BOOK OF TITUS IN GROUP DISCUSSIONS

1 STUDYING THE BOOK OF TITUS

IN SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS

Lesson 1

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Titus' Task on Crete

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  Titus 1:1 -

** Read the following verses in the New International Version or a translation of your choice. Then discuss the questions that follow. Questions should be

studied by each individual before your discussion group meets.

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TITUS  1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness

--

[2] a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

 [3] and at his appointed season he brought his word to light through

the preaching entrusted to me by the command of God our Savior,

TIT 1:4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

TIT 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint* elders in every town, as I directed you.

[6] An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.

[7] Since an overseer* is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless --

not overbearing, not quick -tempered, not given to

drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

 [8] Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good,
 who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined.

[9] He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he canencourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

TIT 1:10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group.

[11] They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach--and that for the sake of

dishonest gain.

[12] Even one of their own prophets has said, "Cretans are always liars,

evil brutes, lazy gluttons."

 [13] This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply,

so that they will be sound in the faith

 [14] and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to

the commands of those who reject the truth.

[15] To the pure, all things

are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.

 [16] They claim to know God, but by their actions theydeny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

2 DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Lesson 1 - Titus' Task on Crete -

  Titus 1:1 - 16

1. How is Paul’s description of himself at the beginning of this letter significant?
(1:1)

2. How did Paul describe the faith that he had?
 (1:1 -2)

3. In light of Paul’s reference to Titus, what kind of relationship did these two believer shave?
(1:4)

4. Why did Paul leave Titus in Crete?
(1:5)

5. For what reason was it necessary to appoint elders in the towns?
(1:5,10)

6. What qualifications were necessary to be an elder in Titus’s church?
(1:6 - 9)

7. Why is it necessary for an elder to be blameless?
(1:7)

8. What is the result of holding firm to the "trustworthy message"?
(1:9)

9.How should believers respond to "rebellious people" in the church?
(1:10 -13)

10. What were the rebellious people doing that Paul so strongly condemned?
(1:11)

11. What did Paul tell his audience to pay no attention to?
(1:14)

12. How is it possible to learn whether a person truly knows God?
 (1:16)