Lesson 2: Gospel (Applying the Gospel to Manhood)

Review Question: What does it mean to be a man? / What does it mean for men to have dominion?

Intro Question: What is one way the gospel applies to our manhood?

When Paul wrote to Titus and gave him instructions on how to navigate all the dysfunction in the church at Crete, he told him to begin by dealing with the rebellious men. Paul wrote, “For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers, and deceivers especially those from the circumcision party” (Titus 1:10).

The root issue in Crete was not just the rebellious men but a misunderstood and misapplied gospel taught by rebellious men. The gospel is the only remedy that has the power to fully address our broken manhood.

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Group Discussion

Every action we take, whether big or small, positive or negative, has a rippling effect. Every decision, every word, every step, every moment will have some influence on your life and the lives of others.

Ripple Effect of Sin (Genesis 3:1-7)

In one moment, Adam and Eve believed there was something better than life with God. And with one decision, as Adam and Eve rebelled against a holy God and sin entered the world, everything was broken.

Question: What is the difference between sin and brokenness?

Sin is rebellion against a holy God. Brokenness is the effect of that rebellion in our lives and the world around us. When we see the brokenness in our lives, our marriages, our relationships, our world—we are seeing the ripple effects of sin.

Question: What are some examples of the ripple effects of sin in the Bible?

Question: What are some examples of Brokenness in Manhood?

God equipped Adam with a plow and a sword and called him—in a life of selfless love—to cultivate, grow, and protect everything under his charge. But in the garden, before Eve was tempted, Adam put down his plow and sword.

At the very core, the brokenness of manhood always comes down to the plow and the sword. When a man is self-willed and not living under the rule of God, he misuses his plow and sword. This primarily happens in one of two ways: aggression or passivity.

Question: In what ways do you see these distortions of manhood?

While the Serpent had a conversation with Eve, deceiving her with his words, Adam stood by and did nothing. And then, Adam dared to blame Eve for the sin. In a sense, the original sin was not Eve eating from the fruit but Adam failing to care for her soul and defend her from the Serpent. And that is a crystal-clear picture of the brokenness of manhood.

Question: How does a man misuse his plow and sword when he is not controlled by the Spirit of God? How have you seen that happen?

The Gospel (Titus 2:11–14)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.”

The root issue in the letter to Titus wasn’t sinful and rebellious men, but a misunderstood and misapplied gospel taught by rebellious men. The true gospel can be summarized in the following way:

Sin has enslaved you.

You were born spiritually dead. As a result, you are a broken person at your very core. Every man is deeply and painfully broken. There are no exceptions. All of us were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved.

God is pursuing you.

We have a God who is good, loving, kind, and gracious. As those who have rebelled against God and rejected Him, we are under the righteous wrath of God. We deserve eternal separation from Him. But as God’s creation, we are cared for by God. He wants to see us saved and restored, and He is pursuing us to that end. This is such good news because none of us would pursue God if left to ourselves Jesus came to redeem you.

Question: God is pursuing you. If you hunger or thirst for God, that is evidence God is coming after you. How hungry would you say you are for God?

Jesus came to redeem you.

God displays His grace and pursuit through the appearance of Jesus Christ. To redeem means to release a captive, like a prisoner or a slave, through the payment of ransom. Jesus came to purchase us with His very blood and to free us from the bondage of sin. Through Christ, we can be saved from sin and from the just wrath of God.

Salvation saves and restores you.

Jesus did not just come to save you from hell; He came to restore your true identity in Him. Salvation is a present-tense reality in which you choose to trust and follow Jesus daily. As you do, God takes you further down the path of restoration.

Question: In what ways could a misunderstanding of the gospel negatively affect your life?

The gospel forms everything and brings clarity to everything. The gospel changes everything and is the foundation of everything. The gospel is the only way you will know how to take what is broken and put it back together—especially manhood. The gospel is the only path out of a distorted view of manhood and back to God’s original intention.

Question: What are some specific ways the gospel speaks to our manhood?

The Gospel Applied

How do we begin to walk the path toward restored manhood? Simply put: we follow Jesus. Jesus is called the Second Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45-49). Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, did what Adam could not do. He took His plow and sword and used them perfectly. He lived a life of love, humility, self-sacrifice, and service.

Jesus is the model for true manhood. He is the man we long to be. He is the man God has called us to be like. He is the man those around us need us to be. God saves you so that He might then conform you into the image of Jesus (Romans 8:29).

Question: In what specific ways do you see Jesus as the model of true manhood?

Sin isn’t the only thing that has a ripple effect—so does Christlikeness. The man you long to be, the man God desires for you to be, the man your family needs you to be, is the man God is going to make you into, one decision at a time.

The only way we can apply the gospel is to follow Jesus. Are you a follower of Christ, or a fan of Him. Are you apart of the crowd that gets close to Jesus? Present but not committed, listening but not responding. From the outside appearing to be a disciple but a closer look would reveal a lack of love and desire for Jesus.

Question: Would you say your life reflects that you have chosen to trust and follow Jesus? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions:

Dominion: Genesis 1:28

What are some areas of life that God is calling you to take dominion? How are you stewarding those responsibilities?

Dominion is not domineering. How do the two differ?

When God called Adam to work and care for the earth, what would have been some of his responsibilities? How would the responsibilities God gave to Adam apply to us today?

In what ways do you see the distortion of manhood in the world around you?

In what ways can you contribute to helping our culture regain a biblical understanding of manhood?

Working & Keeping: Genesis 2:15

Plowing requires cultivating the ground so that something might grow. In what ways does manhood require you to do work that no one else sees but that will bear fruit much later?

Every man is called to keep—to be a protector and defender. In what specific areas of your life do you see the need for “keeping”?

What specific examples of working and keeping can you think of from the Bible or men you have known?

Flesh: Titus 1:1-16

In what specific areas of a man’s life does he need to practice self-control?

How have you see the lack of self-control affect your life or the life of someone you know?

What are some practical areas in which you need to take dominion over your flesh?

Church: Eph 5:22-28

You cannot become the man God wants you to be without involvement in a local church. Why would this be true?

What role does the local church play in your life? Are you treating your local church like Christ would want you to treat His bride? How could you better work and keep in your local church?

In what ways can the local church help you learn how to be a man?

How would the lack of church involvement negatively affect your life? How would active engagement in a local church affect your life?

Home: Titus 2:1-15

Why do men often feel more equipped to lead at work than at home? Why is the work at home so often more difficult?

In what ways do you feel insecure and insufficient to do the work God has called you to do at home?

In what practical ways can you better serve, love, and lead those in your home?

If you are single, how can you serve and love your family in order to become the man God has called you to be?

Work: Titus 3:1-15

How can working and keeping be a testimony to those at work?

How have you see the lack of a strong work ethic affect men?

Are there areas in your life where you need to be working harder? If so, what are they and what changes do you need to make?