Titus 3 Message 1

Titus 3

Where the Rubber Meets the Road.

Titus 3:1

Titus 3:1 (NIV) — 1 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,

Times Don’t Change Much.

Crete

Titus, like Timothy was a young convert of Paul.

He lived on the island of Crete.

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Paganism was the predominant religion of that day.

So Paul is teaching Titus how to act in such an environment.

Paganism Today.

When I picture paganism, I picture people sitting in a séance.

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It’s not like that at all.

Would our society be considered more pagan or more Christian?

“Our society is far more pagan than Christian—especially in values and practice—even if Christian language still lingers.”

We may look Christian on the surface.

But culture isn’t defined by labels—it’s defined by what it loves, serves, and obeys.

What defines paganism (biblically speaking)

👉 Worship of the creation instead of the Creator (Romans 1:25)

👉 Multiple competing “gods” (money, pleasure, power, self).

👉 Truth shaped by desire, not divine revelation

👉 Spirituality without submission.

Where modern society aligns with paganism.

The god of self

"Be true to yourself"

“Follow your heart”

“You define your truth”

That’s not Christianity. That’s self-worship.

Spirituality without obedience

“I’m spiritual, not religious”

That’s classic pagan spirituality—divinity without lordship.

Right and wrong decided by culture, not God

Why this matters.

Biblical teaching feels “offensive”

Obedience is rejected but spirituality is embraced.

Jesus is admired, but lordship is resisted

👉 The mission field isn’t “unchurched Christians”—it’s modern pagans who speak Christianese.

“We don’t live in a Christian culture that needs tweaking—we live in a pagan culture that needs conversion.”

Why? Because the world is watching.

Three Principles to Follow

Be Subject to Authority

“Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers”

Now I hate the word submit.

I don’t want to submit anyone or anything

But there is a principle here that’s super important.

Christians represent Christ in public life, not just private faith.

Paul wrote this during Roman rule. Corrupt pagan and oppressive

Because God is a God of order, not chaos.

Because rebellion damages our witness

Because respect opens doors for the gospel.

A rebellious Christian is a contradiction.

It’s being obedient in the small things.

Be Obedient in Conduct.

“to be obedient”

“This is not blind obedience or disobedience to God’s Word. Scripture is clear—when human authority contradicts God’s authority, we obey God.”

Too often Christians are known for:

Complaining more than praying

Resisting more than serving

Protesting more than loving

Obedience demonstrates:

A teachable spirit

A disciplined life

A Christlike attitude

Jesus was our example.

Be Ready for Every Good Work

“…to be ready to do whatever is good.”

This is the heartbeat of the verse.

Paul doesn’t say:

Be ready to argue

Be ready to criticize

Be ready to withdraw

Christian faith is not passive—it’s prepared.

He says “Be ready to do good.”

Are your eyes open to the needs of this community.

Are your hands willing to serve.

Are your hearts eager to bless.

Good works don’t save us—but they prove we are saved.

In a broken world full of self-worship:

Good works soften hearts

Good works silence the haters.

Good works point people to Jesus.

Three Questions to Ask Ourselves

👉 Does my attitude reflect the grace that’s been show to me?

A broken world is not a world to be hated or make into an enemy.

But a world of soul that are lost.

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived…” (Titus 3:3)

👉 Is my obedience visible or only verbal?

Let your actions be your words.

👉 Am I known more for doing good or pointing out what’s wrong?

The world doesn’t need louder Christians.

When Christians:

👉 Walk humbly

👉 Live obediently

👉 Serve generously

👉The message of Jesus becomes believable.

Let us be a people who live in such a way that grace looks good.