Healthy Church Discipleship

Introduction

Good morning. It’s a joy to be with you today. I want to welcome those joining us online and thank you for choosing to worship with us when there are a lot of other options out there. We thank you for joining us and hope the Lord blesses you from His Word today. Go ahead and open your Bible or scroll on your device to Titus 2:1-8

When we look at a passage like today’s we are driven face to face with the way God sees gender and gender roles. We live in a culture that is radically skewed in how it sees gender. In fact, our culture is down right gender confused. We have been told that it doesn’t matter what biology says, that you can identify as whatever gender you want, we are told there might night be only two genders… The Bible says this is false. If we are not watchful, some of this false teaching on gender roles and gender identity can seep its way into the church. And while we love those who have these wrong views, we must not compromise the truth of the Word of God.

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul, gives Titus instructions regarding discipleship within various age and gender groups in the church. God has assignments for each age and gender group. Here me when I say this: All humans are of equal inherent worth/value before God. However, we are created for different roles according to our gender. There are certain things that are true of men and certain things true of women.

Titus 2:1–8 ESV

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. 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, 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. 6 Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 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.

Prayer

In contrast to the false teachers we talked about last week and who Paul had instructed Titus about, Titus was to teach what accords with sound doctrine. This part of verse one could literally be translated as an admonition to speak the things which belong to healthy doctrine.

“But you” - this expression is emphatic in the original language. It denotes a sharp contrast between the false teachers and Titus.

Just as germs invade a healthy body and make it ill, so false teaching invades a church and makes it unhealthy. In the next verses we see Paul lay out a blend of doctrinal instruction and practical direction that were to work together in the discipleship of these believers. Again, we see the theme in Titus of doctrine and right teaching.

I. Older men

Paul begins his instructions about these groups with the older men. Older men in the church are to be:

A. Sober minded

This is pertaining to being restrained in conduct, being level headed. He makes careful judgements and makes wise decisions. He know what matters most and makes godly choices decisively. He’s a man of moderation. He lives his life desiring to please God. He understands the truth that many Christians over the years have learned as expressed in the Westminster Shorter Catechism. Question one asks: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

B. Dignified

Worthy of respect. He is worthy of respect because he chases after that which is noble. This is one of the traits that God expects of a deacon and his wife we read in I Timothy3. He’s not a prude or a legalistic Pharisee but this type of guy is not delighting in the inappropriate. He’s not involved in things that are suspect or questionable or very clearly beyond the bounds of appropriateness. He’s worthy of honor and respect by the younger men because of his integrity of life and his purity. Titus was to teach them not to be dirty old men.

C. Self-controlled

Prudent, thoughtful, being in control of oneself… Not acting impulsively. Teach them to control their passions. He’s self disciplined. MacArthur writes that these men “have the discernment, discretion, and judgement that comes from walking with God for many years. They control their physical passions and they reject worldly standards and resist worldly attractions” These are not the type of guys who skip church to go fishing. These are the men who teach the young men how to order their life after God and lead their families to follow God because they themselves are controlled in these areas.

D. Sound in faith

Sound, meaning free from error and faith meaning reliability, fidelity, commitment, the state of believing on the basis of the reliability of the one trusted, confidence

They live with a confidence in God based on sound doctrine.

Rooted in a daily worship of the Lord. Being regularly in the Word and in prayer… when no one is looking.

He is confident in the love of the Lord and believes as Babbie Mason once sang, “Even when I cannot trace His hand, I can always trust His heart.”

He knows what he believes. He knows why he believes, and he knows whom he believes.

E. Sound in love

Warm regard for and interest in another, esteem, affection, regard

Rightly ordered love. God first, other believers next, and then the lost.

I Corinthians 13 love - our standard to strive for

John 13:35 ESV

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

F. Sound in steadfastness

Capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty

Expectation, patiently waiting for someone for something

He’s a patient man. Perseverance.

Hebrews 12:1–2 ESV

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus endured and persevered. We must endure and persevere. For the joy set before us.

II. Older women

Just as with everyone they are to pursue godliness in their lives and in their discipling of the younger women. Elizabeth Elliot once wrote an article and called these women WOTTs. The Women Of Titus Two. She was asking where these type of women were in our churches.

A. Reverent in behavior

This runs parallel to what was commanded toward the older men. The word reverences literally means “temple fitting”. This also could be appropriate behavior in the temple. Basically the idea is that she shoudl be living a godly life of holiness and thus reflecting God’s character because she loves and lives for Christ.

B. Not slanderers

They are not to be making false or unfounded accusations. The Greek word here is diabolos… It’s the word where we get our English word “devil”.

34 times in the NT, it is used to refer to the Enemy of God. These older women are to teach the younger women not to be “devilish” in their speech. She’s not to be a gossip, spreading things around like she’s running a fertilizer spreader. She has control over her tongue.

C. Not slaves to much wine

She’s not addicted to much wine.

Not only does she control her tongue, but she controls her appetite as well.

She’s not dealing with her problems at the bottom of the bottle.

D. Teach what is good

Both the older men and the older women have the assignment to teach the younger generations. I don’t know if you realize this but younger women are in desperate need of role models. They need the insight and practical wisdom as well as teaching and knowledge of mature Christian, older women. They need your experience. Paul puts these issues of family right beside the other character issues. It’s all interwoven and connected.

So when Paul says to teach what is good, we must ask, what is the good teaching that Paul had in mind? In verses four and five we find the answers to this question.

Before we get there I want to address something: One scholar, in commenting on this subject says this,

“ Cultural pressure and expectations have robbed many women of the blessings and joys of homemaking and motherhood. The Feminist Movement made promises on which it could not deliver. The fallout has been mammoth and disastrous, and we are still in the midst of the whirlwind. It is obvious from this text that a feminist agenda and the resulting confusion and rejection of God-ordained roles is not restricted to the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. The first century suffered from this malady as well, and so Paul confronted it head on.

Now - what I am not saying is that it is wrong for you ladies to work outside the home. I am NOT saying that. I am NOT saying you should always be barefoot and pregnant or that you are sinning by having a career. That would be taking this too far I think. My own wife works so I would be a giant hypocrite if I made you abide by some rule I don’t abide by.

However, the primary role of the woman is in regard to the home. When our kids were very young we tried to have Bethany as available as possible to them. She stayed home for a good portion of their younger years. Again, that doesn’t mean you have to but I really do believe that it is best by design. So with that in mind we need to see what Paul has to say about this.

E. Train the younger women to:

Love their husbands

Danny Akin writes:

Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus Titus

Paul was concerned that a woman’s first commitment under the lordship of Jesus Christ was to her husband and her marriage. The way a couple loves each other will model for the children the way they should love their future spouses. The fact is, we do not so much “fall in love” as we “learn to love.” What a great thing it is for daughters to learn how to love their future husbands by watching their mother love their dad!

Husbands are commanded elsewhere in scripture to love their wives and to sacrificially give of themselves to serve them.

Love their children

This is more than making lunch and snuggling. This is care of the whole person and ultimately being both disciplined and nurturing them along. The ultimate love for them would be loving them to Jesus - leading them to a personal and saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Be self-controlled

Pure

She is above reproach in her moral life. She doesn’t have a “work-husband.” She is a one-man woman. Her husband can have trust and confidence in her faithfulness. God sees his own character in her.

Working at home

She’s a homemaker. Her primary base of operation is the home. Proverbs 31:10-31 addresses the focused and attentive homemaker and all of the activities and interests that she has and how she works for the benefit of her family. That passage should not be used to beat women over the head. The older women should teach and train the younger women how to care for their family and home. It is a core part of femininity as designed by God. The blessings of this role are unmatched by anything else in life she may choose to do. It’s not some kind of slaving away at home but a glorious and blessed role, created in you by God. You are free to be the woman God made you to be.

Kind

She should be like Jesus. Gracious, merciful, considerate. She doesn’t bite back at those who strike her.

Submissive to their own husbands

Submission: yielding your will to the leadership and direction of another. I’ve read it explained as more attitude than action. No inferiority implied in submission. The wife submits to her own husband and not to every man. She follows her husband’s leadership unless he leads her to do something unbiblical. She honors God and the Bible in this. She even honors her husband in this.

Jesus models this. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equally God. Jesus, because of the purpose of his redeeming mission, submitted himself to the mission or assignment of the Father. Because He did this, we can be saved.

There is no second class in this.

Outcome: SO THAT THE WORD OF GOD WILL NOT BE REVILED

(upholds the reputation of God among the people)

The Word of God to the people of God is shown to be true and worthy. When a godly woman lives this out, the Word sees what following Jesus in the family looks like.

III. Urge younger men

A. To be self-controlled

THIS IS RELATIONAL MINISTRY/DISCIPLING

IV. How Titus is supposed to lead this:

A. You be a model of good works.

He had in verse one, told Titus to teach what accords with sound teaching.

Accords - is fitting, seemly, is suitable - This way of living for each of these groups is keeping with sound teaching. He’s teaching them how to live Godly lives.

B. In your teaching show:

Integrity

Dignity

Sound speech that cannot be condemned

C. So that: an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about US.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 2

Paul is concerned about the reputation of the faith among outsiders. The conduct of believers must not give unbelievers an opportunity to make shameful accusations about the faith.

Conclusion

Discipleship in the local church should be relational. The most effective way is for those who are farther along to disciple those who are coming behind them. It is multi-generational.