One thing I wanted to accomplish with my book Doctrine for Devotion was to help people get into the Word. It’s great to discuss doctrine and all, but if it’s not connected to what the Bible actually says, then what’s the point? Check out a sample of one of these devotionals that I call a “Get in the Word” section. This is designed to get you to read the Scripture and slow down and digest it. Some questions ask basic comprehension questions on the text, others ask opinion questions to get you thinking more about your relationship with God.

Get in the Word: Titus 1-3

Read Titus 1:1-4

1. Who wrote Titus? ______________________
2. How does the author describe himself? _________________________________
3. For whose sake does the author write? _________________________________
4. What does the knowledge of truth accord with? ______________________. It’s important to note that right belief always comes before right behavior. If someone does not believe the correct thing, they cannot behave in the correct way.
5. What did God promise before the ages began? _________________________________
6. What truth about God does the author give to assure that he will keep his promise? ______________________
7. How has this promise been made known/ manifest? _____________________________ ______________________
8. To whom is this letter written? ___________
9. What two things does the author say at the end of verse 4 are “from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior”? ___________and ___________. “Grace” in Greek sounds similar to the Greek word for “Greetings” that was common in letters of this time. “Peace” was the normal Hebrew greeting. Ever hear someone say “Shalom” as a greeting? That means peace.

Read Titus 1:5-9

10. What two reason does Paul give for leaving Titus in Crete? ________________________ __________________________________________________________________
11.  List one qualification for an elder from verse 6. _________________________________
12.  In verse 7, Paul refers to an overseer as God’s ______________________
13.  List two qualifications for an elder from verse 8. ________________________________
14. What must the elder be able to give instruction in? ______________________
15. What must the elder do to those who contradict it? ______________________. This word means to correct.

Read Titus 1:10-16

In this section, Paul is speaking more about “those who contradict it.”

16.  Paul describes many who are insubordinate, empty talkers. . .especially of the ______________________. This is a group of people who believed one must be circumcised to be saved. This contradicted what the church decided in Acts 15.
17.  Why must they be silenced? ____________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
18.  What did one Cretan say about the Cretans? _________________________________ _______________________________________________________
19. Does that sound like a nice assessment of the Cretans? ___________
20. Does Paul agree with this assessment? ___________
21. What advice does Paul give Titus because of this assessment? ______________________
22. Why should these Cretans be rebuked? _________________________________
23. What is pure to the defiled and unbelieving? ______________________
24. How do the people who profess to know God deny him? ______________________
25. If they make a profession to know God, but actually deny him, do they really know God? ___________
26. Does their profession to know God do them any good? ___________
27.  Pretend you know someone who professes to know God but denies him by his words. How would you encourage this person to truly know God? ______________________ __________________________________________________________________

Read Titus 2:1-10

28.  What is Titus supposed to teach? _________________________________Notice this is the second time that Paul uses the word “doctrine.” This indicates that doctrine is a major theme of this letter.
29.  List one quality of an older man according to sound doctrine. ______________________
30.  List one quality of an older woman according to sound doctrine. ______________________
31. What is the first thing listed that older women supposed to train the younger women to do? _________________________________
32.  Why is a young woman supposed to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husband? _________________________________
33.  What is Titus to urge the younger men to be? ______________________
34.  What is Titus supposed to model? ______________________
35.  According to verse 7, what should Titus show in his teaching? ______________________
36.  Why should Titus have sound speech that cannot be condemned? __________________ __________________________________________________________________
37.  According to verse 10, why should bondservants be submissive to their masters in everything? ____________________________________________

Read Titus 2:11-15

38.  What is associated with the grace of God? _________________________________
39.  After reading through Titus 2:1-10, notice who all Paul talks about. What do you think he means by “all people” in verse 11? ________________________________________
40.  What does God’s grace train us to do? _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Notice the tie between doctrine—especially doctrine on the gospel and salvation—and how we act? Doctrine impacts the way we live. How we live shows what we believe about God. If the slave were to revile his master and be argumentative, that behavior would reveal something ugly about the doctrine he believes. Jesus became a slave for us, so that we might be with God forever. If we found ourselves in the status of slave, Paul says we should do what it takes for the sake of others around us to come to know God as well. In the kingdom of God, we strive that people can defeat sin and know God, not for ourselves and selfish needs.
41.  What are we waiting for? __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________
42.  What two titles does Paul give to Jesus at the end of verse 13? _____________________This is one of the major times the term “God” (or θεός, theos) is applied to Jesus.
43.  According to verse 14, why did Jesus give himself for us? ____________________ ________________________________________________________________________Paul gives an inspired summary of why Jesus died on the cross. This is foundational to Christian doctrine.
44.  What should Titus do with this doctrine? _________________________________

Read Titus 3:1-7

In verses 1-2 Paul gives instruction on how to behave. In verses 3-7 he explains why people should behave that way.

40.  To whom are the people supposed to be submissive? ______________________
41.  For what are they supposed to be ready? ______________________
42. Of whom should they speak evil? ______________________
43.  What type of courtesy/meekness should they show to all people? ___________Showing courtesy (being kind) isn’t always easy. Sometimes people can be very difficult or rude and it would be much easier to be rude back to them. In verse 3-7, Paul explains why they should show courtesy.
44.  What were “we” slaves to? ______________________. Remember when Paul says “we” he refers to himself and Titus (and by extension, other believers).
45.  What were “we” passing our days in? ______________________
46.  What appeared in verse 4? ________________________________________________ Were “we” saved by our own works and goodness? ___________
47.  Why did he save us according to verse 5? _________________________________
48.  How did he save us according to verse 5? _____________________________________ _______________________________________________________
49.  Through whom what the Holy Spirit poured out on us richly? _____________________
50. What is the result of being justified by his grace? ________________________________ ____________________________________________

Because of all this doctrine we now treat others differently. We don’t live lives trying to get back at others, slaves to our various passions. Rather we live lives devoted to God. Deeper doctrine leads to deeper devotion.

You can purchase the book HERE