Untitled Sermon

Context

Paul writes to Titus instructing him to set things in order at the church in Crete. He has just explained in the previous passage how the gospel should effect the way we treat people. In the current passage Paul explains how the sufficiency of the gospel should effect how christians show handle distractions. The next passage is the closing passage in which Paul insist that christian’s should learn to devote themselves to good works for two reasons: (positively) to help in cases of urgent need, (negatively) so as not to be unfruitful. If we are distracted then we will not be devoted to good works.

Structure

v. 8: The sufficiency of the Gospel

v. 9: Handling Distractions

vv. 10-11: Handling Divisive People

Emphasis: The sufficiency of the gospel and the foolishness of distractions

Autors Aim

Christians must avoid distraction, so that they can be devoted to good works.

Gospel Connections

Paul tells Titus to insist on the true Gospel.

“For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (, ESV)

The reason for this is so that Christian’s will be devoted to good works. People are not saved to sit around like a book on a shelf. We are saved unto good works, motivated by our gratitude for what God has done for us through Christ. Because we’re saved by grace, we’re not our own.

“A woman once said to me, “If I knew I was saved because of what I did, if I contributed to my salvation, then God couldn’t ask anything of me because I’d made a contribution. But if I’m saved by grace, sheer grace, then there’s nothing he cannot ask of me.” And that’s right. You’re not your own. You were bought with a price.”

Conclusion

You must avoid what distracts you from the Gospel.

Teaching Outline

Handling Distractions

You must avoid what distracts you from the Gospel, because you should be devoted to good works.

How do you avoid what distracts you from the Gospel?

You Must Know the Gospel (8)You Must Avoid Worthless Pursuits (9)You Must Confront Divisive People (10-11)

You can’t be devoted to good works if you are distracted by worthless pursuits and divisive people.