Titus – Music Story

The verses behind the songs.

Before Time Began

Read Titus 1:1-5 and Titus 2:11-14. Who wrote the letter? To whom is it written? Why? What preaching was entrusted to the writer?

Compare Titus1:1-3 and Titus 2:11-14 in the Amplified Bible and The Message. What did God promise before the beginning of time? To whom was it promised? When did God fulfill the promise? What does that mean for you?

Listen to the song. Does it capture the message of these verses? Why? Why not?

Ordinary Lives

Read Titus 1:6-9 and Titus 2:1-9. What is Titus to teach? (Titus 2:1) How are leaders to live out that teaching? Older men? Older women? Young women? Young men? Slaves / employees? What happens when people live out the teaching? (Titus 2:10)

Listen to the song. What are ordinary clothes? How would you say it differently?

The Hymn of Salvation by Grace

Read Titus 3:4-7. Summarize these verses.

Compare Titus 3:4-7 in the New International Version and The Passion Translation. What title does The Passion Translation give this section? Why? (See the callout in verse 4.) In which translation does the cadence of the words best reflect the title given to this section?

Listen to the song. Does putting the passage to a beat help you remember it? Why? Why not?

Kathy

The Hymn of Salvation by Grace – Music Story

There is an ancient song in the New Testament book of Titus! It is “hidden” in plain view in chapter three.

While it is not apparent in the NIV that verses four through seven are song lyrics, The Passion Translation (TPT) correctly calls these verses “The Hymn of Salvation by Grace.” The early church may have sung this hymn as part of a baptismal service. Paul says that the words are trustworthy.

The ancient songwriter used music to express this truth: we are saved by God’s grace. What was the melody like? What mode was it sung in? Was it sung in unison? Accompanied by instruments? I don’t know. Since the words are trustworthy, I offer them as a short rap, performed by percussion instruments. I will leave the melody and mode to you.

From the album “Sing” this video is scrolling playback of Titus 3:4-7 set to a beat.

Kathy

Click here to read Titus 3 in the NIV and here to read it in TPT.

Print (PDF) sheet music is available for The Hymn of Salvation by Grace.

Click here for PDF.

Ordinary Lives – Music Story

God longs for “every day” Christians.

For ordinary Christians who represent him in the mundane things of life.
For Christians, every day, in every place, humbly clothed in heaven’s grace.

Every day in every place humbly clothed in heaven’s grace

 “…So that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.”

From the album “Main Street” this video is scrolling playback of a song based on Titus 2:10.

Kathy

Click here to read Titus 2:10.

Print (PDF) and digital (MusicXML) sheet music is available for Ordinary Lives.

Click here for PDF.

Click here for MusicXML.
(MusicXML™ is the standard open format for sharing digital sheet music. Check the help files in your music notation app for directions on importing MusicXML files.)

Before Time Began – Music Story

I was recently asked how a creation filled with millions of years of pain, suffering, and death could be very good.

Pain and Suffering

I would agree that in the Garden of Eden there was:

•       No relational pain and suffering (Adam and Eve didn’t devalue or abuse each other)

•       No emotional pain and suffering (no depression, no panic attacks)

•       No spiritual pain and suffering (no guilt, no shame)

However, based on scripture, I am convinced that there was physical pain. After the couple disobeyed God, God told Eve that her pain in childbirth would greatly increase. You can’t greatly increase something that is not already present. If Adam stubbed his toe in the Garden, it would hurt. If a coconut fell on Eve’s foot, it would be painful.

Death

Job was a blameless and upright man who trusted God. Satan is a predator.[1] God allowed Satan to prey on Job, to destroy his family, his business, his health. When Job complained to God, God didn’t comfort him. Instead, God directed Job’s attention to very good creation, one filled with predators, prey, and powerful, frightening animals.

Satan was present in the Garden of Eden as a serpent. Adam and Eve were his prey. In a predator-prey relationship something is going to die.

if Adam and Eve’s desire for forbidden fruit didn’t die, they would die.

and, knowing they would eat forbidden fruit, God planned to die.

The serpent deceived Eve. So, God cursed the serpent, limiting its prey to dust.[2] Adam was made from dust, as was Job, as are we. Satan deceives and preys on us.

Pain, suffering, predation, and death have been part of God’s very good creation from the very beginning. Before time began God had a plan to use death to make life possible.[3] From the album “Sing” this video is scrolling playback of a song based on Titus 1:2.

Kathy

Click here and here to read about God’s plan.

Print (PDF) sheet music is available for Before Time Began.

Click here for PDF.

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[1] 1 Peter 5:8

[2] Gen 3:14

[3] Gen 3:15