Titus: How Y'all Doing?


Sisters and Seekers,

Welcome back to our study of the book of Titus.  How did it go last week?  Here are some things I hoped you gleaned in your overview of the book to catch us up as we look closely at the opening section this week.  

The book of Titus was written to a pastor named Titus by Paul.  It is a letter closely aligned to first and second Timothy in content and style.  Titus and Paul had a special relationship in that they had served together in ministry: Titus attended the Jerusalem council (Acts 15) with Paul as an example of a Gentile convert full of faith.  He also delivered letters for Paul and was entrusted by taking money to churches in need.  This letter was to encourage Titus to complete the mission Paul had for him when he left him on Crete: appoint leaders and instruct the body in what life looks like as a follower of Christ.    This new way of living came out of an authentic response to the gospel and was a witness to the world around them that needed Jesus.  A big theme in this book is that there is a connection between what someone believes and how they act.  It also shares practical ways of how growing in faith with God changes your life.  Transformation occurs naturally as we understand our salvation.

Hopefully when you outlined the book you noticed verses 1-4 in chapter 1 were the greeting in the letter.  This will be the focus of our study today. The following steps will repeat, though the passage will change,  as we observe each section in future weeks.  Remember study begins with what does it say.  We must comprehend accurately before we can move to what it means and what do with what I'm learning.  The Holy Spirit will guide us  as we follow the process and use it to help us grow.


Read Titus 1:1-4

Comprehension
In this part of study we will seek to understand exactly what the passage is saying without adding any interpretation to it.  This means you will will read it and make sure you understand what it is saying apart from adding any other influences to your comprehension other than the text itself.  It is a time to clarity words and think deeply about confusing parts until you know what it says clearly.


  • Define words you may have circled in the overview because you didn't know their meaning.  Look them up in a dictionary, then reread the verse.  After getting the context, write a definition in the margin or above the word you circled.
  • If there is a verse you don't understand, read it in another translation.  Make notes on your passage of any new understandings you have.  Is there any attributes of God you can find?  For example, in verse 2 it says: God never lies.  Remember we are approaching this study from the position that the bible is a book about God and we want to look about what we learn about Him as we go.  Make a list about attributes that you can add to during this study.  I put this list before my section notes.  
  • Write down question that emerge from reading.  You can write them on your annotated Titus scripture so it's easy to see them in the inference phrase of study.  The first time I read, I asked this question after reading verse 2: When is before the ages began? I assumed it's before God made the earth and man but wanted to make sure.  Part of bible study is answering the questions you yourself have as you study.  That's why I prefer this method of study compared to a book with questions not generated by yourself.  It makes the study personal to your unique background knowledge and understanding.


Interpretation
During this phase, the goal is to take what you just learned about what the section says and discover the nuance of what it means.  This is essential before you determine application, the process of letting God's word transform your life by changing how you live.  In this part of your study, you can compare what you learned in the comprehension phase to what other's have to say about the section.  It is also the time to try to answer questions you had that you couldn't answer on your own.

  • Look up cross references for this section.  You will want to use another bible here as the paper you printed out does not have cross references.  Add any notes that are helpful to interpreting this section.  
  • Paraphrase a confusing verse yourself to help you understand it.  Paraphrasing means reading the original version and putting it in your own words.  This process helps you really dive deep into the meaning, putting together your understanding with the cross references you just read.  
  • Compare your version with The Message or New Living Translation, as they are also paraphrased versions of the Bible.  The same bible website you used to print your copy can also look up different versions of scripture.  Note what you learned from this comparison.
  • Read commentaries or notes in your study bible.  If you don't own any commentaries, the blue letter bible website/app have a selection of many free ones you can access online.  This is a great way to find answers to your questions you wrote previously.  

Application
Bob Goff wrote in Love Does about a group he was a part of.  It wasn't a "bible study" but bible doing.  I've always loved this because it shows a deep commitment to letting the Bible shape you in such a profound way that it spills out of you in thought, word, and deed.  This is the end game of study-to grow more like Christ.  In fact, this blog is the result of a study I was doing, where God challenged me to share what I'm learning with others.  I won't know on this side of heaven how He is using it, but nothing thrills me more than to see people access it from all over the world!  If you're one of my followers I love to have comments to know how it is impacting you to help me shape future content.  Praying for you and for me, that this offering multiplies in bringing His Kingdom to earth, one life at a time.  Included is journal prompts for personal reflection and some that I gleaned when studying the opening section of Titus.  

  • Journal any or all of the following questions:  What does this teach me about God?  How does this aspect of God's character change my view of myself?  What should I do in response? 
  • My faith and knowledge about correspond to how much reverence I have toward God.  In what ways can I increase my knowledge to increase my reverence? He alone is worthy to receive all my worship and more and more of it as I grow in Him.  
  • There is no greater joy than to have "children in faith," to see someone come to Christ because of your impact in their life.  Who in my life is God calling me to talk to about Him? 
  • Duolos-a bondservant.  That is who Paul described himself to be and means the most servile person in that culture, who chose complete and willing obedience.  Am I that sold out to Jesus?  [see Galatians 2:20 and Philipians 1:21] In what areas of my life is obedience not complete or willing?  The reverse is also good to reflect on.  In what areas am I fully giving myself to Jesus?  In building a relationship with someone you have to consider its strengths and weaknesses to help in thrive.  
  • Ephesians 1:4-5 says He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world...Before He made us, before time was created, before earth came to be, before man was made, He chose us to live with him forever.  He predestined us to adoption before the world was made.  This is amazing to consider because before God even made us, He knew we would sin and had a plan to save us.  It was worth all that it would cost him.  He knew it all.  So you are no accident.  You don't disappoint God.  He has no regrets and had considered all ends and found an eternal relationship with us, the joy set before Him (Hebrews 12:1), worth it.  And that is why He is worthy of praise because of the state I was in when He saved me.  So unworthy of so great a salvation.  That gives me great hope looking to my future.  Spend time meditating on this and thanking God through prayer and worship.  
  • Paul's ministry was known for sharing the message of Christ, going places where the message had not been heard and making disciples.  He also was part of a great network of people ministering.  Titus, who he calls out in this letter, has been left here to minister.  In what areas of life are you ministering and are you tapping into the body of Christ around you for partnership in this work?  Going alone is a sure way to burn out.  


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