Our Fruitful Ministry of Grace

Series Wrap Up

Opening illustration/ Introduction:

What is a word and concept that has come up over and over again throughout our study of Titus?

Grace! Grace is to be our priority and motivation for life!

You might say.... yep we’ve heard a lot about grace. Can’t you preach on something else?

I would challenge your thinking with this statement. There is nothing else to preach but grace!

There are many other topics that we could preach on related to our obligations, relationships, and personal character as believers, but what we should understand as we look at how this Epistle to Titus is organized is that every situation we find ourselves in, whether in the church or on the street… find their proper context and motivation in our understanding of Grace.

Grace is foundational to our understanding of who we are as Christians as well as what motivates us to life our lives for Christ!

This year the elders and I were led to focus our attention on helping our church to grow in several key areas:

Understanding of God’s character

The importance of spiritual disciplines (“what accords with sound doctrine”— Bible study/ meditation on the Word)

Understanding of Salvation

The importance of living with an eternal perspective

Properly applying biblical conflict resolution

All of these things are important… and we plan to help you grow in all of these areas this year. But, more importantly than working on any of these things.... is our understanding of Grace. For when we clearly see and embrace grace..... we gain the motivation needed to grow in these 5 areas.... and more.

This point is driven home by the Apostle Paul has he finishes his letter to Titus.

Titus 3:14 ESV

And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

Verse 14 is a reminder of the commands given that are related to our obligations, relationships, and personal character. Paul reflects these concerns in his last words here.

He is charging those in the church to care for others (v. 12, 13) and reminds us of our duties (v. 14) as members of the body.

Chapter 1: what were the main ideas of chapter 1?

Chapter 2: What were the main ideas of chapter 2?

Chapter 3: What were the main ideas of chapter 3?

notes about verses 14 and 15

vs. 14 —

Let = present active imperative

Learn = present active imperative

14) and let our people learn

What are they to learn? —> to devote themselves to good works

Why?—> so as to help cases of urgent need… and not be unfruitful

Unfruitful= Descriptive picture of a mountain on which nothing grows

————————

Paul ends his letter with a challenge to Titus, the other elders on Crete and all of the people to whom they ministered…… All of them were to learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs…

Notice Paul does not say… Titus… or even Titus and the elders to learn these things….

Like throughout this whole letter, Paul directs his focus to the body… to those in the church….

What does he say in verse 14? “And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.”

It is not possible for a pastor, or even a team of pastors in a church, to meet all of the many pressing needs of a congregation.

Not only is there not enough time for one man to do it all, but other believers in the church more than likely have spiritual gifts and abilities that the pastor does not have.

God has gifted each one of you with certain gifts through which certain good deeds can be accomplished and certain pressing needs of fellow believers can be met by you!

Verse 14 is kind of like taking Ephesians 4:11-16 and summarizing it in one verse. (read Ephesians 4:11-16)

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

As every member of the body lives out sound doctrine… illustrated by their good works…. highlighting the gospel…. a harmonious, loving, and serving church will also become a beacon of hope and grace to the world…. attracting unbelievers to the light of salvation through trust in Christ.

Application/ Conclusion:

Paul shares his own relational greetings (v. 15a) and then ends with these final words.

Grace be with you all (15b).

The implications of Paul’s message are meant to echo in the hearts of Christians throughout the ages.

Grace be with you all.

Grace says it all.....

It is the message that I want to leave with you today as well. My hope and prayer for WellSpring Bible Church is that the priority of our ministry will be to forever proclaim and live out in the lives of God’s people this message:

God’s grace is absolutely amazing.... and yes… it is totally worth it!