Sound Doctrine for Sound Living
Notes
Transcript
This has been a heavy week. I know many pastors who are stepping away from their normal series to speak about the events of the week.
And I’ve had some struggles with how I ought to approach this sermon this morning. As I have been struggling with what to preach this morning, and how to preach this text this morning verse 1 continued to come to mind.
“As for you, preach sound doctrine.”
If you are here this morning looking for a sermon that is specifically tailored to address the issues of this past week - this isn’t that sermon. But if you want to know how the Bible engages the culture, and how the Bible teaches us to live - that is this sermon. If you want an answer for what’s wrong with the world - that’s here too. If you want an inspirational sermon to make you feel better for a few days until another tragedy hits - I won’t promise that.
If you have no idea how to process what happened this week - come find me after and we can talk about that. Our summer sermon series in the Psalms has well prepared us for how to think of this stuff. If you would like to revisit those texts or sermons that might be relevant in understanding the days.
The Psalms that we preached this summer, and last summer. Psalm 77, 78, 88, 89, 90, 91, 94.
But as for me, I will continue the course in our series and preach sound doctrine. But it certainly isn’t because this text is easier…
This morning’s text might be one of the most counter cultural texts that we will see in Titus. If you’ve been a Christian for a while you might not necessarily seem to be quite controversial. And maybe not even to most of the history of America… but certainly in recent history.
To some this text seems archaic, to others offensive, and even to some it is oppressive. But to God, and the Christian, is a good
It’s not popular to suggest that men and women are not interchangeable - but that they have their own specific roles. And those distinctions are important.
We don’t get to just make up what we do or what we believe.
Paul uses sound doctrine as the foundation upon which the Christian life should be built. Sound doctrine for sound living.
To be committed to sound doctrine means that one must be unwilling to compromise. Not change or shift when the message becomes unpopular. The culture changes, but the Bible does not. The Lord God is all knowing, all powerful, all good. He didn’t give us a book that would not be able to stand the test of time - but one that would be useful for all Christians, in all times and in all places. And to stand on the Bible even when the world threatens cancellation, or persecution or death when it is unpopular, takes courage.
Paul begins and ends the text with instructions for Titus, and presumably for elders.
Titus
Titus
1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Teaching what accords with sound doctrine.
In this verse, Paul is repeating an instruction that he previously gave to elders in Titus 1. He has previously emphasized that Titus, and elders, must be above reproach. Now he has repeated that they must teach what accords with sound doctrine.
So what is sound doctrine? Another more literal translation would be healthy teaching. This is teaching that is consistent with the Bible. Coming from the whole of the Bible.
Sound doctrine is teaching and belief that comes from the Bible, not from the culture. Doctrine that comes from politics, or what is popular, or what is easy is not sound doctrine.
This should be the mark of a pastor, and a healthy church. When churches depart from sound doctrine they sound find their demise. Churches that get bored of Jesus and the gospel, depart from sound doctrine - they also adopt pragmatic methods to bring people into the building, without concern for their souls.
Even in Paul’s day aspects of this message, were not popular, so Paul urges Titus to stay close to the Scriptures, and to cling to sound doctrine, in other words Paul is telling Titus “even when all of Crete tells you to shut up,” stand firm and teach the Bible. When all of Globe… or all of the US… or all the world… says stop preaching Christ… stand firm on sound doctrine.
Paul may not have anticipated 3rd Wave Feminism, or progressive lifestyles that continue to shift more and more far from God every 2 minutes… but he anticipated that people would hate sound doctrine - and this was all the more reason why he had to ensure that Titus knew that it would be worth it.
Now that Paul has insisted that Titus stand on sound doctrine, he moves to how sound doctrine will shape a sound life.
In verses 2-10, the apostle touches on all aspects of life. Older men, older women, younger women, and younger men. He gives additional instructions to Titus, and then he wraps up by giving further instructions
Older Men
Older Men
2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness.
There is no technical definition given for what an older man is here. Though I’m not certain most of us need that definition. Though the context concerning older men and older women would seem to suggest “an age sufficient to have raised a family and seen their children begin families of their own.” (NAC)… this would apply to most of you.
Sober-minded
Some translations use the word temperate here as well. Sober minded is not the same as sober - though certainly they are related. Someone who is regularly under the influence of alcohol, or some other mind altering substance would not be sober minded. However, this does not only pertain to alcohol. Hot-headedness, impulsiveness. Flightly.
Dignified
To be dignified is to act in a manner worthy of respect. Older men ought to be someone whom the younger men in the church can look up to for how the rest of the church sees them.
Self-controlled
I think self controlled might be the most interesting thing that listed here. It was described of elders in the previous chapter. It is one of the fruits of the Spirit. It is also listed of older men, older women, younger women and younger men. Each of the groups in this text are called to be self controlled. The older women are to teach the younger women to be self controlled - and thus they must first be self controlled.
The instruction that Paul gives here is that all the church ought to aim to be self controlled. Be disciplined - control your body. Use it to honor God, not glorify yourself.
The world around us does not like self control. The world around us like to be impulsive. This is why the world who hates God, hates when their actions have consequences.
Sound in Faith, love and steadfastness
This connects to something I’ve said a lot lately - everyone is a theologian - the question is what kind of theologian are you going to be? Men in the church are expected to be sound in faith. This does not simply mean knowing good things about God, know the scriptures well - but also be a model to others in faith. Cling to Jesus at all stages of life.
They are also called to be sound in love.
As Jesus loved you, you ought to love one another. And the older men in the church should be the model of this.
Endure. When life gets hard endure. When persecution comes, endure. Your wives, your children, your grandchildren, younger men, and younger women and the rest of the church need to see your endurance.
No one benefits from seeing a generation of quitters.
There’s the old phrase, as the men go so goes the church. And while that is not in the Bible, it does demonstrate why Paul gives such significant focus on how men ought to live.
Older men, how do you live?
Older Women
Older Women
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,
As is similar to older men, older women are not given parameters. Though the category likely applies to those who have had children, watched them grow up and are not watching their children raised children… though for several of you you are watching your children’s children raise children.
Reverent in behavior
Paul gives examples of what he means by reverent in behavior. Not slanderers or slaves to much wine. Watch your tongue and watch your actions - specifically what you drink, and how what you drink will impact your tongue and your behavior.
Not slanderers
I experienced something interesting a few weeks ago. My family and I traveled down to superior for the Prickly Pear Festival a few weeks ago. And we were sitting outside at a patio at a restaurant waiting for our food - and these women come out of the restaurant and they are loudly talking to someone who works there. We could hear most of their conversation, and it was laden with profanity. I told my wife later, it used to be the case that men were not to use profanity in front of women or children, and now we have to protect our children from women using profanity. To add to it after the conversation ended they began to gossip about the person that they were speaking to.
The women in the church, cannot look like the women of the world. Use your words to build others up, not to tear them down.
Not slaves to much wine
In 2020, Wine moms became a thing for a while. It was partnered with day drinking and the attitude that the kids were getting restless so time for wine at 11 o’clock in the morning.
Teach what is good.
Much conversation has been made in recent years concerning Paul’s instructions elsewhere in 1 Timothy 2 concerning women not being permitted to teach or exercise authority over a man.
But it’s not that women are never to teach.
Here in Titus 2:4 gives women a unique teaching role that he does not give men. Paul has a very high view of women, and a high view of mothers. The reason why our culture constantly desires to blend these roles is because they have undervalued how important it is to be a mom.
And the degree to which older women can teacher younger women about motherhood and marriage.
The instructions for older women ties directly into the instruction for younger women. You cannot teach something that you are not doing. if you don’t love your husband or your children - how can you teach others to do it? You can teach if from your failures, however, that’s not the intent here. The intent is that the Older Women learned from older women when they were younger women, so that when they age, they are able to instruct it to women younger than them.
Older women, how do you live?
Younger Women
Younger Women
Paul’s instructions to younger women, he gives more direction to them - which likely demonstrates that they are the group that is creating the most problems in Crete. It appears things haven’t changed much… especially given how much these instructions and directions are hated today. But the instructions that Paul gives here to women (and all the other groups) are not a burden - they are a glorious responsibility.
4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Love your children
Love your husbands
Older women should instruct younger women of two things. Having a family is good. It is good to get married, it is good to have children. 3rd Wave Feminism has taught women the opposite. Women have been told that to truly be fulfilled you need a career, you need to be a girl boss, climb the corporate ladder and break the glass ceiling. Women have done this and are doing it - and they are miserable.
The Bible instead instructs older women to teach them to love their children and to live their husbands.
This is an INCREDIBLE task and an incredible blessing. The culture has lied to women and told them that children and husbands are a burden. This is a lie. Children are a blessing, and marriage is a good, beautiful thing. The culture has become so focused on how women can do everything men can do, that they have ignored how special it is that only women can be wives and mothers. Those are special, and incredible offices.
For you older women who are widows, keep telling stories of your late husbands. Keep bragging about the work they did in the church, and the community. Some of you are so proud of the stuff your late husband did in their lives - and you love to tell people about it - keep it up. That shows younger women what it looks like to love and support your husband.
Teach the next generation that the stereotype to complain about your husband when girl talk starts is not the way. To complain about your kids when they are in the other room, is not healthy. Love your children when its hard, love your husband even when he’s being dumb.
self controlled
pure
Morally pure. Chaste. This is down stream of loving your husband. If you love your husband - you do not love other men. You remain pure to your husband.
Remain pure for your husband before you know him. Save yourself. This is unpopular today, it’s seen as impressive. Yet even culturally, young men are not interested in women who have high body counts. Being “experienced” or having been around the block is viewed by women culturally as being free, and this text as oppressive - but there is safety and shelter in God’s design for marriage.
working at home
This is one of the more controversial points of what is instructed for young women.
Does this mean the women cannot work? No. Does this mean that they have to work from home? Also no. We have a cultural issue that unfortunately has forced many women into having to work. And I am sympathetic to having to pay the bills. I would argue that the ideal work setting is for dad to work and mom to stay home - but I get it I was a stay at home dad for 5 years. But this text does give the responsibility for young women to take care of the home. However, the father - their husband is given the biblical responsibility to take care of the family
kind
Not nice, but kind.
submissive to their husbands
2-3 weeks ago, it was announced that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are engaged to get married. Generally, I do not care about pop star news. But good for them, I hope they have a grand and splendid marriage. And I hope their marriage is, as ever marriage is, a picture of Christ and the church. However,
A few weeks ago, Charlie Kirk posted a video where he was talking about their engagement and he said I hope that Taylor Swift can submit to her husband. What he was doing was giving biblical instruction. Obviously, people lost their minds about it. I saw it when he released it and I thought it was great. However, that’s the picture of Christ and the church. Christ gave his life for the church, to save her and to wash her clean. And the church ought to submit to Christ. This ought to be modeled in every marriage. The husband loves his wife willing to give himself up for her, and the wife submits to her husband.
A wife submitting to her husband, allowing and encouraging her husband to lead in the home, to
Younger women, how do you live?
Younger men
Younger men
6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
self controlled
Titus is given the direction by Paul here to urge the younger men to be self controlled. So the instruction is to both Titus and the younger men.
The language of younger men here likely conveys teenagers to those in their forties. Some of the least self controlled people - which might explain why it’s the only thing Paul lists here.
And this instruction flies in the face of the oft repeated phrase “boys will be boys.” No, boys don’t be boys… don’t aim to make bad decisions. Don’t revel in foolishness - but instead control yourself.
Do not “go sow your wild oats” but rather be self controlled.
Be respectable at a young age. Don’t follow your feelings but be self controlled and glorify God with your body.
Young men, how do you live?
Titus
Titus
7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Following his instructions to the young men, he specifically focuses on one young man, Titus. When he says show yourself he has changed the focus. The first instruction that he gives governs the rest of them
model of good works
The goal is that the pastor/elder would be the model of good works to the community.
These good words connect to his teaching, they connect to living in dignity and how he speaks.
integrity in teaching
dignity
sound speech
That cannot be condemned
leaving no cause for anyone to speak evil against you
This one is tough, since, as I’ve seen well this week that regardless of how clean of a life one might live - a life that is marked by a dedication to biblical values and glorifying God will find slander from the Lord. But the sinful world, hates God, so they will slander men of God. They will make up charges of evil against them. They will ignore context, they will accuse them of hatred. But context, and character will often prove to the reasonable mind when speech is sound. You cannot control what people do with your speech, but you can control what people say about it.
Bondservants
Bondservants
The final group that he addresses here is bondservants or slaves. I’ve mentioned this before but be cautious not to assume that slave here means the same thing that it did in America. Man stealing is condemned by the Bible. But this is describing not the slavery of the Old Testament that is like an indentured servitude. Paul is writing to Titus on the Island of Crete. So he is giving a response to the Roman context of slaves. So this is even different than the slavery that was permitted in the Old Testament. This is not a race based slavery, or one that took advantage of a lower class - but rather was often the case that these slaves were educated.
Paul does not here necessarily rail against the system of slavery, but he does give exemplary attitudes for the slavery to exhibit in their slavery.
The bondservants in this text most closely correspond to employees. Be good workers. Don’t argue. Don’t steal. Work in good faith.
Be submissive to your own masters
well pleasing
not argumentatives
not pilfering
showing good faith
While many of you are retired… this would be the category of what a godly work ethnic would look like.
Application:
Are the attitudes that are listed there indicative of how you act for your respective group?
If not, I would urge you to repent. Turn from whatever attitudes that you display that are the opposite of what Paul has instructed for each of us.
But also remember that none of us are perfect. The very reason that Christians gather each Sunday is not because they are perfect, but because Jesus is. We don’t earn our way to heaven by keeping these attitudes, and even the best church members and the best pastors will regularly fail in any form of perfection. But Christ never fails.
Our world is broken and stained by sin - this is why the world hates the instructions that are listed here - each of us are sinners who are damned to eternal punishment. We all deserve hell for our sins. Every single one of us deserves hell. BUT Christ Jesus has made a way for our sins to be atoned for. He lived a perfect life or obedience to God’s law - that we should have lived. And he died the death that every sinner deserved to die. He bore our sins in his body on the cross that we might be saved from our sins. The manner in which we can be saved is by turning from our sinfullness and trusting in Jesus. (1 Peter 2:24) That we might die to sin and live to righteousness.
None of us can be self controlled enough to earn our ways to heaven, or dignified enough, or pure enough, or kind enough. None of us can be enough of any of these roles to earn our ways to heaven - and that’s not what the goal is. The attitudes here are not the metric by which one earns their way to heaven. The goal is that the people in the church community who have been called out of their sins - who have trusted in Jesus ought to seek to live their lives in a manner that glorifies him.
If we want to change the world this is how we do it. We preach the gospel of Jesus, God who became a man to save sinners, and we live holy lives according to his word.
