Today’s passage: Titus 3:12-15

Helpful thoughts:

• In Paul’s Apostolic ministry (and Apostolic authority) there were people who needed to be moved from place to place in service to the Lord and His growing church.
• Titus’ leadership of the church included guiding them to support and assist other Christian people for the cause of the spread of the gospel.
• Titus’ leadership of the church in that way was for the church’s benefit!  The church needs to be fruitful, accomplishing the work of God.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the pastoral leadership Paul commends here work in conjunction with congregational church governance?  It is a contradiction?  Why not?
2. How could some of the works mentioned in this passage be pursued individually?  Or corporately as a church?  What are the benefits of acting together as a body?  What could the benefits be for the missionary if they were supported by churches more often than by individuals?
3. In what ways do we see our church being fruitful in these ways?  Praise the Lord for it!

Today’s passage: Titus 3:8-11

Helpful thoughts:

• “The saying” refers to the gospel message Paul had just recounted in the previous verses.
  • Paul commanded Titus (and all pastors) to insist on the truth of the gospel.  To guard it and accurately communicate it.
  • Paul declared the preaching of the gospel would result in people devoting themselves to good works.
    • Not just getting a pass to heaven…but producing changed and changing lives.
  • Paul wrote that faithfully preaching the gospel was excellent and profitable for people.
    • We don’t want to ever “graduate” from the gospel message!
• There may be some who teach that we should unhitch from the gospel to move to “deeper” issues (Such as what is listed in verse 9).  Those controversies are “unprofitable and worthless.”  They do not produce spiritual maturity or genuine Christian joy.
• Those who insist on teaching these fruitless things or continue derailing conversation away from what is fruitful are to be warned and removed.
  • If this person is a member of the church, what Paul commands would fit into the order of what Christ commanded in Matthew 18.

Questions to consider:

1. What are some benefits of meditating on the gospel throughout the life of a Christian?  In what ways does it help us continue to grow?
2. What is the right goal of teaching and preaching?  If a person only teaches, preaches, or is vocal in a Bible Study or class setting because they enjoy showcasing their intellect and/or Bible knowledge, what are they missing?
3. What would be the best way to confront a person who is distracting Christians from what matters most?  How would we seek to restore?  Why would it be so important to remove them from opportunities to speak if they persisted?

Today’s passage: Titus 3:1-7

Helpful thoughts:

• Reminder: Paul is writing to Titus, instructing him toward good practices in pastoral ministry.
• Christians have reason for humility because we know from where we have come.
• Christians have reason for humility because we know how and why we have changed and grown.
• This humility and gratitude in the grace of God produces patience, love for one another, love for God, and a hope that is rightly placed in the glory that’s to come (In place of the temporary wants of this life).

Questions to consider:

1. What is Paul referring to in verses 4-7?  How do these verses articulate the gospel message?
2. What all happened (And is still happening to us) in relation to the gospel and our salvation?  How much changed?  How much has God accomplished?  How did He do it?
3. What happens in the life of the church when the members forget where they came from and start to think they are “better” than other people?  What are some ways that kind of arrogance can come out or be evidenced?  Why then must the church remain gospel-centered?

Today’s passage: Titus 2:11-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Paul answers the “why” and the “how” concerning the cooperation, obedience and growth of a community of people consisting of those who are older, younger, men, women, upper class, lower class, and all kinds of other social backgrounds the world would think ought to divide us.
  • Our salvation is through Christ.
  • Our identity is in Christ.
  • Our future is with Christ.
  • Our living is for Christ.
• When we exhort and rebuke under Christ, for Christ and with the word of Christ, we can do so with authority.  Not our own, but in pointing people to their Lord and Savior.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the concept of a person praying to be saved and then living no differently than before they heard the gospel hold up in relation to this passage?  What will be true in the life of a believer?  In their desires and in their actions?
2. What are some areas of our identity in Christ in this passage that you might not consider as often?  What does being a follower of Christ include?
3. What does it mean to disregard loving rebuke and exhortation?  What should we do if/when a brother or sister in Christ lovingly seeks to challenge our thinking or actions?  How does Galatians 6:1 help us to know how to approach exhortation and rebuke?

Today’s passage: Titus 2:9-10

Helpful thoughts:

• Servitude within the Roman Empire was a different practice than what Americans think of in relation to slavery in the south.  That being said, there could be “good” masters and “unjust” or crooked masters (1 Peter 2:18).
• Though they were considered to be in a lower class of people within Roman society, bondservants were (And forever will be) equal with everyone else in the church of God!
• Bondservants who served well (More like the idea of an employee or a contracted worker who does great, honest work) adorn the doctrine of God.  In other words, they exemplify the humility and servitude of Jesus Christ and present a great testimony.

Questions to consider:

1. How can Christians in our culture apply this passage within the workplace?  How should we treat our employers?  What kind of work should be done by the Christians in our society?
2. How can joining in on company gossip, complaining about the bosses, our doing our work half-heartedly hurt our cause in sharing Christ at work?
3. Are there jobs that are too low for us to do, that are beneath us?  Are there people who are worth more because of the money or power they have in any given company?  How has Christ shattered any ideas of thinking too highly of ourselves?  What did he do to show us how to think and to serve (Philippians 2:1-11)?

Today’s passage: Titus 2:6-8

Helpful thoughts:

• The previous verses ended with the details of older women teaching the younger.  In verse 6, Paul moves back to a major spiritual growth goal for the younger men, self-control.
• In verses 7-8, Paul is again speaking to Titus, serving as a pastor/elder in the church.
• Pastors are to teach and train the church to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13).  This does not excuse the pastor from participating in the work however.  He is to teach by word and by example.

Questions to consider:

1. Looking back to the previous verses in context, how will the growth of a younger man in exercising self-control help his young bride to pursue what she is called to in verses 4-5?  Why should a young man first look at his own heart and actions before seeking to correct his young bride (Matthew 7:1-5)?
2. In what way is Paul saying to Titus here, “practice what you preach?”
3. Why is important that a pastor speak with “sound speech?”  How could careless talk and crude words hurt the cause of the gospel in the church?

Today’s passage: Titus 2:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• Teenagers do not turn into adults magically the moment they turn 18.  Children turn into adults through a process of transformation and growth.  In the same way, men and women do not turn into what Titus 2 calls older men and women to be automatically.  It takes time, effort, humility, grace, etc.
  • Throughout the Christian life, the Christian must pursue growth in Christ-likeness.
• These transformations do not happen in a vacuum or in a bubble.  Christian growth comes in community, in teaching and in relationships.
• Pastors are not the only people in the church who should/can teach.  The pulpit is not the only teaching post.  Teaching can happen in class rooms, at dinner tables, living rooms, restaurants, parks, sidewalks, etc.

Questions to consider:

1. Which characteristics stuck out to you related to older men, older women, and for the younger?  How do these traits fit into the complementary model of biblical manhood and womanhood?
2. If you’re an older woman and the thought of teaching younger women freaks you out, why is that?  What is it about discipling younger (or newer) believers that bothers you?  Are you willing to be trained to teach younger women?  Men, we can ask the same questions of ourselves.
3. Is there someone (or a group) of people you know who are (or could) build into you for your growth?  Is there someone you could be encouraging/teaching/discipling in their growth?  Be encouraged to reach out and participate in God’s design for spiritual maturity in the church!

Today’s passage: Titus 1:10-16

Helpful thoughts:

• The reason for the final qualification for elders is given a direct application in today’s passage.  See verse 9 leading into verse 10 and following.
  • Pastors/Elders need to step up and protect the church from false teaching.
• “The circumcision party” were those who taught that a male must be circumcised (Old Covenant law) in order to be saved.
  • Even their motives were identified by the Apostle Paul.  The preached their doctrines for shameful gain.
• Those whom God has purified and is purifying will pursue repentance, growth and good works.  Those who are truly unbelieving will not tend to do well when they are rebuked.
  • Those who are in the church (Yet who are living and speaking as unbelievers) are to be rebuked.

Questions to consider:

1. What parts of this passage make you feel uncomfortable (Maybe even hoping someone else will do it so you don’t have to)?  Why?
2. If a Christian refuses to rebuke someone in the church because they will feel uncomfortable, what do they need another Christian to do for them?  Does obedience to the Lord and the possible joy of repentance for others outweigh the distaste for feeling uncomfortable?
3. Knowing the context from verses 5-9, who needs to lead the way in the church in rebuking those who are teaching false doctrine and living in sin?
4. What is the purpose of rebuke?  Is it to be done for sport?  Should the rebuker feel exhilarated putting others down (Is that even true rebuke?)?  What is the hope of outcome for all Christian rebuke (Matthew 18:15, 1 Corinthians 5:6-8)?

Today’s passage: Titus 1:5-9

Helpful thoughts:

• Titus was given to serve churches in Crete, in part, through setting up leaders in every local church.  That leadership started with elders (pastors).
  • Notice, there were to be elders (plural) in every church.
  • The necessity we see through the New Testament was that a church first needed elders, then deacons came later when the need arose.
• The use of the word “overseer” in verse 7 is not naming a separate office, but one of the functions/responsibilities of the elders.
• A couple notes from verse 6:
  • “The husband of one wife” could be translate “the man of one woman” or a one-woman man.
    • This does indicate (Among other passages) that elders must be men.
    • This doesn’t necessarily forbid any man who has ever been divorced from being an elder.  More information would be needed (Such as the time, cause, response, attempts at reconciliation, to name a few).
  • The word “believers” could also be translated as “faithful.”  No man can guarantee his children are converted.  That is God’s work.  However, a faithful husband and father (Whether a pastor or not) should lead his family to know the Word of God, understand the gospel, and be involved in the church as long as they remain in the household.

Questions to consider:

1. How many of these qualifications are good for all Christians to pursue?  How many for all Christian men, husbands, etc.?  What qualifications would be specific for the role of an elder?  What does this tell us about the ministry of an elder?  Is it only a teaching (Public speaking) position?
2. If these churches were small and newly planted, what must we infer concerning the calling of at least 2 elders in every church?  Were they all scholars?  Were they all paid full-time salary?  Did they come from some seminary or other church far away?  How does 1 Timothy 5:17-18 add to our understanding here?
3. How can this passage help you to pray for your pastor(s)/elder(s)?  How could the whole church’s pursuit of many of these areas of growth in character and conduct benefit the elders and everyone else?

Today’s passage: Titus 1:1-4

Helpful thoughts:

• The Apostle Paul wrote this letter to Titus, most likely, between his first and second imprisonments in the mid-60’s AD.  This would have been around the same time as the letter of 1 Timothy.
• Paul’s calling as an apostle was a calling to be a servant of God, for the sake of those who would hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and believe.
• True learning and knowledge of the truth produces godliness, change and growth in holiness.
• What Paul preached/taught (And what we continue to preach/teach) happened in world history at certain points, but was promised by God before creation came into being.
  • What God wills, will be accomplished.
  • What God has accomplished gives us all the more assurance that what has not yet come, will certainly happen.

Questions to consider:

1. Why isn’t simply holding to a good doctrinal statement the measure of spiritual maturity?  What does truly believing in good biblical doctrine produce in the life of a genuine believer?
2. Paul is not the only servant in the church.  We are all servants of the Lord in different ways.  How have you been blessed to be able to serve others in the church?
3. What are the gospel promises God has already fulfilled?  What are the promises yet to be fulfilled to which we look forward?