How many teachers do we have here today? School teachers and Bible class teachers raise your hands. Actually, all of us are teachers in some way. All of us have influence and we do and say things that are instructive to others, even when we wish otherwise. Some of my best lessons on faith I learned from my children as they were growing up. I remember learning that God answers prayers for even the most insignificant things… at least, insignificant from my perspective.
Titus 2 talks a lot about teaching. The word occurs nine times in this chapter in the NIV. Actually, Paul uses a variety of words that all could be translated teach. They are instruct, admonish, encourage, urge, command, etc. But the idea is still about teaching.
Just before this, in chapter one, we heard about some people who were teaching things they ought not to teach. They were upsetting whole households and causing problems for the church. Paul says that they must be silenced! We don’t know what they were teaching, just that it was bad, and that it was causing problems that needed urgent attention.
I would invite you to listen to what constitutes good teaching or sound doctrine according to Paul here in chapter two. Notice the focus of all of this instruction… What is it? The first thing I noticed is that it has nothing to do with how we carry on our worship services. When we think of false teachers today or unsound preaching, what sort of things come to mind?
What do false teachers teach? Things that are false! Right?
Titus has been left in Crete to complete the job of establishing elders in every town. He has been given a list of character traits that are expected of anyone who might serve in that capacity and a few things these elders were expected to do. There are two major parts of the elders job: one is to teach and stand for the truth of the gospel, the other is to be an example by living according to the standards of the gospel. This includes refuting any false teacher who might spread things that are false and destructive to the church, but also being a model for others to follow in spiritual maturity and Christ likeness. This must take place both inside and outside of church assembly time. That’s what Titus shows us.
Again, what sort of things did Titus tell them to teach? Look at chapter two again. Notice the breakdown of who to teach what. What age group is Titus told to start with? Older! First, older men. What deep spiritual things is Titus told to impart to these older men? What awesome hidden truths will he share?
2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.
Are you disappointed? We shouldn’t be. These things are rock solid truths that are to be taught and followed by mature Christians! How many people of our day are looking for hidden truths and failing to live by the obvious ones.
Next is older women. Listen to what Titus teaches them.
3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.
It is assumed that these older women will be teaching too. To whom do they give instruction? What is the core message of their instruction to these younger women? Is it false teaching to fail to teach these instructions to younger women? Is it unsound in the faith to ignore these things?
Notice that Titus is not specifically told to teach the younger women. That is a job for the older women to do. There is wisdom in this as well.
Next is instruction to young men. What is it?
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and 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.
The young men are to be self-controlled, or sober minded, or sensible. Then Titus is also to show them how to live, giving them an example to follow instead of just words to hear. Now that’s teaching! This indicates that he will be with these young men more than just “at church.” He will do good things with them and continue teaching as they do things together. This is something our Summer Service gives us a golden opportunity to do. Teachers can do more than just talk in a class. You can do good deeds with others and follow examples of leaders here. Isn’t that more like how Jesus taught his disciples? Think of their class times. The disciples didn’t come to discipleship class and sit in a room listening to Jesus talk. Oh, they listened to Jesus, but notice in the gospels that Jesus did things with them as part of his teaching.
The older women were to get with the younger women and do things with them as well as tell them things to do.
Finally, he addresses slaves and servants:
9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Good teaching has the result of good living so that those watching us are not able to say bad things about us but would be attracted to the teaching of God our Savior. This is not just about doing things in church assembly; this is about living the gospel day by day. The Christian life is a life like Christ in and out of church assembly.
That’s what the grace of God teaches us! Look at the final piece of this chapter:
11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
What does God’s grace teach us? Titus says that God’s grace teaches us how to live as we wait for Jesus to return. Specifically, God’s grace in Christ teaches us first to turn away from evil and then to live lives that are good while we do what is good.
Paul said in Acts 26:17-20 as he retold how he met Jesus on the way to Damascus:
I am sending you to them 18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
19 “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. 20 First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
How we live for Jesus day to day proves our repentance. Christian deeds are crucial to Christian faith and salvation. We are not saved by them, but we are not saved if we don’t do them either.
Titus 2 begins with these words:
You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
It ends with these words:
15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
If all we had in God’s word was Titus, Christian teaching would be all about doing deeds day to day like Jesus did, because God’s grace has brought us salvation and purified us as His own so we would be eager to do good deeds.
Do people see Jesus in you as you live your life day to day and confess your faith in Him? That’s part of what we do too. We confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord as we live lives to honor His name. It is word and works. If you want prayers of this church for your life to be lived or your words to line up with God’s word, do something… come forward and demonstrate your determination to do what God wants you to do.
If you are not a Christian, God wants you. Jesus died for you. His grace is available to save you. Without Him you will be eternally lost, but through His sacrificial death on the cross for you, God’s grace has appeared. If you need to come to Christ for salvation, here’s what to do: 1. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior. 2. Repent of sin – turn from darkness and death to life and light in Jesus Christ. Listen to the true teaching of God’s grace. 3. Confess that you are a sinner and that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, the Son of God. 4. Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 5. Live your new life as a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, learning to do all He commanded.
God’s call is real. His truth is for you to follow, not just hear. Do the word of God! He will work it in you as you give yourself to Him.
