Titus was written by Paul as a message of encouragement to Titus, a fellow servant and follower of Christ. Titus was experiencing ongoing opposition from the ungodly and legalistic people within his congregations; so Paul sent him some words of instruction, primarily relating to elders, qualifications of church overseers (deacons) and for the "older women" to live as examples for younger women to emulate.
The way we read through books of the bible is simple:
- I read Ch.1...Jessi reads Ch.2...and we alternate until the book is over (which can take longer than one night...don't get all spiritual and try finish Isaiah in one night).
- After I read Ch.1, we discuss it. After Jessi reads Ch.2, we discuss it. Does it get awkward at times? yes. Is that ok? yes. You do not have to give a complete exegesis on how the original greek influenced the authors intent in regards to the message of the Gospel. What is the author saying? Where are you convicted? Where do the scriptures call you out? What challenged you? What are we doing well?, etc. This is a time to connect with each other.
- Side note...not married? Do this with friends, roommates, your kids, your uncle (not the crazy one), your landlord, your brother/sister.
So...back to Titus:
I read this in Ch.1 V.7-9
"For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant, or quick tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
Jessi read this in Ch.2 V.3-5
"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."
Here were our thoughts after discussing these two passages:
"What if we took this serious? What if for the first time EVER we took the bibles commands and instruction serious? What if I strived to be this kind of guy, and what if Jessi strived to be this kind of women?"
We thought about it more and came to the conclusion that we are not striving to be these people. We go to church, I preach, I teach, Jessi prays, we love Jesus and know that his blood has covered our sins...but we are not taking steps to be what the SCRIPTURES have called us to be. I do not want to strive towards what "christian culture" says men and women are to be...I want to strive towards what the SCRIPTURES say we are to be.
So, at present we are contemplative. Soaking in this charge from scripture. Getting our minds filled with the Word and not with the world (Rom. 12:2). Being contemplative is a good place to be...it means that change is likely on the horizon...not change for the sake of change...but change for the sake of God and his glory.
His Glory our joy
His Word our guide
His Grace our hope
Fight On
2 comments:
Thats awesome dude... Me and Emily have been reading Titus. That book is legit. I mean they all are but I loved the message of Titus. Hope life is well with you and Jessi.
Thanks man. Yeah, we were not expecting to get so rocked by Titus (of all books). It is pretty eye opening to be a teacher and considered to be a "good Christian" and then realize that you are not taking practical steps to become more like the scriptures. Basically, I have been taking in a lot of head knowledge over the past 2 years, but not producing any action with my knowledge.
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