The Importance of Pastors in Guarding the Church’s Missional Health

Titus and Discipleship - Sound Doctrine - Encouraged Healthy Living by Family Type Relationships - Driven by God’s Revealed Mercy in Christ

Titus 3:10-15

1. Protecting against Division

The similarities and differences to Matthew 18

Similarities - Process, Reconciliation, Self-condemnation

Sin - Not poor choice or a mistake - Analiesa

Differences - Not put to the opinion/authority of the church as a whole, More flexibility in exactly what’s needed

Truth and Tension

The practical ways we guard against abuse of authority as well as division - Church covenants and doctrinal statements

Church Councils

2. Providing Opportunities to Do Good

Missions

Urgent Needs

Laying down your life - bear fruit - John 15

This fall

3. Keeping the Priority on Welcome

(by example)

“I’m glad you're a part of this.”

3 John 9-10

Shame and Guilt vs Grace

How can you support your pastors in their responsibilities to guard the mission?

Don’t be divisive. Don’t shame others

Respond to opportunities to do good

Delight in welcoming others (especially those different than yourself)

A healthy church lives out the truths of the Gospel by building family relationships that talk about how to live out the mercy they have received by delighting in doing good.