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But as for you, teach what accords with sound[a] 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. 

Psalm 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 How good and pleasant it is
    when God’s people live together in unity!

2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

Home group questions

Some texts to help with your study: Ps 133, Matt 20:17,18, Deuteronomy 16:16, Ex 30:30-33, Leviticus 8:1-30, Mt 17:1-8,  John 17:17-23, Heb 9:11-14, Luke 4:18, Isaiah 61:1-3,  Acts 10:38-40, Eph 1:9,10
 

Questions:
1. What are some things that you think are great in life? What are two things that David thinks are great?  What does he compare to those two things?

2. When was this song sung (Ps 133) and who was it sung by?

3. David says unity is both Good and Pleasant.  What things in life are good but not pleasant? What things are pleasant but not good?  How does the first (good) relate to God? How does the second (pleasant) relate to us?  cf Ps 135:3 and 147:1.  

4. The oil was for consecration.  What does that mean?  Who were some types of people who were consecrated with oil?

5. Leviticus talks about the sacrifice of the bull and two rams at Aaron's consecration.  What was the sacrifice for?  What is the significance of the blood on the priest's head, hand, and foot?

6. There is a theme of clouds on mountains representing God's presence. Can you think of examples in the Bible?

7. Jesus prays for our unity so people will see and know who Jesus is. How does unity help our witness? How does disunity hinder it?

8. How does knowing you are cleansed by the blood of Jesus help you be unified with other Christians?

9. How does loving the same thing (Jesus) help you be unified with other believers?

10. How does being consecrated for the same job, the same purpose(reaching the lost)  help you be unified with other Christians?

11. In what areas do you feel disunity with other believers and how can preaching the gospel to yourself help you overcome that?

The Tower of Babel

11 Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. 2 And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. 3 And they said to one another, “Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.” 5 And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. 7 Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech.” 8 So the Lord dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. 9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord dispersed them over the face of all the earth.

Some Texts: Gen 9:1, 10:8-11, 11:1-9, Acts 2:1-13, 2 Cor 5:18-20, John 6:35,  12:32, Rev 21:1-2. 

What was God's command to people in the beginning?
Why/how was what the people did at Babel sinful?

The people were trying to "go up", to put themselves in God's right place, to define their own right and wrong.  How do people today try to do these things?  How about you?

What is the significance of God "coming down"?  How has Good come down to you?

Sin causes a fracturing and splitting in our lives, in our world.  Where do you see that?  How can the gospel break that and bring unity?  How can you be an ambassador for reconciliation thru the gospel?

Jesus promises to draw all people when he is lifted up.  When was he lifted up?  How can we still lift him up?

People seek their identity in many different ways.  How does God define us, name us, give us identity, in the gospel?  In what ways have you found identity (good or bad)? How can you find meaning and identity in the gospel of Christ?

6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Home group  questions.
Take the time to read Colossians 1-2 together. 

Discuss any initial questions you might have from reading it.

Focus on 1:24-2:5

1. What gives Paul the ability to rejoice at suffering?
Note on v.24 - What is “lacking in Christ’s afflictions” is not power, but reach, as Paul makes clear by what he does - evangelism. By making the word of God fully known, he is “filling up what is lacking.”

Focus on 2:16-23

2. In what way do Christians pass judgment on each other today? Think of some examples.

Optional:
What is the most significant decision you've had to make in the past and how did you navigate it? Would you have done anything different if you were/weren't a Christian at that time?

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. 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 Savior.

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.

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

1. Why do you think Paul's instruction to Titus was to 'teach what accords with sound doctrine' rather than simply 'teach sound doctrine'? Do you think that teaching in the church should be more weighted toward doctrine or what accords with sound doctrine or should there be a balance between the two? Why? 
2. There is a teaching called antinomianism; an antinomian sees themself as under no obligation to follow any type of moral code. i.e. good works aren't a necessary part of the Christian life. How would you argue against that from Titus? What other places in scripture could you turn to to speak against that way of thinking? 
3. When you read Paul's description of the expectation of older men and women what does it tell you about their role within the church? Why? 
4. From your experience do you see a congruence or an in-congruence between what Paul expects and what we see in the modern church today? Why do you say that?
5. Has your faith been shaped by an older Christian(s)? How?
6. How could the church best take advantage of the experience and wisdom of older Christians?
7. Read 1 Peter 5:1-5 
   Discuss what it tells us about the role, motivation and heart behind the elders' service as overseers? Discuss how the younger believers are supposed to respond? What are the rewards for obedience?

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Titus 1
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began 3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Qualifications for Elders

5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— 6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 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, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 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.

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

Home group questions:
  1.    In Titus Paul contrasts belief in the God of the Bible with the pagan (Greek Gods - Zeus etc). What are some of the gods you think our culture worships? How do these contrast to God?
   2.    In verses 5-9 Paul describes the qualities/requirements of an elder? Do you think these are aspired to in our churches? Are we raising Godly men to lead? Could we do this better? How?
   3.    Paul contrasts those “who love doing good” v8 with those “unfit for doing what is good” v16? What beliefs, actions/behaviours would be characteristic of each group?
   4.    V1-5 Paul talks of the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness? What does this look like in your own life?

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If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Whenever we read the Bible we ought to be asking, 'what does God want us, individually and as His church, to learn from this passage?' How would you sum up what God wants us to learn from 1 Corinthians 13, in your own words?

What are your thoughts as to whether faith and hope continue on into eternity?

If someone were to ask you why love is the greatest what would you say?

Read 1 John 4:7-12.
a. What is our motivation to love others?
b. How has God revealed His love toward us?
c. John wrote, "In this the love of God was made manifest among us". Why do you think he wrote "among us" instead of "toward us"?
d. What has God's love done for us?e. What do you think John means in verse 12 (see also 1 John 2:4-6)?

What is the greatest display of love we can show to other people? Why is that the greatest way?

 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Home group questions:

From your current understanding of the spiritual gifts of tongues, prophesy and knowledge (in other words don't feel as though you have to do research) what do you think they are?

Once the church had been established and the cannon of scripture had been completed with the penning of the book of Revelation, do you think there was still a need for tongues, prophecy and knowledge?

Paul says that when 'the perfect' comes the 'revelatory gifts' (gifts that reveal something about God) will cease. When do you think that will be, or has it already happened, based on your reading of the text?

Reading that we know in part and prophecy in part while we await the perfect to come, how does this make you feel? Are you encouraged or discouraged by the fact that we live in the partial?

What do you think Paul's purpose was in talking about moving from a child to a man? Why do you think Paul used the words "I gave up childish ways" which has an active, purposeful connotation.

In verse 12 Paul compares the now with the then. Putting the two "nows" together and the two "thens" together  what do they tell us about our relationship with God now compared to then.  How does the thought of the 'then' make you feel?

How do you feel about the thought of living for eternity? Did Isaac's explanation of what happens in heaven make you feel any differently?

How does it make you feel to know that you are fully known by God?

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never ends.

 
Romans 8:35a & 38-39 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? ....  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,  nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

1 There are a couple of ways that this sentence is translated, 'Love never ends' or 'Love never fails'. If you were to talk about the power and permanence of love which would you choose and why?
2 Read and spend time considering Psalm 136. 
  a How did this Psalm make you feel?
  b Did anything stand out to you?
  c Do you have a favourite part?
  d How would you summarize this psalm in a sentence or two?
  e How is this psalm applicable today? (remember that Israel were God's chosen people just as we, His church, are God's chosen people)

3 John writes in 1 John 5: Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.How does John describe the interplay between our love for God and our love for our fellow believers?

4 Paul's words are "Love never fails." How does it make you feel when thinking of it as describing God's love for us? How does it make you feel when you think that Paul is talking about our love for other believers? How might remembering God's love for us (see Romans 8:31-39) help you with your love for other people?

The Supremacy of the Son of God

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

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Home Group questions.

1. How would understanding Jesus as creator change the way we read Genesis?
2. “thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” what do these four things have in common? Think of some examples.
3. How accurate is v.21 as a description of our non-christian friends l family?
4. Why did Jesus have to die in order to reconcile us? Would he still have to die if my only sin is lying?
5. What things in life can be described as being stable/unstable? Do the same principles apply to our Christian walk?
6. How can we tell when we’ve shifted from the hope? Notice it doesn’t say abandoned the hope but shifted from the hope.
7. Complete the sentence with a verb of your choice:
   Jesus _____ me.
   Jesus has _____ me.
   Jesus will _____ me.