Saturday Study
Titus (12-31-16)
During Paul’s first missionary journey the Lord ordained that Paul would come to know a young man named Titus. Titus was Greek which means he had not grown up worshiping the God of the Bible. As he heard Paul preach, God gave Titus’ a heart to see the gospel and respond with saving faith in Jesus. Paul then brought Titus to Jerusalem (Galatians 2:1-4) to show the apostles and other Jewish believers how a Greek could love God just as much as the Jews did. Titus represented all the other non-Jewish people who became Christians and were completely accepted by God through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is like us today.
Titus traveled with Paul on missionary journeys and assisted him in the work of sharing the gospel. Titus was with Paul during the 3 years Paul was in Ephesus. After this, Paul sent Titus to Corinth to help relieve tension there (2 Corinthians 7:6, 13-14) and to collect money for the poor (2 Corinthians 8:6, 16, 23). Paul thought of Titus not only as a very faithful friend but also as his spiritual son.
After Paul was released from the Roman prison where he had been for two years, he and Titus traveled to the island of Crete. Paul and Titus taught the people there about their need for God and the good news about Jesus (Titus 1:4-5). Soon there were enough believers to start churches in several towns. Paul wanted to go visit the church in Corinth so he left Titus to continue teaching the new Christians and to appoint church leaders for each new church. Titus was a busy man as he cared for all the new Cretan believers. This was especially taxing because of the immaturity of these new believers.
Paul knew Titus needed some encouragement and reminders of what was important to teach the people. So shortly after writing 1st Timothy, Paul wrote to Titus. This most likely happened while Paul was in Macedonia, on his way to Nicopolis (Titus 3:12).
In his letter, Paul advises Titus regarding what qualifications are needed for the leaders in the church. He also warns Titus of the reputations of those living on the island of Crete (Titus 1:12).
In Titus 3:3-6 Paul reminds Titus, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 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.”
How awesome it must have been when Titus received a letter from his mentor. Paul was a much-honored man and rightly so. He established several churches throughout the eastern world. His instruction and gospel re-orientation must have proven to be essential for Titus’s maturing in the Lord. We must never forget to use the word and Gospel truth regularly when speaking to each other. That we too might lift each other up in Christ and encourage each other to press on in all that we face for our King.
To help Titus continue in his faith in Christ, Paul asked Titus to come to Nicopolis and bring with him two other members of the church (Titus 3:12-13). This is the kind of Christ centered discipleship we are to be in today. Life on life. Training, encouraging, sending and multiplying. May all of our study through these 52 figures of the Holy Scriptures be an inspiration to us to obey God, serve him sacrificially, not walk alone but in accountability, and to make the most of the days God entrust to us for his glory and others good.
I look forward to next year’s reading plan that we will start this coming Monday.
In this upcoming year we will be focusing on Spiritual Disciplines. My hope is that this will help us to mature in our faith and grow in our dependence on and worship of the Lord. We will also we reading through the book of Proverbs throughout the year as a break from the disciplines and to give us a great source of biblical wisdom. Please don’t hesitate to share our reading plan with anyone you are walking with or ministering too. It is a great way to be in the word of God together. I am praying for you as you study God’s Holy word and commit your life to obeying his revealed will.
By His grace and for His glory,
Pastor Joshua Kirstine
Olive Drive Church