[An elder must be]… a man whose children believe …
Summary: The offspring of a marriage are like the fruit of a tree. Good fruit comes from a good tree.
Continue reading “Titus 1:6 (c) — Fruit & Tree”Titus 1:6 (c) — Fruit & Tree
Titus 1:6 (a) — A Question of Blame
An elder must be blameless …
Summary: Being blameless is not the same thing as being perfect. Someone who is blameless is without blame. It is the minimum required amount of right living required for being a church leader.
Continue reading “Titus 1:6 (a) — A Question of Blame”Titus 1:5 (c) — Listeners
… and appoint elders …
Summary: Elders were generally selected from those who had the most experience and wisdom. The reason for having elders is to help the body of Christ listen to her Lord.
Continue reading “Titus 1:5 (c) — Listeners”Titus 1:5 (b) — Vision
… was that you might put in order what was left unfinished …
Summary: Paul’s trust in Titus tells us something about both men. God’s trust in both of them says even more.
Continue reading “Titus 1:5 (b) — Vision”Titus 1:5 (a) — Left In Crete
The reason I left you in Crete …
Summary: Paul’s opening passage to Titus leaves this writer wondering why Paul chose the words he did. We look at four possible reasons and a fifth insight about Paul and his ministry.
Continue reading “Titus 1:5 (a) — Left In Crete”Titus 1:4 (f) — The History of the World
… and Christ Jesus our Savior.
Summary: What does it mean that Jesus is Christ and Savior? The words have simple meanings that describe things beyond human understanding.
Continue reading “Titus 1:4 (f) — The History of the World”Titus 1:2 (a) Redux — The CHOICE
… in the hope of eternal life …
Summary: The choice we have is not between eternal life and no life. The choice is between eternal life and eternal punishment.
Continue reading “Titus 1:2 (a) Redux — The CHOICE”Titus 1:2 (a) — The Road Home
… in the hope of eternal life …
Summary: How we think about when eternal life begins affects the decisions we make. Choosing to see it as Paul does helps to keep us on the road home.
Continue reading “Titus 1:2 (a) — The Road Home”1 Peter 5:2 (a) — Shepherds I: Like David
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—
Summary: Peter begins a passage dedicated to helping elders shepherd their flock. Why would he need to remind them of this? Shepherds are people, too.
Continue reading “1 Peter 5:2 (a) — Shepherds I: Like David”1 Peter 2:5 (c) — At the Foot of the Cross
…offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
This may be one of the most important verses in the Bible. Oh, I know…it looks benign. You can read it and think, “Nice verse…” and go on with your reading. But when I look at this verse I see all the threads in the Bible coming together into one place.
I can guess what you are thinking. You are probably thinking, “Okay, Jeff. Go ahead. Show me how this ties together all the threads in the Bible. But remember, this is ThreeMinuteBible.com, not TwentyYearBible.com, okay?” Okay. Fair enough. Since we are constrained on time, I will use large brush strokes again and see if I can paint a picture of what I see.
Continue reading “1 Peter 2:5 (c) — At the Foot of the Cross”