12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. 14 And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful.
15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith.
Grace be with you all.
Questions:
1. Paul was undecided as to who to send to take Titus' place (v12); what does that say about the quality of the two men Paul was going to send? If either man could take Titus' place, what does it say about how God distributes His gifts in the body of Christ?
2. People can tie their 'church identity' to a role they have in the church (e.g. "I'm the morning tea lady" or "I'm the sound guy"); how might verse 12 help us think differently to that? Also, people can sometimes think that the way they do a particular job in the church is the only way it should be done; how does this verse speak against that?
3. Both Artemas and Zenas are simply names to us - we know nothing else about them - but what can we understand about them from these verses? (Consider what they were doing and the attitude they must have had in order to undertake those tasks).
4. Titus was instructed to speed Zenas and Apollos on their way and to see that they lack nothing (v13). What does that instruction tell us about where Christian churches should use some of their resources? Do you think it is right or wrong for churches to spend large amounts of their budgets on buildings, programs, production equipment etc? What example does 2 Corinthians 8:1-15 give us about church giving?
5. Why is it so important for people within the church to help cases of "urgent need" (v14) of both their fellow congregants and of the worldwide body of Christ?
6. Do you think it is enough to give money to churches in need (and para-church organizations who support the poorer churches) or do you think it is important for 'better off' churches to partner with poor churches in a more meaningful interpersonal way? Why?
7. Thinking back over the book of Titus, has anything challenged you? Has anything encouraged you? Did anything stand out for you? What have you enjoyed about Titus; is there anything that you didn't enjoy/struggled with?
