Last Words to Titus
Titus 3:9-15
Jefferson M. Williams
Chenoa Baptist Church
03-28-2021
Forest
I love the way that Forrest Gump told stories. As he experienced the fantastic events, he would describe them so matter of fact that people thought he was making things up.
But when he came to the end of the stories, especially the hard parts, he would say, “That’s all of I have to say about that.”
Well, that’s where we are with our Titus sermon series. We have come to our last sermon and Paul is going to tie up the whole letter by saying that’s all I have to say about that concerning false teachers, divisive people in the church, his team, and their faithful friends.
Turn to Titus 3.
Prayer
Last Words to the False Teachers
Throughout the letter, Paul has warned Titus about false teachers. If you remember, Paul didn’t mince words when describing them and the effect they had on these baby Christians:
They are insubordinate, empty talkers, deceivers, they upset whole house holds, teaching what they ought not to teach, for personal profit, liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons, who focus on Jewish myths and rules made by man, their minds and consciences are corrupt and defiled. They deny God by their deeds. They are detestable, disobedient, and unfit.
Paul tells Titus to silence them, literally to muzzle them and to rebuke them sharply. Titus is to have a zero tolerance policy toward these false teachers.
In these verses Paul directs Titus:
“But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.” (v. 9)
Paul writes similar words to Timothy:
“As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.” (I Tim 1:3-4)
And
“Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.” (I Tim 4:7)
And
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” (2 Tim 2:23-24)
Paul lists four things that Titus, as a leader, should steer clear of as he puts things in right order in the churches on Crete.
Foolish controversies
Controversies are not always bad and many times they help to clarify what we believe. Paul was controversial and Jesus was as well.
In the 4th century, a theologian named Arius started teaching that Jesus had a created, finite nature rather than equal divinity with God the Father.
Theologians from all over the world converged in Nicaea in 325 to debate Arius’ ideas. He was condemned as a heretic and they produced what we now know as the Nicene Creed, that begins:
“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth, of things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the begotten of God the Father, the Only-begotten, that is of the essence of the Father.
God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten and not made; of the very same nature of the Father, by Whom all things came into being, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.”
But the Greek word for “foolish” is where we get our English word “moron.” Titus is not to engage in moronic debates with these false teachers over things that are not important.
Genealogies
There are many genealogies in the Bible, and most of you skip them. Is Paul saying we shouldn’t read the “begats” sections of Scripture?
Not at all. The false teachers would take these lists and invent wild allegorical interpretations from the names, especially names we know almost nothing about.
When the Apostles died, much like today, wild conspiracy theories circulated through the church and these baby Christians could be led astray by the false teachers.
Titus is not to engage the false teachers about these wild theories.
Arguments
Your translation may have the word “strife.” This is someone who is always stirring up conflict and trouble.
Paul wrote to Timothy about these people:
“If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between people of corrupt mind…” (I Tim 4:6)
There are some people who simply love to argue. They love the fight. They don’t want to debate or learn.
Someone recently post on Twitter:
When I try to have a debate on Twitter, I get some negative comments but a lot of people will take up then challenge.
When I try to debate of FaceBook, people threaten to burn my house down. Religious people love to ague over issues the don’t matter.
Quarrels about the law
Remember, that the many of the false teachers were telling the new Cretan Christians that you had to put your faith in Jesus and follow the Mosaic law, the dietary rules, and especially, circumcision.
They argued endlessly about the law. Paul described them to Timothy:
“Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” (I Tim 1:6-7)
Titus was to completely avoid these disagreements. He was focus on keeping the main thing the main thing - identifying and training leaders, discipling the young Christians and teaching them how to live out their faith in a pagan society.
Paul describes all of this as “unprofitable and useless.” By contrast, in verse eight, Paul writes that the good deeds done by the “Cretan were excellent and profitable for everyone.”
Paul told Titus to “avoid” them. This is a command and a solemn warning. This means to shun, to treat someone with indifference, to turn around and walk away.
I have a pastor friend who got a call recently asking to meet with him about the church. He was so excited because they were moving to the area and he thought that they wanted to “kick the tires” of his little church.
Unfortunately, he was wrong. For two hours, this individual listed multiples ways my pastor friend was going to hell and leading his people astray. When he would try to challenge him, this man would get very loud and arrogantly declare that he was right.
This was an example of something my father-in-law taught me - you can not be rational with irrational people. My friend is young and didn’t know how to handle it. I told him that he spent about 1:55 minutes longer with that guy than I would have.
Titus has a daunting challenge in the island of Crete and he simply cannot get sidetracked by engaging in every argument these false teachers want to have.
Last Words to a Divisive Person
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” (v. 10-11)
Unity is vitally important to Paul and he warms Titus not to let anyone get in the way of what God’s wants to do in the churches.
This week a cargo ship got stuck, completely blocking the Suez Canal. They have worked around the clock to get it freed because so many ships are now sitting dead in the water waiting to go through.
We can’s allow anything or anyone to block the unity and the work of the Holy Spirit in our churches.
First, Titus is to avoid the false teachers. Second, Paul commands Titus to warn a divisive person. This word is where get our English word for “heretic.”
But heretic means something now that it did then. Back then, it simply meant to choose or prefer. It conveys the idea of choosing a teaching that was contrary to sound doctrine.
Let’s start with what a divisive person is not.
A divisive person is not a person that asks a lot of questions. I’ve said it again and again - there are no dumb questions except to question the genius of Barry Manilow.
A divisive person is not someone who doesn’t like the pastor or the leadership. When I became a pastor, I knew that not everyone would like me. If I wanted everyone to like me, I would sell ice cream.
A divisive person is an unsettler of others. They build their coalitions. They have conversations in the parking lot. They try to recruit people to their side. This is done without regret or shame.
Sometimes division is inevitable.
Bryan Chapell gives us the difference between someone needing to divide and loving to divide.
“The difference is usually observable. The person who loves the peace and unity of the church may be forced into division, but it not his character. He enters arguments regrettably and infrequently. When forced to argue, he remains fair, truthful, and loving in his responses. He grieves to have to disagree with a brother.
Those who are divisive by nature lust for the fray, incite its onset, and delight in being able to conquer another person. For them victory means everything.
So in an argument they twist words, calls names, threaten, manipulate…and attempt to extend the debate as long as possible…”
These are the type of people that come to pastors and leaders and say, “People are saying…” If you say this to me, this will be my automatic response, “Do you have a mouse in your pocket? What people? I need their names and phone numbers right now. Let’s FaceTime them in to this conversation.”
Paul directs Titus to “warn” the divisive person.
He said the same thing to the believers in Rome:
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.” (Romans 16:16-17)
I love Paul’s attitude toward these individuals. Warn them once and then warn them again. Pursue them. Try to reason with them. Do it with gentleness and humility.
"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” (Gal 6:1-2)
If they refused to listen, if they double down on their divisive attitude, then Paul is clear - have nothing to do with him.
A pastor taught me something when I was new in the ministry - there are two kinds of people in the church. Those that row the boat and those that rock the boat. Sometimes, as a pastor, my job is to simply say, “Either grab an oar, or get off the boat!”
Paul describes them as “warped” which means to turn inside out and sinful. Paul apparently made up a word to identify these people - self-condemned.
I’m in a cohort of pastors and this past week a young pastor posted a request for prayer. One of his deacons is on a “warpath” against him. He feels that the young pastor is “too focused on evangelism.” He had been recruiting others, talking behind the pastors back, and refuses to listen to reason.
What would you do? Paul gives us step-by-step directions in Matthew 18 that is known as church discipline.
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” (Matt 18:15-17)
Notice the similarities with Titus.
Go first to them privately. Do not talk to anyone else about it.
If they will not listen to you, then continuing praying and take a couple of other leaders with you. This is done with humility and gentleness, seeking to restore the person.
If they still refuse to change their mind, Jesus says to “tell it to the church.” Some people interpret this as involved the whole leadership team and others as a special announcement to the church to fast and pray for this individual.
If they are unrepentant, then the church is to “treat them as a pagan or a tax collector.” What is to be our attitude toward pagans and tax collectors? We are to love them and try to win them back.
I’ve been a part of this process multiple times. It’s always messy and sad. Several individuals simply resigned their membership. Others wanted to fight to the last round.
There was a man in our church that was committing adultery. The pastor went to him and confronted him in love and tears. His response was devastating. He didn’t care.
Next, the pastor took two other leaders with him, and again asked him to repent to go back to his family. Again, he refused.
But, instead of resigning his membership, he basically dared the leadership to do church discipline on him. It was taken to the church and his membership was revoked and the church was asked to pray specifically and diligently for him.
About a year later, that man stood on the stage in a service and asked the church’s forgiveness and thanked the leadership for doing what was right. He was fully restored.
One commentator wrote: “When church discipline leaves the church, Christ goes with it.”
Mark Dever lists church discipline as one of the nine marks of a healthy church.
Tony Evans wrote:
“A church that does not practice church disciple of its members is not functioning properly as a church, just as a family that does not discipline is not a fully, healthy, functioning family.”
Why do churches shy away from church discipline in this day and age?
Pastor David Platt lists three reasons why church discipline isn’t practiced in modern churches, even when there is blatant divisiveness, false teaching, or sexual immorality.
We have lost our theological nerve, the courage to confront as well as comfort, to admonish as well as exhort. Out of fear of offending, we have slunk away into the false security of silence.
We have been overcome by moral compromise. Our churches look and act so much like the world we would hardly know where to begin in we did restore church discipline.
We are simply and sadly Biblically illiterate. Most church members do not know their Bible well enough to understand in or support the leadership in church discipline.
Each week of this series, I’ve shown a clip of modern day teachers that would give the Cretan false teachers a run for their money.
Here’s an example of church discipline done wrong…so wrong!
[YouTube - Steve Anderson]
Last Words to the Team
“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.(Titus 3:12)
Paul wasn’t a lone ranger Christian or minister. He had a team that he was the leader of and he sent these young men to the places where he had planted churches based on their gifts and the churches needs.
Paul mentions individuals by name as he comes to the end of his letters. Yes, he was one of the world’s greatest theologians but he didn’t have his head in the clouds. He did ministry with others and had personal relationships with people through the church.
Paul is going to send either Artemas or Tychicus to replace Titus on Crete. We know nothing about Artemas but Tychicus should sound familiar to you.
Tychicus is mentioned several times in the Bible and was described as Paul’s traveling companion (Acts 20:4), dear brother, fellow minister (Col 4:7) and faithful servant of the Lord (Eph 6:21), and personal representative of Paul, delivering the letters of Ephesians and Colossians (2 Tim 4:12)
Paul decided to sent Tychicus to replace Timothy in Ephesus and Artemis replaced Titus in Crete.
The Cretan leadership wasn’t strong enough to lead on their own yet so Artemis would continue Titus’ work of identifying and equipping leaders, teaching the Christians on Crete to live Godly lives in a pagan society, and rebuking false teachers.
Titus was only there for a season, which is normal for pastors. Some pastors stay at one church for 50 years like John MacArthur at Grace Community in California. The pastor of the church Maxine and I attended in Philadelphia, Mississippi from 1995-1998 is still there.
Other pastors stay for a shorter season and that’s okay because, in the end, we are all just associate pastor’s to the Lead Shepherd of our souls.
But Titus did make an impact on the island of Crete, so much so that you can visit a shrine and view his skull even today!
Paul needs Titus to come to him in Nicopolis, which was about a ten days journey on the western coast of Achia in Greece. The winters were harsh there and Paul had decided to play it safe and spend the winter there before moving on.
Titus did make it to Nicopolis and then Paul sent him into the region of Dalmatia, which is modern day Croatia, to ministry to the churches there.
When I first came to CBC one of things that was apparent from the beginning was that the deacons were absolutely exhausted. They were doing a great job but they were doing it alone. I was amazed that teams were not a part of the culture here.
We are not meant to do ministry alone. In fact, I say to the deacons all the time, “You are not responsible for doing _______, you are responsible for making sure it gets done.”
Over the past year, we have been building team and each deacon now has a team that has goals and are working on projects together.
I’ve put this up before, but I’d like to do it again, and ask which team are currently serving on? This church is way too small and we have way too much to do for anyone to just sit and soak.
[Slide of Deacon Team]
Paul continues:
“Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need.” (Titus 3:13)
It’s apparent that Zenas the lawyer and Apollos delivered the letter to Titus to the church on Crete. We know nothing about Zenas but Apollos was a gifted preacher and theologian.
The church is to put their money where their mouth is help these two “on their way.” One of the ways we mature in the Christian life is by committing to the support of Kingdom work.
They are to make sure that they have everything that Zenas and Apollos need for their journey to their next destination. This word literally means to go part of the way with someone on a journey. Metaphorically, it means to provide food, clothing, shelter, provisions, money, and what ever else these two missionaries need. They are to do this earnestly and diligently.
I’m grateful for the missions team that is so diligent in making sure the missionaries we support are taken care of and have all they need.
When it comes to missions, there are only three options - go, send, or sin.
We support four different missionaries or organizations:
Project Nehemiah - Rod and Laura K
Hope Pregnancy Center in Pontiac
The D’s in an Asian country
Dan and Christie Ucherek in Mexico
I would like to encourage you to put these individuals on your refrigerator and pray for them daily. Email them or write them letters.
I would like to also take this opportunity to make a BIG announcement.
Mexico 2022! We will be taking a team to work with Dan and Christie next year. Maybe you will go with us. Maybe you will help send us and support us. But we will do it as a church, as a team.
Last words to Faithful Friends
“Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.” ( Titus 3:14-15)
I love that Paul ends with “our people.” Paul is one of them. He’s not some removed apostle on high. He loves the people of this church.
The word learn means “intentional learning by inquiry and obedience.” In other words, discipleship! How do you learn to do good works? By watching and following the example of others.
They are to devote themselves, meaning this should be a constant pattern on their lifestyle.
Paul talks about good deeds six times in 46 verses. It is the theme of Titus. Our doctrine leads to duty, our belief affects our behavior, our orthodoxy is not real without orthopraxy.
What are the good deeds here? They are to provide for urgent needs. This applies to Zenas and Apollos but also to the needs they saw around them every day.
Can I continue to encourage you to simply See the Need and Meet the Needs here in the church and in our community?
Paul has said that the false teaching is unprofitable and useless (v.9). But the Christian of Crete were to live productive lives, meeting needs, doing good works, ministering to those around them, and living out their faith with passion in a pagan society.
Paul sends greetings from his friends and ministry team in Nicopolis to Titus in Crete. He is not alone. He has friends praying for him and supporting him.
How is all the things that Paul has directed Titus to do going to be accomplished? Through Titus’ giftedness? Through his hard work? Through his association with Paul?
No. Only through grace can Titus accomplish what God wants him to on Crete. Only by grace can the Christians live out their new found faith in a pagan society. Paul ends, “grace be with you all.” And that’s where we end today.
Here are five lessons from Titus that I hope you have understood and can apply:
1. We are to be devoted to doing good deeds in a dark world.
2. Our belief should affect our behavior. We live out what we say e believe.
3. We need to be aware of false teachers and avoid their foolish controversies.
4. There is hope for the hopeless. If Christ can save Paul, and me, he can change you.
5. We are to do church together as a team and support those who do kingdom work across the globe. ?
We have come to the end of another book. In the time since I came to CBC, we’ve gone through five books of the Bible verse-by-verse - Habakkuk, Jonah, Esther, Galatians, and Titus.
Our next sermon series will be on the life of Joseph.
Why do we do this? Because God’s Word changes our hearts from the inside out.
Because it is within these Scriptures that we find the Good News that Jesus died in our place on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin. But He didn’t stay dead! And that’s what we will celebrate next week!
Ending Video: Easter Invite
