August 12, 2007
Roger Kindschi- Director of Equipping Ministries
Scripture : Titus 3: 4-10

Learning from Paul’s Message to Titus

The last time I preached – between worship services – I asked God for direction and wisdom relating to what I should be preaching about the next time I am in the pulpit.

It was very clear that I should preach about the book of Titus but I had no idea why and I did not know what Titus was about. So I spent some time reading Titus and discovered a message from God in the third chapter of Titus, verses 4 -10 along with additional truths for all of us to discover for the first time or as a reminder. Lets first take a look at this morning’s scripture lesson and then to see what Paul wrote to Titus and to us.

Titus 3: 4-10 – Read the Scripture

What struck me about these verses is that God wants us to trust in Him, devote ourselves in doing good, and to devote ourselves to the teachings of Jesus Christ

Paul also told Titus not to get involved in foolish discussions - these things are useless and a waste of time. Paul also wrote “if people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing to do with them.”

After reading and pondering on Paul’s words, I thought about all of the theological fighting I have experienced as a United Methodist with pastors and leaders over the last 20 years relating to homosexuality and more importantly - Biblical truths as proclaimed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It became very clear that I can no longer spend my time and energy disagreeing with clergy and other Christian leaders who hold major conflicting Biblical beliefs but to spend my time, energy and ministry with clergy and laity who hold theological beliefs as proclaimed by Jesus Christ, the apostles, early church leaders, John Wesley and other evangelicals. I am also interested is spending time with Christians who will challenge me, encourage me, guide me, love me, and hold me accountable.

It is time for me to become serious and intentional about :

• Proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ;
• Sharing my Christian testimonies;
• Leading people to Jesus Christ;
• Developing small group ministries;
• Developing & equipping disciple-making ministry teams, and
• Developing and leading a ministry of training and equipping Christians as missionaries in their schools, neighborhoods and workplace.
• Participating in a small group ministry
• Intentional about helping others
• Spending time with God daily in prayer, study of the Scriptures, listening to God and doing what God is calling us to be doing
• Sharing my Christian testimony
• Offering Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit leads me
• Disciple new Christians

Let’s now take a look at the epistle written by Paul to Titus and to us.
Paul is known for his extensive ministry travels, his powerful preaching and teaching, and his courageous witness for Christ. Undoubtedly most Christians today would characterize him as a hard-line champion of the truth, who rejected compromise and accepted no excuses.

We must also remember that Paul was a loving, compassionate man. He genuinely cared for people and built many solid relationships wherever he traveled. In fact, Paul concluded most of his letters with personal greetings to close friends and fellow ministers.

The Pastoral Letters (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus) testify to Paul’s tender loving nature. Paul considered Timothy and Titus to be his “sons” in faith, and treated them as such, leading, mentoring, guiding, and counseling them in their ministry and personal lives.

Paul addressed this letter, “To Titus, my true son in our common faith”. We don’t know the circumstances of Titus’s conversion to Christ and he is not mentioned in Acts – but Titus probably came to faith under Paul’s ministry.

Titus’s faith must have been strong, for Paul presented him to church leaders in Jerusalem as a prime example of a Gentile convert worthy of acceptance by the church. Titus became Paul’s key troubleshooter. First Paul sent him to the church at Corinth , an undisciplined and struggling body of believers in a pagan environment. Titus’s first assignment was to resolve the tensions between Paul and the Corinthians, something that Timothy had been unable to do. Titus was so successful there that Paul sent him back to collect money from the Corinthians for the church in Jerusalem . Here, in the letter to Titus, we find that Paul had sent Titus to Crete , an area known for violence and immorality. Titus task was to “straighten out what was left unfinished”

The purpose of this letter was to bolster Titus’s authority as Paul’s apostolic representative in Crete and to give Titus clear instructions about each aspect of his work in the churches there.

Titus was not a pastor of a single congregation on Crete , nor was he the leader or “bishop” of the churches there. Titus was Paul’s representative, with apostolic authority to preach, teach, and organize the churches. This letter from Paul surely would bolster his authority to make the necessary changes.

The most important task given to Titus was to instruct and organize the churches on the island. Cretans had the earned reputation of being lazy and immoral; therefore, sound theology and church discipline were imperative. Already Judaizers were influencing many with their false teachings. These divisive individuals needed to be stopped. Because people seemed to be easily swayed and turned from the truth, each church needed dedicated and spiritual leaders.

Although this letter is addressed to an individual – Titus, Paul also meant for it to be helpful for the churches in Crete and for us today.

The Message of the Epistle of Titus:

Titus 1:5-16 – Character

Paul had left Titus in Crete to “straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town”. So Paul gave Titus a list of qualities for “elders” or “overseers.” These church leaders must be of the highest character, as evidenced by:

• A strong family life
• And a good reputation in the community.

They also must be:

• Firmly grounded in their faith and
• Able to teach others.

These qualifications were important because of the sinful world surrounding the church and because of the potential for heresy and divisions within the church. As Paul’s representative, with apostolic authority, Titus was to make sure that church leaders exhibited strong moral character and spiritual maturity.

This is also important for us today. Churches need leaders who are totally committed to Jesus Christ and who are living the way God wants them to live. It is not enough to be educated, have special abilities and gifts, or to have a loyal following to be Christ’s kind of leader. Church leaders must have self-control, spiritual and moral fitness, and Christian character. God wants Christians to Aspire to leadership in his church, but they must be the right kind of leaders. Who you are is more important than what you can do.

Titus 2:1-10, 15; 3:9-11 – Church Relationships

Part of Titus’s responsibility during his stay on Crete was to teach believers how they should act in the world and with each other. Paul encouraged Titus to teach with integrity and seriousness and to set a good example for all the believers, especially the new church leaders. Paul emphasized the importance of sound doctrine, and he told Titus to rebuke all who would steer believers astray. Paul explained to Titus how his teaching should relate to the various groups in the church.

• Older Christians should teach younger men and women and be good examples to them.
• Young people should be self-controlled,
• Slaves should be trustworthy
• People of every age and group have a lesson and role to play in the church, and all should be positive witnesses for Christ in the world.

This is also important for us today. Christian’s who truly believe, should live out what the Bible teaches in their relationships. A local church is a collection of old, young, male, female, rich, and poor, so a church in which believers love each other and get along will draw people to Christ. Pride and self-indulgence can divide any church, but the antidote is submission to Christ and to each other, as well as self-control. Treat our relationships with other believers as an out growth of our faith and part of witness to the world.

Titus 3:3-8; 12-15 – A Good life
Paul reminded Titus that before trusting Christ they had been disobedient to God and enslaved to sin, but Christ had transformed them. The gospel message is that a person is saved by grace through faith, not by living a good life. But the gospel changes people’s lives, so that they eventually perform good deeds and become totally devoted to serving others.
This is also important for us today. A good life is a witness to the gospel’s power. Christians must have commitment and discipline to serve. When we remember what Christ has done for us, we will be motivated to share his love with others.

Titus 2:11- 3:2 - Citizenship
Paul told Titus to instruct believers that how they live outside the church was very important. Christians must say YES to God and NO to ungodly living in the world. Believers also should be good citizens in society, obeying the government and working honestly.

This is also important for us today.
How a Christian fulfills his or her duties is a witness to the watching world. A believer’s community life should reflect Christ’s love as much as his or her church life does. Our neighbors should know that we are a faithful church member and a good citizen.

Conclusion - Titus 3: 4- 8