God's Word Edifies

Today, we continue our study to answer the question: “How is the church supposed to function Biblically?” Over the last few weeks, we have looked at our need to engage, elevate, and explain God’s word. If we do not explain God's word, then we will never able to encourage and edify others. For, His word alone holds an immense power to address every believer and stimulate their personal walk of faith. 

In Titus 1:9, we see this call to encourage and edify others with God’s word. Paul writes, “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.” In this verse, we find three different facets of exhortation or encouragement.  

Encouragement Empathizes 

In the original greek language, the word for exhort is parakaleo. The word is a compound word. Para- means "alongside of" like paramedic or paramilitary; -kaleo means to call. So the literal translation is "to call alongside of." This is a personal interaction with another believer. Here you deliver a complete teaching of the Scriptures and take complete ownership of their problems. You are not "shouting them down" or "talking from your high horse." Instead, you are empathic. You do not disregard the truth, but you see how you can bring the truth alongside of another believer. Therefore, you strive to understand their circumstances personally as you lovingly and patiently provide a biblical solution. This focus will bring love and unity as God's word both addresses one's spiritual needs and gives Godly direction. 

Encouragement Teaches 

But you need to know your stuff! You can't expect someone to be truly encouraged by God's word as you struggle to remember your AWANA bible verses or give them worldly platitudes. You need to know how God's word applies—exactly! This leads us to the next phrase in Titus 1:9. We must exhort in "sound doctrine."

First, the word sound means healthy and free from error. A sound teaching can be tested and tried. Second, doctrine refers to a system of biblical teaching. We cannot be summer hens pecking at a Bible verse here and there. Instead, we need to swallow it whole, seeking to understand the Scriptures from beginning to end.

Therefore, we must have a Biblical system derived from the Scriptures to answer the problems of life. A car mechanic worth his salt does not fix a car with a little of this-and-that. No! He has a thorough diagnostic test, an entire system to fix each car. Christians must be the same. We must embrace a full bodied knowledge of the Scripture, if we seek to truly teach others. 

Encouragement Edifies

Yet, if you do not understand, then the teaching will have no power. So, we must always seek to edify others. The object of teaching is the knowledge itself; the object of edification is the individual's knowledge. He must grow in understanding the teaching. We can have all the knowledge in the world, but we need to impart this knowledge to others. This how we show love to our brothers and sisters in Christ (Rom 15:2) and follows a clear command from the Lord (1 Cor 14:26). This should be the goal of the church. We must seek to provide a clear mission, so every member is believing in the church's objectives and purpose.

The word of edification speaks to the process of building or construction. In fact, the root of the word is means a home. This is a process requiring blueprints, town approval, and materials just to name a few requirements. Everyone in construction understands the inevitable: set-backs, re-designs, and change orders. Simply, building takes time, effort, and patience. This is the same for the church. We are called to patiently build one another up in the true knowledge of God (2 Cor 10:8, [12:19]). This takes time and requires immense patience. Yet, without edification, the clear Biblical direction will be unknown and the church will lack mission clarity. A church can only move forward, if everyone is growing in personal understanding.