story is told of a sailor who made anchor on what he thought to be a deserted island. To his surprise, he found a man living there abandoned and all alone. Taking the man aboard his ship and sailing for home, the sailor could now see three buildings on the mainland. “I thought you said you were here alone?”, he asked. “What are those three buildings?”
“Yes, I was alone”, said the man. “That building there is my house. And that building over there is my church.”
“Then what’s that other building?” asked the sailor.
The man spit on the deck and said, “Oh, that’s where I used to go to church”.
Sadly, many divisions do happen in the church needlessly. They happen over foolish things that do not matter, or they happen because their is a failure of leadership and nerve to deal with the divisiveness.
This section of Titus draws the focus back to the responsibilities of the leaders and Elders in the church to the guarding of unity. Promoting an eagerness, as we are told in Ephesians, to maintain the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).
In fact, if you were to look at the landscape of the New Testament writings, you would see that much of it has in mind an ambition to keep the peace and unity among the church. There is teaching on how to deal with differences of conscience, or of custom, or of background and tradition (Jew, Gentile, Slave & Free). Much of the teaching is a reminder to keep the main thing the main thing so that differences that might cause division in the world are seen as a testimony to the power of the gospel because they do not cause division within the church.
For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.” (Ephesians 2:14–16, ESV)
Aside from outright heresy (which would demand a separation), the church should strive for unity where it can.
As we heed Paul’s instructions to the church in this matter, there are two areas where they can be faithful for the sake of unity:
Outline:
Avoid Distractions
Address Division

I. Avoid Distractions

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.” (Titus 3:9, ESV)
Explanation:
One way to prevent division in the church is to develop a radar which is sensitive to worthless pursuits and quarrelsomeness. When its alerted to those things, it acts accordingly, self-examines, and steps away. It won’t drive down that path. And it adds no more fuel to those fires.
We are told to avoid all foolish controversies and quarrels all together, but we are also told about them in two ways that I think are helpful. Some things are simply unprofitable, and some are plain worthless.
Theology reaches out into all areas of our lives. Our faith informs everything from our health and bodies, to raising children, to politics. This text is not promoting what some might call “gospel-only-ism”, which is a view about what is profitable for preaching or about what is profitable discourse. A view which says if it isn’t about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, then it isn’t important to talk about.
That’s not what this text is promoting, nor is that faithful to the purpose of the scriptures, which are sufficient for life and godliness. It is important to see where God would have us be faithful in all of life.
But at the same time, many of those good pursuits go awry. Instead of being profitable for worship and for unity, they become means of division and pride. Many secondary things become the hobbyhorse of some and become the only thing they talk about. Even worse, and this is the tell according to Titus, they bear bad fruit (they are sinful). These niche and secondary matters, and the endless hypothesizing and speculation about them, go beyond personal conviction and lead to suspicion and recrimination of those who don’t hold your view or same level of passion. Usually it begins to undermine its leaders, seeing them as corrupt and “asleep at the wheel”. Ultimately, if otherwise good topics are headed in that direction, they are unprofitable. They are a bad investment of time and energy.
Keep in mind the framework with which Titus has placed upon this chapter, we are to be devoted to good works, but here we have a description of someone whose devotion is to non-essential speculations.
Some things aren’t worth our devotion because they are unprofitable, and some things are plain worthless.
Some contentious issues don’t rise to the level of beneficial in any circumstance. They are trivial, and are of no benefit to save a man to sanctify a man or edify a man. They are useless twaddle. The comment here about genealogies was that the Judaizers (mentioned in ch.1) would search the genealogies of the bible and create elaborate myths and legends about the founders of the faith. Theories and philosophies that didn’t matter at all, but became dividing lines among people for no reason. They were pointless.
In my own pastoral ministry, I have seen this range from the unprofitable to the worthless.
I have seen people start fights about the classic cliche of carpet color or the use of the American flag in the sanctuary. And I have seen people insist that we come to a fuller understanding of the number 73 and how it is the key that unlocks the Bible’s predictions and the second coming of Christ.
But I have also seen people be divided by noble things that they simply put in the wrong place. I’ve seen people devote themselves to foreign missions and missions giving. And I’ve seen them turn suspicious when you aren’t cutting your budget enough or giving enough. They become frustrated and contentious that you focus so much at home.
And, just as easily, I’ve seen the pendulum swing from a focus on foreign missions tunnel vision to a focus on domestic politics tunnel vision. Each camp has their proof texts to prove why their passions are biblical and important. But part of sin’s web is that it often creates false dichotomies, arbitrarily forcing you to condemn those who take a different path. Some are prophets, some teachers, some evangelists (Eph. 4:11). It’s often not an outright heresy that brings division, relentless quarrelsomeness with a lack of grace and patience over good things will do it.
So one way to unity is to simply avoid distractions.
At Covenant of Grace, one of our key focus areas is to grow in grace. This comes from 2 Peter 3:17-18 which says, “take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:17–18, ESV)
It’s making a similar point, that there are many areas where we can talk and talk and learn and learn, but are we coming to a knowledge of the Lord? Are those pursuits useful for growth in grace, or are they unprofitable? You can be carried away by theories and speculation, but do they lead to knowing the Lord more? Surely not if they are making you lawless and contentious.
Application:
So, how can we think about these things?
If we see this type of thing happening, we don’t fuel it. We don’t platform it. Avoid distractions.
Maybe you don’t think this type of thing applies to you or that you don’t see it much in the church. That’s good, but perhaps it can slip into our habits? How eagerly do we read the drama and the blogs about secondary issues before things that stir us to substance and truth and good works? Perhaps that time isn’t profitable?
There are ministries that draw a great deal of people because they are devoted to a specific niche cause and they become tribal. They have an in crowd an an out crowd. They make a name for themselves precisely because of the dynamics at play here. While many things are good and beneficial and useful, to use the language of Titus, our devotion lies elsewhere, to a faith that produces godliness, not philosophies that produce contrarians.
Keep in mind, too, that the broader application of Titus is to good works. Not only is the indictment here that these types of discussions are vain, they are also useless. The truth is, it’s much easier to pontificate about endless theological truths than it is to love your neighbor or love and serve your home. It’s easier to talk of “deep” and “obscure” doctrines, even, while your basic Christian duties are left undone. We might say they are “All hat, no cattle.” All talk
What might the opposite of this look like in the church? We hear clearly the call not to be distracted or divisive, but what should this make us think about in our speech and conduct among one another? Maybe there aren’t that many who this text describes in our church, but the contrast with the few who are profitless is the whole who should be profitable. This text is pushing us more towards substance. We can deduce that our interactions and relationships to one another should build up (1 Cor. 8:1), and stir one another up to love and good works (Heb. 10:24).
When we gather for lunch or stand around and talk after church, we should absolutely catch up with one another and listen to all of the life updates, and we should have an ambition to serve and build up, to have a conversation that is profitable. Maybe we say a quick prayer — “Lord, instead of my eagerness to make my opinion known, give me an ambition to encourage and to edify. To build up, serve, and love this person in front of me today.”
Summary:
There are things worth splitting over, but not these things. Controversies and quarrels over secondary issues are useless. Guard unity by avoiding distractions.

II. Address Division

As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.” (Titus 3:10–11, ESV)
Explanation:
If it is clear that a person is stirring up division, and when it becomes clear that this person will not stop doing so, then that person is warped, sinful, and self-condemned.
Their persistence is either pride, that they are right no matter what damage they cause or sins they are engaging in. Or, they are subversive, and want to see and create division. They are “self-condemned” because they will not stop.
And when that becomes clear, then it is necessary to separate that person from the congregation and the communion table.
A lot of grace and patience is given to this person in the form of warnings. Paul here seems to be following Jesus’ pattern of discipline from Matthew 18. Someone is warned once, then twice, and if they persist, they are removed.
In that same chapter in Matthew on discipline, you have these words from Jesus:
“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!” (Matthew 18:7, ESV)
There will be divisions in the world, but woe to the ones who bring them.
Do not rush headlong into pride. Do not disregard the care and wisdom of your elders. It’s a warning to those who are stirring up division, not to be so eager for independence. To check their pride along with their conviction.
Two Main Applications:
Support Your Leaders
Confronting people over their sin is difficult. And elder is aware of their own sins. They don’t want to create more division and difficulty in their church. And what often happens is that church discipline stops happening. In fact, this simply doesn’t happen in most churches.
Pray for your elders and leaders. Pray that they stay faithful at the watch and guard against division. Pray for courage and humility as they do the hard work of rebuke, admonition, or even excommunication.
It’s easy to have division because people have become divisive, but it’s also easy where there is no correction. Divisions are easy, and they keep happening where there is no one on watch and to address division.
Receive Counsel and Correction
What’s the normal pattern for someone who receives a rebuke or even mild pushback from their church? They leave. They never make it through two warning because they leave.
Maybe you’re not someone in this situation as described. You’re not divisive and you’re not rebellious, but how do you receive correction?
Remember in Titus 2 the focus was for older men and for older women to invest and give to the younger men and women. And a text like this (vv.10-11) might shift the focus to the younger men and women receiving that wisdom, which sometimes means correction.
Can people simply be opinionated? Do people offer correction without encouragement or grace or love? Do people do this imperfectly or even wrongly and pridefully? Yes, they do. But, in my experience, what happens much more often than a person offering correction imperfectly is that many of us do not want to receive it at all. We don’t seek it out, and we simply remove ourselves if any challenge is presented.
We should learn to receive correction well. In a healthy relationship, correction isn’t an act of malice but an act of investment and love.
Be eager for those types of relationships. Men, seek out a fire team. Ladies, seek out relationships that will call you to faithfulness and repentance where necessary.
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.” (Proverbs 9:8, ESV)
Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head; let my head not refuse it. Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.” (Psalm 141:5, ESV)
Summary:
Persistent divisiveness must be addressed for the health of the church. Pray for and support your leaders as they fulfill this difficult responsibility, and cultivate a heart that receives correction with humility.

Conclusion

Church is not just another social group; it is the very body of Christ. Christ died to reconcile us to God and to one another, breaking down the dividing walls of hostility. This means our unity is not optional—it’s often a gospel issue.
Divisions over foolish controversies, misplaced priorities, or unchecked pride only undermine the very thing Christ accomplished for us on the cross. Paul’s words challenge us to avoid distractions, address division, and stay focused on what truly matters: the gospel of grace and the good works it produces in us.
There is honestly too much good work to be doing to be distracted or divided. We are planting this church, raising our families, running faithful lives and businesses, and growing in grace.
Devotion shapes our direction. If we devote ourselves to quarrels and controversies, we will be consumed by fruitlessness. But if we devote ourselves to the goodness and loving kindness of God, to the mercy that saved us, to the renewal of the Holy Spirit poured out on us, we will bear the fruit of unity and love.
So, as we step into a new year of ministry, let us fix our eyes on Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith. Let us strive together for the faith of the gospel, eager to maintain the bond of peace. And let us be a church known for a faith that accords with godliness.
THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER Minister: Lift up your hearts!
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.
Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!
CONFESSION OF FAITH* Based on Matt 16:16; Mk. 16:9; Jn. 20:28; I Cor. 15:1-6; Rev. 22:13
Minister: Christian, what do you believe?
Congregation: This is the good news that we have received, in which we stand, and by which we are saved, if we hold it fast: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day, and that He appeared first to the women, then to Peter, and to the Twelve, and then to many faithful witnesses. We believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus Christ is the first and the last, the beginning and the end; he is our Lord and our God.
THE INVITATION TO THE LORD’S TABLE
The Lord invites you to this table if you love him and trust in him alone for salvation. It is for those who belong to Christ through repentance, faith, baptism, and continuing union with his church. If you are truly sorry for your sins, sincerely believe in Jesus as your Savior, and desire to live in obedience to him as Lord, you are invited to come with gladness to the table of the Lord. “O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Congregation is seated.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS
THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION AND THE SHARING OF THE SUPPER
Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you.”
Congregation: By your divine presence, by the holy sacraments, by all the merits of your life, sufferings, death, and resurrection, bless and comfort us, gracious Lord and God. Amen.
Minister: Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “Drink from this, all of you. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
Congregation: Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup together, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Minister: Christ, the Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Congregation: Grant to us your peace. Amen.
†OUR RESPONSE #567
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit remain with you always. Phil. 4:7 (9/29/24)
How can we develop a 'radar' for detecting worthless pursuits in our spiritual lives, and what are some examples of distractions we should avoid?
In what ways might good and noble pursuits become divisive within a church community, and how can we maintain unity while still pursuing diverse callings?
How can we balance the need to address division within the church with the call to show grace and patience towards others?
What does it mean to 'grow in grace,' and how can we practically apply this concept in our daily lives and church interactions?
How can we ensure our conversations and interactions with fellow church members are 'profitable' and edifying, as the sermon suggests?
What role do church leaders play in maintaining unity, and how can congregation members support them in this challenging task?
How can we cultivate a willingness to receive correction and accountability within the church community?
In what ways does focusing on 'unprofitable' or 'worthless' controversies undermine the work of Christ on the cross?
How can we strike a balance between engaging with important theological issues and avoiding divisive speculation?
What practical steps can we take to prioritize unity and peace within our church community, especially when faced with potential sources of division?
There are two easy ways for a church to become divided: 1) They become distracted, devoting themselves to secondary issues in a way that creates an arbitrary and unbiblical “test for faithfulness”. And 2) the church fails to guard and discipline divisive members.
The unity of the church does not mean that all of its members have uniformed opinions and passions, but it does mean that love and grace and charity dominates suspicion, quarrels, and fights.
Practical Applications:
1. This week, focus on being "profitable" in your interactions with other church members. Look for ways to encourage and edify others.
2. Reflect on your own tendencies. Are there any areas where you might be prone to divisiveness or getting caught up in "unprofitable" discussions? Are you more drawn to drama than substance?
3. Practice receiving feedback or correction with grace. If someone offers you constructive criticism this week, make a conscious effort to receive it well.
4. Pray for your church leaders, asking God to give them wisdom and courage in maintaining unity.
Scripture for Further Study:
- Ephesians 4:1-6
- 1 Corinthians 1:10
- Colossians 3:12-14
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