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BIBLE SHORTS

Part 10: Titus 3

Scripture

Titus 3:1-15

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 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. 9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.

Grace be with you all.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Sermon Recap

Wrapping up the church's walk through Titus in the Bible Shorts series, Pastor Pete picked up exactly where Pastor Sam left off the week before. The whole letter is Paul writing to young Titus to "put what remained into order" in the broken-culture churches of Crete, and chapter 3 continues the same thread on how the way we live reflects God. The one thing for the day: do good works in response to God's good work.

Pastor Pete first zoomed out on the theme of good works, which runs across the entire letter. Coming out of the Protestant Reformation, many of us rightly know our works can't save us (Ephesians 2:8-9), so we can flinch when Paul talks so much about good works. But Ephesians 2:10 completes the picture: we are God's workmanship, created for good works. We don't do them to earn forgiveness, salvation, or love, but because we already have all of that in Christ. The motivation shifts entirely from earning to grateful response.

From there he walked through two issues Paul raises in chapter 3. The first is how we respond to authority. Sharing how he and his wife Gina came from opposite cultural instincts toward authority (Western-individualist skepticism vs. Korean deference), he noted Scripture challenged each of them in opposite directions. Holding the tension biblically means treating authority figures with respect and honor, actively supporting the leaders in our lives, modeling godly leadership ourselves, and yet also standing on principle and speaking prophetically when authority goes against God (Acts 5, the Old Testament prophets, the Hebrew midwives).

The second issue is how we treat all people. Paul says to slander no one and to show perfect courtesy toward everyone. Pastor Pete applied this pointedly to today: social-media algorithms engineered for outrage and tribalism are quietly discipling us far more hours than our spiritual habits are, and some prominent public "Christian" personalities model belittling and dehumanizing behavior we should refuse to imitate. The call is to treat all people with gentleness and courtesy, avoid gossip and slander (and hold each other accountable for it), and model gracious disagreement.

He closed with three reasons we live this way: because we were once foolish ourselves, so we can be patient with others; because God saved us by mercy and the renewal of the Holy Spirit, not by our own righteousness; and because we can make a difference, devoting ourselves to good works that meet urgent needs and bear real fruit. The King of kings, the ultimate authority, stepped in to save us, and trusting Him is what frees us to live actively and fruitfully for His kingdom.

One Thing: Do good works in response to God's good work.

Discussion
Questions

Connecting

  1. Growing up, were you raised to be more skeptical of authority or more deferential toward it? How has that shaped you?
  2. Roughly how many hours a week do you think you spend on a screen for non-work media? Did the "49 hours" stat surprise you?

Considering

  1. Read Titus 3:1-2. What specific behaviors does Paul list, and what might they have looked like in Crete's culture?
  2. How do Ephesians 2:8-9 and Ephesians 2:10 fit together? Why does Paul emphasize good works if works can't save us?
  3. Hold Titus 3:1 (be submissive to authorities) next to Acts 5:29 (we must obey God rather than men). How do you carry both?

Confessing

  1. Where do you tend to land: harshly critical of others' mistakes, or honestly aware of your own depravity? What does that reveal?
  2. Is there a way the algorithms you consume are "discipling" you away from gentleness, courtesy, or peace?
  3. Have you spoken evil of, gossiped about, or torn down someone you disagree with recently?

Committing

  1. Who is one leader (parent, manager, teacher, church leader) you could actively support this week?
  2. What's one change to what you consume or how you engage online that would help you treat all people with courtesy?
  3. Where do you keep asking "why can't I change?" — and what would it look like to instead pray "God, change me"?

Next Steps

  1. Pick one authority figure in your life and find a concrete way to support, honor, or encourage them this week.
  2. Audit one media feed: warn it, then mute or unfollow the sources stoking outrage and tribalism in you.
  3. Bring a recurring area of struggle to God in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to change your heart rather than relying on willpower.