What practical steps can we take to focus on "profitable" discussions? Surveying the Verse “But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, quarrels, and disputes about the Law, because they are unprofitable and worthless.” — Titus 3:9 Why This Matters God is not against honest questions or lively dialogue; He warns against anything that drains time, breeds division, and distracts from the gospel. Profitable discussion builds up (1 Corinthians 14:26), equips, and glorifies Christ. Practical Steps Toward Profitable Conversation • Examine motives up front – Ask, “Am I pursuing truth or proving myself right?” (James 3:14-16). – If pride or ego shows up, repent before engaging. • Keep the gospel central – Anchor every discussion to “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). – Anything that obscures this core message becomes suspect. • Sort topics by eternal value – Essential: salvation, deity of Christ, authority of Scripture (Jude 3). – Secondary: end-times charts, dietary preferences, music styles. Secondary issues can be discussed—but never with the same intensity or urgency. • Guard your tone – “A gentle answer turns away wrath” (Proverbs 15:1). – Volume, sarcasm, and ridicule may win arguments but lose souls. • Rely on sound doctrine – “Rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). – Cite Scripture accurately; avoid speculative leaps that cannot be traced to clear texts. • Listen before speaking – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). – Genuine listening disarms hostility and uncovers misunderstandings. • Ask clarifying, not trapping, questions – “What do you mean by…?” invites dialogue. – Avoid leading questions designed to corner (Proverbs 18:2). • Speak to edify – “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up” (Ephesians 4:29). – If it won’t strengthen faith, rethink saying it. • Keep time in view – Endless rabbit trails waste precious hours (Ephesians 5:15-16). – When a discussion circles endlessly, sum up and move on. • Know when to disengage – After two warnings, “have nothing more to do with him” (Titus 3:10-11). – Walking away protects unity and sanity. • Season words with grace – “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). – Truth without kindness becomes harsh; kindness without truth becomes hollow. • Cultivate humility – “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). – Admit when you don’t know; people respect honesty more than bluster. • Pray for guidance and restraint – Ask the Spirit to “set a guard over my mouth” (Psalm 141:3) before and during conversations. Putting It into Practice This Week 1. Review recent conversations; identify one that turned unprofitable and note why. 2. Prepare a concise gospel summary to steer future talks back to center. 3. Memorize Titus 3:9 and Ephesians 4:29; recite them before entering any potentially heated discussion. Profitable dialogue isn’t accidental; it’s cultivated through purposeful, Spirit-guided choices that keep Christ exalted and His people edified. |
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