Titus 1:10-16

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Silencing False Teachers on the Island of Crete

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINTS

  1. The church is not a democracy.

  2. “To the pure, all things are pure.”

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Are you a Cretan Christian?

  2. Make sure it says so in the Bible.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who were the false teachers spoken of in this section?

  2. What did the false teachers say was necessary for salvation?

  3. What did the Cretan prophet say about Cretans?

  4. What was Titus supposed to do about these false teachers?

  5. What are overseers supposed to do today about false teachers?

  6. What is the hallmark of a cult?

ANSWERS

  1. They were primarily Cretan Judaizers, the legalists of that day.

  2. They said that you had to be circumcised and keep other Jewish rituals. They also put an emphasis on Jewish fables and commandments of men.

  3. “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” (Titus 1:12)

  4. He was to silence and rebuke them.

  5. They are to silence and rebuke them. They must guard the pulpit and assure sound teaching. The seriousness of the situation determines the action, from further instruction to warning to excommunication.

  6. Every religious cult has extra-biblical commands (commandments of men that are not in the Bible).

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. The church is not a democracy. What does this mean?

  2. “To the pure, all things are pure.” (Titus 1:15). Discuss this verse. Does it mean Christians can walk away unscathed when they read or view immoral pictures? Christians are affected by external influences. Purity comes from within, a change of heart through the work of God by conversion. How did the false teachers say one became pure?

CHALLENGE

  1. Make sure that you are not a Cretan Christian. (Titus 1:12)

  2. Make sure that you are following God’s word and not commandments of man.

KEY VERSES

  • “Rebuke false teachers sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.” – Titus 1:13

  • “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.” – Titus 1:16

Talks, Titus, New TestamentDeb HarmsTitus 1:10-16