Here’s how the study works: Read the chapter mentioned in the heading several times during the week and share any words, thoughts, verses that stood out to you. Having a week for a chapter creates the opportunity to reread it several times and make additional comments as you feel inclined as well as make comments on other people’s insights.
Three times in this chapter Paul writes about, "doing good" v.1, 8 & 14
Interestingly enough he spoke about this three times in chapter 2 as well, v. 3, 7 & 14 and once in chapter 1 v.8. Yet he never really defines it. I think Paul thought we would be able to work this out for ourselves, without giving us a list.
Which, of course, raises the question, why do we so often resort to lists (either spoken or unspoken) of what is "good" and "not good" in our behaviour?
Three times in this chapter Paul writes about, "doing good" v.1, 8 & 14
Interestingly enough he spoke about this three times in chapter 2 as well, v. 3, 7 & 14 and once in chapter 1 v.8. Yet he never really defines it. I think Paul thought we would be able to work this out for ourselves, without giving us a list.
Which, of course, raises the question, why do we so often resort to lists (either spoken or unspoken) of what is "good" and "not good" in our behaviour?
Well Susan, Titus 3:1 is very convicting to me. As you know we in the USA are about to inaugurate an new Pro-Choice president. I am Pro-Life and have had very negative thoughts about him and feeling resentful. But he is a peaceable man, and considerate, and I must show respect and pray for him. God has placed him in authority.
Well Susan, Titus 3:1 is very convicting to me. As you know we in the USA are about to inaugurate an new Pro-Choice president. I am Pro-Life and have had very negative thoughts about him and feeling resentful. But he is a peaceable man, and considerate, and I must show respect and pray for him. God has placed him in authority.
Amen to your comments, Deborah!
I also used to be negative and stressed about some of our folk ‘ in charge’……
Now I know to be obedient to God’s word and pray for them ……..Peace follows.
I feel the ‘lists’ you speak of, Susan, is God speaking to our heart….what is good or not good.
Praise Him for His love that He cares and corrects us.
Amen to your comments, Deborah!
I also used to be negative and stressed about some of our folk ‘ in charge’……
Now I know to be obedient to God’s word and pray for them ……..Peace follows.
I feel the ‘lists’ you speak of, Susan, is God speaking to our heart….what is good or not good.
Praise Him for His love that He cares and corrects us.
and also re:the lists question, I think Jesus told us plenty what is doing good.And the churches had heard from Paul about their specific areas of bad behaviour, andso I bet in this letter Paul didn’t have to repeat himself.
and also re:the lists question, I think Jesus told us plenty what is doing good.And the churches had heard from Paul about their specific areas of bad behaviour, andso I bet in this letter Paul didn’t have to repeat himself.
Further to the “list” question: I think the problem comes, not because we do not know what is good, but when we set it in concrete and enforce our “list” on everyone else.
Further to the “list” question: I think the problem comes, not because we do not know what is good, but when we set it in concrete and enforce our “list” on everyone else.
Susan are you saying good behaviour is subjective? Do you mean, my list of good behaviour may not be identical to yours? i think there are only a few things not covered by scripture. Romans 14:1, calls them disputable matters.
Susan are you saying good behaviour is subjective? Do you mean, my list of good behaviour may not be identical to yours? i think there are only a few things not covered by scripture. Romans 14:1, calls them disputable matters.
Yes Deborah, I do mean my list of good behaviour would not be the same as yours.
Many years ago (and fortunately no longer the case) the church I attended would have considered dancing, playing cards, going to the movies, not to be good behaviour. Yet I would consider these good ways of connecting to my community. So “my list” would have been different to people I went to church with.
I guess the point I’m making is “good behaviour” means different things to different people and that’s ok because God looks at our attitude and motivation. Romans 14 is a good reference for this.
Yes Deborah, I do mean my list of good behaviour would not be the same as yours.
Many years ago (and fortunately no longer the case) the church I attended would have considered dancing, playing cards, going to the movies, not to be good behaviour. Yet I would consider these good ways of connecting to my community. So “my list” would have been different to people I went to church with.
I guess the point I’m making is “good behaviour” means different things to different people and that’s ok because God looks at our attitude and motivation. Romans 14 is a good reference for this.
v.14 we do good, “in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives” so we do good in order to bless others; not so we can feel proud of ourselves.
v.14 we do good, “in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives” so we do good in order to bless others; not so we can feel proud of ourselves.
Good News Bible
Titus 3:6-7
God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by His grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.
What power in those words….still today!
Good News Bible
Titus 3:6-7
God poured out the Holy Spirit abundantly on us through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that by His grace we might be put right with God and come into possession of the eternal life we hope for.
What power in those words….still today!
Yes, God doesn’t do things by halves, He pours out his Spirit, “abundantly” or “generously” (NIV) and He expects us to be generous too. V.2 “be peaceable and considerate, and … gentle towards everyone.”
Yes, God doesn’t do things by halves, He pours out his Spirit, “abundantly” or “generously” (NIV) and He expects us to be generous too. V.2 “be peaceable and considerate, and … gentle towards everyone.”
Deborah
If you read the things that your president has said here
you will see he is really neither pro choice or pro life.
He has chosen freedom … and education to prevent which is exactly the way our Father treats us.
I am not a fan of abortion in so many ways but I will not point my finger at anyone who has gone this way. I know what an unwanted pregnancy can cause in someone’s life. I also know what the after world for someone who has aborted can cause as well. We all have our own sins to deal with … the Father will deal with us each individually.
And lucky for us, He will deal with us with His great love and compassion no matter what we have done.
Deborah
If you read the things that your president has said here
you will see he is really neither pro choice or pro life.
He has chosen freedom … and education to prevent which is exactly the way our Father treats us.
I am not a fan of abortion in so many ways but I will not point my finger at anyone who has gone this way. I know what an unwanted pregnancy can cause in someone’s life. I also know what the after world for someone who has aborted can cause as well. We all have our own sins to deal with … the Father will deal with us each individually.
And lucky for us, He will deal with us with His great love and compassion no matter what we have done.
“…to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
Paul knew the meaning of this like no other apostle. He had nodded consent to the murder of Stephen and many others.
A murderer, a violent aggressor, the Lord got hold of taught and put into the ministry !
Paul has said of himself in
1 Timothy 1 that he is one of the foremost sinners.
13,14,15
…even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
“…to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”
Paul knew the meaning of this like no other apostle. He had nodded consent to the murder of Stephen and many others.
A murderer, a violent aggressor, the Lord got hold of taught and put into the ministry !
Paul has said of himself in
1 Timothy 1 that he is one of the foremost sinners.
13,14,15
…even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor, yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief;
and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”
Then there are these kinds … and we are to reject them but only after a second warning.
vs 10
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Note to self … I am not condemning him or her … they are condemning themselves and we are still free to love them but distance is recommended.
Then there are these kinds … and we are to reject them but only after a second warning.
vs 10
Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.
Note to self … I am not condemning him or her … they are condemning themselves and we are still free to love them but distance is recommended.
vs 5
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His
mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being
justified by His
grace
we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We are constantly reminded that there is not a thing we have done or could do to be washed clean of our sins.
We have been bought with a price.
LOL
Sort of keeps us in our place when we keep this in mind and I don’t know about you but I seem to need to be kept in my place a fair amount. 😉
vs 5
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His
mercy,
by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that being
justified by His
grace
we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We are constantly reminded that there is not a thing we have done or could do to be washed clean of our sins.
We have been bought with a price.
LOL
Sort of keeps us in our place when we keep this in mind and I don’t know about you but I seem to need to be kept in my place a fair amount. 😉
Some good thoughts here Val, thanks for sharing.
I think being reminded, “that there is not a thing we have done or could do to be washed clean of our sins” keeps us grateful for God’s mercy.
Some good thoughts here Val, thanks for sharing.
I think being reminded, “that there is not a thing we have done or could do to be washed clean of our sins” keeps us grateful for God’s mercy.
v.1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
My chapter heading for this section reads: Saved in order to do good.
We don’t do good to be saved but rather because we are saved we do good.
We don’t do good because we have to but rather because we want to please the one who has saves us.
v.1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
My chapter heading for this section reads: Saved in order to do good.
We don’t do good to be saved but rather because we are saved we do good.
We don’t do good because we have to but rather because we want to please the one who has saves us.
v.5-6 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
We were in need of mercy and God provided what we need.
God pours out his Spirit on us generously but do we receive the Spirit generously into our lives?
v.5-6 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior
We were in need of mercy and God provided what we need.
God pours out his Spirit on us generously but do we receive the Spirit generously into our lives?