Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO

Have you had a moment in your life where you went to give and were the one to receive?

This week was another one of those moments in my life.

1. Joy Wilkinson

1.1 She had a SO THAT kind of life, not a SO WHAT kind of life

"So What" = How the Fool lives

Loving only oneself

Living only in the present

Behavior affirms a heart of unbelief

Unbelieving heart > undisciplined mind > commanding feelings > bad fruit

The end becomes a messy life because of being unintentional

"So That" = How the Wise lives

Loving the Lord and others

Living with a view of eternity

Behavior affirms a heart of belief

Believing heart > transformed mind > informing feelings > good fruit

The question: How many in this room know for certain that Mrs. Joy prayed for you by name?

My Encouragement (brought me to my senses)

Read:

When studying anything Paul authors, I find it helpful to go to the end, find his conclusion and work my way backwards.

Maybe this is just part of how I am wired : Netflix, Survivor, The Amazing Race or the Great Food Truck Race

Netflix: Survivor, The Amazing Race or the Great Food Truck Race

Regardless of my "wire-ing," I think it is helpful in this passage to see where Paul is landing to gain the greatest understanding of the passage.

In the verses we are looking at today, there are 3 "so that" phrases that help us to see Paul's desire for people of Crete through Titus' example and teaching.

1. SO THAT your life encourage others : Older Women (2:3)

Last week Eddie described the things Titus was to speak to the Older men and older women's that were "fitting for sound doctrine."

The older women's holy attitude and behavior should match their holy calling

Inward character

Outward behavior

We continue today in the flow of the text.

There is a reason the older women are challenged to live an honorable and responsible life

We can speak into people's lives things we KNOW not things we think or have heard.

Illustration: triplets

They are to live such a pattern of life SO THAT they can encourage the younger women.

Encourage (sophronizo) = literally…continually make the young women sober-minded

WHO encourages whom?

The older women encourage the younger women

It is the older women, not Titus, who are to instruct the young women.

SOPHRON - Same root as the word "sensible" SOPHRON that happens throughout this book.

Sophronizo (so-phron-EE-zo) = to bring one to one's senses.

Train them, show them, advise them, teach them, remind them, warn them

To roll up your sleeves and get into one's life

This is NOT parakaleo (pah-ra-ka-LEH-oh) - to call to one’s side…we will see this with the younger men later in

To call to one's side

Paul knew that a sober-mind protects the heart and a believing heart protects the mind.

REMEMBER the environment all around them.

A Christ-centered home in Crete was a whole new concept.

The culture was surrounded by liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons (1:12) A young woman saved from the traps of Crete's culture would have to learn a whole way of life and home EXODUS : Israel when they came out of Egypt.

REMEMBER the environment all around them.

A Christ-centered home in Crete was a whole new concept.

The culture was surrounded by liars, evil beasts and lazy gluttons ()

A young woman saved from the traps of Crete's culture would have to learn a whole way of life and home

EXODUS : Israel when they came out of Egypt.

Mentor

Paul understood the power and necessity of the older women's wisdom, presence and voice into the lives of the younger women.

Mentoring by those who have gone before you, even if it is just one step before you, is critical to wisdom's pursuit avoiding unnecessary traps.

Eddie brought to light last week that the younger generation wants to find their source of wisdom and mentoring from among their own age group.

Sorry Millennials and Gen-Zers this is not a new idea.

Flesh has lived in that dangerous trap for a long time.

Ex: Rehoboam , "But he forsook the counsel of the elders which they had given him, and consulted with the young men who grew up with him and served him."

How do you think this ended?

Not well.

Almost in civil war.

A divided kingdom.

There are real dangers Short term solutions without understanding long term effects Traps of constant comparison Wrong questions that sound right There are missed blessing Wisdom from time and experience that is literally right in front of you.

Fruit that needs to be bore from the older women to you

Ex: Rehoboam

How do you think this ended?

Not well.

Almost in civil war.

A divided kingdom.

There are real dangers

Short term solutions without understanding long term effects

Traps of constant comparison

Wrong questions that sound right

There are missed blessing

Wisdom from time and experience that is literally right in front of you.

Fruit that needs to be bore from the older women to you

Testimony: Tiffany Askew

Titus 2:4-5

2. SO THAT your life honors God's word : Young Women (2:4-5)

Paul understood the impact of a testimony

The power to honor God's word OR the power to discredit and disgrace God's word

Love your family (2:4 to love their husbands and children)

The root word here for love is Philos, not Agape.

Without question, Agape-love is foundational in marriage and parenting.

But Paul uses Philos-love here.

A Love that honors involves a commitment (agape) and a befriending of one another (philos) You can agape your enemy but you can't phileo them.

Continually befriend your family Share Affirm Forgive Serve The opposite of Philos is enemy Is there friendship or enemies under your roof?

REMEMBER : the attacks in Crete are on the home (1:11) The rebellious men who were empty talkers and deceivers were targeting their deception of upsetting whole families.

What is Paul's instruction to Titus as the protector?

LOVE --- A Philos love.

Who does he entrust this protection to?

The wives and moms of the home.

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