October 14th, 2011
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Whole-life Discipleship

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Lord, “I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart” (Psa. 40:8). Teach me now, I pray.

Read TITUS 2:1-15

[1] You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. [2] Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. [3] Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. [4] Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. [6] Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. [7] In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness [8] and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. [9] Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, [10] and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. [11] For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. [12] It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, [13] while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, [14] who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. [15] These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Touched by the Spirit, we can think more clearly; feel more deeply; speak more truthfully; love more extravagantly; serve more creatively; give more lavishly; live more fully” (Leonard Sweet).

Think Further

Titus’s second task is discipleship training for the young churches (1,15). Titus was to provide teaching for every stage of life and social role within each household unit. Those of us who live in societies exposed to Christian values for centuries may find these instructions rather basic and even reactionary. In Crete they were revolutionary: respect and trust earned by consistent living, self-control rather than self-indulgence. Purity, reverence, kindness and love for others were the fruit of a Gospel which transformed lives. As such, it made the Gospel of salvation attractive and demonstrated that it was effective (10).

While Paul clearly links belief in Christian doctrine to a change of lifestyle, he knows that this is a gradual process. The qualities required of the elders in Crete are like those Timothy puts in place in Ephesus (1 Tim. 3:1-13), but are not quite as demanding. The ethical teaching for the new disciples is basic. What matters is that these churches start the process of growth in holiness. The Cretan Christians have been set free in Christ to say “no” to their old life of self-indulgence and deception and “yes” to everything that is godly. Their moral witness is not yet perfect, but will demonstrate the coming kingdom in the midst of their culture.

Christ came to create a people eager to do what is good. It is that desire, rather than our particular stage of progress, which is the essence of Christian discipleship. Titus was sent to model, teach and encourage it (7). How can we encourage that desire in new believers in a Western culture increasingly self-indulgent and ignorant of the faith?

Apply

Do I in any way take Christian moral values for granted? Am I eager to do good? How is that evident in my life?

Closing prayer

Mighty God, so often I am more concerned about self improvement rather than Christ replacement. Transform me so I can clearly demonstrate the difference You have made in my life.

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