Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
It’s a brand new study today! I’m so glad you’re here.
We’re in Titus. If you have your NIV with you it’s located right after 2 Timothy in the New Testament. If you don’t have an NIV, you can go here in a new window. Also grab something to write with and paper.
Before we begin, let’s pray:
Lord Jesus, thank You for this letter, for the purposes set within it and for whatever else You’re going to reveal as we study. Lead us and guard us and grow our faith. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Verses 1-4 are one sentence so let’s read all of them at first, just slowly and intentionally. There is much to see.
Read Titus 1:1-4 NIV
What 2 things does Paul say he’s sent to further?
In the hope of…
Another reason for his apostleship. This gift of life brought to light through the preaching _____ to him by the _______ of God our Savior, to Titus, my true son in our common _______:
Read Titus 1:5 NIV
Appointing Elders Who Love What Is Good
I, Paul, am God’s slave and Christ’s agent for promoting the faith among God’s chosen people, getting out the accurate word on God and how to respond rightly to it. 1:1-2MSG
Why two reasons did Paul leave Titus in Crete?
Read Titus 1:6-9 NIV
If you followed the footnotes, you know that appointing elders above is ordaining leaders, or pastors. This list of behaviors to avoid is so that this person can ‘hold firmly to the ____ as it has been taught, so that he can _________ others by ________ doctrine and _________ those who oppose it.
Read Titus 1:16- NIV
Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good
There are many _______________________.
They must be _________________. Why? ___________
Therefore _______________________, so that they will be _________________________.
Your actions matter.
To the pure, yes, through faith we are becoming pure. To the pure, all things are _______. Pure mind, pure conscious. Able and willing to do good.
If you’re reading on Biblegateway, click the arrow to go to chapter 2, we’re going to continue as those sharp words are hard to end with and these are very short chapters.
Read Titus 2:1-2 NIV
Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel
This faith, it is Sound Doctrine. Sound meaning reliable, valuable, worthy of our faith and faithfulness. Remember the purpose Paul is writing? To further the faith of the elect and to further their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness in the hope of eternal life.
So “You, however,” meaning Titus, “must teach what is _______ to sound doctrine. Teach older men to be __________, worthy of ______, self-________, and sound in ______, in ______ and in _________________.”
Read Titus 2:3-5 NIV
Teach older women to be __________ in the way they live, to teach what is _________. Then they can urge the younger women to __________________, to be self-_________ and _______, to be ______________, to be __________, and to be subject to their __________, so that no one will malign the word of God.
Read Titus 2:6-8 NIV
Encourage young men to be self-__________. In everything, set them an _________ by ____________________. In your teaching show ____________, __________ and _______________ that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be _______________ because they have nothing ______ to say about us.
Does it feel as if Paul spends a lot of time in his letters talking about behavior? It is important.
Read Titus 2:9-10 NIV
Teach slaves to show that they can be ________________, so that in every way, they will make the teaching about God our Savior _______________.
Read Titus 2:11-14 NIV
Titus 1:1b-2a
to further the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— in the hope of eternal life,
Write out verse 11.
This grace teaches us to say “No” to __________ and ________________, and to live ____________ and ___________ lives in this present age, while we wait for the _________________-the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to __________ us from all ___________ and to _________ for himself a people that are his ________________, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:15 NIV
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Keep going, click the arrow on the right, we’re going to read the whole letter today.
Read Titus 3:1-2 NIV
Saved in Order to Do Good
Remind the people to be.. obedient, ___________________, …to be peaceable and ____________, and always to be ___________________________________________________.
Gentle, do you find yourself gentle? Pray. I have to pray a lot to be gentle. Sure, quiet I can do, but gentle, that only comes from God for me.
Read Titus 3:3-8 NIV
When the kindness and ____ of God our __________ appeared, he _________ us, not because of ____________________________________, but because of his ______. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and __________ by the ____________________, whom he word out on us ________________ through ______________________________________________________, so that having been ______________ by his _________, we might become __________ having the hope of _________________. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to ________________________________________, 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.
Read Titus 3:9-11 NIV
Excellent and Profitable vs Unprofitable and Useless. Rather clear isn’t it? Still, more behavior words. Trust God and do good and it’s excellent and profitable. Argue and quarrel and it’s useless. And the worst part? It’s self-condemning. Far, as far as you can get from the promises of eternal life. Trust God and do good. Be gentle with everyone.
Read Titus 3:12-15 NIV
Final Remarks
Our people… those with faith… must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for __________________ and not live __________________ lives.
Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.
It begins with Grace and ends with Grace. And all within it is faith compared with unbelief. Yes, it’s your choice. It’s my choice. Faith. A gift but you can ask for it too. Faith, it’s exercisable and growable and the most fundamental thing you have to have to Trust God and do good.
Lord Jesus, thank You for this letter and these words of behavior and the comparison of what living by faith looks like and what it doesn’t look like. Thank You for this lesson and the reminder to be gentle with everyone. It’s not easy, Lord. Faith is simple but difficult. Help us all. In Your holy name, I pray. Amen.