An art teacher whose one honest conversation changed the course of a future preacher’s life; a professor who chose a church in a rough neighborhood because the kids there had no fathers. Stories of people of influence like these open a reflection on Paul’s letter to Titus (Titus 2), on the relay of the gospel, in which the baton passes from Jesus through generation after generation all the way down to us. Sound teaching is meant to become sound character and sound relationships that draw others in, including those outside the church. Listen and ask yourself who you will pass the baton to.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Paul tells Titus that Crete lived in a world of extremes: false teachers with long lists of rules on one side, a culture of "siesta and fiesta" on the other. How do the qualities in Titus 2:1-8 answer both extremes?
- In Titus 2:2-3 Paul speaks of sober thinking, self-control, and being sound in faith, love and endurance. Which of these qualities stands out to you most, and why does it apply to younger people too?
- The sermon compared our task to William Carey's work: translating God's word into the language of everyday life. How can others see what the Bible says by looking at your character and relationships?
- The speaker noted that generations sit at the same table yet seem to speak different languages. What do you think hinders older and younger people in the church from learning from each other today?
- Paul twice stresses that outsiders should have nothing bad to say about believers. In what situations does your life reinforce, and in what situations does it undermine, what you say about Jesus?
- Who can you pass the baton to this week: whom can you encourage or talk with, or whom can you approach with your own questions about faith?
