Striving For Church Health - Healthy Younger Women Series

INTRODUCTION

Opening Statement: Three weeks ago, we began to talk about Striving For Church Health. If SCC is going to be a healthy church, the senior saints must lead the way in example and conduct and we, the congregation, must know how to react and respond to their lives and walk among us. Young women must also lead by example and conduct.

Text: Titus 2:1-10

Background: The apostle left Titus on the island of Crete to ’’set in order what remains, and appoint elders in every city (Titus 1:5).’’ They have need for spiritual maturity in the congregation. And so Titus has been given the assignment to work to that end. To establish order in the church Paul gave Titus instructions concerning the behavior of various groups of Christians. Titus was instructed to approach every group in the church and challenge them to a holy lifestyle. “I want them to be godly men and women so that they will be salt and light on that island.” He did not only want them to live holy lives but to preserve a powerful Christian testimony in their community. He wanted them to be a healthy, well-balanced group of believers that clearly and attractively presented the gospel in their island community.

Title: Striving for Church Health – Healthy Younger Women

Miniseries Theme: Equipping Them In All Stages of Life!

Key Word: There are 5 SPECIFIC GROUPS that are addressed: senior adult men, senior adult women, younger women, younger men, and employees. Today, we focus on younger women in particular with applications for everyone.

Notation: Today is the 2nd Sunday of the month. We have junior worship today. It would be best if our children could utilize this today due to what I am going to share later in the sermon time.

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OUTLINE

Opening Statement: No matter what I would say about Titus 2 verses 4 and 5, it will be controversial. If I just read it, it would be controversial. So my disclaimer is simply this: If you don’t like what I say this morning, talk to God about it. He’s the one who inspired its authorship.

Exposition: Titus 2:1 But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine. 2 Older men are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 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. 6 Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Urge bond slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

Personal Comments: Allow me to share that I am aware of the multitude of scenarios that women often find themselves in. I am aware of the unrealistic expectations that are placed on women – job harassment, unfair treatment, and selfish husbands.

Transition: But today, rather than listen to a talk show host define for you what you should do about your role and duties in life, can we turn to God’s Word to help us define what that might be? Paul wanted the young women in the local church to set the example for family life.

Healthy Younger Women

Exposition: III. (:4-5) CONDUCT OF YOUNG WOMEN

A. "love their husbands" First, younger women should "love their husbands," i.e., have tender affection for them. The implication is that they get married after connecting with a life-partner and that they love their husbands. You say, “You don’t know my husband. I don’t love my husband; my husband is not lovable.” Cretan marriages were contracts arranged by parents, and this caused a lot of problems later in marriage. Be thankful, because at least, you had a choice in the matter! You may be smarter than he is; you may make more money than he does; you are prettier than he is (hopefully); you are not appreciated as much as you should be; but nevertheless, love him. Affirm his leadership role. I did not say bow to his whims and be his slave.

Illustration: I love my children, but I don’t bow to their every whim and fancy. If I did, I would have to buy an entire Toys R Us toy store! I recognize the role that I have in their lives, and in love I try to fill that role and meet the basic needs but I don’t cater to their every demand. Ladies, you don’t have to cater to a husband’s every demand. That’s not love. If God has blessed him with health, then he can get his own dessert and pour his own glass of milk. He can even run the sweeper and do the dishes on occasion. Don’t become obsessed with bowing to a husband’s whims. That’s not love. That’s manipulation and your husband needs to be held accountable for such childish behavior.