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. Titus 3:4-5 Read Titus 3 What verses talk about the past, present, and future of salvation? Can you match the verses that each go to the past, present, and future? What were we like as slaves to sin? Past: At one time, we were slaves to sin (Titus 3:3). To appreciate salvation, we need to remember what God saved us from. We all have an aspect of salvation. We all respond and view it differently. For…
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Grace Teaches To Say No
For the Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. Titus 2:11-12 What does Grace teach those who pass its classes? Does Professor Grace teach that believers remain slaves of sin? How is Grace viewed or looked at as? Read Titus 2 Some view Grace as weak, feeble, fragile, and fearful. Others view Grace as a teacher without a backbone, undisciplined, and without a firm will. In contrast to these views, Grace is bold and powerful. Grace is kind, but it doesn’t tolerate evil. Grace is merciful, but…
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God’s Grace Offers Salvation: Part 2
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Titus 2:11 Read Titus 2: 11-14 Grace is the free, kind, and generous way God relates to people. Paul speaks of grace as if it was a human – a teacher from God. The foundation of Titus 2 is found in verses 11-14. The behavior Paul encourages the five groups is to respond to the grace of God that has appeared and taught us. What were we like when grace found us? Grace alone brings God’s offer of salvation to all. God’s grace is for all people. The powerful grace that took…
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False Teachers According To Titus
For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers, and deceivers, especially those of the circumstances group. They must be silenced because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach – and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Titus 1: 10-12 Read Titus 1 “For . . . the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness.” Paul preached and taught the faith – the gospel message. At the heart of our faith is the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness. Knowledge of truth is not just for the head; instead, gospel truth changes life from ungodliness to godliness. “To Titus, my true…
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To Be A Vessel: Part 2
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” 2 Timothy 2 19 Some false teachers today claim that the grace of God covers those who continue to practice sin day after day. Paul makes it clear, “everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness” 2 Timothy 2:19. To be a vessel of honor, we must turn away from wickedness and cleanse ourselves from choosing dishonorable, sinful purposes. Read 2 Timothy 2:19-22. Grace does not hide the sin we practice. Grace teaches us to say “NO” to sin and “yes” to…
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Women And The Church: Part 2
Reread 1 Timothy 2:8-15. Also, keep in mind his purpose, as he stated in 1 Timothy 3: 14,15. Now make a list of what a woman should do, what she is not allowed to do, and why. Where is this pattern of behavior to be implemented? Keep everything in context, don’t jump to conclusions or opinions. Was Paul against women being in ministry? What are some biblical examples of women in ministry? In your culture, how do women show submission to their husbands? Who are some women in ministry that Paul commended? Why does Paul emphasize that sin came through Adam in Romans 5:12-20…
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Turning From Sin
If my people called by my name humble themselves, pray and seek my face, and turn to from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 1 Chronicles 7:14 When we are God’s children, we are called by His name. We are dedicated to God. Being a child of God, we must humble ourselves before God. We must realize that we have failures and inabilities. We will have to repent of our sins. We must renew our commitment to follow in the ways of God. His plans, desires, and purposes. Humbling ourselves means recognizing how we need God’s mercy. Praying to God…
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Hope And Jesus
“Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit.” says the Lord Almighty. Zechariah 4:6 Life is hard. I heard the line God is Good, All the time.” from the movie “God’s Not Dead.” I use it often. Have you used it? I am going to have to pay attention to when I use that line. Am I only using it when things are going smoothly? Do I use it when I am in the middle of a storm? When we live like Jesus, we must live with the tension of accepting that life is never going to be exactly how we want it…
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This Is My Commandment:Love Each Other
This is my command: Love each other. John 15:16-17 Have you ever realized that almost all lessons from God come full circle, back to love? I have. The bottom line to our life, the one commandment that God wants us to follow and do, is to love one another. How well are we really following this command in today’s society? Here comes the risk of grace. God went out on a limb to make us apart of His branch with the hope that we will bear fruit. When we should love others, we are showing the world that we are God’s disciples. There is…
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The Gardener
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” John 15:1-3 Do you know God? Do you know who He is? Do you know what He is like? Jesus uses two metaphors in these first three verses. These metaphors reveal important things about who The Father and Himself are. Jesus states that He is the TRUE grapevine. Why do you think it is important that He states that…