Titus 3_9:13

Secular:

Just as parent gives final directions before heading out…

• They tell the babysitter or eldest child
• No unapproved guests
• Remember to say prayers
• No fires, explosions, experiment, rough-housing
• No sugar after 8 pm
• Kids promptly to bed @ 9 pm
• Cell# on fridge
• Hospital and doctor’s info on the kitchen counter

o       Do not wreck the joint

• Be Good…
• Have a fun evening…

Biblical:

Titus 3:9-15 - 9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless. 10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned. 12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. 14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Personal:

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Bridge:

• .Paul loved the Church and passionately pleas for it to be healthy and productive
• Christ loves the church enough that he laid down his life for her
• .God loves the church, and hopes and prays that his children will be drawn into a loving relationship with him…
• .That is why Paul call us to be:
• One Big Happy Family
• Remember to WATCH!!

Body:

Watch for False Teachers

Watch for Divisive People

Watch for Service Opportunities

Watch the Family Grow in Love and Faith

1)      Watch for False Teachers

v.9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.

• Legalism… versus true faith.
•  **The extras vs. essentials
• Gal 2:3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
•  1) Foolish Controversies
• BASED ON HUMAN WISDOM
• NOT ON GOD’S WORD
•  2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16 Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17 Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus,
• 2) Genealogies – Charter members
• Priesthood of all-believers
• 3) Arguments / Strife – self-centred rivalry
•  4) Law, Mosaic Law – disputes and quarrels
• Responsibility
• Same God
• Same Grace
• Different Manifestation

Watch for False Teachers

2)      Watch for Divisive People

v.10 Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. 11 You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

• Do not be divisive
• 2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
• 1 Corinthians 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
•  Not only do you have to be true… you must not be divisive (Word of God is not divisive… self centred appeals… self centred exegesis… can be).
•  Divide and conquer
• Luke 11:17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: "Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall
•  Non-divisive… fruit of Spirit
• Gal 5:22 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. Therefore:
• Living in the Spirit is unifying… not divisive
• Living in the Spirit is not Self interested
• No envy… provoking  (love, peace,  gentleness)
• No Evidence = No Faith
• We do not have faith because of works or evidence
• We have evidence because of our faith
• WARPED – cooked, displeasing, flawed
• Sinful – Bearing sin… apart from God / Warning
• Self-Condemned – Gives evidence alright

WATCH FOR DIVISIVE PEOPLE

3)      Watch for Service Opportunities

v.12 As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. 13 Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.

• Big Happy Family
• Work together
• Send Help
• Go Help
•  Support w/i & w/o local body
•  Stay Connected
•  Tychicus – Col 4:7 Tychicus will tell you all the news about me. He is a dear brother, a faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord.
• Those who serve encouraged, supported
• Mutual support and care always characterize especial leadership

WATCH FOR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES

4)      Watch the Family Grow in Love and Faith

v.14 Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives. 15 Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

• Okay our people… must devote themselves to…
• Good deeds
• Salt
• Witness
• Body-builders
•  Basic needs… not just emergency aid!
•  Be productive
• … make an impact
• …be a  Family Man
• …be a Family Woman
•  Self interested, shy, muted, contained faith… is suspect… Unproductive
• BE  PART OF A HAPPY FAMILY
• BE Productive
• Share
• Grow
• Love
• Encourage
• Everyone sends greetings… it is like that Telephone Company commercial that tugs on our heart strings…
• Inclusive of all to all…
• Greetings to the family that is striving
• Same heavenly Father
• Same inheritance
• Same Vocab…
• Same Values, beliefs, traditions
• ONE FAMILY… ONE FAITH!!

Conclusion:

Watch for False Teachers

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Watch for Divisive People

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Watch for Service Opportunities

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Watch the Family Grow in Love and Faith

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