September 19, 2012
WHICH LIFE ARE YOU LIVING?
Titus 2
Ginger McFadden
Central Truth
Christ offers salvation to all men. In order to look more like Jesus, we must deny ungodliness and worldly desires.
Key Verse | Titus 2:11
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men." (Titus 2:11)
Titus 2
Teach Sound Doctrine
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound 1 2:1 Or healthy; also verses 2, 8 doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. 9 Bondservants 2 2:9 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
Dive Deeper | Titus 2
If we are called to look different from the world (Romans 12:2), then we should live a life that is sensible and pure. Why do we choose the things of this world (happiness over holiness) if God has given us the ability to live in freedom from bondage and unnecessary grief? He's already come and offered redemption through salvation (Titus 2:11). We no longer have to be enslaved to our sin patterns -- He's already paid the penalty!
When Paul launches into Titus 2 with a charge to all believers in Christ Jesus, it makes me analyze whether my actions, thoughts, and conduct match up to what we're called to be.
After Paul lists the attributes of a godly woman, he stresses that we as believers have the ability to bring honor or dishonor to the gospel. Did you catch that? We could DISHONOR the gospel! It should sting to know that I could be dishonoring the gospel with my actions and speech.
I've definitely had to reevaluate whether a joke is beyond reproach or if that one thing I just had to tell someone was malicious gossip or even worth saying. Paul stresses the denial of those things in order to strive for purity. In my life the Lord is chipping away daily at the things that don't represent Him and is stirring in me a desire for wisdom. "For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her." (Proverbs 8:11)
Since I was a child, I've always valued having someone older to look up to. I knew that with age and experience come wisdom, so I carried Proverbs 19:20 close to my heart: "Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days." If you're anything like me, you struggle to walk this road that we call "sanctification" alone. I urge you to seek out a wise believer to mentor you and help with your transformation to look more like Jesus. No area in our lives is to remain unaffected by the sanctifying influence of the gospel.
Discussion Questions
1. What are some areas in your life that need to change in order to look more like Jesus?
2. Is your speech beyond reproach, where no one would have anything bad to say about it (Titus 2:8)?
3. Do you have someone in your life holding you accountable to deny ungodliness and worldly desires?
4. Have you accepted the salvation that Christ offers, which redeems us from every lawless deed?
5. Have you stopped to recognize that your sins can grieve the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:29-30)?
WEEKLY FAMILY ACTIVITY
September 17-22 (2 Timothy 4 – Philemon 1)
Read Titus 3:1-8.
• What does it mean to be gentle and show humility to another person?
• How did God show His kindness and love to us?
• Are we saved and accepted into God's family based on good things we do?
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Have you acknowledged that you are a sinner in need of God's kindness and love?
• Have you accepted the gift of God's grace through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross?
• If so, what does Paul say happened to your sins when you accepted God's gift through Jesus (verse 5)?
• If you haven't, do you want to be a part of God's family? Take time to discuss what that means.
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When you share your faith with others, do you do it out of gentleness and humility like Paul talked about in verse 2?
Activity: Go outside with some sidewalk chalk. Ask everyone to take time either to draw a picture or write words that represent sins you have 'committed.' (A sin is any thought, word, or deed that breaks God's righteous standards.) Then, get the water hose and wash those pictures and words away . . . showing what happened to your sins when you accepted Jesus' sacrifice by trusting in Him.