Titus 1:1-16, 3:1-15; 2 Timothy 4:5-22

DEVOTE OURSELVES TO DOING WHAT IS GOOD

Titus 3:1–15; Key Verse: Tit 3:8

1. What attitude should God’s people have toward rulers and authorities? ( Tit 3:1a) Toward everyone? ( Tit 3:1b-2) How would this reveal the character of Christ and give a good Christian influence? Why is this important? ( Tit 2:10b)
2. How did we used to live? ( Tit 3:3) To what historical event does verse 4 refer? ( Tit 2:11; cf. 1 Jn 1:2) What did Jesus do for us? ( Tit 3:5a) Why does Paul remind us of God’s one-sided mercy in our lives?
3. How did God save us? ( Tit 3:5b-6; 1 Co 6:11) How and in what manner did he give us the Holy Spirit? How is his generous outpouring of the Spirit essential in changing us? What is his ultimate purpose for us? ( Tit 3:7) What can we learn in verses  Tit 3:4-7 about God’s nature?
4. Read verse 8. What is the trustworthy saying? ( Tit 3:5; cf. 1 Ti 1:15) What are “these things”? ( Tit 3:3-7) Note the repetition in this chapter of “doing good” ( Tit 3:1,8,14). How does God’s grace motivate everyone to be devoted to doing good? Why should we be careful to live this way? ( Tit 3:8b)
5. What should we avoid, and why? ( Tit 3:9) How should a leader deal with people engaged in these things? ( Tit 3:10) What did Paul want Titus to know about such people? ( Tit 3:11)
6. What were Paul’s personal requests? ( Tit 3:12-13) Why should God’s people learn to do what is good? ( Tit 3:14) How did Paul conclude this letter?

Paul wrote Titus during a 4th missionary journey (A.D. 62-64) not recorded in Acts. He instructed Titus in how to lead the churches in Crete. Tit 3:8, a key verse of Titus, says, "I want you to stress these things, 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." The theme of Titus is the inseparable link between faith and practice, belief and behavior. Like 1 Timothy, Titus exhibits a strong concern for sound doctrine (Tit 1:9,13; 2:1-2), and contains 2 marvelous theological meditations on the grace of God extended in Christ (Tit 2:11-14; 3:4-7). Doctrine is then balanced by an emphasis on proper Christian conduct. Both always go hand in hand. Sound doctrine and proper conduct is the basis for critiquing false teaching, instruction in Christian living and qualifications for church leaders. In particular, Paul stresses the quality of sober-mindedness/self-control (Tit 1:8; 2:2, 4-6, 12) and the importance of doing what is good (Tit 2:7, 14; 3:1,8,14).

What an Apostle Is For? (Tit 1:1-4; Duncan)

1. 1st, the title of the messenger (1).
2. 2ndly, the service/ministry goal of the messenger (1-3).
3. 3rdly, the blessing of the messenger (4).

The Hope of Eternal Life (Tit 1:1-4; Key Verse: Tit 1:2) (Stott)

I. Paul's Purpose (Tit 1:1-2a): For the Sake of God's Elect

1. Faith
2. Knowledge
3. Hope

II. God's Guarantee (Tit 1:2b-3): God Promises Eternal Life Before Time Began

1. God Does Not Lie
2. God Promises
3. God Entrusts Preachers with the Gospel

III. Titus' Benefit (Tit 1:4): Grace and Peace

1. Grace
2. Peace

Questions:

1. For what purpose had Paul become God's slave and Christ's apostle (Tit 1:1-3)? Elaborate on the 3 characteristics of the elect (Tit 1:1-3). What should knowledge of the truth lead to?
   
2. What 3 fold guarantee does God give us, which makes our Christian hope of eternal life reliable (Tit 1:2-3)? Reflect on God's promise made to the elect before the beginning of time (2 Tim 1:9; Eph 1:4). The role of preaching (kerygma) (Mt 12:41; Rom 1:16, 16:25; 1 Cor 1:23, 2:2,4, 15:14; 2 Tim 4:17).
   
3. How does Paul address Titus and bless him (Tit 1:4; 2 Cor 8:23; 2:13)? Who is Titus (Gal 2:1,3; 2 Cor 2:13; 7:5-7,13; 8:6, 16-18, 23; 12:18; 2 Tim 4:10)? In what way is God and Christ our Savior (Tit 1:3-4; 2:10,13; 3:4,6)?
4. What are the 2 reasons Paul left Titus in Crete (1 Tim 1:5)? What is the predominant requirement of Elders (Tit 1:6-7; 1 Tim 3:2)? In what 3 areas should elders be blameless (Tit 1:6-9)?

An Elder Must Be Blameless (Tit 1:5-19; Key Verse: Tit 1:6a)

I. True Elders (Tit 1:5-9)

1. Elders must be blameless in their marriage and their family (Tit 1:6)
2. Elders must be blameless in their character and conduct (Tit 1:7-8)
3. Elders must be blameless in their doctrinal orthodoxy (Tit 1:9)

II. False Teachers (Tit 1:10-16)

1. Their identity (Tit 1:10)
2. Their influence (Tit 1:11)
3. Their character (Tit 1:12-14a)
4. Their errors (Tit 1:14b-16)

III. Practical Application: 2 Major Lessons

1. Copy Paul's Strategy
2. Maintain Paul's Standards

Tit 1:1-16 Executable Outlines
Titus - Introduction

HOLD TO THE TRUSTWORTHY MESSAGE

Titus 1:1–16

Key Verse: 1:9

1. How did Paul identify himself? (Tit 1:1a) What was the purpose of his calling? (1b) What does Paul mean by “the truth”? (Tit 1:1c; 2:11,13–14; 3:4–7; cf. 1Ti2:4) How does knowledge of this truth lead to godliness? How does Paul describe the certainty of our hope? (Tit 1:2–3) How did Paul address Titus and bless him? (Tit 1:4)
2. Why did Paul leave Titus in Crete? (Tit 1:5) What is an “elder”? What does the word “blameless” encompass? (Tit 1:6a) What qualities should an elder have in his family life? (6b; cf. 1Ti3:2–4) Why is an elder’s family life so important?
3. What is the spiritual responsibility of an overseer/elder? (Tit 1:7a; cf. 1Pe4:10) What negative character traits must he not have? (7b) What positive character traits must he have? (Tit 1:8) To what message should he hold firmly, and what does this mean? (Tit 1:9a; 1Ti1:15) How does holding to this message this equip him to serve God’s household? (9b)
4. Who are those who oppose the trustworthy message, and what is their influence and motive? (Tit 1:10,11b) What should Titus do with them? (Tit 1:11a) What kind of people did Titus have to serve in Crete? (Tit 1:12–13a) How should he help them? (Tit 1:13b–14)
5. How does Paul contrast the way “the pure” and “those who are corrupted” view the world? (Tit 1:15) How does corrupted people’s hypocrisy deny their faith? (Tit 1:16; cf. Mt23:25,27–28) How can we be pure? (1Jn1:7,9) How does this enable us to live as God’s servants?

Paul--his Cloak and His Books (Charles Spurgeon)
I Have Kept The Faith (John Piper, 1980) 2 Tim 4:6-8
2 Tim 4 JBF commentary (CCEL)

(Spurgeon) We do not know what the books were about, and we can only form some guess as to what the parchments were. Paul had a few books which were left, perhaps wrapped up in the cloak, and Timothy was to be careful to bring them. Even an apostle must read. Some of our very ultra Calvinistic brethren think that a minister who reads books and studies his sermon must be a very deplorable specimen of a preacher. A man who comes up into the pulpit, professes to take his text on the spot, and talks any quantity of nonsense, is the idol of many. If he will speak without premeditation, or pretend to do so, and never produce what they call a dish of dead men's brains—oh! that is the preacher.  How rebuked are they by the apostle! He is inspired, and yet he wants books! He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books! He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books! He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books! He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books! He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books! The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading." The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves that he has no brains of his own. Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, "Bring the books"—join in the cry.

1. How did Paul view his present situation? (2 Tim 4:6) In the OT, how was the drink offering related to the burnt offering? (Num 28:1–8) For what purpose was Paul being poured out as a “drink offering”? (2 Tim 2:10)
2. Memorize 2 Tim 4:7. How did Paul summarize his life of faith? What do the metaphors of fighting a good fight and finishing a race teach about Christian life? How had Paul’s life illustrated this? (Ac14:19–22; 20:23–24; 21:13)
3. What does it mean to “keep” the faith? (2 Tim 1:14; 2:8; 4:17) Why do we have to struggle and fight in order to do so? (2 Tim 3:1-5; 1:15; 2:17-18; 4:3, 14-16) What can we learn from Paul who kept the faith to the end of his life?
4. Read 2 Tim 4:8. What was Paul’s personal assurance and sense of victory? (8a) What will the Lord, the righteous Judge, do for those who keep the faith? (2 Tim 1:12) What is “the crown of righteousness”? (2 Tim 2:12a; Ro8:17; Lk22:28–30) Who receives this reward? (8b)
5. Who left Paul, and why? (2 Tim 4:10,12) Why did he want Timothy and Mark to come quickly? (2 Tim 4:9,11,13) Whom did he warn Timothy about and why? (2 Tim 4:14-15) How did he describe his first defense? (2 Tim 4:16) How did God help him? (2 Tim 4:17) What assurance did this give him? (2 Tim 4:18) What were his final greetings and blessing? (2 Tim 4:19-22)