Let's read God's Word.
Reminds the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,
to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate,
and to show true humility towards all people.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved
by all kinds of passions and pleasures.
We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared,
He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done,
but because of His mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth
and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour,
so that, having been justified by His grace,
we might become heirs, having the hope of eternal life.
This is a trustworthy saying.
And I want to stress these things,
so that those who have trusted in God
may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.
These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments
and quarrels about the law,
because these are unprofitable and useless.
Warn a divisive person once,
and then warn him a second time.
After that, have nothing to do with him.
You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful.
He is self-condemned.
As soon as I send Artemis and Tychicus to you,
do your best to come to me at Nicolopolis,
because I have decided to winter there.
Do everything you can to help Zenes, the lawyer,
and Apollos on their way,
and see that they have everything they need.
Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,
in order that they may provide for the daily necessities
and not live unproductive lives.
Everyone with me sends you greetings.
Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Peter,
to come up and
I'll pray for you.
Thanks, Johnny.
And I'll pray for us.
Just so everybody knows that
Peter and Maeve have been
back from the US
for a couple of weeks
and returning
tomorrow week.
Tomorrow week.
Yeah.
So, yeah,
so we've enjoyed Peter preaching last weekend.
We're going to pray for him again as he speaks today.
So let's just pray for them.
Father, we thank you for your gifts to us
and we thank you for the way in which
your gifts come to us through people.
And we thank you for Peter and for Maeve.
And we ask that you would continue to give them strength
physically and mentally
for all that they are doing in their studies
and preparation for Maeve
and with her research.
Give to her all that she needs day by day.
We pray as well that you would give to them both the rest that they need
and that they would be refreshed
so that when they return back to the US
they would be ready
for a new term.
Father, we pray for them
and we pray that they would also have good times
with family while they are here
enjoyable times
an opportunity to catch with
catch up with all of their friends.
We pray for Peter now
that he may know the power of your spirit
working in him and through him
that we also may know your spirit
helping us to
not only understand your word
intellectually
but also that it would make its way
deep into our hearts
to change us and transform us
into the people that you call us to be
so that we make the teaching
about the Lord Jesus Christ
our Saviour attractive
to all around us.
So bless Peter now
and encourage us
through what we listen to
and we pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
Thanks, Pastor Sammy.
Well, I'd like to just reiterate
how blessed we have been
through your hospitality
and through your prayers
and through your support
at this time
and so when we go back to the States
we'll have
we'll have very fond memories
of these few weeks
that we've had
back home
so thanks so much
for being that for us.
So we have been looking at Titus
for the last few weeks
it's only a short letter
when you look at it
in the red covered Bibles
it's very clear
it's only less than two pages long
so I'd encourage us
to be reading that
maybe especially
before Wednesday night
if you're going to come
to our Gospel communities
so we're going to review it
on Wednesday night
the whole letter
today we're going to look
in particular
verses 9 to 15
of chapter 3
for the sake of time
I guess we can't look
at the whole thing
and it's good
that we've read
the whole of chapter 3
because
it's important for us
not to forget
what we were saying
last week
it's important for us
not to forget
what God has saved us from
and what God has saved us to
and that being
at the very core
of our faith
at the very core
even of what we're going
to be looking at today
as well
as has been mentioned
and as has been
drawn out very nicely
in our singing
we're looking at
pure fellowship
that's the theme
for this morning
one of the things
that myself
may have been aware of
in the states
is just the importance
of a good diet
and just being able
to eat well
I don't know
whether I've achieved that
but I've certainly
been aware of it
in the states
they're facing
what is an epidemic
anywhere between
100,000 and 400,000
people a year
die from obesity
related illnesses
which is actually horrendous
when you think of it
that people
are struggling
to eat healthily
and to live healthy lives
that's physically speaking
spiritually speaking
for us
we want to live healthy lives
we want to have
pure fellowship
healthy fellowship
with each other
and from this passage
this morning
we're going to
tease out
just three things
three key
ingredients
or three key things
that we can feed
pure fellowship
with
so that our fellowship
can be healthy
and pure
the first thing
we want to look at
is that pure fellowship
is fed by pure divisions
which is quite an alarming
thing to say
but we'll consider that
a little bit more carefully
the second thing
is that pure fellowship
is fed by pure decisions
and the third thing
pure fellowship
is fed by pure devotions
I hope that alliteration
is not distracting
I think that's
very clear
from the passage
as we work through it
so firstly
pure fellowship
is fed by pure divisions
so Paul
in verses 9 and 10
he's calling us
not only to
avoid foolish controversies
in other words
discussions
or arguments
about various things
but he's also
calling us
to avoid
foolish people
in verse 9
he says
avoid foolish controversies
and genealogies
and arguments
and quarrels
about the law
now
these things
might be
a little bit tricky
for us to relate to
I can't remember
the last time
I had an argument
about a genealogy
or a quarrel
about the law
but it's important
for us to try
and understand
clearly what Paul
is saying here
he's writing
to Titus
in particular
in Titus' role
as a leader
in the church
and what he has
in mind
are controversies
about the Old Testament
so Jewish
controversies
that were going on
at the time
if we look back
at chapter 1
in verse 10
just for a moment
where Paul writes
there are many
rebellious people
mere talkers
and deceivers
especially those
of the circumcision group
they must be silenced
because they are
ruining whole households
by teaching things
they ought not to teach
those two verses
give us some idea
of the types of things
that were going on
at that time
that Paul
wants Titus
to avoid
even if we understand
that though
it still takes
a little bit of work
for us to understand
what relevance
has this
for us today
2000 years later
so we may know
that it's
Jewish
Old Testament
controversies
about circumcision
or genealogies
but what relevance
is that for us
today
if we remember
last week
in verse 3
we saw that we
too were foolish
and that is something
that God has saved us
from
and so when we
consider here
that Paul is saying
avoid foolish
controversies
there's a very clear
connection between
what we were
that we were foolish
and again
how we should live
and that we should
avoid foolish
controversies
and so
as we mentioned
at the start
all that God
has done
is motivating
what Paul
is saying here
and should
motivate us
accordingly
so Paul's
principle
basically
is that
rather than
being involved
in foolish
controversies
that we want
to avoid
foolish controversies
he chooses
his words
carefully
though
because
when you think
about Paul's
life
he was no stranger
to controversy
himself
when you think
about Jesus
I would say
the most controversial
figure in all of history
he divides history
he divides people
either
you accept Jesus
as Lord and Savior
and live accordingly
or you
refuse to accept that
and so Jesus
is very controversial
so it's not
controversy
in general
that Paul
is wanting
Titus to avoid
but it's foolish
controversies
it's the kind of
controversies
as he says
in verse
the end of verse
nine
controversies
that are unprofitable
controversies
that are useless
arguments
that create
more heat
than light
arguments
that
when we
look back
on them
when we reflect
on them
and we realise
that was really
not worthwhile
that was really
unfruitful
I really should have
avoided that
so those are the
kind of things
that Paul wants
Titus
and us
to avoid
and as we consider
what that would
look like practically
if we were to avoid
foolish controversies
we realise
that most of our
controversies
are with other people
so although
you may be like me
where you have
these controversies
going on in your
own mind
or arguments
going on in your
own mind
the reality
is most of our
controversies
are with other
people
and Paul picks
up on that
so if you look
at verse 10
warn a divisive
person
Paul says
once
and then warn
him a second
time
as we read
verse 10
and verse 11
it's important
to remember
that Paul
is speaking
particularly
to Titus
so there will
be a temptation
for us
to immediately
jump into
Titus' role
and say
oh well
if Paul
tells Titus
to do this
then maybe
I should
go around
warning people
warning divisive
people
once or twice
but our
position in
relation to
this letter
that we are
hearing
is more
as the
congregation
more similar
to the
congregation
that Titus
cares for
and so Paul
is saying
that Titus
has a
God-given
authority
Paul has
left him
there
to appoint
elders
as we saw
back at
the start
of the
letter
he has
left him
there
to put
in order
what Paul
has left
to be
done
and so
Titus
is an
authority
he has
to exercise
discipline
and the
minute I
say that
word
I know
some of
us
are
thinking
that
sounds
very
harsh
I mean
discipline
is that
that's a
fierce thing
to be doing
all together
in this
day and age
but I
think that's
unfair
it's unfair
to think
that discipline
equates
with harshness
it's unfair
to think
that discipline
equates
with some
kind of
necessary
evil
if you
look at
the way
this
discipline
is to
be exercised
look at
the patience
that's involved
in this
discipline
warn a
divisive
person
once
so something
has been
going on
this person
has been
causing
division
so there's
one warning
a clear
warning
in order
for the
person to
turn away
from their
divisive
ways
the person
continues
and Paul
says warn
them a
second time
so this
has been
going on
for some
time now
and the
person
is unwilling
to turn
away from
their divisive
ways
and it's
only then
it's only
after these
things
Paul says
at the
end of
verse 10
that you're
to have
nothing more
to do
with them
we've seen
this kind
of attitude
already
we saw it
back in
chapter 1
where the
reason Paul
tells Titus
to rebuke
people is
so that
they will
be sound
in the
faith
that is
Paul's
concern
it's
Titus'
concern
and it
should be
our
concern
as we
consider
what
church
discipline
and what
authority
should look
like
in the
church
so there's
great
patience
involved
in this
but there's
also a
realisation
that this
is serious
stuff
as we
read in
chapter 1
the people
of the
circumcision
group
are upsetting
households
these divisive
people
by their
very nature
divide
people
so it's
not just
some abstract
thing that's
going on
over here
it's actually
causing
upset in
the church
in the
body of
Christ
and so
when we
are tempted
to think
that discipline
is somehow
bad or
somehow
very mean
or nasty
of Titus
to be
doing
we must
realise
that this
is serious
stuff
and if
it goes
unchecked
the division
will only
spread
now there's
no doubt
for Titus
it would be
an unpleasant
thing to do
to go to
these people
and to warn
them
but Paul
reassures him
with these
words in
verse 11
you may be
sure Titus
he said
that such
a man
is warped
and sinful
that such
a man
is self
condemned
which is
serious
language
from Paul
but that's
how he
affirms
Titus
in his
role
there's a
sense
in which
as Titus
exercises
this
authority
there's
something
greater
going on
here
because
the person
who continues
in their
divisive
ways
is identifying
themselves
they're
identifying
themselves
as a
verse 3
and verse 4
person
someone who
is still
disobedient
someone who
is still
foolish
and so
when we
think about
this discipline
that's being
exercised
we realise
there's great
patience here
and there's
serious
stuff going
on in the
church for
this to be
happening
and we realise
that it's out
of care
it's out
of love
it's out
of a desire
for the
church
not to be
more divided
and in
some sense
it's the
person who
is dividing
things
bringing it
on themselves
as they
continue
in this
way
maybe a
way to
illustrate
this
would be
to consider
these nice
room dividers
beside us
here which
serve a
very helpful
purpose
for us
in this
hall as
we meet
on a
Sunday
morning
they
create
an area
for which
we can
meet
so it
doesn't
feel too
big
or too
un-intimate
or whatever
the proper
word is
there
so these
room dividers
are good
I want to
say that
clearly
what Paul
is saying
is that
division in
the church
is bad
and so
if we
consider
these room
dividers
if they
will fold
away as
they do
then we
can remove
the division
by folding
them
to put
in the
parallel
from this
passage
that we
are looking
at
if this
person
if this
divider
of the
church
will be
warned
if they
will heed
a warning
then we
can get
rid of
the division
but if
for some
reason
these
room
dividers
rust up
if they
just simply
will not
fold
if they
simply
will not
be warned
the only
way
to get
rid of
the division
is to
get rid
of the
divider
and so
that is
what Paul
instructs
Titus
to do
if this
person
continues
if they
will not
fold
if they
will not
be warned
then have
nothing
more to
do with
them
in other
words
if you
want to
get rid
of the
division
if you
want pure
fellowship
you have
to get rid
of the
divider
now here's
the thing
if you
listen very
closely
I'm going
to let
you in
on a
secret
we all
love
a good
argument
isn't
that true
you're
down in
Barry
Collins
you're
browsing
through the
potatoes
the next
thing you
hear
are voices
raised
down at
the other
end of
the potato
section
and you
suddenly start
taking a great
interest in
what you're
looking at
and you linger
around this
particular area
for some
reason
and as the
argument goes
on you're
thinking this
is getting
really juicy
and you're
really enjoying
it
it happens
on Facebook
as well
I think the
reality is
even if we
might not love
being in an
argument we
certainly love
hearing good
arguments
and not
only that
but we
live in
an age
when there's
plenty of
opportunities
to argue
I'm sure
you've seen
yourselves
if you're
on Facebook
or any of
those internet
thingies
I'm sure
you've seen
yourself
that the
most innocent
comment can
lead to a
most heated
debate
a most vehement
argument where
people are getting
worked up for
apparently no
reason
and so we
like a good
argument
wrongly I think
of us
and we live
in a time
when there's
plenty of
arguments
to be had
which is a
potent combination
and so as we
consider Paul's
instructions to
Titus it's
quite relevant
for us
to be
listening to
what he is
saying because
of the times
we live in
and then the
flip side
as we've
noticed is
that divisive
arguments
are not
very far
removed from
divisive
people
now as we've
alluded to the
question for us
here is not so
much who can I
go around
warning about
their divisive
ways the
question for
us is am I
willing to be
warned about
my divisive
ways and
that's an
important thing
to realize
because often
when we read
passages like
this we put
ourselves in the
position where we
are the authority
where we are
the law where
we create the
norm by which
other people
should live
but no Titus
is the one who
has been given
this authority
and the vast
majority of us
are the ones
who should be
submitting to
this authority
who should have
humble hearts
who should be
willing to heed
a warning
so rather than
taking the law
into our own
hands we should
be willing to
heed to hear
older Christians
wiser Christians
as they come
alongside us
as they seek
out our good
patiently and
lovingly and
caringly
so that's the
first thing and
we've spent a
little bit longer
on that the
pure fellowship
is fed by pure
division
now I hope you
remember the
content of that
because the
idea that pure
division in the
church is a
good thing is
maybe hard to
get our heads
around but let's
remember that we
need sometimes to
avoid controversial
arguments and
controversial people
the second thing
we want to see
is that pure
fellowship is
nourished or
fed by pure
decisions
and we see this
in verses 12
and 13 where he
says as soon as
I send Artemis
or Tychicus to
you do your best
to come to me
at Nicopolis
because I have
decided to winter
there
do everything you
can to help
Zenos the lawyer
and Apollos on
their way and
see that they have
everything they
need our people
must learn to
devote themselves
to doing what
is good Paul
says in order
that they may
provide for daily
necessities and
not live unproductive
lives so what we
see worked out by
Paul is an
example of how
to make good
pure decisions
and how these
decisions affect
our fellowship
in verses 12
and 13 he's
showing us an
example of good
planning and how
planning affects
our decision
making process
and we see
that so much
of his plans
are people
based so we
have Paul
himself he
has made his
decision we
have Artemis
we have
Tychicus we
have Zenos
the lawyer we
have Apollos
all of this
planning that
Paul is doing
is based around
people and
where they're
going to be
what they're
going to be
doing and
that's only the
people he has
named there's
plenty of people
in the congregations
that are going
to be affected
by this
planning as
well and so
good planning is
part of the
pure decision
making process
that in turn
leads to pure
fellowship so
we're on about
three levels
here but good
planning is
essential planning
that works
around other
people works
around the
people in the
body of Christ
here in
Carigoline
another thing
another element
of our pure
decision making
is to do our
best to make
our very best
efforts so
if you're like
me you may be
the kind of
person who is
very good at
planning things
but as long as
the plans stay
in your desk
if you don't
fulfill them
if you don't
follow through
in them
they're pretty
worthless
there's no use
to them
and so Paul
says to Titus
do your best
in verse 12
do everything
you can
to help
Zenos and
Apollos on
their way
and that
these people
must learn
to do
what is good
in other words
to put in
effort
to put in
their best
efforts
in order for
good decisions
pure decisions
to be made
so Paul
recognizes good
planning
best efforts
these are two
things that are
part of the
decision making
process
but there's also
a third thing
which is vitally
important
and that is a
recognition by
Paul that there
are human
limitations
so we can't
be everywhere
at once
we don't know
all things
we can't do
all things
and so even
though Paul
has good plans
even though Paul
expects best
efforts from
people
he also recognizes
that people are
limited
individually
and corporately
and so when
he says
I will send
Artemis
or Tychicus
it's one or
the other
there's a reason
that he's not
sending both
perhaps Tychicus
might have to
stay wherever
he is
for another
reason
and so when
Paul tells
Titus to come
to him in
Nicopolis
he realizes
that if Titus
comes to him
in Nicopolis
that leaves
a gap
a space
where Titus
would have
been
and so he
wants to
send Artemis
to fill
that gap
and so he
recognizes
that people
are limited
we are
limited
in who we
are and
what we're
able to
do
and what
we're able
to understand
and so it's
this kind of
decision making
that has good
planning
that puts
in a good
effort
and realizes
limitations
that feeds
pure fellowship
maybe the
most obvious
illustration
of this
is where
we are
right now
on a Sunday
morning
at 11
o'clock
or shortly
thereafter
when you
consider
a Sunday
morning
it needs
to be
planned
there needs
to be
decisions
made
people need
to know
what's going
to happen
on a Sunday
morning
and if that
doesn't happen
some people
might arrive
at 10
some people
might arrive
at 12
the plans
need to be
made well
not only that
but we need
to put in
the effort
so I'm
sure most
of us
set our
alarm clocks
last night
we put in
that intentional
effort to be
up on time
to get here
but there's
also a
recognition
on a Sunday
morning
that we're
limited
that we can
only do so
much
and so as we
consider the
various things
that are going
on the various
ministries that
are happening
in our church
there's a
realisation
that there's
so much
we could be
doing
and yet
there's only
so much
we can
do
if we
recognise
that it
will help
us to
not be
small in
our plans
or small
in our
efforts
but it'll
help us
to guard
against
the frustration
where we
see all that
could be
happening
in Cargilline
for example
and we
feel inadequate
or we feel
unable to
achieve it
but if we
recognise
that these
human limitations
are part and
parcel of who
we are
then it will
guard us
against frustration
and it will
feed pure
fellowship
so for us
the question
is whether
other Christians
factor into
our planning
there are
plenty of
motives
involved in
good planning
but this
passage in
particular
is highlighting
the need
to recognise
other people
in our
planning
it's also
asking us
whether we're
putting in
our best
efforts
in order
to create
pure
fellowship
in order
to make
good decisions
and follow
through in
them
and it's
also
asking us
to recognise
our limitations
and the
limitations
of other
people
so that we
do not
put undue
pressure
or stress
on people
in a way
that they
are unable
to fulfil
and so that's
the second
thing we want
to see
pure fellowship
is fed
by pure
decisions
and the
last thing
from this
passage this
morning is
that pure
fellowship
is fed
by pure
devotion
which is
a much
more
exciting
word
than
decision
so when
we consider
the language
that Paul
uses here
in verse 14
for example
he says
our people
must learn
to devote
themselves
to doing
what is
good
you may
remember
that phrase
from such
verses
as last
week
in verse
8
that those
who have
trusted in
God
may be
careful
to devote
themselves
to doing
what is
good
within the
space of
six verses
Paul repeats
it and he
wants us to
remember it
and he wants
it to be
scorched into
our memories
that we are
to be
devoted to
doing what
is good
and this
in turn
will lead
and feed
pure
fellowship
I guess
depending on
the background
you're from
you may
respond to
this phrase
devoted to
doing what
is good
differently
so perhaps
you may
think
well
I have to
be devoted
to doing
what is
good
because if
I do
enough
what is
good
then
I will
get into
heaven
hooray
or
you may
be of
the opinion
that
well no
I don't
need to
be devoted
to doing
what is
good
because
Christ
has done
it all
for me
and it's
certainly
true that
Christ has
done
everything
for us
we saw
that back
in the
start of
chapter 3
where it's
not by
our own
righteousness
that we
are saved
but the
tendency
the temptation
can be
to say
if Christ
has done
it all
I don't
need to
be quite
so devoted
to doing
what is
good
but no
Paul says
God says
to us
this morning
that we
should be
motivated
we should
be devoted
to doing
what is
good
because of
all that
we have
seen in
chapter 3
so far
because of
all that
God has
done
so far
that's
certainly
the
primary
motivation
but we
should also
be motivated
by secondary
things
there are
urgent
needs
there are
daily
necessities
as we
see in
verse 14
we should
be motivated
because there
are things
that people
need
there are
things that
we might
have
they might
be gifts
they might
be financial
resources
they might
be time
to pray
and there
are things
that we
have
that can
provide
for daily
necessities
of others
a second
motivation
to not
live
unproductive
lives
which is
a tempting
thing
to do
to be
unproductive
in our
lives
it's tempting
to say
well
I've been
working hard
I just
want to
chill out
and do
nothing
but Paul
calls us
here to
be
motivated
by the
desire
to live
a productive
life
to make
the most
of what
God
has given
us
he says
in verse 13
do everything
you can
to help
Zenos and
Apollos on
their way
that they
have everything
that they
need
and so
Paul's
attention
to detail
attention
to need
in the
lives
of those
around him
is a
good example
for us
I think
in order
to illustrate
this idea
that we
are to be
devoted
to doing
what is
good
maybe
an experience
that I've
never had
which is
being
at the
start
of a
race
Shane
will have
it tomorrow
in the
marathon
and others
as well
is the
sprinter
at the
start
of a
race
they
adopt
a certain
position
they
lean
towards
where
they're
going
to be
going
they're
ready
to go
when the
gun
goes
off
and so
when the
gun
does
go
off
there
is an
urgency
they
jump
out of
the
blocks
nearly
because
they've
been
leaning
in that
direction
for us
Paul says
we are
to be
leaning
our hearts
are to be
leaning
towards
doing what
is good
all the
time
we saw
that again
in verse
1 of
chapter 3
be ready
to do
whatever
is good
so there's
a readiness
there's a
preparedness
to do
what is
good
rather than
leaning away
from these
things
rather than
adopting
a heart
position
where we
lean away
naturally
from
doing
good
Paul's
concern
it's
not so
much
the
nitty
gritty
he's
not
going
around
saying
Ralph
I want
you
to do
this
or Chris
I want
you
to do
this
his
concern
at this
stage
is for
our
hearts
to be
leaning
towards
doing
what
is
good
to be
devoted
to
it
and he
recognizes
that this
is something
we need
to learn
that's
exactly
the word
he uses
in verse
14
it's not
something
that
necessarily
comes
naturally
to us
and so
you may
ask
how will
I learn
such a
thing
it feels
quite
unnatural
for me
well
it's
learned
the same
way
many
other
things
are
learned
which
is
through
practice
if
you
don't
feel
like
you're
leaning
towards
doing
good
if
you
don't
feel
like
doing
good
Paul
says
to
practice
it
to
follow
the
examples
of
others
to
see
the
way
in
which
others
are
fulfilling
need
around
us
and to
follow
their
example
to see
the
example
of
people
in
the
Bible
what
we
don't
want
to
do
at
this
point
is
to
get
into
the
nitty
gritty
of
how
to
do
this
but
simply
to
recognize
the
heart
devotion
that
is
there
that
we
are
to
be
devoted
to
doing
what
is
good
it's
interesting
that
Paul
himself
again
sets
a good
example
in this
he
recognizes
the
need
that
will
be
there
when
Titus
leaves
and
in
order
to
fill
that
need
he's
going
to
send
somebody
to
that
congregation
not
only
that
he
recognizes
that
Zenos
and
Apollos
have
been
on
this
long
journey
which
I
always
think
of
as
something
like
out of
Lord
of the
Rings
for some
reason
but
they're
on this
long
journey
they
may
have
no
drinking
water
left
they
may
have
no
food
left
and
again
Paul
recognizes
the
need
his
heart
is
leaning
towards
doing
what
is
good
in
this
case
he's
distant
from
them
so
he
can't
himself
fulfill
that
need
but
what
he
does
is
he
writes
to
Titus
says
this
is
going
to
need
to
be
fulfilled
this
need
is
going
to
be
satisfying
and
he
asks
Titus
to
do
it
so
there's
helpful
examples
of that
in the
scriptures
and in
the people
around us
so that we
can learn
to devote
ourselves
to doing
what is
good
so that's
our last
point
pure
fellowship
fed by
pure
devotion
we've
looked at
a lot
we've
looked at
how pure
fellowship
is fed
by pure
divisions
and that
we are
avoiding
controversies
we're
avoiding
arguments
that are
fruitless
and unproductive
we've
looked at
how pure
fellowship
is fed
by pure
decisions
in other
words
that our
decision
making
is made
around
other
people
and take
those
people
into
account
while
recognising
their
limitations
and we've
seen
just now
that pure
fellowship
is fed
by pure
devotion
a desire
a leaning
towards
doing
what is
good
I think
it's really
sad
and yet
it's really
understandable
that people
in America
and people
everywhere in the
world nearly
in the western
world are
struggling so
much to eat
healthy food
and to live
healthy lives
it is a real
challenge
it's a real
epidemic
and maybe the
same could be
said of
fellowship
if we want
our fellowship
with each
other to be
pure
to be healthy
rather than
malnourished
and sick
we need
to feed
it this
good diet
of pure
division
pure decision
and pure
devotion
let's pray
heavenly father
help us
not to be
like the
person who
looks in
the mirror
and
after turning
away forgets
what he looks
like forgets
what he has
seen
help us
to take
your word
to heart
today
and in
the coming
days
lord
we're
conscious
of the
high
calling
that your
word
puts in
our lives
and we're
thankful
that you
yourself
by the
power of
your spirit
enable us
to be
living lives
that are
pleasing to
you
help us
father
to rest
in what
you have
done in
our lives
that you
have saved
us from
what we
were
but help
us to
recognize
lord
that you
have
saved
us
into
this
fellowship
into
this
body
of
believers
brothers
and
sisters
beyond
count
innumerable
brothers
and sisters
in christ
help us
to have
a commitment
to pure
fellowship
lord
and help
us to
encourage
each other
in the
faith
this day
in the
days ahead
lord
and father
we're so
thankful for
what you
have prepared
for us
where one
day we
will all
sing your
praises
together in
heaven
father we
love you
and we
rejoice in
your goodness
to us
thank you
lord in
jesus name
amen
thanks very
much
peter
well we're
going to
sing our
final song
together