Words That Lead Astray

GETTING STARTED

The words we speak are powerful.  They can be enlightening and encouraging or deceitful and dangerous. Purposefully misusing words can be serious in any walk of life, but it can be especially harmful within a body of believers. This was an issue in the early church, and Paul dealt with it several times in his letters. In today’s passage, Paul strongly warned leaders in the church not to ignore the problem of deceptive speech.

  • When have you encountered professing Christians who taught less than God’s truth? What were the results?

READ THE WORD: TITUS 1:10-16 (ESV) 

10 For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. 11 They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. 12 One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.” 13 This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth. 15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled. 16 They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. How do verses 10 and 13 describe the people of Crete who were causing problems among the body of believers?
  2. What action did Paul encourage Titus to take in verses 11 and 13b?
  3. What was the goal of the rebuke?
  4. What does verse 16 say about how to tell if a person’s motives in addressing the church are pure or defiled?
  5. Are there any areas of your life where your talk might make you “unfit for any good work”?

RESPOND TO GOD

 Paul was very strong in describing those who professed with their mouths to know God, but denied him with their actions. When we allow teachers or leaders to deceive or twist God’s word, it causes harm to individuals and entire families. But when the church deals biblically with the wrong teaching, healing can occur that will strengthen the whole body. God desires that we have unity that comes not from adherence to legalism, but from reading and studying God’s Word so that we know the truth and can recognize false or wrong teaching.

  • Ask God to reveal to you any wrong beliefs that you cling to in your life.
  • Confess those things, and ask God to lead you to truth.