CHURCH

IN
HARMONY
TITUS 3:9-15
 LUKE 11:17
“Any kingdom divided against itself
will be ruined, and a house divided
against itself will fall.”
One of the saddest things that
can happen in the
congregation is when people
fight each other instead
working together.
 GALATIANS 5:15
“If you bite and devour each other,
watch out or you will be destroyed by
each other.”
On the night when Jesus was
crucified, He went to the Garden
of Gethsemane to pray for His
followers/disciples/church.
To know the Lordship of Jesus
Christ.
- Not to perform miracles.
- Not a powerful preaching.
- Not a great musicians.
- Not a money to finance the
church activities, building,
project, etc…
 JOHN 17:21
“That all of them may be one, Father, just
as you are in Me and I am in you. May they
also be in us so that the world may believe
that you have sent me.”
Jesus wanted His
followers to get along so
that their testimony
would be believable.
It is awkward for a church to
preach to the world the solution
of quarrel, wars, strife, etc.
To promote peace, unity and
harmony when were fighting
among ourselves.
 So how do we do that?
How to have a
harmonious relationship
inside the church?
1. BE CAREFUL WITH
THE
CONTROVERSIES.
 TITUS 3:9
“But avoid foolish controversies and
genealogies and arguments and quarrels
about the law because these are
unprofitable and useless.”
We must be careful and
avoid foolish controversy
“if possible”.
Because not all
controversy is foolish.
Paul is not talking about doctrinal issues here.
He’s talking about things that really don’t
matter one way or another.
Many Jewish rabbis would spend their time
arguing with each other on how to observe
the Mosaic Law.
(Sabbath, day of rest, food to eat, etc.)
These may not differ to our
churches today.
Churches fight over everything
from flower arrangements,
paint color, interior designs.
There are others thinks that they are
more spiritual, influential,
intellectual than others.

Paul gives two very good reasons to

avoid foolish controversies.
1. Because they accomplish nothing.
Paul calls them “useless and
unprofitable”. They are not edifying or
productive.
2. Potentially divisive/strife. Friendly
discussion can quickly turn to heated
argument.
 “Music is expression of
harmony in sound. Love is
the expression of harmony
in life”.
STEPHEN GASKIN
 2. CAREFUL
CONFRONTATION.
 TITUS 3:10-11
“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them
a second time. After that, have nothing t do with
them. You may be sure that such people are
warped and sinful; they are self- condemned.”
Who are this divisive people?
1. False teacher – Titus 1:11 “They must be
silenced because they are ruining the whole
household”.
2. Immoral example – someone in the
church who refuses to repent.
3. Contentious spirit – they will divide by
showing open rebellion.
 MATTHEW 18: 15
“If your brother or sister sins, go and point
out their fault just between the two of you. If
they listen to you, you have won them over.”
 MATTHEW 18: 16
“But if they will not listen, take ne or two
others along, so that every matter maybe
established by the testimony of two or three
witnesses.”
 MATTHEW 18: 17
“If they neglect to listen to them, tell it to the
church. If he refuses to listen t the church,
treat him like a Gentile or a tax collector.”
We have to realize that most of our
divisions are personality–driven, not
issues-driven.
We often convince ourselves that we
are fighting over principle when were
just depending our egos.
“Minimize friction and create
harmony. You can get friction
for nothing, but harmony
costs courage and self-
control”
“Harmony is next
to Godliness”.
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
 3. CHRIST
CENTERED LIFE.
On the night of the Last Supper,
the disciples were arguing about
who was the greatest. They were
worried about determining who
was the most important.
 MATTHEW 23: 11
“Jesus said, “the greatest among you
will be your servant.”
This is not Egocentric but Theo centric
or Christ-centered life.
When we take off our egos and begin
to serve others, harmony develops.
- Accept corrections,
- Learn to be humble,
- Serve God by serving others.
 1 PETER 3:8
“Finally, all of you, have unity of
mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a
tender heart, and a humble mind.”
We must forgive others to live in
harmony with each other.
This is what Jesus did. We are all
sinners who fell out harmony with
God. Jesus paid the price of our sin so
that we can be forgiven and be in
harmony with GOD forever.
 ROMANS 14:19
“So then, let us aim for harmony in
the church and try to build each other
up”