Book Review – Gospel Centered Life – Titus
I have seen the Gospel-Centered Life Bible studies and was excited to have the opportunity to review this book. There are four new titles being released at this time. I chose to review Titus. I have read Titus but I am not sure I have really gone deep and studied the book so I was eager to have this opportunity. Titus is a short book just three chapters. This study is just seven lessons.
Book Description
Can the truth really change how we live? And how do we know what is true in a world of so many falsehoods? In this timely study, Jeff Dodge explores how Christians are called to share the gospel message with the world—free of do-good, moralistic, try-harder religion, while also boldly calling those who believe to a gospel-centered, radical new life of love.
Titus: Life-Changing Truth in a World of Lies is a study resource in the Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series that provides seven in-depth lessons for one-on-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings.
In this guide, author Jeff Dodge draws insight from Paul’s letter to Titus to point men and women to God’s blueprint for what he wants the church to look like. He invites readers to see how the gospel disrupts people and culture, turning the world upside-down—or right side-up.
This small group resource offers biblically wise, theologically rich content with an easy-to-follow structure to engage readers. With insightful questions and Scripture-based teaching, Dodge helps men and women see Jesus more clearly in the themes found in the book of Titus.
Explore this resource and find life-changing truths about the gospel and the heart of God, who desires for the truth to set us free.
About the Author
Jeff Dodge, MDiv, DMin, PhD, is the teaching pastor at Veritas Church in Iowa City, Iowa. He also directs Veritas School of Theology and serves as an assistant professor of Theological Studies at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Jeff and his wife, Teresa, have four children and several grandchildren. He is the author of Gospel 101: Learning, Living, and Sharing the Gospel and Titus: Live-Changing Truth in a World of Lies.
The Layout of the Book
I did that as an ebook as that is what I received from the publisher. It would be best to have this as a book that you can write in and record your thoughts. Since I didn’t have a book to write in, the first thing I had to do was decide where I wanted to write my study. Should I use my Panoramica Bible or the ESV Journal? Since I happened to have 1-2 Timothy & Titus journal already on my shelf. I decided to use that. It was a difficult decision. I love the Panoramica Bible as it puts the whole book on two pages at least for the small books.
This study is designed to be done in a small group and is marketed as resources for small groups. The lessons are short and do not require homework. That can be nice for people that do not have much time. In the Titus book, there are just seven lessons.
The Lessons are formatted:
- Big Idea
- Bible Conversation – 15 minutes – this has some questions to answer and discuss
- Article – 5 minutes – it is suggested that the group take turns reading a paragraph
- Exercise 20 minutes – again there are questions to guide this discussion
There are a number of discussion questions for the group. As I did the study by myself for the review, I didn’t discuss things but rather just reflected in my own life. This is definitely designed to be done in a group setting. I missed so much not having a discussion with others.
There are also leader’s notes in the back of the book which can be helpful for the group leader.
My Review of the Book
This is part of a series, The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible. As you study Titus, a major part will be looking at the gospel as seen in that book. Remembering that is the purpose helped me to understand the study a bit more.
There is a lot of parallels between Crete and today. The Cretans were known to be liars. Truth is hard to find today. This is a book that we can relate to.
I thought there were excellent bits of background information that help you to understand the setting and the book. In Lesson 4, the author helps to understand what bondservant meant in New Testament times.
I am glad that I had the opportunity to review this book. At this time, I am not sure that this would be a study that I would use in my current small group settings. I felt in some areas the discussion questions were just touching the surface of the text. I like to go dig into the text and understand and look at applying from the text.
It has been quite a long time since I have purchased small group resources. I love New Growth Press but feel that at least here in the UK their books tend to be higher priced than other books available.
As you read Titus chapter 3, Paul reminds Titus of our salvation verses 4-8. We need to understand and be grounded in the gospel. At the bottom of my journal I wrote these words:
Stay grounded in the gospel.
A copy of this book was given to me by New Growth Press for a review. The opinions are all my own.
Have you studied Titus? What truths did you find as you studied this book, leave a comment below?