Titus 2
What Must Be Taught to Various Groups
1You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Observation:
Paul continues to counsel Titus on how to lead the early church, and in this case, focuses on teaching in accordance in sound doctrine. Some might say why doesn’t he say “teach what the bible teaches”? Remember at that time they only had the Old Testament. So when Paul says “sound doctrine” it is doctrine that squares with the teaching of the early apostles, whose foundation was the Old Testament and fulfilled with Jesus and His teachings to them.
But one of the first things you might recognize is that Paul advocates different types of teaching for different age groups, as well as male and female. There are unique things he would need to focus on in each group. And he starts with the older people or elders in the church. The assumption is that their example would be what the young believers would model themselves after.
Also, we see that a large part of what he is teaching them has to do with every day life situations and issues that would be very relevant for us today in the 21st century. Paul tells them not gossip/slander, and not drink too much, and also be self controlled (which often had overtones related to sexual fidelity).
Paul concludes this chapter with, “These then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” We see that Titus would have to be able to both “encourage” and “rebuke”. Spiritual leaders need to be good at both and to do so with God’s authority.
Application:
As we look at the church today, it strikes me that many of the issues that Paul and Titus dealt with are very similar today. And I also see the huge need to equip our older, wiser saints to play a part in passing on the faith to the younger generation. Often Sunday mornings at church become the most age-segregated place in our culture. While there are times that adults and kids will need to separate, how are we ever going to teach the younger generation if we don’t spend any time with them?
Implicit in all of this teaching is that these people submitted their lives to the elders/pastors authority. In order to both encourage and rebuke with authority, those in the congregation will have to recognize the authority God has given those called to lead in the church. We often call this accountability?
The best structure for this would be for the older men to train, encourage and, if necessary, rebuke the younger men. And the older women would do the same. And of course elders, overseers and pastors would play a role in making sure that all people in the local congregation are in these relationships and sound doctrine is being taught. In this sense these leaders would be “leaders of leaders”.
In this way every one in the congregation is being “taught”. This kind of system would go a long way in stemming the tide of spiritual immaturity and biblical illiteracy in our churches. We have often relegated this to small groups. But unfortunately small groups can often become more social in nature, and if leaders aren’t trained to encourage and rebuke the members (which the members must accept as well), then spiritual growth will not be a likely outcome. This kind of system must start at the top, with the key leaders being discipled and then discipling others.
Pray for a revival for this type of church climate, which will help turn the tide and help the church to become the beacon of transformation and life change she was designed to be from the beginning!
Prayer: God help leaders to encourage, rebuke and teach sound doctrine. Help each of us to have those we are accountable to for our spiritual lives. As we grow, may we continue to be equipped to train and equip those younger than us to become Christ-like. Send Your Holy Spirit to teach and guide us and give us the gifts necessary to fulfill this original purpose you have given to the local church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. 2Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
Observation:
Paul continues to counsel Titus on how to lead the early church, and in this case, focuses on teaching in accordance in sound doctrine. Some might say why doesn’t he say “teach what the bible teaches”? Remember at that time they only had the Old Testament. So when Paul says “sound doctrine” it is doctrine that squares with the teaching of the early apostles, whose foundation was the Old Testament and fulfilled with Jesus and His teachings to them.
But one of the first things you might recognize is that Paul advocates different types of teaching for different age groups, as well as male and female. There are unique things he would need to focus on in each group. And he starts with the older people or elders in the church. The assumption is that their example would be what the young believers would model themselves after.
Also, we see that a large part of what he is teaching them has to do with every day life situations and issues that would be very relevant for us today in the 21st century. Paul tells them not gossip/slander, and not drink too much, and also be self controlled (which often had overtones related to sexual fidelity).
Paul concludes this chapter with, “These then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.” We see that Titus would have to be able to both “encourage” and “rebuke”. Spiritual leaders need to be good at both and to do so with God’s authority.
Application:
As we look at the church today, it strikes me that many of the issues that Paul and Titus dealt with are very similar today. And I also see the huge need to equip our older, wiser saints to play a part in passing on the faith to the younger generation. Often Sunday mornings at church become the most age-segregated place in our culture. While there are times that adults and kids will need to separate, how are we ever going to teach the younger generation if we don’t spend any time with them?
Implicit in all of this teaching is that these people submitted their lives to the elders/pastors authority. In order to both encourage and rebuke with authority, those in the congregation will have to recognize the authority God has given those called to lead in the church. We often call this accountability?
The best structure for this would be for the older men to train, encourage and, if necessary, rebuke the younger men. And the older women would do the same. And of course elders, overseers and pastors would play a role in making sure that all people in the local congregation are in these relationships and sound doctrine is being taught. In this sense these leaders would be “leaders of leaders”.
In this way every one in the congregation is being “taught”. This kind of system would go a long way in stemming the tide of spiritual immaturity and biblical illiteracy in our churches. We have often relegated this to small groups. But unfortunately small groups can often become more social in nature, and if leaders aren’t trained to encourage and rebuke the members (which the members must accept as well), then spiritual growth will not be a likely outcome. This kind of system must start at the top, with the key leaders being discipled and then discipling others.
Pray for a revival for this type of church climate, which will help turn the tide and help the church to become the beacon of transformation and life change she was designed to be from the beginning!
Prayer: God help leaders to encourage, rebuke and teach sound doctrine. Help each of us to have those we are accountable to for our spiritual lives. As we grow, may we continue to be equipped to train and equip those younger than us to become Christ-like. Send Your Holy Spirit to teach and guide us and give us the gifts necessary to fulfill this original purpose you have given to the local church. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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