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MARCH 19, 2023
“For the Church”
Dr. Kevin Ueckert
THIS WEEK’S TEXT
Titus 1:1-9
1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness, 2 in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began. 3 In his own time he has revealed his word in the preaching with which I was entrusted by the command of God our Savior:
4 To Titus, my true son in our common faith.
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
5 The reason I left you in Crete was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders in every town. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of one wife, with faithful children who are not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 As an overseer of God’s household, he must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not an excessive drinker, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it.
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READ
CONSIDER
On Sunday we began a new series in Titus. As we walk through this series consider what it looks like to be for the church in how you prepare to hear God's Word and in how you encourage others to grow in their faith.
What difference has God’s grace and peace made in your life over the last week? Over the month? Over the last year?
Do you have a “Titus” in your life (someone who is younger in the faith in whom you are investing, someone you are encouraging spiritually…)? If not, who is your one that you are praying for so that you can pray with and share the gospel with?
If you have the experience of being someone’s “Titus”, someone invested in you, write down the difference that investment made in you. How will you seek to do the same for someone else in the next year?
What is one step you can take this week to be prepared to gather together with the church next week in order to receive the Word of God?
PRAY
Praise God for any work He is doing in your life or the lives of those around you.
Confess where you might be unfaithful in your relationship with Christ.
Spend some time just thanking God for any and every thing that comes to mind. Don't overthink it, just allow yourself to give thanks for everything that comes to your mind.
What needs or burdens are you currently carrying that you can trust the Lord with?
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Do you have a story of God’s work in and through you? We would love to hear it!
READ
CONSIDER
Read the passage aloud as a family.
Paul asks for grace and peace for his "little brother" Titus. Those are two words we hear a lot, and sometimes when we hear words often it's good to remind ourselves what they actually mean. From a Christian worldview, what are grace and peace? How does the Lord intend for us to experience grace and peace?
The goal of your church is to be a ready church. What do you think a "ready church' looks like? How do you think God would describe a "ready church'?
Brainstorm some ways your family can participate in helping FBG become a church that God would describe as "ready".
PRAY
Don't neglect praying together as a family.
Pray for any hurts or needs that came out during your family worship time together.
Pray the Spirit would be experienced in powerful, fresh way in our church body resulting in our being a ready church focused on Jesus.
Pray for the person God has placed in your life so that you could share the truth of Christ with them.
Are you regularly utilizing the Respond Guide? We'd like to get feedback from you!
Help Us Make Respond Guide Better
READ
CONSIDER
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- If a stranger asked you the following questions, how would you respond?
- What difference has God’s grace and peace made in your life over the last week?
- What difference has God’s grace and peace made in your life over the month?
- What difference has God’s grace and peace made in your life over the last year?
- Have you experienced being someone’s “Titus”? (Being the recipient of someone ahead in the faith investing in you.) Share one story of how that person's investment changed you.
- Do you have a “Titus” in your life (someone who is younger in the faith in whom you are investing, someone you are encouraging spiritually…)? If not, who is your one that you are praying for so that you can pray with and share the gospel with?
- The mission of FBG is to be a ready church. What would you say a "ready church' looks like?
- What can you and your group do the rest of the year to help FBG accomplish our mission of being a ready church?
- Update your group on how you are doing personally in the area of being focused on the promise of Jesus’ return, faithful in a relationship with Jesus, prepared for every opportunity, and always looking to invite someone to follow Jesus. What needs to change this week? How can your group help?
- If a stranger asked you the following questions, how would you respond?
PRAY
Don't neglect praying together as a small group.
Pray for any hurts or needs that came out during your discussion.
Pray the Spirit would be experienced in powerful, fresh way in our church body.
Pray for the person God has placed in your life so that you could share the truth of Christ with them.
Are you regularly utilizing the Respond Guide? We'd like to get feedback from you!
Help Us Make Respond Guide Better
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