Transcript

Kevin Miller writes the following: When I was a kid, Saturday mornings were chore day. Often my dad would say, “C’mon let’s go,” and I’d hop in the station wagon, and we would drive down the street to Hooper Wolfe’s hardware store.

Hooper Wolfe’s had an old wood door, painted white—except where the paint was worn off near the handle. You walked in, and you could hardly move.

There were two narrow aisles. The counters were filled with merchandise, shelves were overflowing, and stuff was hanging from the ceiling. You’d think, No way am I going to find anything in here. But you didn’t need to.

As soon as you walked in, Clarence from behind the counter would say, “Help you today?” My dad would say something like, “I want to hang a light out back.”

Clarence would come out from behind the counter and ask questions. “Where you going to hang it? Over the patio? Well then”—and he would start rummaging through shelves until he pulled off just the right light—“you want a light like this.”

“And don’t use these bolts here; they’re good for indoor stuff, but for outdoor, you want something galvanized.” Your wall is brick, isn’t it?” Clarence asked.

“Well, to run the conduit through there, you want a masonry drill bit at least ¾ of an inch. If we don’t have that in stock, you can get one over at Miller’s Lumberyard.”

Then Clarence would pull a flat carpenter’s pencil off his ear and get out a little piece of paper and sketch it all out. “The conduit goes here, and make sure you don’t mount the light too close to the soffit.”

Today, when I have a project on Saturday, I head to Home Depot. Unlike Hooper Wolfe’s, where you had to parallel park on the street, there’s an ocean of parking. And inside, Home Depot is huge. The ceilings are 30 feet high. Home Depot has forty times the inventory of Hooper Wolfe’s. It all looks great under bright, argon lights.

There is a guy in an orange apron—a block away. If you run him down, he’s likely to say, “Sorry. I usually work in paints. I’m just covering in electrical because someone called in sick.” So you’re pretty much on your own in stores like this.

A similar thing has happened in the American church. We have huge mega-churches with programs that are amazing, with Disney-level quality and technological sophistication. But there’s a disconnect and you feel like you’re on your own sometimes.

But something’s missing: guys like Clarence. We all need a Clarence, someone who knows us, who cares and knows more than we do and who will happily guide us to grow in Christ. Throughout the Bible this is the way faith has been passed on.

Moses trains Joshua in how to lead; Eli trains Samuel in how to pray; Christ taught the 12 apostles; Timothy’s grandmother Lois trains up her daughter Eunice, who both train their grandson and son Timothy.

When it comes to helping people grow into spiritual maturity, the Bible gives us “the Clarence Principle”: the personal touch of the older teaching the younger, and those more mature in the faith guide those who are newer in the faith.

This is what Titus is instructed about here, of the need for the church to personally minister to one another and help each other, and be good examples to one another, so that the church will be a consistent witness to sound doctrine and the power of the gospel.

Titus 2:1: “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.”

Paul separates this section of his letter from the previous section with a strong contrast, as he says “But speak thou,” or “But as for you” Titus.

In contrast to the lies and deception and false teachings that were being spread in Crete, Titus was to speak the things which become truth and sound doctrine.

Titus needed to teach the church sound doctrine and they needed to know the type of behavior that is fitting and in accordance with sound doctrine and true godliness.

Paul uses the term “sound” 5 times in Titus. We get our word “hygiene” from the original Greek word translated as “sound.”

It refers to that which is healthy and wholesome. So we learn by this that there is both healthy doctrine and instruction and there is unhealthy teaching out there.

Speaking of “the things” that become sound doctrine, pertain to truths, attitudes and actions that correspond to and are based on God’s Word, rightly divided, which are in accord with God’s instructions given to and through the Apostle Paul for the church today.

Sound doctrine is the basis for sound character.

God’s people need to know and be grounded in “sound doctrine,” because God’s sound, healthy grace truth for today is what leads to a spiritually sound, healthy, vibrant, growing Christian life, a life that is transformed by grace.

A godly character and life is built upon the bedrock of sound doctrine found within God’s Word, rightly divided, and our knowledge, faith and obedience to it.

As Titus spoke and shared the things that are becoming of sound doctrine with the church, Paul outlines the instruction for the church by different age categories: older men (2:2), older women (2:3), younger women (2:4-5), and younger men (2:6).

Paul’s instruction here shows how a church needs to minister to all age groups, and all the age groups should minister to each other.

Titus 2:2: “That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.”

Billy Graham writes this, “Old is authentic. Old is genuine. Old is valuable. Some say old is even beautiful.

“The older generation may have a hard time keeping up with the younger, but let’s remember that as long as we are still breathing, we are leading the way. The generations that follow are learning about growing old from us.

“Are we good examples? While we have all made mistakes and would like to turn back the clock to correct some things, we know this is not possible.

“But the lessons we have learned from our successes and failures can help those following behind. The impact we can potentially have on them can be powerful.”

Being good examples is what Paul’s instruction here is for the older men. He desired that the church find worthy examples to follow in the character of older men.

One of the strongest forces for spiritual ministry in the church lies with older believers, who have the experience of years that the church needs to learn from.

Senior saints who pray, teach, visit, troubleshoot, and help build up the church are greatly needed. We see in these verses how they are strategic in the spiritual maturity of the church by their example of soberness, seriousness, self-control, soundness in the faith, in their love and patience.

God can and will use our life at whatever stage of life we’re at. And He wants each of us to finish our course.

The true story is told of an 86 year old man named Charlie Riggs, who twice a week, drives his old tan Buick to a local prison. And he does a Bible study with prisoners.

He was once asked, “Don’t you think you’re kind of old to be doing what you’re doing? Don’t you ever feel afraid to walk into the prison by yourself?” And Riggs said, “I won’t lie. Sometimes I get scared right before I go into the prison.

“But I can’t remember a time after leaving the prison that the tears didn’t flow. The presence of the Lord is so real whenever I step out on faith to do something for Him.

“I retired from my job 10 years ago. But I have no intention of retiring from my service to the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul calls for older men to cultivate in their lives six qualities here as they are examples to others in the church.

“Sober” speaks of keeping things in balance and within limits, avoiding overindulgence in any area. It speaks of being vigilant, sensible, steady, and not given to foolish talk and conduct. They are to demonstrate spiritual maturity to the church.

“Grave” does not suggest a solemn, gloomy person who never laughs, smiles or has fun, or to being “grumpy old men.” There is to be joy in living the Christian life.

But “grave” does speak of the need to be serious and not just light-hearted and care-free about ministry. Realizing the seriousness of life and ministry and people’s spiritual needs are important for the Christian life, and older men are to be example of this to the church.

“Grave” also speaks of being honorable. It implies the dignity befitting elder brethren, that in turn produces respect among the church members.

Out of that respect we should listen carefully when they speak and take heed because of their experience of years.

As Job 12:12-13 says: “With the [aged] is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.”

Older men are to be “temperate,” demonstrating self-control in their life and in the church, being moderate, prudent, disciplined.

They are to be “sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” Sound in faith, love, and patience all go together. The church needs the example of older men who are sound in the faith, who know the Word, who live it, who stand for it, and are faithful to it.

Being grounded in the faith and sound doctrine leads to living the faith. Here we see that being “sound in the faith,” in turn produces and leads to being sound “in charity” or sound in the love of God, showing His selfless love and kindness to others.

And being sound in the faith leads to being sound “in patience,” as the Word gives the strength, hope and patient endurance for the trials of life and with trying people in life.

The spiritually mature aged man has learned how to patiently ride out the storms of life, both expecting and accepting trials when they come, and not losing heart but finding their strength and patience in God and in their faith in trusting Him.

As the church sees this kind of godly example in the aged men, it will strengthen and encourage the church to grow in Christ and to emulate their faith in Him.

Titus 2:3: “The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things.”

As the older men are to be examples to the church, so too “likewise” are the older women. We can also SAFELY interpret older women in the relative sense here, that godly women of any age should teach women who are younger than themselves.

Paul says that their behavior should be “as becometh holiness.” They are to be holy in the way they live. Holiness speaks of being set apart to the Lord.

Living a life that becomes holiness means that by her conduct she demonstrates that she belongs to God and that her life has been reserved for His worship, setting apart their lives to live for the Lord, to know the Lord, to be close to the Lord.

They know God, they believe Him, and live a faith-filled life. An example of a woman like this is found in Luke 2:36,37, where we read about Anna, who was 84-years-old. It is said of her that she never left the temple because she was committed to the Lord and to serving Him through prayer “night and day” God’s Word says.

This kind of faith and devotion can be contagious, and this kind of woman is to be highly respected for her reverence and love for the Lord and faith in Him.

The “aged women” are instructed to be careful with words and to not be “false accusers.” The term false accusers speaks of having a story to share about someone, but it’s a story which never elevates the person’s reputation or character in the minds of others.

Aged women are also to be “not given to much wine,” or literally not enslaved to alcohol. They are to avoid any kind of addiction or to be in bondage to something that leads one away from the Lord. Their behavior is to be controlled by the Lord, not by alcohol or any kind of harmful addiction.

In contrast to these two negative commands about “not good” things, older women were to be “teachers of good things,” with their lives is the idea.

Younger women learn and are taught “good things” by the example of the older women of how to live the Christian life.

The thought here is that older women exemplify the virtues that they teach to the younger women, and that by their good-teaching-behavior they instruct others.

And their own examples of godliness and doing what is good in God’s sight, give older women the right and credibility to teach the younger women of the church.

Titus 2:4: “That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.”

God’s Word teaches us here that godly older women have the responsibility of teaching the younger women about being a wife and mother.

God desires and His purpose for older women is for them to pour themselves into someone who is younger and to teach them. Older women have an important, strategic role in shaping, growing, encouraging and outfitting younger women for life’s journey.

And they should teach the young women to be “sober,” meaning “wise and sensible,” and this is in accordance with the Word, where we find how to be wise, and how to be sensible and level-headed in life. So the Word needs to be taught, in order to understand how and what it means to be wise and sensible in life.

The instruction for young married women starts with the home. And we see that the greatest priority in the home is love. Love is learned. And a young wife needs to be taught how “to love their husbands.”

This kind of teaching comes better from someone who knows how hard it is to do.

Loving husbands can be a challenge. Love is about selflessness and in the marriage the wife is to put the husband first and his needs and his good first.

Loving husbands can be a challenge. Love is about selflessness and in the marriage the wife is to put the husband first and his needs and his good first.

And vice versa, the husband is to do the same with the wife. This isn’t easily learned, because our old nature wants to put ourselves first.

As it’s been said, “The day you said, ‘I do,’ you chose your love; since then you have been learning to love your choice.” Training younger women about how to love husbands is teaching that love is an unconditional, permanent commitment to an imperfect person.

The older women are to teach a young mother how “to love their children.” It’s not easy to be a mom with young kids. That’s why it’s essential that older women provide some practical training, advice and counsel in this area from someone who has been there and done that and faced the same struggles and the exhaustion it brings.

Now a mother normally naturally loves her children. But this love needs to be learned as well, with the selflessness being a parent requires.

An example of learning to love children is mothers who say they love their children too much to discipline them. They need to be taught how to love their children.

In reality that kind of thought is a selfish and is not looking out for the child’s highest good for their life, which love does (Prov. 13:24). Discipline is what’s best for children in their growth, development, character, and just facing life in this world.

The training by an older woman can warn and enlighten and help younger mothers so they will know what’s best for the children.

And in teaching love for their children, they need to be taught of the vital importance of looking out for their children’s spiritual well-being.

The highest act of love for a parent is to lead their children to Christ and into a relationship with the Lord through faith, prayer, and the learning of the Word of God.

Titus 2:5: “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

The younger women are also to be taught to be “discreet” which is the exact same Greek word as “temperate” in verse 2. So again this speaks of demonstrating self-control, being moderate, steady, prudent, disciplined.

They are to be taught to be “chaste,” or pure, being true and faithful to her husband in mind, heart and action.

They are to be taught to be “keepers at home.” This does not suggest that her home is a prison where she must be kept. Caring for the home is the idea.

“Keepers at home” does not prohibit women from working outside the home either, as the Proverbs 31 woman spent a fair amount of time outside the home working. Paul isn’t talking so much about the place, as he is the responsibility, and he is stressing that a married woman’s primary responsibility is to her home and family.

And older women should try to impress upon the younger women the high honor it is of serving the Lord in the home as a wife and mother, and the incredible impact she can have for Christ and for her family when making this her priority.

By their example and instruction, older women are to teacher the younger how be “good” or kind and generous. This can manifest itself in many ways within the home, the church, and the community, demonstrating the goodness and kindness of God through your life and good works.

They are to be taught to be “obedient to their own husbands.” The word “obedient” is the exact same word as “submit” in Ephesians 5:22 where it says, “Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.”

God’s order for the home is that as Christ is the Head of the Church, the husband is the head of the home and the woman. And as the church willingly places itself under Christ’s Headship, the wife is to willingly place herself under her husband’s headship.

Submission simply has to do with order and responsibility in the home. The husband and wife belong to each other in equality. He has no superiority and she has no inferiority.

The wife is not to be treated as beneath the husband, but as an equal, whom God has given the husband care and responsibility, and the wife is to place herself under his loving care.

All of these instructions are to be carried out “that the Word of God be not blasphemed.”

Godly conduct eliminates reproach on God’s Word. The lost need to see someone who lives what they believe. When Christians claim to believe the Bible but do not obey it, the Word is dishonored. Many have mocked God and His truth because of the behavior of those who claim to be believers.

Unbelievers may not obey God or His Word, but they understand the important link between belief and behavior among believers and they expect the two to match. And if they don’t, they are quick to point it out.

As someone once said, “Show me your redeemed life and I might be inclined to believe in your Redeemer.” When sound doctrine and godly behavior match, it bears witness to the transforming power of the gospel and the Word of God.

Titus 2:6: “Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.”

Last but certainly not least, the younger men. It’s interesting that Paul spells out all these qualities for older men, older women, and younger women, and then when he comes to younger men, he states just one: “sober-minded.”

It most likely means that this one quality for younger men is so important that the other things will take care of itself if this one is embraced fully. Or it could be that men have trouble remembering, so we get one clear instruction, so we won’t forget.

“Sober-minded,” speaks of being self controlled. Younger men tend toward being impetuous, and unrestrained in conduct, indulgent, and impulsive. Paul says in effect that Titus needed to help younger men learn how to apply the brakes to life.

Titus was to “exhort” younger men to do this, to encourage, to urge them to control themselves. This exhorting is done through the teaching of the Word. As we yield to the Word and obey it, allowing the Holy Spirit to control our minds and hearts, we will not be led by the flesh.

Titus was to help younger men understand how to govern, bridle, control, and master their impulses and often restless energy, and to teach them to be controlled by Christ and God’s Word.

All of this instruction is given so that the church might be sound in doctrine and behavior, so that the Church will love and care for one another by investing themselves in each other, and so that the church will be a bright light to the unbelieving, showing that we are consistent with what we believe and what we live.