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.

Which leads us to:

1. Deal with division – 10-11

Paul tells us to be decisive with devise people. While these words are strong they are necessary because we need to protect our fellowship from being fractured. Jesus said that the defining characteristic a watching world should see in every Christian is that we “love one another” (John 13:35). Unfortunately today the church is more defined by its division than its love. What would happen if the church started working together instead of waring with one another? In the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians Paul deals with the importance of unity saying that there should be no divisions in the church. Divisiveness in the church is not just dangerous it is damaging and can be deadly. The word “divisive” means, “to choose for oneself.” This individual is determined to do whatever they want instead of following Gods will. Paul’s remedy for this rebellious heart is the same pill prescribed by Jesus in Matthew 18:15-17. The purpose of these warnings is to be redemptive and restorative, this person is to be warned twice if necessary, with the hope that he will come back. If they don’t respond to restoration Paul says remove them, have nothing to do with them. We should not be timid with troublemakers that have turned from the truth. Confrontation is not comfortable, but we are not called to comfort we are called to obey Christ. Second Paul calls us to:  

1. Cultivate a Heart of Hard work 
2. Partner with people – 12  Don’t go it alone, loneranger

The phrase “do your best” is a command with a sense of urgency. He is asking Titus to do his utmost to come. To free him up Paul was planning to send one of two men to take over Titus tasks in Crete. Paul cared about people and Titus was probably warn down from the challenges of leading a church in a corrupt culture. So Paul calls him to come away and get refreshed. Sometimes we forget that pastors are people too. What Paul is doing is following the example set by Jesus who called his disciples to come away and get some rest after they were worn down and weary from ministering to people. Mark 6:31-32 we read that Jesus said “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile. 32 So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.” Its not wrong to rest, and this is not the only pastor Paul encouraged to come away, in 2 Timothy 4:21 he called Timothy to come and see him as well. Not only did Paul cared for people he loved to partner with people. Paul was not a lone ranger, in fact he mentions over 100 people by name in his letters. What about you, are you a team player, do you love people? Because according to Paul people are more important than programs. Paul does not tell the church to keep programs going but to keep friendships fresh. Sometimes churches can fall into the trap of loving their programs more than they love people. We need each other and not just important people but all people, Paul was friends with a doctor as well as a runaway slave. God uses notables and nobodies. It’s interesting that of the two men mentioned in Titus 3:12, one of them is well-known, and one is a mystery man. We don’t know anything about Artemas while Tychicus has a very impressive spiritual resume. 

Tychicus was a Courier who helped delivered Paul’s letters to some of the churches, he was Paul’s personal FedEx man. 

He was also a reporter, sharing with churches how Paul was doing as well as sharing with Paul how the church was going. 

He was an Encourager who built up other believers. Are you an encourager or discourager? Do you build others up or break them down? Do your words build trust or build walls? 

He was a Reliever, Scripture tells us that he went and gave Timothy a break in Ephesus (2 Timothy 4:12). Like a relief pitcher, he gave pastor Timothy a break. He wasn’t famous, but he was faithful. We need to team together because none of us have all the gifts on our own. Paul reminds us to not be lazy and not be lone rangers.