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The Scriptorium

By Grace, unto Grace

Grace to the world: That's us! Titus 3

Titus 3


Pray Psalm 115.1-3.

Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.

Review Titus 3.

Prepare.
1. What seems to be the main focus of this chapter?

2. How does realizing this focus relate to Paul’s emphasis on ordering the churches in a certain way (chs. 1, 2)?

Meditate.
The focus in this final chapter is on the outflow of grace to the world through churches that are rightly ordered and grounded in sound doctrine.

The grace of God has come to us in Jesus, bringing God’s great salvation and making us heirs of eternal life. But grace does not come to us simply that we may absorb and wallow in God’s goodness. Grace comes to transform us and fill us with power to flow the grace of the Holy Spirit to the world around us (Jn. 7.37-39). This is why Paul is so emphatic – twice in this chapter! – that believers should be ready and equipped and zealous to maintain good works and meet people’s needs. And we also see Paul’s concern for the outflow of grace in the background work intimated here of works of evangelizing and church planting elsewhere.

If we as believers are not concerned to see the grace of God come to the world through our lives and churches, then we’re not reading from the same page as Paul. We will only realize the fullness of purpose, joy, and power that comes with our great salvation as we fulfill our redemption in good works (Eph. 2.8-10). And churches will only fulfill their role as signs and outposts of the Kingdom as they equip their members and send them into the community and the world as beacons of grace and agents of good.

This was the focus Paul emphasized to Titus, just as he had to Timothy. It’s the focus we must labor to embrace and pursue in our lives and churches today.

Reflect.
1. We don’t live our Christian lives at church, but through church. Explain.

2. What is necessary for us to maintain good works? Where should we expect those good works to play out?

3. What can we do to keep divisions from entering and subverting our church’s life and mission?

For this reason, charity, which has more regard for the common good than for its own, is said “not to seek the things that are its own.…” Hence, this charity is practiced now in the good works of love, by which it reaches out to give aid in whatever direction it can, and this is its breadth. It bears adversity with longsuffering, and perseveres in what it holds as true, and this is its length. Augustine (354-430), Letters 140.25.62

Let Your grace flow to me, Lord, so that it might flow through me today as I…

Pray Psalm 115.1-18.
How will you glorify God in your life today? Remember that He is mindful of you at all times, and will bless you as you walk obediently before Him. Pray that He might increase His grace to you and through you today in specific ways.

Sing Psalm 115.1-18.
Psalm 115.1-18 (Plainfield: Nothing But the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, Lord, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Idols made by men’s own hand – ever to Your Name be glory –
see nor hear nor understand – ever to Your Name be glory!
They neither feel nor walk, nor can they speak or talk;
All those who serve them fall, but unto Your Name be glory!

All who trust in Jesus yield – ever to His Name be glory! –
find in Him their help and shield – ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the Lord!  He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Blessings from our gracious Lord – ever to Your Name be glory –
will attend us evermore – ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, Lord, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

Grant us, Savior, great increase – ever to Your Name be glory!

Bless us with eternal peace – ever to Your Name be glory!

Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore

and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!

T. M. Moore

What are church leaders supposed to do in leading the Lord’s flock? Our workbook, Shepherding God’s Flock, will show you how to bring effective pastoral ministry and disciple-making into the everyday life of your church. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from
The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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