”Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” Proverbs 4:23  

D-2: Titus 2:3-5

 

DUE: Wednesday: March 2, 2011 Saturday: March 5, 2011

“Older women likewise are to be

reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine,

teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women

to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure,

workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands,

so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5

All of the attributes of transformed women in Titus 2:3-5 are ways in which we display the work of the gospel in our lives. (OPTIONAL) Memorize Titus 2:3-5 or Titus 2:11-14. 1. What is the gospel? What might you actually recall to mind when you are preaching the gospel to yourself? Please include aspects of God’s character, your nature, Christ’s sacrifice, and the result it has in your life today. Don’t worry about making it perfect. Take a look at Titus 2:11-14 and 3:3-8 if you need some help. 2. Pray and ask God to help you identify at least one area of your life where you would like to grow in displaying Titus 2:3-5 in a more gospel-centered way, then answer the following:

a. How does God’s grace in the gospel motivate me to be this way? For example, “I tend to respond sinfully (thinking, words, actions) to interruptions. But God is kind. His kindness leads me to repentance. He has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that He loves me and is at work only for my good by sending Jesus to bear all of His wrath against my sin. I can trust Him and submit to Him in every circumstance as a result. Kindness in the face of interruptions will show others I believe this.”

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b. Apply personally in a specific way in prayer. For example, “Father, I often have unkind, grumbling thoughts when others’ actions interrupt my schedule. But You, Father, chose me to be holy and blameless in Your sight, and You sent Jesus to die for MY unkindness. You have forgiven and cleansed me of MY unkindness, as well as the selfishness behind it. I turn away from that, and I agree that I can trust You, that every interruption comes from Your sovereign goodness toward me. I will thank You for the interruptions, and gladly seek You for the wisdom I need to adjust my expectations/schedule. I will joyfully look after others’ needs ahead of my own. I am not my own; I was bought with a price. By Your grace, I will honor You with my thoughts and responses. When I stumble into unkindness, I will seek forgiveness of those I sin against and turn back to You in repentance, preaching the gospel to myself faithfully.”

c. How might that application bring honor to God’s Word and display the gospel’s transforming power in your life? Take some time to ponder this before answering.

For example, “I hope others will be able to see that I really do believe God is trustworthy in EVERYTHING as I grow in kind thinking and responses, and that I am changing as a result of knowing Christ.”

The kind of relationships described between women in Titus 2 are often just what “happens” in the body of Christ; they are what the gospel produces in the church. As we answer these questions, bear in mind that these do not have to be formal relationships. They can happen in many different ways. Titus 2 lends increased purpose to our relationships, and encourages us to build these kinds of relationships where they don’t already exist. 3. God has provided Titus 2:3-5 as one means for the church to grow in godliness. Are there any ways you are being used to encourage younger women? If not, what is preventing you? For example, after this lesson, can you see areas where you need to grow in order to be qualified, understanding that we won’t be DONE growing until the day of Christ Jesus? Do you have any older women in your life who are helping you cultivate godly character? If so, what are some of the benefits? If you don’t, why not? Are you helping the women in your household cultivate Titus 2 character? If so, how? Are you letting them help you develop Titus 2 character? If so, how? If not (to either question), what are some ways you can change that?

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D-2: MARY & MARTHA

1. Jesus said that Martha was worried and bothered by many things. What “worries” and “bothers” generally tend to distract you from Christ? 2. Think of one thing that you can identify that you are overly concerned about now. When you find yourself in that position, how can you use the gospel to bring your heart back to seeking what is most important? 3. How have you done this week in choosing to make Jesus your priority? What did that look like? Can you identify something that you should NOT have chosen that would have made Him a priority 4. Where do you want to be next week in making better choices to keep Jesus your priority? What do you need to do in order to get there?