THE GRACE OF GOD TRAINS1 US TO LIVE GODLY LIVES
Key Verses: 2:11–12
- How did Paul contrast Titus with the false teachers? (1:16; 2:1) In verse 1b, “appropriate to sound doctrine” is literally “behavior that goes with sound teaching.” As Christians and teachers, why is our behavior just as important as what we know and say?
- What is the significance that older people in the church are mentioned first? (2–3) What character and lifestyle should Titus teach older men, and why? (2) How should he instruct older women? (3) What responsibility do they have in the church? (4)
- What should younger women focus on doing? (4b–5a) What are the ramifications of doing so? (5b) Why is younger women’s role so crucial for healthy family and church life? How should Titus encourage young men? (6; cf. Lk9:23) Note the repetition of “self-control” (2,5,6,12). Why is self-control essential for discipleship and character building?
- How could Titus himself have credibility in teaching these things? (7–8a) What does it mean to “show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech”? What influence would this have? (8b) What can employees learn from the instructions to slaves? (9–10a) What is the ultimate goal of having good behavior in society? (10b)
- For what rationale should we be concerned about our influence on those outside the Christian community? (11) How do people tend to abuse God’s grace? (Ro6:1,15) Read verse 12. What strong pressures do we face while trying to live godly lives? How does God’s grace “train” us practically?
- What blessed hope does God’s grace give us, and how does this hope help us to live godly lives? (13) What did our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, do for us by his grace? (14) What new identity and motivation does Jesus’ redeeming grace give us? How did Paul instruct Titus to teach these things? (15)
1 In Titus chapter 2, in the NIV English translation the words “teach” or “teaching” appear nine times (1,2,3 [two times],7,9,10,12,15). But in Greek, a variety of words are used. In verses 1 and 15 the verb is “laleho,” which means, “to speak.” In verses 1, 7 and 10 the noun is “didaskaleeah,” which means, “teaching” or “instruction.” In verses 2, 3a and 9 in Greek, the verb “teach” actually is not used. In verse 3b the adjective is “kalodidaskalos,” which means, “teaching that which is good,” or, “a teacher of goodness.” In verse 4a, the verb “urge” in English is “sofronidzo,” which means to restore to one’s senses, moderate or control. In verse 12, the verb is “paheedeeo,” which means to train children, chastise or castigate with words. This is why we chose the word “train” for our title.
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