Explore The New TestamentSample

SAY WHAT? (What is the passage saying?)

• Today we start with a letter Paul wrote to an apprentice of his named Titus, who was sent to an island called Crete to lead the church there.
• After an introduction, Paul instructs Titus to appoint elders (also in the Bible called overseers, bishops, or pastors). Paul gives Titus a list of character traits that should be true of someone in a church leadership position.
• In the last section Paul describes (in harsh terms!) some people who need to be corrected. There were people who "claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him"and who were deceiving and disrupting people with false teaching about God.

SO WHAT? (What are the underlying principles?)

• The character traits Paul lists for an elder should be true of every Christian. We should all aspire to be hospitable, self-controlled, not violent, etc.
• Unfortunately, there will always be people who claim to know God, who wear the name Christian, but by their actions deny him. We call those people hypocrites, and they make Jesus look bad. We need to give God space to work in our lives and partner with Him so that our lives become more consistent with our beliefs (and God's teachings) every day.

NOW WHAT? (How will you personally apply this passage?)

• Have you ever known a hypocrite? What impact did their hypocrisy have on you? Have you known someone who truly lives out what they believe? What impact did their integrity have on you? Don't you want to live a consistent life that impacts people in a really positive way? Why not pick one of the character traits in verses 6 through 9 and ask God to help you grow in that area? What friend could you ask to keep you accountable