Stress These Things

This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you 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 (Titus 3:8).

There are many ways to emphasize a point.

If you're writing, you can italicize and CAPITALIZE your words. You can use an underline or a bold font. You can fill your sentences with exclamation points and repeat yourself for emphasis: "Rejoice in the Lord always! And again I say, Rejoice!"

If you're speaking, you can command your listeners' attention by shouting or by lowering your voice to a whisper.

If you're a boss, you can highlight the kind of customer service you expect your employees to provide.

If you're in charge of an organization's budget, you can make sure the right priorities are well funded.

What should the church emphasize? What priorities rise to the top of your congregation's agenda? There are many good things a church can do, but as you meet together week after week, what do your leaders stress the most? Corporate worship? Bible study? Interpersonal relationships? Personal holiness? Family life? Children's ministry? Financial stewardship? Social action? Community service?

Jesus addressed a lot of subjects, but he put special emphasis on the Great Commandments (love God, love your neighbor) and the Great Commission (go to every ethnic group, make disciples, baptize and teach them). The core of Jesus' mission was to seek and save lost people and restore them to peace with God.

The ministry of reconciliation must be Job One for the church. God's saving grace was the theme of Paul's ministry. He told Titus, "I want you to stress these things" (Titus 3:8). What things? In the previous verses, Paul wrote passionately about "the kindness and love of God our Savior," who demonstrated his grace through Jesus Christ and "saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." As a result, we are "heirs having the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).

I believe the Lord still wants us to "stress these things." The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are matters "of first importance" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), but if we don't preach Christ and the cross, who will? If we don't call others to believe, repent, and be baptized, who will? Hollywood won't do it. The government won't preach it. Most businesses won't emphasize it. Most schools won't teach it. Even some churches seem to have forgotten it. But the Lord's call still rings clear: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel."

Whatever else we do, whatever programs and activities the church may undertake, no other task is as important as proclaiming the life-giving message of Christ.

Personal evangelism, church planting, and global outreach aren't just part of the church's program; they are the church's program. We call it "missions" for a reason! Our missionary purpose needs to be emphasized, capitalized, publicized, and prioritized—but most of all, it needs to be put into practice. The gospel is God's prescription for healing a sin-sick world. What possibly could be more important on the church's agenda than reaching lost people?