Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Today, we begin looking at the Book of Titus. Titus is a short book with only three chapters, but it gives some powerful words from Paul to Titus about his work in Crete. Titus was a Greek follower of Jesus, and he had worked with Paul for years. Paul sent him to Crete, a large island off the coast of Greece, to bring some order to the house churches there.

Cretan culture did not have a great reputation. They were known for their treachery and greed. In fact, the Greek word for liar is kretizo which means “to be a Cretan.” But Paul saw something more. Several harbors on the island serviced cities all over the Mediterranean, and Paul saw these harbors as places to start a network of house churches.

We learn that these house churches have become influenced by corrupt Cretan leaders who claim to be Christians. Titus 1:10-12 says, “For there are many rebellious people who engage in useless talk and deceive others. They must be silenced, because they are turning whole families away from the truth by their false teaching. And they do it only for money. Even one of their own men, a prophet from Crete, has said about them, “The people of Crete are all liars, cruel animals, and lazy gluttons.”

The terrible leadership from these corrupt leaders has spilled over to influence the personal lives of those in the house churches and has led to the message of Jesus being discredited. The way they lived, their words, and their actions were doing more to turn people away from Jesus than to bring people to Him. Paul asks Titus to find new leaders for the house churches and describes what these leaders should look like. They should live lives that bring honor to Jesus, not shame. They should be leaders whose words and actions don’t contradict what they claim to believe.

As followers of Jesus, we are called to live lives that point others to Jesus. We can’t live our lives like the Cretan leaders. In Titus 1:16, Paul describes them this way: “Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.” If we claim to be followers of Jesus but our words and actions don’t show that, we are turning people away from Jesus, not towards Him. 

Our mission at Venture is to lead people to know, love, and follow Jesus. We are able to do that when every part of our lives – our words, our actions, how we treat others - points others to Him.

“And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.” Titus 2:12-13

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises? 
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you? 
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

FALL AT VENTURE

KXP, MVMNT, The Gathering, House Church, and Care Groups are all starting back this fall! Check the Fall at Venture webpage for launch dates and events happening this fall at Venture.