Learning on the Way
Sermon Summary:
This sermon explores Titus 3 and Paul’s instruction for how the church should engage with secular society. After establishing church leadership in chapter 1 and addressing relationships within the home in chapter 2, Paul now turns to how believers should interact with the world outside the church. The message emphasizes that Christians are called to be ready for good works, submissive to governing authorities, and characterized by gentleness rather than quarreling. The sermon presents a beautiful gospel reminder (verses 4-8) that shows how God’s kindness, love, mercy, and grace initiated our salvation, not our own righteousness. Since we were once lost ourselves, we should approach the unbelieving world with humility and good works, remembering that God’s plan is not to fight the system but to change hearts within the system. The message concludes by emphasizing that we are co-heirs with Christ, our hope is secure, and we are called to do good works together as the church, allowing our actions to point others to the Gospel.
Key Points:
We are commanded to submit to governing authorities because God established them, though we must always obey God rather than man when authorities oppose God’s commands.
Our response to opposition should not be fighting but good works, speaking no evil, avoiding quarrels, being gentle, and showing perfect courtesy to all people.
We must remember that we were once foolish, disobedient, and enslaved to sin, which should kill our pride when dealing with unbelievers and remind us that the lost will act lost.
Salvation originates entirely in God’s goodness, kindness, mercy, and grace, not in any righteous works we have done, accomplished through the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.
As believers, we are justified by grace and made co-heirs with Christ, receiving the sure hope of eternal life and full inheritance in heaven.
True salvation produces evidence through good works, as those genuinely regenerated by the Holy Spirit are spurred to devote themselves to doing good.
We should avoid foolish controversies and divisive arguments, refusing to be offended or drawn into unproductive debates, focusing instead on what is profitable for the church’s mission.
Small Group Questions:
1 Paul instructs Titus to remind believers to submit to rulers and authorities (verse 1). How do you balance submitting to governing authorities with obeying God when those authorities may oppose biblical values? Can you share a situation where you had to navigate this tension?
2 The sermon emphasizes that “the lost are going to act lost.” How does remembering your own former lostness (verse 3) change the way you view and interact with unbelievers, especially those in positions of power or influence?
3 In verses 4-8, Paul presents a rich gospel reminder emphasizing God’s kindness, mercy, and grace as the source of our salvation. How does understanding that you are a co-heir with Christ affect your sense of security and your willingness to engage a broken world with good works?
4 Paul says Christians should “speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, be gentle, and show perfect courtesy toward all people” (verse 2). In our current cultural and political climate, what makes this so difficult? What would it look like for you to practice this in a specific relationship or situation this week?
5 The sermon states that “God’s plan is not to fight the system but to change hearts within the system.” How does this principle challenge common Christian approaches to cultural engagement? What are some practical ways you can focus on changing hearts rather than fighting systems?
6 Verses 9-11 warn against foolish controversies and divisive people. The sermon compared this to “Internet trolls” who just want to stir things up. How can you discern between important biblical conversations and unprofitable arguments? When have you been drawn into a controversy that proved worthless?
7 The sermon concludes by emphasizing that “we were never meant to do this alone” and that good works should be done together as the church. How has your small group or church community helped you engage the world with the Gospel? What is one good work you could do together as a group to serve your community?
Key Verses: Titus 3:1-8, Romans 13:1-7, Acts 5:27-29, 1 John 1:9
Application On The Way:
This week, identify one person or situation in your life where you have been tempted to argue, get offended, or “fight the system.” Instead of responding with anger or debate, commit to responding with a specific good work. This could be as simple as showing kindness to someone who disagrees with you, serving in a practical way in your community, or refusing to engage in an unproductive argument online. Journal about how this shift from fighting to serving changes your heart and potentially impacts the other person.
Want to Go Deeper?
Romans 13:1-7, 1 Peter 2:13-17, Matthew 5:43-48, Ephesians 2:1-10, 2 Timothy 2:23-26, Colossians 4:5-6, 1 Peter 3:15-16, Philippians 2:14-16, Matthew 22:15-22, Romans 12:14-21
Read Ephesians 2:1-10 alongside Titus 3:3-8. Both passages contrast our former condition with God’s saving work. How does Paul’s description of being “dead in trespasses and sins” deepen your understanding of the mercy God showed in saving you? How should this reality shape your attitude toward those who are currently “dead” in their sins?
The sermon emphasized that we are “co-heirs with Christ” (see also Romans 8:17). Spend time meditating on what this means. What inheritance awaits you? How does this secure hope free you to take risks in serving others and engaging the world without fear of what you might lose?
Read Matthew 5:43-48 where Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. How does Jesus’ teaching complement Paul’s instruction in Titus 3:1-2? What does it look like practically to show “perfect courtesy” even to those who oppose you or your values?
Paul warns against “foolish controversies” and instructs us to avoid divisive people after warning them twice (Titus 3:9-11). Compare this with 2 Timothy 2:23-26. What is the difference between earnestly contending for the faith and engaging in foolish arguments? How can you tell when a discussion has moved from profitable to unprofitable?
Consider the progression in Titus: Chapter 1 (establishing church leadership), Chapter 2 (addressing relationships in the home), Chapter 3 (engaging secular society). Why do you think Paul structured it this way? What does this tell us about the order in which spiritual health and mission should develop?