Book of Titus.
Titus One ….(verses 1-15)
1. Verses 1-9
a. Read the book right through at one sitting….what is it all about?
How Titus was to set up church order.
b. What three things can people have in verses 1-2?
i. Faith ii. Acknowledging God’s truth. iii. The hope of eternal life.
c. How can we be sure of all these things? ( verse 2; Numbers 23:19)
We can be sure because God CANNOT lie, what He says He will do!
d. When did God promise these things? (2 Timothy 1:9)
Before the world even began….before its first foundations were laid!
e. What does this prove?
That God had an overall plan to work to…..nothing happened that He didn’t know was going to happen.
f. What has God chosen to work through? What does the world think of this?
(1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
God works through His people preaching the Gospel and the world regards this as foolishness.
g. What do we know about Titus? (2 Corinthians 7:13-15; 8:23; Galatians 2:1, 3)
Titus was a Greek who hadn’t been circumcised and who had become a Christian and a very dear friend of Paul’s. He was a younger man (“my son”) and he brought much joy and comfort to Paul in his work, especially among the Christians at Corinth.. Paul considered him to be his partner and fellow worker, and took him to Jerusalem on one of his visits there. Titus was at Crete at the time Paul wrote to him.
h. What is Paul telling Titus to do in verse 5?
He was to set things in order in the churches of Crete in the manner that Paul had shown him.
i. What sort of family life must an elder have? (verse 6)
He must be the husband of one wife and have his children under control (if he can’t run his home as a happy place, neither will he be able to run a church happily)
j. What sort of character must an elder have? (verse 7-9)
He must live an exemplary life without blame, not be one to always want his own way, not a money grabber, even tempered, not a boozer. He must be hospitable, a lover of good things, be fair and moderate, living a godly life. He must be steadfast in the things of God and be able to give good reasons for his beliefs.
2. Verses 10-16
a. What was Paul specifically warning Titus against? (verses 10-11)
Against those who were peddling the Jewish teachings about the law etc, taking away the truth of the Gospel.
b. What were they actually doing? (verse 11)
They were teaching wrong things, trying to persuade people to their way of thinking. They were trying to get whole households to follow their ideas and would do anything to get money for doing this.
c. What was the reputation of the people of Crete? (verse 12)
That they were lazy, liars, and straight out bad!
d. What was Titus to do in the churches? (verse 13)
To straighten them up and encourage them to be sound in their faith. To tell them not to listen to the Jewish rules and regulations that weren’t based on God’s truth.
e. What happens to those who listen to false teaching? (verse 15)
They become like those they listen to until their own minds and consciences become defiled….they will end up saying they know God but their lives won’t back it up.
f. Have you ever known non-Christians who turn everything they (or you) say into a dirty joke? This is what verse 15 is talking about. What does Philippians 4:8 say the believer is to think about? How does this tie in with verse 15?
To keep one’s mind pure and thinking right things, one must only read and listen to true, good pure, lovely and holy things.…this is the only way to keep one’s mind from being made dirty (defiled)
g. What does Romans 12:2 say to back this up?
To not do or say what the world does, but to renew your mind so you can be transformed and not be taken in by the world’s philosophies or propaganda.
h. Contrast verse 16 with 1 Timothy 4:12….comment on this…..
In verse 16 these people go to church on Sundays and call themselves Christians, but the rest of the week they don’t act like it. A true Christian must always be a good example to others in the way they talk, act, behave and believe.
i. What does 1 John 2:4 say about people like this?
It says they are liars and aren’t speaking the truth!
j. What is the challenge to each one of us in this chapter?
Each one of us should aim at the qualifications of an elder because this is the example of a godly life….we must live blameless lives and not act selfishly or angrily etc as in verse 7, but be friendly and hospitable to everyone.
Titus Two ….(verses 1-15)
1. Verses 1-6
a. What is “doctrine”? Sound doctrine? (verse 1; 2 Timothy 3:16)
Doctrine is teaching….sound doctrine is knowing Biblical principles, what God would have people to know.
b. What is this passage concerned with? (verse 11)
How people behave and live before God and man.
c. How are the older men to behave? (verse 2)
They are to be watchful and sensible, be sound in their faith and have a lot of love and patience with others.
d. What about the older women? (verses 3-4)
They must live exemplary lives, mustn’t gossip of be boozers, and be able to teach the younger women.
e. How are the younger women to behave? (verse 5)
They must be sensible, and love their husbands and children as well as being good home-makers, learn to not gossip and to fit in with their husband’s plans.
f. What about the young men? How can they keep themselves pure before God? (verse 6; Psalm 119:9,11)
They are to be discreet and fill their minds with God’s word, seeking His face whole heartedly.
g. Why must God’s people live these sort of lives? Isn’t it dull and boring to be like this? (Isaiah 43:7; John 15:11; 1 Corinthians 10:31b)
We must do everything in a way that will bring glory to the name of God. this is why God created us in the first place, to give Him glory. It is the height of man’s fulfillment to be in communion with God, and He fills His people with joy so it isn’t dull or boring at all if we live with our eyes on the Lord. We don’t live like this because we HAVE to, but because we WANT to!
h. What was Titus to be? (verse 7)
He was to be a good example to others to follow in his manner of life….he was to be straight down the line, sincere and sensible in what he said.
i. Why? (verse 8)
So that no-one could point the finger at him.
j. How are employees to act in the work place? (verses 9-10)
They are to do as they are told faithfully, and do a good day’s work without answering back or complaining, not helping them selves to perks but in being totally honest.
k. Why is this important? (verse 10b)
So they may have a good testimony before their boss and workmates who probably don’t live how they should.
2. Verses 11-15
a. What has God’s grace done for us? (Ephesians 2:8)
It has given us salvation
b. What does God’s grace teach us to do? What are we to deny and turn away from? (verse 12; Colossians 3:5-9)
Believers are to deny ungodly ways of living, thinking and worldly lusts…e.g. immorality, or being taken up by sports, hobbies or making money; they are to keep from anger, malice, dirty jokes and swearing, lying to each other.
c. What are we to follow and to do? (verse 12b; Colossians 3:10-17)
We are to live sensibly, rightly and in a godly manner, being kind and loving, being meek and humble, as well as patient and forgiving. We are to let God’s Word rule our lives, being thankful, teaching others and being joyful doing everything for the Lord’s sake, and giving thanks for all things.
d. What is the believers’ attitude to the future to be? (verse 13)
They are to be continually looking for the glorious appearing of the Lord.
e. What is God’s purpose for mankind? (verse 14; Isaiah 43:7)
That they live holy lives, and be cleansed from all sin, being a special people for Him, doing good to all and in doing this they bring glory to His name and glorify Him.
f. What was Titus’ mission in life to be? (verse 15)
To teach these things with all authority and not be put off by other’s attitudes.
3. Challenge….
a. What verses impress you most in this chapter?
Verses 13-14….To continually watch for the Lord’s return….if this is in our minds and attitudes, all the rest of the chapter will fall into place.
Titus Three ….(verses 1-15)
1. Verses 1-7
a. What is the believer’s attitude to be toward those who rule over them? (verses 1-2)
Believers are to abide by the rules and keep the laws of the land….they are to submit to the authorities and to pray for them, that there may be peace in the land and freedom to spread the word.
b. What is the reason for this? (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
Because this pleases God who has ordained them to rule….He may not necessarily be pleased with the way they rule, but He is pleased by the believer’s submission to authority.
c. What are the believer’s actions to be toward authority? (verse 2)
They are not to complain about the government or protest against them, but to quietly accept the rules.
d. What is the believer to remember? (verse 3)
That even if those in authority are horrible nasty people, being greedy and power hungry, living immoral lives etc., so were they once before they came to know the Lord; they were no different themselves!
e. What are we told to do in 1 Timothy 2:1?
To pray for them, that the Word won’t be hindered from going out.
f. What has God done for mankind on the whole? (verse 4; John 3:16-17)
He showed His love and kindness to man by giving His only begotten Son to die for us.
g. What has God done specifically for those who believe? (verse 5-7)
He has shown us MERCY (keeping us from what we deserve) and saved us. He has washed us clean from our sin and made us new by His Holy Spirit
h. How does verse six describe the way God has done this for us?
He has poured these blessings out on us ABUNDANTLY!
i. What does God show us when He saves us from our dire situation? (verse 7)
He shows us His GRACE in giving us what we don’t deserve!
j. What does God make His people when they are saved from sin? (verse 7; Romans 8:17;1 John 3:1-2)
He makes them His children, and His heirs, joint heirs with Christ….they will be with Him and be LIKE Him!
2. Verses 8-11
a. What is the responsibility of those who believe in God? (verses 8-9)
They are to do good to others…these things build up. They are to avoid useless arguments and speculations which get nowhere….these only generate confusion and frustrations, and may even tear down other’s faith.
b. How is a fanatical heretic to be treated? (verses 10-11)
He is to be admonished and tried to be won over, but don’t waste time on him after two or three tries. If they continue in that way, they are only condemning themselves.
c. We don’t have pointless discussions about the law these days, but what DO Christians tend to disagree on?
Prophecy and the events of the end times is a good example of this….so much is only speculation and everyone has different ideas.
d. What are Paul’s last instructions to Titus? (verses 12-13)
- When Artemis or Tychicus arrive in Crete, be sure to come and see me at Nicopolis where I’ll be for the winter.
ii. Look after Zenas and Apollos while they travel through.
e. What was his parting instruction to the believers? (verse 14)
Do good and work well….this is “bearing fruit” for God.
f. Try to condense this chapter into one sentence……?
Keep the laws of the land and be kind to all, remembering how bad you once were before God saved you and made you clean in Christ Jesus to now do good works to all and keep away from useless discussions.
g. What verse impresses you the most in this chapter?
Verse 7…the fact that God has not only made me clean and just as if I’d never sinned, but He has also made me His heir to all the glories of heaven!
Book of Philemon
Philemon One ….(verses 1-25)
Read the whole book through first…………..
1. Verses 1-12
- a. What can we tell about this man Philemon from verses 1-2?
He was a good friend of Paul’s and had worked with him in preaching….it seems as though Apphia could have been his wife, and perhaps Archippus his son….they were all well known to Paul and had all helped him and had had him stay there. There was also a church meeting in their home.
b. What do you notice about the lay-out of this letter? (verses 4-5, 9-10, 14, 21)
Paul commends him for his love and faith before he comes to the point he is writing about. He keeps re-iterating that he wants Philemon’s co-operation in these things concerning Onesimus.
c. What sort of testimony did Philemon have? ( verse 5)
He was a very good man, kind and hospitable, and encouraged other believers.
d. What was Philemon’s attitude to the other believers? (verse 7)
He encouraged them in the Lord.
e. What did Jonathan do for David in 1 Samuel 23:16? How can we relate this to ourselves?
Jonathan encouraged him in the Lord, and we can all be encouragers rather than discouragers!
f. What is Paul saying in verses 8-9?
I could tell you what you OUGHT to do in this matter, but I won’t. Instead I will appeal to your love for me and your respect for an old man.
g. Paul now comes to the point of his letter in verse 10…what is it?
I’m writing for my son in the faith, Onesimus…..I have led him to the Lord even though I’m in prison.
h. What does this suggest?
That Onesimus could have ended up in prison too beside Paul.
i. What sort of slave had Onesimus proved to be? (verse 11)
Not very good, unprofitable in fact! It sounds as though he had gone AWOL and perhaps even stolen something as he went.
- j. What is verse 11 telling us about Onesimus? Why the change? ( 2 Corinthians 5:17)
He HAD been unprofitable to Philemon, but now he was a Christian he was a new creature in Christ.
k. Now he was a believer, what was he to do? ( verse 12)
He had to go back to Philemon and apologise.
l. What is the Biblical principle for behaviour, BEFORE one can worship God? (1 Corinthians 11:28)
To examine oneself and to get right with both God and man.
2. Verses 13-25
- a. What did Paul want to do with Onesimus? Why didn’t he? (verses 13-14)
He would have like to have kept him with him to look after him, but he hoped that Philemon would offer him back….he wanted Philemon to do it willingly, and not because it was taken out of his hands.
b. How had things actually worked out? (verses 15-16)
Onesimus was a run away slave and had come across Paul in prison, and had become a Christian through knowing him; now Paul was sending him back to his master with this covering letter as a brother in the Lord for ever.
c. What was Paul asking Philemon to do? (verses 17-19)
He was asking him to take Onesimus back and forgive him his misdemeanours….that if Onesimus couldn’t pay it back, then he, Paul, would do it for him.
b. What confidence did Paul; have in Philemon? (verses 20-22)
That he would do as Paul was asking and more besides….Paul also wanted a bed, the next time he was that way.
c. Who else was imprisoned with Paul? ( verse 23)
Epaphrus.
3. Summing Up…
a. What impresses you the most in this letter of Paul’s? (verses 1, 5, 7, 9, 10, 13, 16-18)
The love that exudes all through it….Paul’s love for Philemon (verse1), his love for Onesimus (verses 10,13, 16, 18); Philemon’s love for the Lord (verse 5) and his love for Paul (verses 7, 9, 17)
b. What is the lesson in this letter?
To forgive those who wrong us and to make right that which we have done wrong.
c. What did the Lord Jesus teach about this sort of thing? (Matthew 5:23-24, 44)
That we are to put wrongs right as much as we can BEFORE we go to worship, and that we are to love even our enemies, doing good for them and praying for them.
d. What happens when we pray for those who don’t like us and/or who we have fallen out with?
It makes us feel better towards them…we can’t stay mad at a person we are praying for.