Staying Focused on Our Mission: Paul's Guidance
Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the Apostle Paul's letter to Titus, focusing on the importance of keeping the main thing, the main thing. We began by acknowledging the diverse perspectives within our congregation. Some of you may feel that Paul's words are harsh, while others might find them invigorating. Regardless of where you stand, this message is for you. Paul is serious, not harsh, because he understands the gravity of the church's mission. He knows that if we get distracted, we could miss out on something wonderful. The global church will always prevail, but local churches can falter if they lose focus.
We then transitioned to the text in Titus 3:9-15, where Paul instructs us to avoid foolish controversies and divisive behavior. These distractions are unprofitable and worthless. Paul emphasizes that our time and energy are precious commodities that should be spent on loving our neighbors and doing good works, not on trivial matters. He warns that division can destroy the mission of the church. Paul is serious about this because he knows that a divided church repels an outside world that is already skeptical.
Paul's letter to Titus serves as a rope to guide us through the disorienting snow of culture, controversies, and distractions. He gives us clear instructions on how to keep the main thing, the main thing. He tells us to avoid foolish controversies, steer clear of division, and practice what we preach. Paul is not just giving us theoretical advice; he is living it out. He unifies with others in his gospel efforts, showing us that it is possible to work together despite differences.
We also touched on the importance of living an integrated life. Paul calls us to integrate our faith with our actions, to be professional do-gooders. This means doing everything with gospel intentionality, whether it's going to the grocery store or spending time with family. Our actions should make the truth about God attractive to a watching world.
Paul's message is not just for the first-century church in Crete; it is for us today. He wants us to see people come from death to life, lost people be found, and broken things restored. This is the beautiful mission of the church, and it requires us to stay focused and unified.
In conclusion, Paul's letter to Titus is a call to action. It is a reminder that we have a significant role to play in God's mission. By avoiding distractions, staying unified, and living out our faith, we can be a part of something beautiful. We can see dead things come to life, lost people found, and broken things restored. This is our mission, and it is worth taking seriously.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Focus: Paul emphasizes the need to keep the main thing, the main thing. Distractions can lead us astray and cause us to miss out on the wonderful things God has in store for us. By staying focused on the mission, we can see people come from death to life, lost people be found, and broken things restored. [29:36]
2. Avoiding Foolish Controversies: Paul instructs us to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law. These are unprofitable and worthless distractions that consume our precious time and energy. Instead, we should focus on loving our neighbors and doing good works. [42:18]
3. The Danger of Division: Division within the church can destroy its mission. Paul warns us to stay clear of divisive behavior and gossip. A divided church repels an outside world that is already skeptical. Unity is essential for the church to fulfill its mission effectively. [45:07]
4. Living an Integrated Life: Paul calls us to integrate our faith with our actions. This means doing everything with gospel intentionality. Our actions should reflect our beliefs and make the truth about God attractive to a watching world. This integration is essential for living a life of integrity. [39:29]
5. Practicing What We Preach: Paul not only gives us instructions but also lives them out. He unifies with others in his gospel efforts, showing us that it is possible to work together despite differences. By practicing what we preach, we can be a part of something beautiful and see God's mission fulfilled. [52:06]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:35] - Introduction to Titus
[25:37] - Reading the Passage
[26:41] - Avoid Foolish Controversies
[28:16] - Addressing Different Perspectives
[29:36] - The Importance of Focus
[30:31] - The Stakes for the Local Church
[31:22] - The Mission of the Church
[32:09] - The Cobra Kai Conundrum
[33:32] - Nana's Story of Being Lost
[34:57] - Paul's Rope to Us
[36:32] - Living an Integrated Life
[38:00] - Adorning the Doctrine of God
[39:29] - Gospel Intentionality
[40:53] - Avoiding Division
[42:18] - Unprofitable Distractions
[43:39] - The Value of Time and Energy
[45:07] - The Danger of Division
[46:28] - Personal Experiences with Division
[50:36] - The Beauty of God's Creation
[52:06] - Practicing What We Preach
[53:26] - Unity in Gospel Efforts
[54:55] - Paul's Response to Division
[56:17] - Imagining a Unified Church
[57:47] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Titus 3:9-15
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific types of controversies and behaviors does Paul instruct us to avoid in Titus 3:9? ([26:41])
2. According to the sermon, why does Paul take such a serious stance on avoiding division within the church? ([29:36])
3. How does Paul suggest we should handle a person who stirs up division repeatedly? ([26:41])
4. What does Paul mean by living an integrated life, as mentioned in the sermon? ([36:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Paul emphasizes the importance of avoiding foolish controversies. Why might these be particularly harmful to the mission of the church? ([42:18])
2. How does Paul’s instruction to avoid divisive people align with the overall mission of the church? Is this approach too harsh or necessary? ([45:07])
3. The sermon mentions that Paul’s letter serves as a "rope" to guide us through cultural distractions. How can this metaphor help us understand the importance of staying focused on the main mission? ([33:32])
4. Reflecting on the pastor’s story about his friends leaving ministry due to church politics, how does this illustrate Paul’s warning about division? ([46:28])
#### Application Questions
1. Paul warns against foolish controversies and unprofitable discussions. Reflect on your own life: Are there any trivial matters that consume your time and energy? How can you refocus on more meaningful activities? ([42:18])
2. To avoid stirring up division is not the same thing as blindly following leadership in every decision. How can we be informed and thoughtful churchgoers who keep leadership accountable without being divisive? ([45:07])
3. Verse 10 warns against a person who stirs up division. Immediately, we all assume this applies to some other troublemaker in the church, but maybe we are one who stirs up division. How would you recognize if you were stirring up division? ([45:07])
4. Paul calls us to live an integrated life, where our faith and actions align. Identify one area in your daily routine where you can practice gospel intentionality. How will you implement this change? ([39:29])
5. The sermon highlighted the importance of unity in the church. Think of a recent disagreement or conflict you’ve had within the church. How can you approach this situation to promote unity rather than division? ([46:28])
6. Paul’s letter to Titus is a call to action. What is one specific way you can contribute to the mission of the church this week, whether through good works, loving your neighbor, or another form of service? ([31:22])
7. Reflect on the idea of being a "professional do-gooder." What is one practical step you can take this week to integrate your faith with your actions in a way that makes the truth about God attractive to others? ([39:29])
Devotional
Day 1: The Importance of Focus
Paul emphasizes the need to keep the main thing, the main thing. Distractions can lead us astray and cause us to miss out on the wonderful things God has in store for us. By staying focused on the mission, we can see people come from death to life, lost people be found, and broken things restored. Paul understands the gravity of the church's mission and the importance of not getting sidetracked by trivial matters. He knows that the global church will always prevail, but local churches can falter if they lose focus. This is why he urges us to stay committed to the core mission of loving our neighbors and doing good works.
Paul's letter to Titus serves as a guide to help us navigate through the distractions and controversies that can easily divert our attention. He instructs us to avoid foolish controversies and divisive behavior, as these are unprofitable and worthless. Our time and energy are precious commodities that should be spent on meaningful actions that reflect our faith. By keeping our focus on the main thing, we can be a part of something beautiful and see God's mission fulfilled in our lives and communities. [29:36]
Titus 3:8-9 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people. But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless."
Reflection: What are some distractions in your life that are pulling you away from your main mission? How can you refocus your time and energy on what truly matters?
Day 2: Avoiding Foolish Controversies
Paul instructs us to avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law. These are unprofitable and worthless distractions that consume our precious time and energy. Instead, we should focus on loving our neighbors and doing good works. Paul is clear that engaging in these trivial matters does not contribute to the mission of the church and can even hinder it. By avoiding these distractions, we can better allocate our resources towards actions that have a positive impact on our community and reflect the love of Christ.
Paul's advice is practical and relevant for us today. In a world filled with endless debates and controversies, it is easy to get caught up in arguments that lead nowhere. These distractions can drain our energy and divert our attention from what truly matters. By choosing to focus on loving our neighbors and doing good works, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of those around us and advance the mission of the church. [42:18]
2 Timothy 2:23-24 (ESV): "Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil."
Reflection: Are there any ongoing controversies or debates in your life that are consuming your time and energy? How can you shift your focus towards actions that reflect love and kindness?
Day 3: The Danger of Division
Division within the church can destroy its mission. Paul warns us to stay clear of divisive behavior and gossip. A divided church repels an outside world that is already skeptical. Unity is essential for the church to fulfill its mission effectively. Paul understands that a church torn apart by internal conflicts cannot effectively reach out to a world in need of the gospel. He urges us to prioritize unity and work together despite our differences.
Paul's message is a timely reminder of the importance of unity in the church. In a world that is increasingly divided, the church has the opportunity to be a beacon of unity and love. By avoiding divisive behavior and focusing on what unites us, we can create a welcoming environment that attracts those who are seeking hope and truth. Unity is not just about agreeing on everything, but about working together towards a common mission and showing the world the love of Christ through our actions. [45:07]
Ephesians 4:3-4 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call."
Reflection: Are there any areas of division in your church or community that you can help to mend? How can you contribute to fostering unity and peace?
Day 4: Living an Integrated Life
Paul calls us to integrate our faith with our actions. This means doing everything with gospel intentionality. Our actions should reflect our beliefs and make the truth about God attractive to a watching world. This integration is essential for living a life of integrity. Paul emphasizes that our faith should not be compartmentalized but should permeate every aspect of our lives. Whether we are at work, at home, or in our community, our actions should consistently reflect the love and truth of the gospel.
Living an integrated life requires intentionality and consistency. It means being mindful of how our actions and words align with our faith. By living out our beliefs in every area of our lives, we can be a powerful witness to those around us. Our actions can make the truth about God attractive and draw others to Him. This is not about being perfect, but about striving to live a life that is consistent with our faith and values. [39:29]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you find it challenging to integrate your faith with your actions? How can you be more intentional about living out your beliefs in those areas?
Day 5: Practicing What We Preach
Paul not only gives us instructions but also lives them out. He unifies with others in his gospel efforts, showing us that it is possible to work together despite differences. By practicing what we preach, we can be a part of something beautiful and see God's mission fulfilled. Paul sets an example of living out his faith through his actions and relationships. He demonstrates that unity and collaboration are possible even in the midst of differences.
Practicing what we preach is about aligning our actions with our words. It means being consistent in our faith and living out the principles we profess to believe. By doing so, we can build trust and credibility with those around us. Our actions can speak louder than our words and have a powerful impact on others. By working together and supporting one another, we can be a part of something greater than ourselves and see God's mission fulfilled in our lives and communities. [52:06]
James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where your actions do not align with your words? How can you take steps to practice what you preach and live out your faith more consistently?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "You may be tempted to think that God's mission isn't something that you can do. You may be tempted to think that you're all justleton. You're all justleton. You're all justleton. You're all you I'm talking about them, but we're praying about them. No, he's saying you may be tempted to think maybe it slows down the mission of God and his church, but the truth is it destroys the mission of God. It repels an outside world. Nobody wants to come into a church that is divisive, that is gossiping, that is full of politics." [45:07]
2. "Could you imagine if somebody in front of something beautiful or maybe you've even had the experience at the Grand Canyon one of the wonders of the world where you're there soaking it in and then you see something beautiful and then you see somebody with one of these, and they're just stuck on their screen, looking and looking at what Instagram wants to show me, what Spotify thinks I should listen to, who wants to talk to me, or Disneyland, or even Cherie and I recently, we were at a dinner, we were excited, celebrating our anniversary, we'd saved up for this nice dinner, we look at the couple next to us, and they're just there on their phone, just so self-consumed." [50:36]
3. "The truth is there is a lost and dying world all around us, a hurting world, a world that we have the opportunity to come alongside, to see dead people come to life, right? To see people that are lost, found, and to see people that are broken, restored, and healed. That is our job as the church. So I think Paul is coming alongside us. He's not being harsh, but I think he's being serious, because Paul is serious about the mission of the church. He knows what's at stake." [40:53]
4. "Paul is saying, in the nicest, only way that Paul can say, it's not about you, right, it's not about you this morning, and that's good news, it's not about me this morning, but it's about our Savior, the Son of God, who came and lived a perfect life, died the death that we deserve to die, so that we can live a life we don't deserve to live, it's about a God who has seen dead hearts come to life, a God who has seen lost people found, and seen broken things restored, that's what it's about for Paul." [54:55]
5. "Do everything you're already doing, but do it with gospel intentionality. That's going to be the easiest application you ever get on a Sunday at Phoenix Bible Church. Do what you're already going to do today. Go home, have lunch, go spend time with family, go to the grocery store, right? Do what you're already going to do, unless that thing is sinful, all right? But do what you're already going to do, but do it with the lens of how you're going to do it. How can I honor God in this?" [39:29]
### Quotes for Members
1. "For me this point is probably the most personal one it's a point that I've grown up at church since the nursery I've grown up going to youth group and I went to GCU to get my degree in Christian studies went on to study at Phoenix Seminary I've sat in many classes had many lectures rubbing shoulders with people that are looking forward to a lifetime of ministry hearing their ideas how much they love people what God's calling them to do what they're hoping for the future and I can tell you as I look back to most of my classmates that I can remember about half of them are still in ministry and even more personally two of my best friends that I was able to work at a church with rubbing shoulders with they are no longer in ministry it's not because of some moral failing that they had it's not because they didn't like hymns or Hillsong or it's not because they had green carpet right no they're not in ministry anymore because of the division the gossip and the politics that they experienced within the church that they were working at and the sad thing is their story is not unique." [46:28]
2. "I think integrity is integration. It's living a fully integrated life. Paul is calling Titus to live an integrated life. Here's what I mean by that. Integration, when two things come together to make a whole. He wants his faith and his practice to come together. How he practices his life should come right together with his faith, or what he proclaims to believe should come together with what he does. I think most of all, our responsibility is to live a fully integrated life. I think integrity is integration. It's living words and our works should come together to be integrated." [36:32]
3. "Paul is unifying with four different guys in his gospel effort, and not just four different guys, but four different guys, there's one name in particular that should have jumped out at you a little bit, did anybody catch that, Apollos, right, Apollos and Paul have a little bit of a history, Apollos and Paul have a little bit, what some might call a beef, earlier on in the New Testament, see in first Corinthians, we catch this story, that Paul had been pouring into, encouraging, and leading a church in Corinth, and while he was away, another guy named Apollos, comes in, and starts teaching, and preaching to this church, and while Paul is away, doing his missionary efforts, he catches wind, that within this Corinthian church, some people are saying, I follow Paul, and some people are saying, I follow Apollos, right, division was not a foreign idea to Paul, he knew it very well, from the Corinthian church, but I love Paul's response, it's a master class, in bringing unity from division." [53:26]
4. "Paul is serious. I don't think he's harsh, but he's serious. And I think Paul is serious because he's serious about the mission of the church. I think Paul knows what is on the line here. If we don't get this, Paul knows what is on the line. If we get distracted, if we lose our way going left or right, if we don't keep the main thing, the main thing, we could miss out on something wonderful. Paul, Paul takes it serious because he is serious about the mission of the church. See, Jesus to his apostles says the gates of hell will not prevail against the church. And good news this morning is that is true. I believe that is true. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church." [29:36]
5. "Could you imagine at Phoenix Bible Church, in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2024, if we had that same attitude of Paul, of who is George, right, who is Jack, who is Nathan, who is Jaysa, right, but we are only servants of God, through whom people hear the good news, it's not about me, right, it's not about you, can you imagine that with me, Phoenix Bible Church, what would that look like, the people in this room, said it's not what I want, but to ask the question, God, what do you want from me, to ask the question, God, and what I'm already doing, how can I put good works on display, God, as I'm living out my life, how can I adorn the doctrine of God, how can I make the teaching of God attractive in every way, to a watching and hurting world." [56:17]
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