What is a healthy church? Great question. Each of our churches are amazing and yet always in need of a tune up. Titus also had a wonderful congregation on the island of Crete yet needed some guidance. Under God’s inspiration, St. Paul wrote instructions to Titus for a healthy church.
As we, individual members of a local church family, become more healthy by way of Paul’s instruction, we will be even more healthy as an overall church. So let’s align ourselves to the 2,000 year old prescription for health and continually expect God’s hand of blessing on our local fellowships.
From what I have heard, I would not want to physically look like the apostle Paul, however, when it comes to character and leadership, most definitely. As Paul began his little letter about “maintaining good works” (theme verse is 3:8) he revealed a little bit about what shaped him. Paul was an amazing leader and solid Christian man, and we can consider how we could be shaped just like him.
Although the community of Crete was made of less than honorable people (1:12), Titus was charged with having their church put in order (1:5). Here are three specific traits that make for healthy leaders, which make for a healthy church. These are the same traits for us all to pursue. Be encouraged, with God within us we can all put things in order.
Today’s text speaks to an elder’s responsibility to set straight the rebellious within the church body. The principles of this text and the application are even more far reaching. From families, to our work environment and even at school there will always be the rebellious or the “mere talkers”. But their “mere talking” never excuses grace-less conformation.
Today’s passage shows a wonderful movement of generational discipling. Let’s set aside the “what” of the passage and focus on the “how”. What a wonderful path of truth, passed on from person to person! From inspiration to Titus, from Titus to the people and then…. people to people! We regularly receive love and encouragement from the Lord; let’s make more effort in carrying this love and encouragement into the life of someone else.
Let’s move slowly. These few verses have been called the highlight of Paul’s letter to Titus. Let’s also pray that these verses become a highlight in our own lives. The highlight may be that some would receive God’s grace, or that others would rest more fully in God’s grace or finally that others would allow God’s grace to keep working through them into the lives of others.
Now that we know that it is by grace alone that we are brought into a relationship with God, and that it is grace that teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and that grace teaches us to say “yes“ to an upright and godly life; let’s play it out. If indeed we are as grace filled as we think we are, then grace will show itself in these three areas.
Paul wrapped up his little letter to Titus perfectly exemplifying God’s grace. After all this “grace-talk”, certainly Paul was full of grace himself, and he showed it. Paul closed his letter to Titus and in so doing revealed five signs of a grace filled life. So here we are, a healthy local body of Christ, celebrating week to week God’s grace, and also showing these five signs of a grace filled living.
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