Today's passage shows that, at the time of writing this letter, there were numerous moving parts and urgent needs throughout the Church. The Christian walk is not static, but dynamic. God always enables and empowers His body to do the work He has for us to do, but we need to be ready, willing, and active in obedience. While there is not the legalism of the Law, as Jesus ushered in grace that the Law could not provide, there are still numerous commands throughout the New Testament we must follow. This is how we show our love to God (John 14.15) and while those commands are not a burden (1 John 5.3), we may feel as though we are being poured out in service (Philippians 2.17, 2 Timothy 4.6). We are only pouring out what God has first put in us, so we are not relying on our own works, but on God's provision (Colossians 1.29, Philippians 2.13). As we see in this passage, much of the pouring out is to others in the Church. Remember, this act of emulating Christ Jesus and loving one another is the hallmark of Christianity (John 13.35, Colossians 3.12-17). May the word of God teach us how to care for one another, and how to pour out what God has blessed us with in service to others to His glory.

[Titus 3.12-15]

3.12 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.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What actions were Paul calling members of the body to take? [v. 12-15]

+ How are we to support those active in the church? [v. 12-13]

+ What were the good works believers were to do? [v. 14]

+ How was Paul helping to knit together and unify the Church as he closed out this letter? [v. 15]

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How are you supporting others who are active in the church?

+ When (not if) you are active in church ministries, how should you be relying on others in the body?

+ What opportunities can you make to encourage the body at Downtown Hope and the Church writ large to be more unified, to God's glory?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?