Titus 3 Part 8

Titus 3 Part 8

God is Serious about Church

Titus 3:9–11 NIV

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Illustration

Image

Imagine driving through a neighborhood late at night and you see a house completely on fire.

Flames are coming out of the windows.

Smoke is pouring into the sky.

But instead of helping… they’re arguing.

One person says:

“Who built this house? This wouldn’t have happened if they had used better materials.”

Another says:

No, the real problem is the electrical wiring.

Yet another says:

This is what happens when people don’t install the right smoke detectors.

And while they argue about how the fire started,

The house continues to burn to the ground.

No one grabs a hose

No one calls for help

No one tries to rescue anything inside

They just argue about the details while the house burns to the ground.

Sometimes the church can do the same thing

While a world without Christ is burning around us.

Believers can spend their time arguing about things that don’t really matter.

This is why Paul wrote this letter

To remind us of the things that matter.

Paul doesn’t tell Titus to win the argument.

See verse 1 again

Titus 3:1 NIV

Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,

Reject Worthless Arguments

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Titus 3:9 (LSB) — 9 But avoid foolish (stupid) controversies and genealogies and strife and conflicts about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Titus 3:9 LSB

But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and conflicts about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

I like this word “foolish”

You can translate it; foolish, stupid, fool

“Devoid of wisdom or good sense or sound judgment.”

The bible is telling us to AVOID these stupid agreements.

Paul doesn’t tell Titus to win the argument.

The psychology of being argumentative

Maybe understanding why we argue will help us understand.

Identity Protection

When people tie their identity to an idea, disagreement feels like a personal attack.

The Need to Be Right

Some people gain a sense of self-worth from winning arguments.

Desire for Control

Arguments can be a way to control situations or people.

Attention and Recognition

For some personalities, conflict becomes a way to get attention.

Emotional Frustration

People argue because they are: Stressed, angry, insecure, feeling unheard.

Personality Differences

Some people simply have high conflict personalities.

“That escalated quickly”

They just love conflict.

What the Bible is Saying?

It’s a heart problem

What the bible is doing here is addressing a heart issue and not a behavior issue.

Verse 8 says to do what is good.

Verse 8 says doing good is excellent and profitable

But verse 9 says don’t be argumentative.

Because these things are unprofitable and useless.

(Argue over smoke detector while the house is burning)

Verse 8 say devote yourselves

Verse 9 tells to avoid these things.

The Danger of Being Divisive

Titus 3:11 (CEV) — 11 You know that their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.

Titus 3:11 CEV

You know that their minds are twisted, and their own sins show how guilty they are.

The NIV says “warped”  

It can also mean depraved = to deviate from what is moral, right, proper, or good.

This is a heart problem.

And sometimes heart problems require heart surgery.

Causing division in the church is SIN.

I thank God we have had very little of that here at Grace.

I think there are two reasons for this.

We understand who we are.

I preach constantly we are sinner in need of grace.

Not a person in this room that is not struggling with some kind of hurt, hang up, or habit.

That I am busy working out my own problems to try and fix someone else’s.

We all understand that if it wasn’t for second chances…

This is not the church for the spiritual elite.

Ask yourself:

Does this discussion produce growth or division?  

Does it lead people toward Christ or toward conflict?

Does this build faith?

Does this strengthen the church?

Warn a Divisive Person V:10

Business Meeting

Now this certainly deals with church discipline

But here’s the deal, we can avoid many of these issues.

A pastor was asking about committees

I commented about how we do ours.

(This is the second reason… )

He confessed they have 19 committees a monthly business meeting.

If you want division in your church here is a recipe for it.  

One of our secrets is we don’t do business meetings.

Focus on the Mission.

The church exists to:

Preach the gospel

Make disciples

Build fellowship (We are better together.)

Serve each other (ministry)

Serve our community and the world (mission)

Matthew 28:19 (NIV) — 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Matthew 28:19 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Worthless arguments distract from the mission.

I want you to be heard and I will listen.

But ask yourself – Does this strength the church or your ego?

The house is fire!!

Are we debating the kind of smoke detector or are we grabbing the water hose.