These small group studies of Titus 2:11-15 contain cross-references, Bible study discussion questions, and applications. Visit our library of inductive Bible studies for more in depth inductive studies on this and other books of the Bible you can use in your small group.
Titus 2:11-15 Small Group Bible Study Guide
Titus 2:11-15 Bible Study Video
Titus 2:11-15 Podcast
Outline
I. The grace of God (11)
II. Godly and expectant living (12-14)
III. Charge to Titus (15)
I. The grace of God (11-15)
Discussion Questions
• What does “the grace of God” refer to?
• Are there any hints in the text as to what the “grace of God” is? What is the biggest grace of God to us?
• Define “grace.”
• What is the relationship of these verses (11-13) to the rest of the book?
Cross-References
Romans 11:6 – But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
John 1:16 – For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. The “grace of God” – Grace is something that is unseen and intangible. But here, it says that it has “appeared” and instructs us. Therefore, I believe that this “grace of God” refers to Jesus Christ incarnate. Only Jesus has brought salvation to all men so by definition this “grace of God” can only refer to Jesus.
Jesus is, in fact, the perfect embodiment of God’s grace. Grace means “God’s favor toward the unworthy” or the “spontaneous, unmerited gift of the divine favour in the salvation of sinners.”
Grace is an undeserved gift. Jesus is the greatest gift God has ever given to man; we didn’t deserve Him. The fact that men did not deserve Jesus is made all the clearer in that after His loving and self-sacrificial service, the very people He served murdered Him.
Humankind did not deserve Him, and yet He came. In Luke, we see that God was pleased with people. That is His divine favor since men had done nothing worthy of His affections.
These verses contain the gospel’s core facts and form the central tenets of our faith. It is this grace and salvation that Paul urged Titus to teach the church (Titus 2:15). At the same time, Titus was charged with appointing elders who would safeguard this message and continue to spread it.
2. Salvation is made available to all men – Christ’s coming has made salvation available to all men when, by their own efforts, they could never have attained it without Him. It doesn’t mean that every person will be saved. But it does mean that salvation is not restricted to one group of people, such as Jews, Americans, or Westerners. Salvation is available and accessible for all, regardless of skin color, ancestry, or personal merit. There will be representatives in heaven from every group of people (Revelation 5:9, 7:9).
Application – Think about and thank God for how His grace has changed your life. Consider your worst sins and thank Him for His forgiveness. In addition to the remission of sins, in what other ways have you experienced God’s grace?
Since God has graciously forgiven us, we should do the same for others. How can you show grace to others in day-to-day life?
II. Godly and expectant living (12-14)
Discussion Questions
• What are some examples of Jesus instructing us not to be ungodly and to avoid worldly desires?
• What were some features of the present age at that time? How about now? Which is easier to serve God in? Why?
• How does one renounce ungodliness and worldly passions? Is this a one-time thing or continuous?
• Knowing that the world around us is so evil, how can we live sensibly, righteously, and godly?
• How can you train in godliness?
• What is the blessed hope?
• Why did Jesus die on the cross to redeem us?
• How did Jesus purchase you?
• What does it mean to you that you are His possession?
Cross-References
1 Timothy 4:7-8 – Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
2 Peter 3:11 – Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness.
2 Peter 1:5-8 – For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5:24-25 – And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Matthew 24:44 – Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Jesus trains us – Jesus is the great teacher. He instructed hundreds of thousands of people on how they should live. His life, example, and words continue to guide us. And Jesus’ very presence is with us to help us overcome sin and live righteous lives.
2. Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions – Often in Scripture, we are given a negative thing to avoid and a positive thing to pursue. That is true here as well. We are to renounce ungodliness and worldly desires but pursue sensibility (self-control), righteousness, and godliness.
Renounce definition –
A. Formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession).
B. Reject and stop using or consuming.
When a person first comes to Christ, he should renounce sin. Part of being Jesus’ disciple is recognizing evil and turning away from it, which can take the form of a formal declaration to renounce sin and worldly passions. But more than a verbal declaration, it is a change in mindset. Making Christ Lord requires removing idols. He is the priority and takes first place in our hearts. We choose Him over alcohol, money, reputation, worldly success, immoral pleasure, and everything else that the world offers.
Yet a one-time renunciation of these things is not enough. The allure of temptation may fade after salvation, but it does not disappear. The second definition for renounce includes “stop using or consuming.” Therefore, there is also a continuous aspect of daily denying the flesh and choosing to put Christ first.
Application – How can you practice renunciation of worldly desires in your daily life? How can you train yourself so that the allure of the world fades even more? From where does the strength for denying sin come?
3. Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives – We just saw the negative side of what a Christian should avoid. Here is the positive side of what a Christian should pursue. Titus 2:12 is an excellent summary of how believers should live their lives. It is not rocket science.
God calls us to avoid sin and to live righteous and godly lives. It is not enough to merely avoid sin. In fact, if our sole goal is simply to avoid sin, that isn’t easy.
Imagine a girl who sits at a table with a marshmallow on the table in front of her. She has been told not to eat it. So, she covers her eyes, refuses to look at it, and reminds herself again and again, “Don’t eat it. Don’t eat it!” It is unlikely that she will hold out very long. And even if she did, there are much better things she could be doing with her time. It would be far easier to resist the temptation if the girl used her time more productively and went outside to play with friends.
When we go toward something (Jesus), it is considerably easier for us to go away from sin.
God calls us to godly living. The Christian life is not always about doing something huge and remarkable for God. It is about living the simple lives He has set before us for His glory. Christian living is about pleasing Him in our everyday actions, in the “small things.” Each day there are thousands of ways to respond to situations with self-control in a godly manner.
• Start and end your day with prayer rather than going straight to your phone.
• Calmly help your toddler clean the floor when a glass of milk is spilled.
• Graciously make way for a rude driver.
• Give a kind and gentle answer when your spouse is harsh and unfair.
• Humbly listen when someone offers advice or criticism.
• Turn away from your sports game and offer help to your child with homework.
The list can go on forever.
On this topic, Charles Spurgeon said:
“To a man who lives unto God nothing is secular, everything is sacred! He puts on his workday garment and it is a vestment to him…He goes forth to his labor and exercises the office of the priesthood…
You housemaids, you cooks, you nurses, you plowmen, you housewives, you traders, you sailors—your labor is holy if you serve the Lord Christ in it.
He has made the common pots and pans of your kitchens to be as the bowls before the alter if you know what you are and live according to your high calling.”
Godliness is about giving ourselves as a “living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) to Him each day in each situation, big or small.
Application – In which area of your life do you need to grow in godliness? What is one specific way you can grow in godliness in the coming week?
4. The present age – In some aspects, the present age at that time differed from what is the present age now. Technology was less advanced. There were different governments, cultures, and traditions. However, the “present age” could also refer to the entire church age. Regardless, there are many similarities between that time and now.
One hundred percent of people at that time sinned. One hundred percent of people now sin. One hundred percent faced temptations, and one hundred percent face temptations today too. Believers encountered pressures/persecution from their families, places of work, governments, and friends, just as we do.
Sometimes believers will make excuses for not serving God wholly because they will say it is easier to follow God at other times (back in Bible days) or other places (America since that is a Christian country, ha!) This is not true, however. Wherever you are, it is always difficult to follow God. Each country and time era has its own temptations (though they always come back to the basic ones, 1 Corinthians 10:13). Though it is challenging to live out verse 12, it is possible.
However, it is not doable if we rely on our own strength. It is only possible to be godly with God’s power. We must be connected to Jesus (John 15:5) and filled with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5).
Application – One of the best prayers you can ever pray is extremely simple: “God help me.” That is a prayer that we should pray over and over again when we face temptation. You cannot resist temptation by your own power. Victory is only through Christ.
One of my young children wanted to eat corn at the dinner table. But he didn’t want a whole ear of corn and attempted to break the corn on the cob in half. However, he wasn’t strong enough to do it. I watched as he tried every way to break the corn. He tried hitting it. He pulled and squeezed, using every ounce of his strength. As this went on, he got increasingly frustrated. Finally, he gave up, exasperated and angry, declaring that he had tried everything and it was impossible.
Then I reminded him that he didn’t try everything yet and suggested that he ask me for help. He did, and I quickly broke the corn for him and handed it to him. I taught him that sometimes we can’t do something on our own and it is okay to ask for help.
The same is true for us. I sometimes wonder if God is sadly watching us struggle and fail, depending on our strength, as He waits to unleash His vast resources to help us if we will but just ask.
Let us get into the habit of saying, “God help me.”
3. Waiting for our blessed hope – We should be looking forward to the return of Christ.
Reflect – Where is your hope based? What is your biggest hope? What do you spend your time looking forward to or dreaming about?
If our hope is anywhere in this world (money, career, fame, getting a wife or a husband or a kid, etc.), we will be disappointed one day. People will disappoint us. Money will not satisfy.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
These words were read at my mother-in-law’s funeral because they describe the hope that believers should have.
Our blessed hope should be that we will see Christ, that our sins will be finally eradicated, and that we will live forever with Christ in heaven in absolute holiness and joy. This is the chief end of man (to glorify God and enjoy Him fully). This hope far outweighs any temporary difficulties you may have in this world.
Romans 8:18 – For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
2 Timothy 4:8 – Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
We are not to wait for that day with ambivalence or reluctance but are to look forward to it.
Reflect – Are you looking forward to it? Do you ever pray for it? Do you ever look at the evil in the world and long for something better, something purer, for God’s kingdom? Or do you secretly hope that Jesus will wait a while (maybe for you to get married, have a kid, or get that promotion)? Are you scared that He might return today, knowing that you are not ready?
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Put your treasure in heaven by serving God faithfully, and your heart will focus more and more on Christ and His return. If you find you struggle with this, the first place to examine is your heart. Maybe you really aren’t ready. Perhaps you need to repent of some secret sin or bad habit and ask God to cleanse you. Maybe you aren’t serving Him whole-heartedly (think of the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30) and know He won’t be happy with you when He returns.
Oh, that we would be able to say as David did that “your love is better to me than life.” (Psalm 63:3)
Our time in this world is limited. We can do many things in heaven, but sharing the gospel is not one of them. Let us redeem the time and invest in building God’s kingdom. We must get up off the sofa and away from the TV and computer to serve the Lord.
Reflect – How does expecting Jesus’ return influence your life today?
5. Who gave himself for us to redeem us –
Jesus died for a reason. He died to redeem us from our sins. Jesus died so that He could purchase a holy people for His own possession, people who are zealous to do what is right.
1 Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
If you are a believer, then you do belong to God. Are you being subject to your master (verse 9)? He bought and paid for us with His blood, which is a debt that we can never pay back. But because He first loved us, we should also love Him in return.
Everything we have belongs to Him. Our money, children, time, and body are all His. Sometimes we try to separate our “real” life from our spiritual life, giving God part of our money (10%) or some of our time (Sunday mornings). Before God’s creation, nothing existed. Without God’s grace, we would cease to exist in an instant. God is the rightful owner of everything we have; if we hold anything back, we are stealing from Him.
Reflect – How does knowing you are His possession affect your decisions? Your use of time?
III. Charge to Titus (15)
Discussion Questions
• What things were Titus supposed to declare?
• What is the difference between exhorting and rebuking?
• When is exhortation helpful?
• When is rebuking necessary?
• Why does Paul tell Titus to do this with “all authority”?
• How could Titus let no one disregard him?
Cross-References
1 Thessalonians 4:8 – Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
Verse by Verse Commentary
1. Declare, exhort, reprove –
These three verbs show different types of communication that Titus needed to learn as he ministered to the saints. The order Paul mentions them also demonstrates a progression.
The first step is to declare the truth. The second step is to encourage people to put it into practice. The third step is to rebuke those who do not obey it.
Illustration –
A baseball coach teaches his students how to play baseball.
• Step 1 – This is a bat. The bat is swung into the ball to hit the ball.
• Step 2 – Take the bat. Keep your hands close together. Step up to the plate. Now swing it.
• Step 3 – You didn’t stand near the plate. Make sure not to step away from the plate. Now try again.
Spiritual truths are taught similarly. It is not right to rebuke someone who has never been trained in what is right and wrong. More knowledge means more responsibility to put it into practice. The word “rebuke” shows believers are expected to obey Scripture.
2. Let no one disregard you – Titus might have been timid, but he needed to realize that he had the authority of Scripture behind him. He could not allow false teachers or divisive people to ignore God’s Word and lead others astray.
Titus should uncompromisingly stand on the truth with courage. Opinions or preferences can be compromised but not Biblical truth.
Application – Know when to stand your ground. Many arguments are not worth having. But some things are worth the discussion. If you are warning people in a burning building to flee, you should not let them disregard you. The same is true when you declare the truth of Scripture in the church.
Titus Bible Study Guide – If this study is helpful, you can download the complete Titus study in PDF or get the paperback from Amazon.
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