We Are – Week #2
We are committed to community.
Titus 2:1-15 (CGS #2)
INTRODUCTION:
Over the course of September, we are looking at our mission, vision, and values as a church. Last week, we started by looking at our mission and how we are centered on Jesus. Only through Jesus can we experience abundant eternal life and the hope of heaven. That is why everything that we do comes back to and is centered on Jesus. In other words, transformation in the way of Jesus is what we’re after. This week we are looking at another core component of our mission: relationships.
Our mission statement reads, “Connecting people to life-defining relationships in Christ.” From the first word, connecting, to the last phrase, relationships are central to who we are and what we do at CCC. This isn’t a new idea for us, though. All through the Bible, we see the importance and centrality of relationships for spiritual growth and transformation in the way of Jesus. In the letter of Titus, Paul writes to a young pastor named Titus who was leading a church on the island of Crete and was facing significant challenges with heresy and wrong teaching. The church itself was relatively young and needed significant direction and care from Titus. In chapter 2, Paul encourages Titus with a ministry principle that continues to this day, the importance of relationships for spiritual transformation. Paul tells Titus to make sure that he is teaching sound doctrine. That older men are training younger men, and that older women are training younger women. And that he, Titus, is to be a model for the church as a whole. Paul’s instruction is clear: sound doctrine is critical to the resilience of this church and its members, but it is ultimately handed off through the context of relationships. For those of us with a teacher personality or gifting, we can really hone in on the word, “teach.” And we think about a modern classroom environment, lecture-style instruction, and information-based exams. However, none of that was present in the local context of this letter. Yes, teaching did include the transfer of information, but Paul also uses the words train, model, urge, exhort, declare, and rebuke to really round out the context of learning for them and us. Paul reminds Titus that the goal isn’t just knowledge but is real and true character formation in the way of Jesus. This point is made clear by understanding that the Greek word for model or example is typos. This word literally means “to press,” and was connected to the idea of the impression of a die. Titus was to “leave his impression” on those around him by the way that he lived out the Christian life. Then from there, older men and women were to leave their impression on younger men and women in how they lived out their faith. Paul details what that impression is supposed to look like, “sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.” He also includes, “a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” Take a second look at the life Paul describes: self-controlled, sound in faith and love, a model of good works and more; these are not things you can hand off in a classroom. They are honed and forged in and through relationships.
Yes, there are things that need to be taught by way of information transfer, but lasting and resilient discipleship doesn’t primarily happen in classrooms or rows; it happens in circles and shoulder to shoulder. This was Paul’s advice to a young pastor trying to help a young church grow. If it worked then, it will work today. In fact, when we think about our own real growth, it has come through relationships. That is why we are committed to community at CCC. And as Paul tells Titus, it is for all generations (intergenerational) and requires honesty with one another (transparent relationships).
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. When you think about your life and the most important lessons learned. What was it, how did you learn it, and who taught you?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What stands out to you about Paul’s instruction to Titus in this section?
- Which of the three primary action words are you initially drawn to (teach, model, and train)? Why are you inclined to that particular action, and how do the other words help inform your perspective on Paul’s main action point?
- Look at the list of various virtues and characteristics that Paul uses to describe mature men, women, and even slaves. What stands out to you about those lists? Which virtue or characteristic challenges you the most, and how might you grow in it?
- When you look at your following of Jesus, do you have 2-3 people in your life that actively help form you in the way of Jesus? If so, who are they? If not, what is an intentional step that you can take to find them?
- Do I feel the freedom to share my deepest needs and struggles with trusted believers in consistent two-way accountability? If so, who is that person(s)? If not, what is holding me back?