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3 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 
20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Home group questions

1. Some have suggested that the parable known as the prodigal son should be known as the parable of the loving father.  Discuss as a group.
2. Why does God not stop the son from sinning?  Why does God allow people to wander in sin, when He knows the son will return? 
3. Is there a lesson in the younger son receiving the blessing of an inheritance before he was ready? 
4. How does this parable speak to God’s unconditional love for the lost who repent? 
5. Discuss this passage from Jeremiah 2:12-13 and the definition of evil: 

Be appalled, O heavens, at this;
  be shocked, be utterly desolate,
       declares the Lord,
for my people have committed two evils:
they have forsaken me,
    the fountain of living waters,
and hewed out cisterns for themselves,
   broken cisterns that can hold no water. 

1. Can you relate to the younger son?  Can you relate to the older son? 
2. What lessons can we take from the older son in the parable? 
3. The parable of the Prodigal Son ends and we don’t know what happens with the older son and the relationship between the two sons.  Why do you think Jesus abruptly ends the parable where He does? 

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Home group questions:

Paul tells Titus to "declare" these things, referring to the proceeding verses from 1-14. How would you sum up all that Titus is to declare?

Verses 11-14 have a focus on the heart of the gospel message. Titus, as a leader in the church, is to declare this all important message but who else, if anyone, would you say is responsible for declaring this truth and why?

How do you feel about sharing the gospel with people? Is there anything that makes you hesitate to speak the gospel openly? 

Not only is Titus to declare he is also to "exhort", which means to encourage expecting a response. Would you say exhorting is less important, more important, or equal to declaring in a church? Why? 

What are some good ways that a church family might exhort one another and why is it important to do so? 

In regards to rebuking, who do you think has the right to rebuke another Christian and what gives them the right to do so? (see Col 3:16; Luke 17:3; 1Tim 4:2)

What are your thoughts on who should have authority within the church? What dangers might arise with people in authority? What are good ways to ensure that one person doesn't have too much authority? 

How can rebuking be done well and how could rebuking be received well? (see Heb 12:5; 1 Cor 16:14)

Jesus gave us an example of service when He washed His disciples' feet (John 13:1-20). How do you believe this servant leadership should be displayed by church elders and pastors? 

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Home group questions.

1. Christians speak of living in the 'now and the not yet', what does that terminology mean to you? (see Colossians 3:1-4)
   • Fill in the blanks to get an understanding of what is now but not yet.
     already ___________ in Christ (Romans 8:15), but not yet __________ (Romans 8:23);
     already ___________ in Christ (Ephesians 1:7), but not yet ___________ (Ephesians 4:30);
     already ___________ in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet ___________ (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24);
     already ___________ in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet __________ (Romans 5:9);
     already ___________ with Christ (Ephesians 2:6), but not yet __________ (1 Corinthians 15:52)
     (taken from David Briones article https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/already-not-yet). 
2. How is the reality of the 'now but not yet' expressed in Titus 2:11-14?
3. The Westminster Shorted Catechism asks the question - What is the chief end of man? The answer is - to glorify God and enjoy him all the days of our life. 
   1. What does it mean to glorify God? 
   2. How does the idea of glorifying God and enjoying him impact your every day life, or how do you think it should? 
   3. How, where, when do you find enjoyment in God? Can you think of ways that we can encourage one another to enjoy God?
4. How do you feel about Jesus appearing in glory? Does his second coming have an impact on your life now?
5. Jonathan Edwards would meditate on/about heaven. He said it made him a better and a more impactful Christian in the present age. How might this be the case? How do you feel about heaven? Does the thought of heaven have an effect on your life today?
6. How do you feel about the fact that Jesus purchased you (1 Cor 6:19-20) to be his own possession and to make you a slave to God (Romans 6:17-23)?  
7. No one likes to show up to a formal event with a stain on their clothing or in tatty, old, smelly, worn out clothing. Yet this is a description (though far far worse) of how our sin makes us look before God. How does the thought of Jesus purifying you, 'giving you a new garment' make you feel (see Zechariah 3:1-5)? 
8. How does waiting for Jesus to appear in glory, and Jesus giving himself for our redemption make us zealous for good works? What good words do you think Paul is referring to?   

Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Home Group questions:

Discuss why some people say that the God of the Old Testament is angry but the God of the New Testament is kind and nice. 
How would you answer someone who believes this?

Take a mental journey through the stories that you know from the Old Testament and consider how God's unmerited favor is displayed?

How is Ephesians 2:8-9 such an important verse when if comes to grace based salvation compared to works based salvation?

Bryan Chappel wrote an article in 1998 saying that there wasn't a great deal of difference between the values and morals of the culture and the values and morals of the church. Over 20 years later do you think the church has progressed in a positive way, a negative way, or remained roughly the same? Why do you think that is the case?

Discuss what Dr Martin Lloyd Jones means by the statement: "One of the reasons we have such superficial Christians in the church today is because we have a superficial view of the Cross of Christ."

How could a misunderstanding of grace contribute to Christians failing to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions?

Read Romans 6:1-14.  What does it teach us about a Christian's relationship with sin now that we have been saved by grace?

It is grace that saves us but what is the continuing role of grace in our lives? See 1 Corinthians 15:9-10, Romans 12:3-8, 1 Peter 4:9-11.

How does grace train us to live in these three areas of our lives:
self-controlled lives 
upright lives (in relation to the world around us)
godly lives (in relation to God)

Lastly, how does Spurgeon's quote help give us the right perspective in regards to sin in our lives: "If Christ has died for me, ungodly as I am, without strength as I am, then I cannot live in sin any longer. I must arouse myself to love and serve Him who has redeemed me. I cannot trifle with the evil that killed my best Friend. I must be holy for His sake. How can I live in sin when He has died to save me from it?"

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Martha and Mary

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

 9 Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour.

Home Group questions

1. Slaves/bondservants are mentioned in Eph 6; Col 3; 1 Tim 6; and 1 Pet 2. Why do you think there is such a focus on slaves and servants in the New Testament? How might this effect the focus of our evangelism personally and as a church? 
   
   
2. Paul often refers to himself as a slave or servant of God/Christ/Jesus (Romans 1:1; Philippians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 3:5 & 4:1; Galatians 1:10). Why do you think he refers to himself that way? As a servant of Jesus how is he similar to servants of earthly masters? How is he different to servants of earthly masters?
   
   
3. Read 2 Corinthians 11:23-30. Why do you think Paul would be willing to suffer so greatly as a servant of Jesus? Why do you think God would allow Paul to suffer so much? When you think about all that Paul suffered because of his love for Jesus how does it make you feel about your relationship with Jesus? 
   
   
4. Scripture also refers to Jesus as a servant, to whom was he a servant according to the following scriptures; Matthew 20:26b-28; Romans 15:5-9a; Philippians 2:4-8; Acts 3:12-13,26 & 4:27-30. What do these passages tell you about the love and humility of Jesus? How do you feel when you read the passage about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (John 13:1-17)? 
   
   
5. According to D.B. Davies a first century servant was someone who was "another’s property, so that they may be bought and sold; their will is subject to another’s authority; and their labour is obtained by another’s coercion”* Often the servant was oppressed, mistreated, stuck in their situation with little hope for a better life and yet Paul tells servants to be submissive, well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering (holding back from) and showing all good faith (trustworthy). How difficult do you think it would be for you to handle such instruction if you were in their situation?
   Does this challenge you to consider your behaviour when you are at work (or if you don't work when you have to deal with difficult realationships)? 
   
   
6. When you read Colossians 3:23 how does it effect your attitude toward work?
   
   
7. When we think of how we are called to live as servants of Jesus does the thought of Jesus being the servant to all encourage you, make you feel guilty or a bit of both? If there is any guilt how does it feel to know that Jesus was the servant who gave his life so that you might be free of guilt?
   
   
8. When Paul addresses the slaves his advice isn't for the sake of their well-being  rather he has a higher priority for them, adorning the doctrines of God. In our day to day lives, what ever that might be, how can you adorn the doctrines of God? What is, or should be, the motivation to do so? 
   
   
9. When life feels out of control and it's difficult to see a light at the end of the tunnel of your suffering how could the words "God our Saviour" be an encouragement to you? How could those words also be a way to adorn the doctrines of God before nonbelievers (especially when they are suffering)?
    

*John R. W. Stott, Guard the Truth: The Message of 1 Timothy & Titus, The Bible Speaks Today (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1996), 142.

But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 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 own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be 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. Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

Home Group Questions:

2 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.