New Testament Bible Study by John Stanko

Titus Study Three: 3:1-15

Dear Student of the Word,

I realize I sent you a study last week even though recently I have sent one every other week.  But I am anxious to finish this verse-by-verse project of the New Testament, and now I only have Philemon and Jude to complete and I'm done!  After that, I will begin to recycle past studies on a biweekly basis, starting with Ephesians.

In this last of three studies from Paul's letter to Titus, we look at the topic of sowing division after Paul told Titus to warn a divisive person and then have nothing to do with them if they don't repent:

  3:10 – Proverbs warns us of how God feels toward a divisive person:

There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes,  a lying tongue,  hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19).

God is interested in those who promote harmony and peace and not those who stir up trouble in His body.  Are you a source of unity or division?  How do you know?  What kinds of things do you think could take place that would cause this dreaded division?  One of them is arguing about doctrinal issues that don’t contribute to holy and righteous living.

Paul instructed Titus to confront anyone who was contributing to division.  Titus was not to just leave it alone or ignore it.  It had to be dealt with “head-on.”  How are you when it comes to confronting someone with a bad attitude or wrong behavior?  Do you have the courage to speak your mind, without judging or assuming you are correct?   The latter is so you can still listen to the other person to insure you have the correct assessment of the situation?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

If the person ignores the rebuke, then that person is to be avoided and shunned.   This “shunning” can certainly be abused and applied for any manner of perceived or real sinful behavior.  The “shunning,” however, should only happen for those causing division, since contact with that person is spreading a virus that must be “quarantined.”

v. 11 – I am not sure what it means to be “self-condemned.”  Does it meant the divisive person knows they are doing wrong but continues to do it anyway?  Paul was blunt, however, that this person is warped, steeped in sin.  It is part of man’s fallen nature to create havoc in organizations and relationships by being selfish and argumentative.  We can believe we are expressing our individuality, but we simply contributing to a dysfunctional church or organization.

Are there any biblical examples of a man who sowed discord among brothers?

Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches (Acts 15:36-41).

While John Mark was a great man and minister, he contributed to tension in the ministry team by departing, probably over an offense taken from the way his cousin Barnabas was treated. My goal is not to be a source of disunity in any organization in which I serve.  Is that your goal, too?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 3

************************************************

OPERATION PETTICOAT: I went to the mailbox last Saturday and found almost $1,000 had come in for Operation Petticoat, which makes a total of $1,700 contributed toward the cause of underwear for my birthday. (You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.)  I think we have all we need that will enable me to take 2,000 sets of undies and 550 bras to Kenya. Thank you so much for your wonderful and generous response.

I depart on May 13 and could still use some contributions toward the Sophia Fund, which we use to feed HIV/AIDS orphans and widows in Kenya.  If you can send even $5 toward feeding an orphan, it will go a long way and be greatly appreciated. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct.

KENYA TRAINING:  I am delighted that peole are registering for The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Attached below is the brochure for the event. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. I invite you to join me in Nairobi for what I know will be a life-changing experience.

Titus Study Two: 2:1-15

Dear Student of the Word,

It's been a few weeks since you have received a Bible study, so it's time to catch up.  We have one more chapter to cover in Titus and then one study from Philemon and one from Jude and we are finished with our New Testament studies.  After we finish, I will begin to re-circulate some of my past studies until they are all on the blog site where this is posted.

This week we continue to look at Paul's instructions for Titus who had remained behind in Crete to set things in order in the church there.  This week I wrote on day five of this seven-day study:

v. 9 – Some read into this advice that Paul advocated slavery.  He did not.  He was powerless, however, to change it as one could be today with access to political action strategies.  What’s more, Paul was concerned for the Way and how it would be perceived by the dominant culture as we stated earlier, so he wanted believing slaves to model exemplary behavior toward their masters.

Whenever I encounter Paul’s instructions toward slaves, I tend to substitute the word “employee” for “slave.”  So the advice for moderns would be, “You employees, respect your supervisors and don’t talk back to them.”  Peter also gave advice to slaves/employees in his epistle:

Slaves, submit yourselves to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and considerate, but also to those who are harsh. For it is commendable if a man bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps (1 Peter 2:18-21).

v. 10 – Paul further explained that he wanted the church’s doctrine to be attractive to all, including masters. So he was not just interested in good public relations, but also in evangelism.  He wanted slaves to lead their masters to Christ!  Paul kept his eye on the prize at all times and the prize for him was seeing the Gentiles come to know the Lord.  So slaves were to be respectful and disciplined in speech. What’s more, they were not to steal and pilfer. 

I remember a time when I felt impressed to write my employer a $25 check to replace all the paper, paper clips, postage and other office supplies that I had carelessly used.  I had pilfered and stolen supplies that belonged to my company.  There is another way to steal from your company and that is through wasted time.  If you are being paid for work and are not working, then you are stealing.

Paul wanted slaves/employees to prove that they can be trusted without supervision.

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving (Colossians 3:22-24).

So, what kind of employee are you?  How is your relationship with your supervisor(s)?  Do you give your best at work?  Do you act your best at work?  Would people there know that you are a Christian, not by what you say, but by what you do?  Do you want to be promoted based on what you know and your expertise rather than on your character and integrity?

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 2

************************************************

OPERATION PETTICOAT: You can read about my underwear project at Operation: Petticoat.  Speaking of creativity, I recently heard from a fascinating recycling organization called Bra Recyclers!  They are making a large donation to the cause and are promoting it aggressively. I am going back to Kenya on May 13, so I have set April 30 as my deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there (which will cost me money for excess luggage).

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. As stated above, $700 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and just a little for The Sophia Fund! Thank you for your help. 

KENYA TRAINING:  Last week I provided the specifics for The Pacific Institute (TPI) seminar I will conduct in Nairobi from May 17-19.  Attached below is the brochure for the event. Frankly speaking, TPI is the best training I have ever experienced and I love to share it with my friends. I invite you to join me in Nairobi for what I know will be a life-changing experience. 

Download Kenya TPI

Titus Study One

Dear Student of the Word,

This week we begin our short study of Paul's letter to his colleague, Titus.  Paul had left Titus behind when he left Crete and wanted Titus to set things in order and appoint elders.  We don't know much about Titus - who he was, where he came from and how he established a relationship with Paul.  We do know, however, that Titus was a tremendous blessing to Paul and the work of the gospel.  Paul was disturbed that some false teachers had emerged in Crete, as there had been in all the cities in which Paul labored.  This week I wrote in day five of this seven-day study:

v. 11 – Paul was not tolerant of anyone who did not adhere to the teaching that emanating from his ministry, for he knew that what he had he had received from the Lord Himself.  Today Paul would be portrayed as intolerant, perhaps the worst label that tolerant moderns can put on anyone!  Paul wrote that those of the “circumcision party” should shut up or be shut up. 

Those false teachers were ruining entire families.  That shows you the power of good or bad teaching. This is why teachers incur a stricter judgment as James wrote in his letter:

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check (James 4:1-2).

What’s more, these false teachers had a hidden agenda – they were after dishonest gain.  There is another saying that says, “Follow the money.”  When you followed the money in Paul’s day, it led to those false teachers.  This is not the only time Paul encountered those who were profiteering from perverting the gospel:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God (2 Corinthians 2:17)

v. 12 – Paul was referring to those who were in Crete where he had left Titus to set things in order.  One of the Cretan prophets had given testimony about his own people.  His testimony indicated that his people were not a noble group, but had their cultural tendencies that only furthered the problem that Paul saw.  These Cretan false prophets had found a financial way to benefit from their erroneous interpretation of the gospel. 

Usually I resist any type of cultural stereotype, for there is no way that such a belief can be accurate for all – or so I thought.  But Paul here indicted Cretans in general and showed how s cultural flaw could impact the work of the gospel.  When you think of it, every culture would have a flaw or flaws, because every culture has emerged from sinful men working together to build cultural norms, habits and behaviors. The gospel came not only to change individuals, but also to change sinful cultural behaviors. 

This is why each believer must look to be transformed, for there are powerful internal and external forces that work to keep a believer from being conformed to the image of Christ.  Ask the Lord to show you where your culture may have shaped or be shaping your attitudes, thinking or behavior in a way that is contrary to the culture of the Gospel. 

As always, I welcome your comments to this week's study. For additional New Testament Bible studies, check out my website archive, which contains a complete collection of all my verse-by-verse Bible studies from Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Hebrews, James, 1&2 Peter, Hebrews, 1-3 John and Revelation, along with the unpublished volumes of The Faith Files.

Download Titus Study 1

************************************************

OPERATION PETTICOAT:  I announced plans two weeks ago to continue raising money for The Sophia Fund, the Deborah Foundation and a new program, Operation: Petticoat.  The latter is an effort to raise money for underwear for the young ladies in Kenya, who don't have any and consequently miss school because of it.  I know it may sound simple, but this is an important issue as evidenced by two emails I received this past week:

Just read about Operation: Petticoat.  It is so true about the underwear issue.  Most of the girls here don't wear bras and the panties are tattered.  It may seem strange to you but it is a big issue and the silly things are not cheap!  So little material but the price can be restrictive to kids who have little - J.M.

John, I think Operation: Petticoat is brilliant. Lack of underwear is a huge problem for girls and women in Africa and they are very grateful for any that can be sent. It doesn't matter if it is second hand as long as it is clean. Bras are particularly appreciated because they are harder to find and much more expensive. They are also necessary for older girls to be able to play sport. Women in developed countries don't know what to do with their older bras other than throw them away, and they could make such a difference. Children's clothes are also needed. Zimbabwe winter temperatures regularly go below zero at night.  Another vital necessity, which is out of reach for all but the best paid, is sanitary towels and tampons - S.F.

I am going back to Kenya in May, so we set April 30 as our deadline to raise money to purchase underwear here and take it over there.  You may not be passionate about underwear, but the two emails above speak to the urgency of the matter. 

You can give through my website or send a check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 91099, Pittsburgh, PA 15221. Just let me know if your contribution is to be used for food or underwear and I promise to apply it where you direct. $70 came in last week for Operation: Petticoat and $500 yesterday for The Sophia Fund, and I am trusting the Risen Christ for a lot more!  Thank you for your help.