The Pastor’s Work
TEXT: Titus 2:1-15 W. Max Alderman
INTRODUCTION: God according to His wisdom and purpose has given the church its pastors to lead and help the church through sound Bible preaching. When this is properly done, God will honor it and strengthen the church. (Acts 20:28; Ephesians 4:11-14). Much of the successes and failures of the church can be attributed to the role and the way that the pastor exercises his office. May we look at the Book of Titus, one of the Pastoral Epistles and see the way that Paul addressed young Timothy.
I. THE PASTOR’S PREACHING. (Vv. 1-6)
A pastor cannot be effective without a balance that comes from preaching. When preaching is practically applied, it helps make the preacher a better pastor. Church congregations often fail to recognize the value of a God-ordained pastor when he is properly executing his office. This is because the congregation, when operating smoothly, fails to recognize the ongoing influence that the preaching of the word has upon their lives. Over a period of time, with a steady diet of Biblical preaching people lives are being molded and shaped into the image of Christ. Paul knew the value of this as he instructed young Timothy to both preach and pastor his flock.
A. The Pastor Preaches to Produce a Doctrinal Soundness. (Vv. 1-2)
1 But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. (Titus 2:1-2)
The doctrine or beliefs of the church are determined by ones attitude towards Truth. The greater ones conviction is that the Bible is the Word of God, the greater ones appreciation is of it as being his Very Word. There are several ways that congregations view their existence. Some embrace what has been called “creedal authority” and believe that their belief position is established by their traditions. There are those who practice “charismatic authority” believing that their belief position is established by their experiences. There are those who accept as their authority the pope or the papal system for their belief practices. This is called “papal authority”. Our church continues to embrace the same belief system that was expressed during the reformation as being cardinal and which is described by this term: “Sola Scriptura”. This simply means that our authority and belief system is based upon the Scriptures alone… To those of us who make up this congregation today, this position is cardinal.
1. The great responsibility of doing it. (V. 1)
There is a great responsibility in the safe delivery of Truth. There are those who would pervert the Truth, which we must guard against their doing so, and there is the corruption of Truth that comes from improper translations. For there to be “sound doctrine” there must be a correct origin for the doctrine that is being taught. For this reason, we use only the King James Bible.
2. The great reason for doing it. (v. 2)
The doctrinal reason for preaching Truth is so that the believer will be “sound in the faith” and the practical reason is for the reasons given in verse two: “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.”
The moral condition of our nation will not allow for the virtues found in verse two to be taught. For this reason, the church must do it and when we fail to do it, we fail… The university is not going to teach sobriety of any kind. Who, out there is teaching the importance of taking life more seriously or being grave. For many, life is no more than one great big party. We must begin by teaching the adult men their responsibilities as husbands and fathers. The word temperate speaks of self-control or keeping oneself under a discipline. These and other similar virtues are being taught from this pulpit. To be sound in faith comes only from proper Biblical preaching. A proper exegesis and delivery of Truth will help insure this.
B. The Pastor Preaches to Produce a Domestic Safeguard. (Vv. 3-6)
3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. 6 Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. (Titus 2:2-6)
We have become so humanized by the current world teachings that many will be either slightly annoyed are greatly angered when they hear the Biblical requirements that were put into the Bible to help us safe-guard our homes. I often wonder how fewer divorces and family failures that there would be if we took more seriously the Word of God. The “aged women” or adults are to conduct their lives in such a way as to insure“behaviour as becometh holiness”. Holiness is so very much lacking in our homes today. Ladies, do you consciously strive to be holy as is defined by the Scriptures?
1. To protect one’s relationship, domestically. (Vv. 3-6)
The aged or mature Christian lady should recognize herself as being a teacher. She learns this through the Scriptures and is shown what her requirements are. She is to teach the younger women to be sober. Originally, this meant to keep oneself in a state of moderation without going to the extreme. Today, it could also be a warning against intoxication. I heard on the news that there is are videos that sadly shows the state of our world today as it regards young women with its title, “Girls gone wild”.
The Girls Gone Wild franchise, created by Joseph R. Francis, is a series by the production company Mantra Films, Inc. Girls Gone Wild videos usually involve a camera crew patrolling a party-heavy area frequented by young adults in search of attractive young women who agree to expose their bodies for the camera, usually in exchange for a tank top and sometimes short pants. This kind of nudity is another way that Satan is robbing young women of their virtue.The church is designed to help avoid this.
2. To point out one’s responsibility, domestically. (Vv. 3-6)
. The work of the church and the pastor through the aged women is to teach the young women to love their husbands and to love their children. She is to be taught discretion, which means to: curb ones appetite, to exercise self-control without moving recklessly according to her impulses… The word chaste speaks of purity and moral cleanliness. Young ladies should be taught by example the dangers of putting anything into one’s mind that will affect ones heart. Satan is doing all that he can to rob our young ladies of their virtue and their purity. When a lady walks down the marriage aisle, she should be doing it as a chaste and virtuous woman not as a harlot.
She is taught her responsibility of being keepers at home. There are things that only the woman can effectively do as it regards the home. Just as the husband’s role should be primarily that of being the “breadwinner” and the wife’s primary role is the one who keeps the home. The home should be a sanctuary for the children to grow up in and for the husband to come home to. The phrase “obedient to their own husbands” indicates that there could be a natural tendency to be more considerate of someone other than your own husband. To illustrate this, sometimes I have a waitress who does not even know me call me “Honey”. I wonder when I am called that if she calls her own husband that. She may be doing that not because I am really her “Honey”, but I am a potential tipper. The husband if he is truly providing for his wife and family as the breadwinner should be the number One “Honey” in her life!
II. THE PASTOR’S PATTERN. (Vv. 7-11)
7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, 8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. 9 Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; 10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (Titus 2:7-11)
A. His Pattern or Example Should be Proper for Teaching Faithfully, Truth. (Vv. 7, 8)
The pastor has a requirement to live and preach by example. This does not at all suggest that the pastor has the ability to live without sinning. His pattern of living should be such that indicates, though he has his own shortcomings and personal times that he sins, he never should excuse or be comfortable in his sinning. He, instead, will strive to live by example so that he can convince the gainsayer of his sincerity as a pastor.
1. He teaches by his personal exposure. (Vv. 7)
The pastor is like a photograph that is being observed by those who surround him. He should be mindful of this and strive to live and show forth a “pattern of good works”. The word pattern means example. He should be a wonderful example to his people. The church should prayerfully support the pastor in his effort to be a Godly example.
2. He teaches by his personal example. (Vv. 8)
Again, the pastor is before his people not as an exhorter in word only, but in deed as well. His “sound speech” results from the plain exhorting of Truth while he is living out that Truth by his own personal example.
B. His Pattern Should be Proper for Telling Forth Truth. (Vv. 9-11)
1. For the hearer’s exhortation. (V. 9)
To exhort is to encourage or provoke one to righteous living. This kind of living will come when there is a clear clarion voice to speak forth the Truth. His exhortation is for the purpose of instructing his congregation in the proper way of living according to the Word of God.
2. For the hearer’s edification. (v. 10-11)
Spiritually, those who have ears to hear will respond to, and then be edified by the preaching of the Word.
III. THE PASTOR’S PECULIARITY. (Vv. 12-15)
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. (Titus 2:12-15)
A. He is Peculiar In His Living. (Vv. 12-15)
1. Because of His Separating From Wrong. (V. 12a)
By example, the preacher should set the tone by his pattern or example by denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. There is a discipline that is involved in this. One should, after being taught, have a desire to live in a “state of denial”. To live in a state of denial is to refuse to accept anything that will challenge your belief or testimony.
2. Because of his standing for right. (V. 12b)
To live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world will involve standing for some things. To stand for that which is right will invite criticism and even persecution, but may we be reminded that it is nothing to compare to the persecution that Christ faced when they nailed Him to the cross!
B. He Is Peculiar In His Looking. (Vv. 13-15)
1. Looking for the One who is coming for us! (V. 13)
The believer should be working for the Lord, but the believer should also be looking or watching for the coming of the Lord. This should be a present reality to us who believe that the Lord may come at any moment.
2. Looking for the One who is caring for us! (Vv. 14-15)
The One who is coming for us is also the One who is now caring for us. His coming may happen at any time and we must be prepared. First, one must be saved. That is the greatest need for you today, if you are not. Then, if you are, you should keep your eyes upon the eastern skies. It may be today!
CONCLUSION: God gives us the perfect Handbook for living. May we value the importance of church in teaching us through the God called pastor.
