Titus 3:8-15

⁸ This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. 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 them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are 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 to provide for urgent needs 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.

1. Go after Good things – 8b – 

The last part of verse 8 tells us to go after what is good.  Recipients of grace are to be givers of good. Worship should lead to works where our salvation is expresses in acts of service. This idea of going after good things is the “basic message” of Titus. The expression “good works” occurs fourteen times in the letters to Timothy and Titus. One of the greatest ways we can share God is by doing good. The best exercise spiritually for a healthy heart is to bend down several times during the day and serve someone else. Peter pointed to this when he said in 1 Peter 2:12: “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” When teaching those with financial means in 1 Timothy 6:18, Paul challenged Christians not just to be rich in dollars but to be rich in deeds: “Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” If we want to cultivate a heart of harmony in the church, we need to champion Christ’s cause and make the goal doing good. When we stop sharing salvation story and go after what is good we end up become crabby Christians with critical spirits instead of cheerful ones. When we stop doing good it isn’t long before the griping and the grumbling starts. Third:

2. Avoid Arguments – 9

Titus is to go after good things and run away from foolish things. The NIV uses the word “avoid” while the New American Standard uses the word, “shun” meaning to turn your back and walk away from controversial conversations. Don’t entertain or engage in pointless arguments. It is important to note that this is in the imperative tense, meaning that it is a command, not a suggestion. Paul is not saying that we shouldn’t discuss or defend the truth. Rather, he is warning against “foolish” controversies. The word “foolish” here is where we get the word “moron” In short Paul is telling us to move away from moronic arguments, steer clear of stupidity. In the early church, there were those who manufactured myths centered on genealogies about angels. We need to be careful about this type of emphasis even today. Bestsellers hit the stores claiming that there are special codes and hidden meanings in the Bible that can predict the future. Other false teachers overemphasized aspects of the Old Testament law, arguing that certain things are “clean” while other are “unclean.” But we are not called to live under the law. Don’t get caught up in these foolish discussions that lead nowhere and have the potential to lead you astray. There are also those who just love to argue. They get off on getting under other people’s skin? Paul calls these people out and says that not only are these people foolish but we don’t have to follow them. If we are not careful we will waste a lot of time and energy arguing over things that in light of eternity are trivial while people around us are heading to hell. Don’t get caught up in petty and pointless arguments that take you away from stressing the salvation story or going after what is good.