Sermon Guide
FORMED | SANCTIFICATION
Teaching Text
Titus 2:11-14 – 3:3-8
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. … At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
Sermon Recap
This Sunday, Pastor Jon Tyson continued our Fall sermon series, Formed, with a teaching on the doctrine of sanctification. Sanctification is the ongoing process by which believers, through the work of the Holy Spirit, are progressively transformed into the likeness of Christ (Titus 2:11-12).
As followers of Jesus, sanctification is our ultimate destiny. Yet so often we chase it as though it isn’t already ours. We suffer under the ache of the incomplete self, the untransformed self, and the shameful self, resorting to secular sanctification, or the maximization of personal potential for the sake of the self. However, this over-optimized life only leads to exhaustion and doesn’t transform the deepest parts of our heart.
True sanctification is ongoing and deeply personal, allowing us to constantly grow in newness, righteousness, and holiness. The foundation of this reality is in Christ’s work, not our performance (Titus 3:4-7). God’s love for us is not based on what we do or don’t do, but on Jesus’ life and righteousness at work within us. Instead of telling us to be good, God invites us to look at Jesus as we are being transformed into His likeness by His Spirit.
Knowing our position as inheriting heirs and not fearful slaves, we can actively partner with God in our sanctification by watching, praying, and fighting against the Enemy. The primary tool Satan uses to wage war against our sanctification is shame, telling us enough truth to be believable but enough lies to destroy us through ungodly desires and willful disobedience. Satan wants us to think we have no power in the face of temptation, but the reality is that we have a world of resources available in Christ to break our cycles of shame and live lives of Godliness by getting our attention on Him, allowing His truth to shape Godly desires, and walking in obedience.
Sanctification can be a painful process. The reality is that our discipleship begins in our deficits, not our strengths, but God in His grace reveals unconscious sins and deep-seated structures of being and behavior that He wants to transform. God faithfully sanctifies His people because He wants us to reach our full potential in Jesus.
If you missed this talk, you can watch it here today.
Discussion Questions
Connect
1. What is something you are celebrating in this season?
Character
Ask someone to read Titus 2:11-14 – 3:3-8 aloud. Then, ask the following questions:
1. What words, images, or phrases stand out to you in this passage?
2. What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
3. How does this passage inform your understanding of God’s view of you?
Consider
1. How have you tried to “optimize” your life? How have these practices left you wanting?
2. Do you struggle with the “performance mentality” in your relationship with God? How have you seen that play out in your walk with Jesus?
3. Pastor Jon taught that true discipleship begins in our deficits, not our strengths or gifts. What are the spaces you need to intentionally partner with God’s work of transformation and ask the Holy Spirit to transform you?
4. Satan is actively opposing our sanctification, and often uses cycles of shame to keep us from reaching our full potential in Jesus. Consider the chart below, and talk through the following questions:
a) What are your unique temptations?
b) What lies are you believing about yourself/God/others?
c) Are there any patterns of disobedience in your life?
d) Are you experiencing shame in any specific areas in relation to these things?
Cover
Pray a prayer of surrender to the Lord’s work of sanctification in your life. Ask for God’s grace to keep your attention on Him, to fill your mind with His truth and His desires, to grant you a spirit of joyful obedience, and to help you walk in Godliness.
