Sermon 60
Sermon
by Ian Scott Thompson at Wonersh on 14th
January 2007
Titus Chapter 2
BibleGateway.com
- Passage Lookup: Titus 2;
1 You must teach
what is in accord with sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men
to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in
love and in endurance.
3 Likewise, 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.
4 Then they can train
the younger women to love their husbands and children,
5 to 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.
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.
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 Saviour attractive.
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 Saviour, 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.
15 These, then, are the
things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let
anyone despise you.
Titus background.
Pastoral Epistles (along with I and II Timothy) written to
individuals. Titus was Bishop of
Crete. Paul apostle,
appointing in each town bishop-overseers episcope, or elders presbyteroi.
Previously
in the first chapter, blameless lifestyle of elders (6-9) and refuting those who
oppose sound doctrine for dishonest gain (10-16). This chapter has syllabus
content in more detail.
“You
must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.” The word “Teach” or “Teaching” is used 8
times, also “train” and “encourage”. Paul
is telling Titus not to be backward or subtle but to be strongly
directive. Tell ‘em
what to do!
There
are instructions for five groups: older men, older women, younger women, young
men, slaves. But I get the feeling that
he’s not emphasizing the differences between these groups, so much as
the importance of speaking to everybody – both age group,
both sexes, and slaves too.
Be
temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and
in endurance. Stable
community leaders.
Be
reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Particular temptations might be irreverence,
slander and gossip, and the gin bottle.
Notice
that the women are teachers: they have a key role, they don’t have to be
completely silent at all times as some have thought; but in that patriarchal
culture they didn’t usually teach men: the sexes kept separate for teaching.
“Then
they can train the younger women…” This
is delegation, or perhaps better a “cascade” of teaching,
and it’s an excellent gospel principle, because it multiplies the effectiveness
of teaching many times. In Alpha, course
leaders train group leaders, group leaders train deputy leaders, deputy leaders
train groups members, group members becomes deputy leaders, the cycle
repeats. Each learning
by teaching and example. Can you think
of a way you could put that into practice, in church or work or at home?
The
world population in Jesus' time equalled the
If
you were an outstandingly gifted evangelist with an international reputation,
and if, under God, you could win 1,000 persons for Christ every night of every
year, how long would it take you to win the whole world for Christ? Answer,
over 10,000 years. But if you are a true disciple for Christ, and if you are
able under God to win just one person to Christ each year; and if you could
then train that person to win one other person to Christ each year, how long
would it take to win the whole world for Christ? Answer, just 32 years!
“to
love their husbands and children, to 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.”
The
younger women are mostly yummy mummies, spending their days at home. Perhaps some of them were tempted to take out
their frustrations on husband and children, because they have no one else to
talk to; or even to look outside the home for impurity and excitement, or for
busyness and occupation.
But
Christian women witness to their families by their behaviour. Sometimes a woman with a non-Christian family
will be asked to choose whether to come to church and get involved there, or to
stay at home for the sake of the family.
The key is to realise that God has called us to marriage and family
life, even with a non-Christian family.
Paul brings in his chief motive for all this sensible behaviour: “so
that no one will malign the word of God.”
“to be self-controlled.”
Do you know, he asks everybody to be self-controlled? But this is all he says to the young men, so
I guess self-control is everything for the hot-blooded.
“In
everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show
integrity, seriousness 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.”
Then
Paul tells Titus in verse 7 to set the young men a good example by his own
behaviour. That’s tough, being an
example to others. Sometimes people
criticise you for not being a good example: “And you call yourself a Christian!” We all feel rather guilty, ashamed, unworthy,
and modest about this. Nevertheless,
this is the way people see Christ, by looking at Christians; it’s often the way
they come to Christ, by seeing something of God in Christians; it may be the
way they learn and mature, by following the example of other Christians. Paul said “imitate me, as I imitate Christ”,
and that’s the guideline: others are not following our fallible human efforts,
but following what they see of God in us.
He
also repeats the motivation for all this: not our own glory or benefit, but so
as not to bring disrepute on the gospel we proclaim.
Lastly
in verse 9 he turns to slaves: perhaps in our time we would apply this section
to workers or employees. Again, the aim
is to work hard, show respect, be honest and trustworthy, in order to bring
credit for the gospel.
Verses
11-14 summarise the gospel as “the grace of God that brings salvation.” “Grace” here means God’s good gift, his
unearned forgiveness, his power which saves us.
As Paul writes to Titus, he’s rejoicing because this incredible thing
has happened in their own lifetime, that God has acted
in history, and revealed his goodness, his rescue, to all people everywhere.
Our
response, in verse 12, is to resist the world’s lifestyle, people doing what
feels good; and to live godly lives. Why
should we do this? Why should we
exercise this self-control? Well, it’s
only temporary, “in this present age”: we are part of a bigger plan, to be
God’s own people for eternity. That’s
worth vastly more than any fleeting discomfort in this life: it’s worth our
maximum investment. He closes by
reminding Titus of the importance of this teaching, and of delivering it
without flinching.
What
do we learn from this?
ü Certainly, the
importance of order in the church, so that people learn the truth from reliable
teachers, and perhaps cascade it on to others.
Teach, and learn, well!
ü The
significance of our behaviour as a witness to our family and community around
us. Love your family, and work honestly. Be a credit to the gospel!
ü Self-control,
meaning choosing godly living rather than being driven by our passions. Let God drive your life!
ü If all this
sounds rather solid and worthy, and you don’t feel very strongly inclined, then
remember that it’s part of a much bigger story and a more valuable prize. Don’t miss the meta-narrative, the bigger
picture!