MARKS OF A HEALTHY CHURCH – GRACE SHAPES CHURCH LIFE
The Book of Titus #7
Keith O’Connor
Woodland Church
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
(Titus 3:9-11, NLT) “Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them”
1. Grace Guards the Church from Foolish Discussions
(Titus 3:9, NLT) “Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time”
a. Avoid foolish discussions
- Spiritual Pedigrees – Genealogies
- Jewish Laws
b. Recognize their unprofitability
- Useless
- Waste of Time
c. Keep the Gospel central
2. Grace Protects the Church’s Unity
(Titus 3:10-11, NLT) “If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them”
a. Warn the divisive person
b. Don’t keep feeding the dispute
(Titus 3:12-15, NLT) “I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need. Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive. Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all”
3. Grace Builds a Team for the Mission
(Titus 3:12-13, NLT) “I am planning to send either Artemas or Tychicus to you. As soon as one of them arrives, do your best to meet me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to stay there for the winter. Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need”
a. Ministry is a shared effort
(Titus 3:13, NLT) “Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos with their trip. See that they are given everything they need”
b. Support faithful workers
c. Advance the gospel together
4. Grace Produces Fruitful Service
(Titus 3:14-15, NLT) “Our people must learn to do good by meeting the urgent needs of others; then they will not be unproductive. Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all”
a. Meet urgent needs
b. Learn to maintain good works
c. Live in fellowship and grace
(Titus 3:15, NLT) “Everybody here sends greetings. Please give my greetings to the believers—all who love us. May God’s grace be with you all”
The letter closes where the Christian life begins: “Grace be with you all.”
Growthwork
- Respond to God’s grace by living a Christ-centered life
- Understand that each of us has a role in the church
- Remember that everything begins and ends with grace