November 30, 2025

A Season of Penitence – Titus 3:4-5

Ice Breaker

1. Read Titus 3:1-11 as a group.
2. What is the most interesting thing you’ve learned about the Bible recently?

Loving God Unreservedly

1. Why does God save people? (3:4–5)
2. How does the idea of being renewed by the Holy Spirit in verse 5 impact your daily walk with God?

Loving People Sacrificially

1. Some hold the view that people are basically good. How does Titus 3:3 refute that belief?
2. Titus 3:5 explains that God saved us “by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.” How does this description of salvation recall the promise of the new covenant in Ezekiel 36:25–27? How does Jesus explain these truths to Nicodemus in John 3:5?
3. What does it mean to be “washed” and “renewed” by the Holy Spirit (vv. 5–6)? 
4. Why does Paul stress that believers should be “careful to devote themselves to good works”? (vs. 8)

Making Disciples Purposefully

1. How does remembering our past help us show grace to others?
2. How would you explain God’s kindness to someone who is not a Christian?

Dig Deeper (optional/personal study) 

1. Research: Titus 3:5-6. How do you see the Trinity take an active role in salvation in this passage? (Father’s love [vs. 4], Spirit’s renewal [vs. 5], Son’s mediation [vs. 6]). Take some time to further your understanding of the Scriptures:

1. The Father (Eph. 1:3-6)
2. The Son (Eph. 1:7-12)
3. The Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14)

• Take some time to reflect on some traits that characterized our lives before our spiritual conversion:

1. Foolish (cf. 1 Tim 6:9; Rom 1:14; Gal 3:1, 3; Luke 24:25), i.e. lacking spiritual understanding
2. Disobedient (cf. 1:16; 2 Tim 3:2; Rom 1:30), i.e., rebellious against God
3. Deceived (cf. 2 Tim 3:13; 1 Pet 2:25 citing Isa 53:6)
4. Enslaved (John 8:33) by various passions and pleasures (cf. 2:12)
5. Living (cf. 1 Tim 2:2) in malice (Rom 1:29) and envy (Rom 1:29; Gal 5:21)
6. Hateful (NIV: “being hated,” Rom 1:30: “God-haters”)
7. Detesting one another (1 John 3:11-24)