Titus 1:1-9

Use this curriculum to help you further engage with the sermon, the scriptures, and each other. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring things up to encourage and guide you so that you are always growing in your faith. If the Spirit leads you away from these questions and into conversation and prayer that encourages and points you to Jesus, go for it.

scripture

Read the following scriptures together: Titus 1:1-9.

overview

This week we start our new series in the book Titus, a short letter that Paul wrote to his companion in the ministry, Titus, who himself was a Greek gentile. He wrote the letter to help equip Titus in establishing order and appointing solid, godly leadership in a church on the island of Crete. The people of Crete were historically known to possess a great desire for wealth and possessions, a quality that is opposite to the teachings of Jesus. Crete is also known as the birthplace of Zeus, and the island was steeped in superstitions, myths, and greed. God’s hope for his followers is that we wouldn’t just sit with knowledge, but that knowledge would lead us into godly living. 

question 1

When you share your faith with others, how do you describe what life as a follower of Jesus has been like for you? What are the obstacles? What are the benefits?

discussion

Read Romans 12:1-2. The tension of living in this world as a participating disciple of Jesus is a very real struggle. The enemy of Jesus, Satan, is roaming around looking to devour Jesus followers and so we must daily say no to thoughts, desires, and pressures that surround us. To follow the qualities in Titus, Christians need both the desire to pursue a Christ-centered life and the discipline to respond to the life God invites us into – a life that can lead to freedom from the old behaviors and ways of thinking that may have caused relational conflict or personal turmoil. Our mind and heart are formed and transformed by the spiritual truths we consume. Just like your blood panel mirrors your diet, so the habits of our mind and heart mirror our beliefs.   

question 2

The voices we listen to in books, podcasts, and real life play a part in forming our thoughts and actions and can either lead us deeper into godly living or lead us away. How do you discern how the voices you listen to are forming you? Have you ever been led slightly off course? 

Read Titus 1:5-9 in The Message version. The list in Titus 1 is for spiritual leaders in the church, but it can also apply to each of us because we each lead others in one way or another – at home with kids or nieces and nephews, serving in the church, or leading others in our jobs. As stated in the beginning of our discussion, the struggle to live in the world as a disciple can be real and leaders (people) will make mistakes. But when confronted, a godly leader will repent and make changes, whereas a prideful one will walk away and change nothing. Spiritual leadership involves character and consistency, it involves humility and love, and the Lord has filled us with his Holy Spirit to convict us and empower us to do what he has called us to. This can bring us confidence in knowing that we can succeed as Christ followers in this life.

question 3

This life in Christ is never smooth and straight. We will stumble, but we can stand up and have grace for ourselves and for one another. You can be as specific or as general as you’d like, but as you read the list above, are you wanting a reset in your walk with Jesus?

weekly application

This week, take a moment to pray for our Church leaders as well as other Church leaders in our cities who have an impact on us – the body of believers.