The HEALTHY church…  (6 points)

• 1^st – Be careful what you say… vs. 1
  • 1^st – Speak things that are proper for SOUND doctrine…
    • Recall from chapter 1 – there will be MANY false teachers in the church…
    • In CONTRAST to them – Titus was to give the church – SOUND DOCTRINE!
    • SPEAK – imperative – Paul commands Titus to speak things that are SOUND…
    • SOUND – 5x in Titus (3x in THIS passage) – hygiainō – HYGENE – HEALTHY!
    • DOCTINRE – Titus was to teach HEALTHY DOCTRINE – so the church could be HEALTHY!
  • 2^nd – The power of our WORDS…
    • It has been well said that God wisely designed us with two EARS and one MOUTH…
      • Because we should be LISTENING at least twice as much as we are TALKING!
      • The problem is that often open our MOUTHS – when we should be opening our EARS!
      • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth…”
      • Do not throw out words carelessly – it ends up costing us dearly!
      • Better to think first about what we are going to say – the consequence of our words…
      • It is easy to say something – it is almost impossible to take our words back!
    • Our WORDS can be UNHEALTHY…
      • James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do…”
      • When we choose to pass on the latest juicy stories – gossip…
      • When we blurt out things in anger – things we wish we had not said…
      • When we curse – swear words / or using the name of God in vain!
      • You have heard the old saying – if you have nothing good to say – say nothing!
      • Because we will have to answer one day for every idle word – Matthew 12:36
    • The result of which is to grieve the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 4:30
      • Have you ever been listening to a conversation – when it turns offensive…
      • You suddenly become uncomfortable – you want to quickly get away!
      • If we are not careful with our words – we can offend the Holy Spirit…
      • Making Him UNCOMFORTABLE – so that He does not want to be around us!
    • Instead use SOUND words…
      • Say those things that will bless others – give HEALTHY words to others…
      • Let the Word of God be what flows from our lips!
      • The way to do that is to make sure you are FULL of the Word of God!
      • Luke 6:45 – “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

• 2^nd – Healthy doctrine for older men… vs. 2
  • Paul gives Titus HEALTHY doctrine in FIVE groups of people…
    • Older men / Older women / Young women / Young men / and Servants…
    • If people listen to this HEALTHY doctrine – it leads to a HEALTHY church!
  • OLDER men…
    • There are SIX commands given to the OLDER men…
    • OLD – presbytēs – 3x in NT – similar to the word ELDER…
    • Now you might ask – who is qualifies as an OLDER man!
    • It seems we always tend to think of OLDER men – as people who are OLDER than we are…
    • No matter how old I get – I never think I am OLD – OLD is people OLDER than I am!
    • The typical definition for OLDER me’ is those who have already raised their children…
    • In other words – if you have grandchildren – then chances are you are an OLDER man!
  • 1^st – Be SOBER…
• SOBER – 3x in NT meaning they are not to drink alcohol…
  • That does NOT mean that OLDER men CANNOT drink ANY alcohol…

• It is saying they are NOT to be DRUNK – loose self-control!
• Ephesians 5:18 – “Do not be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life.”
• They are to be an EXAMPLE…
  • We may have the liberty – and self-control – to drink moderately – occasionally…
  • But that does not mean that everyone else around us does…
  • If my freedom in Christ causes someone else to sin – then I should not drink!
  • I Corinthians 8:13 – “If what I [drink] is going to make another Christian sin, I will never [drink] again as long as I live, for I do not want to stumble another Christian.”

• 2^nd – Be REVERENT…
  • REVERENT – from the root word to WORSHIP – they live their life to worship God!
  • OLDER men should KNOW that life is about worshiping Jesus – John 4:23
  • It is not something that they do if they have the time – Jesus is a priority to them…
  • WORSHIP does not just mean singing SONGS on a Sunday morning…
  • It speaks of living their life DAILY in a way that brings glory to God!
• 3^rd – Be TEMPERATE…
  • TEMPERATE – sōphrōn – meaning a SAVED MIND – someone who has SELF-CONTROL…

• Our minds are literally a battleground for the control of our actions – Galatians 5:17
• Do we choose to live for pleasure / the moment – or do we live for the Lord!
• OLDER men should have s SELF-CONTROL…
  • When we are young – we think we know everything – but in truth we are FOOLISH…
  • We might be told 1000 times now to touch the flame – we will get burned…
  • But instead of listening – we think we are better – and touch it anyways!
  • Proverbs 6:26-27 – “Sleeping with [a woman who is not your wife] will bring you to poverty… Can a man scoop fire into his lap and not be burned?”
  • As we get older – having been BURNED by sins – perhaps many times…
  • We have experienced more in life – and are more aware of the dangers…
  • We learn to control our actions – we have learned the consequence are too great!
  • OLDER men are expected not to follow after their lusts – be self-controlled!

• 4^th – SOUND in FAITH…
  • SOUND (present) – HEALTHY – the second time we find this word in our passage…
    • FAITH – one of those interesting words that it is hard for us to relate to daily life…
    • You did not wake up this morning and ask your spouse how their faith was doing!
    • But a good synonym for faith is TRUST – where are we putting our TRUST!
  • SOUND FAITH comes from only one place…
    • Matthew 8:10 Jesus talked about great FAITH – Matthew 8:26 little FAITH…
    • That would lead us to believe FAITH is measurable – strong / great or little / weak…
    • But Jesus would clarify when the disciples asked to INCREASE our FAITH – Luke 17:5-6
    • Luke 17:6 – “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree…”
    • FAITH is not about quantity or quality – it is about WHO we put our trust in…
    • We have SOUND FAITH when Jesus is the ONE we are putting our trust in!
  • Older men are be HEALTHY in THE faith…
    • Old men have been around long enough to learn to TRUST the Lord…
    • Why do we believe the sun will rise tomorrow morning…
    • We are confident the sun will rise – because it always has – it has never failed!
    • As we experience God taking care of all our needs – looking out for us…
    • We gain confidence that He will take care of us the next time as well…
    • It is not that we have great faith – we have just seen the great faithfulness of God!
    • We are confident the Lord will take care of us – because He has never failed us!
    • II Corinthians 5:7 – “For we walk by FAITH, not by sight.”
• 5^th – Sound in THE Love…
  • THE love – agape – speaking of THE love of Jesus – the greatest love of all!
  • OLDER men have been around long enough to be married / have kids…
  • They have experienced all that life has to offer – and realize NOHTING compares…
  • To THE Love that we receive from our great God and savior Jesus Christ!
• 6^th – Sound in THE PATIENCE…

• THE patience – speaking of our dependance on Jesus…
• PATIENCE – hypomone – compound word – hupo and meno…
• John 15:4-5 – we are told that apart from Jesus we can do nothing!
• Abide is another one of those funny Biblical words – we never use it in our daily speech…
• It would be better interpreted endure / or stubbornly refuse to let go!
• Because we cannot make ourselves bear GOOD fruit – only Jesus can!
• OLDER men have learned in order to be SOUND / HEALTHY – they must ABIDE in Jesus!

• 3^rd – Healthy doctrine for older women… vs. 3-4
  • OLDER women… vs. 3
    • There are FOUR commands given to the OLDER (only here NT) women…
    • Now you might ask – who is qualifies as an OLDER woman!
    • The simple answer is I am smart enough not to know – or to even ask…
    • Because if you even tell a woman she is old – you may not live to regret it!
  • 1^st – REVERENT in their behavior… vs. 3
    • REVERENT – only here NT – to live your life in a way that is SET APART for God…
    • They are to be MATURE in their walk with Jesus – no longer acting immature…
    • They are not to be dressing like a young woman / talking like a younger woman…
    • They are to be set apart – dedicating their lives to the Lord!
  • 2^nd – Not SLANDERERS… vs. 3
    • SLANDERERS – diabolos (name of the devil) – meaning an accuser – we might say gossip…
    • The problem is older women usually no longer have kids at home…
    • The result is they have too much time on her hands…
    • Rather than serving the Lord they go around and become the church gossip!
    • II Thessalonians 3:11 – “Some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business…”
      
    • Satan is the accuser and wants to see us condemned – Revelation 12:106
    • Older woman are NOT to act like satan – point out the sins of others…
    • They should not get excited – and run to tell all their other friend the GOSSIP!
  • 3^rd – NOT given to much WINE… vs. 3
    • GIVEN (perfect / passive) – to be in BONDAGE – to become a SLAVE…
    • Some older women try and LIVE by the power of ALCOHOL – the power to FORGET…
    • They drink to FORGET how lonely they are – FORGET the mistakes of their past…
    • They end up in bondage to alcohol – needing it to just make it through the day!
    • That does not mean they CANNOT drink – just do not drink TOO MUCH!
    • I Corinthians 6:12 – “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
  • 4^th – TEACH… vs. 3-4
    • What they are to TEACH – GOOD – Kalos emphasizes outward goodness…
      • What GOOD things are OLDER women to teach – the Word of God!
      • Older women tend to want to tell others what to do based on their life experience…
      • That is how superstitions get passed on – grandmas telling kids THEIR ideas…
      • But older women are NOT to teach superstations – they are to teach the Word of God!
    • Who they are to teach – the YOUNGER women…
      • They can teach the younger women – because they have the experience!
      • Men are NOT to teach the younger women – because they do not have experience…
      • And it is too great a risk for temptation – that could lead to sin…
      • Let the older women counsel and instruct the younger women!
    • How they are to TEACH – ADMONISH them…
      • ADMONISH – sōphronizō – to DISCIPLE – train them to have a SELF-CONTROL…
      • It is too easy to sit back and just complain about the younger generation…
      • They ONLY want to look at their cell phones – and the CLOTHES they wear!
      • These young girls are ONLY doing what they have been taught – by the WORLD…
      • Rather than complain – DISCIPLE – teach the next generation of girls to LOVE Jesus!
      • Philippians 3:17 – “Join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.”

• 4^th – Healthy doctrine for younger women… vs. 4-5
  • YOUNG women… vs. 4
    • There are SEVEN commands given to the YOUNG women…
    • Now you might ask – who is qualifies as a YOUNG woman!
    • I suppose the younger women would be those who are NOT old…
    • Again a bit of a touchy issue to make the division – better to assume a woman is young!
    • In general though – a YOUNG woman is one who is still raising her family!
  • 1^st – LOVE (phileo) their husbands… vs. 4
    • YOUNG wives are to be the best friends (phileo) of their husbands…
    • I have seen a lot of marriages where the husband and wife ignore each other…
    • It would be hard to call them friends – much less BEST friends…
    • But God wants a wife to look at her husband as her CLOSEST ang BEST friend!
  • 2^nd – LOVE (phileo) their children… vs. 4
    • Young wives are ALSO to have a good friendship with their kids…
    • But our kids are going to grow up / and leave – husband will always be there!
  • 3^rd – DISCREET – sōphrōn – same word used for Older men – taught by Older women
  • 4^th – CHASTE / PURE – hagnos – from the root word HOLY… vs. 5
    • YOUNG women are to be PURE and modest – in what they SAY / where they GO…
    • They are also to be pure and modest in what they WEAR…
    • Not that there is anything wrong with a woman being pretty…
    • But YOUNG women should dress in such a way that it is seductive!
    • I Peter 3:3-4 – “Do not be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within.”
  • 5^th – HOME MAKERS – only here NT – to take care of the home… vs. 5
    • The FIRST ministry of any mother is to take care of the home / raise the family…
    • It has become common today for women to work OUTSIDE the home…
    • That does not mean a woman cannot work – but it should not be her FIRST ministry!
    • Kids do not need the latest gadgets / they do not need fancy clothes…
    • Kids need a mom who is there to TEACH them how to follow Jesus Christ!
  • 6^th – GOOD – Agathos emphasizes the moral goodness – they are to have a GOOD heart!
  • 7^th – OBEDIENT to their husbands… vs. 5
    • OBEDIENT (present / passive) – Hypotassō – to be under the authority of another…
    • A wife does not have to submit to MEN only to her HUSBAND….
    • The command is applied strictly within the bounds of a marriage!
    • How a wife be OBEDIENT – Ephesians 5:22-24 / I Peter 3:1-6
      • A wife should be COMPLETELY submissive to her husband…
      • It is the ONE command that is impossible – drives the wife to DEPEND on Jesus!
      • Not that the wife should be a mute – it is a wise man that listens to his wife…
      • But it is the responsibility of the husband to decide – and the wife to follow…
      • When a wife submits herself to her husband – she is not trusting him…
      • She is trusting Jesus – especially if her husband is not making a good choice!
    • So that the Word of God may not be blasphemed…
      • God uses MARRIAGE to define His LOVE for us – calls us His children / bride…
      • Therefore – marriage impacts our understanding of the LOVE of God…
      • If the marriage is broken – our understanding of the Love of God is damaged…
      • The ONLY way that a marriage can work – is if Jesus is at the CENTER…
      • Therefore wives should be OBEDIENT to their husbands – trusting in Jesus…
      • So their marriages are STRONG – marriages that reflect the LOVE of God!

• 5^th – Healthy doctrine for younger men… vs. 6-8
  • YOUNG men… vs. 6
    • There are SIX commands given to the YOUNG men…
    • A YOUNG man is one who is still raising her family!
    • Titus was to LIKEWISE come along side (parakaleō) the YOUNG men with SOUND doctrine!
  • 1^st – SOBER MINDED – to have SELF-CONTROL… vs. 6
    • This is the ONLY command that is repeated for all four groups!
    • There are a lot of temptation in the world – especially for YOUNG men…
    • The desire to run out and sin – with women / with alcohol / with video games…
    • Wasting – even destroying their life / they need to be SOBER in the choices they make!
  • 2^nd – In ALL things showing a PATTERN of GOOD (kalos) works … vs. 7
    • There are FIVE ways YOUNG men are to be a GOOD PATTERN – first in DOCTRINE!
    • It is the responsibility of the Dad to teach the kids about Jesus!
    • Too often fathers forget that they are to be the spiritual leaders of their homes…
    • Take the time to read the Bible with your children / pray with them…
    • If we do not teach our kids to have a relationship with Jesus – who will!
    • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
  • 3^rd – Be a good pattern – in INTEGRITY – only here NT – to be uncorrupted… … vs. 7
    • Young men are to be an example – by living what they PREACH…
    • Too many FATHERS today follow the motto – do what I say – not what I do…
    • But words are cheap – the power is in the example – living a life with INTEGRITY!
  • 4^th – Be a good pattern – in REVERENCE – living a life that is not REBELLIOUS against the Lord!
  • 5^th – Be a good pattern – in INCORRUPTIBILITY… … vs. 7
    • INCORRUPTIBILITY – 8X in NT – usually translated as IMMORTALITY…
    • The idea is not living the OLD life – the one we had BEFORE we came to faith in Jesus…
    • Instead living an IMMORTAL life – showing our NEW nature in Jesus!
  • 6^th – Be a good pattern – in SOUND SPEECH… vs. 8
    • SOUND – this is the third and final time we see our word HEALTHY in this passage…
    • SPEECH – literally our words – having a good pattern of HEALTHY words…
    • So they CANNOT be CONDEMNED – a-kata-gnōstos – use our words against us!
    • Those who are opposed will be ASHAMED – because they will have nothing EVIL to say!
    • We can talk about Jesus all day long – but if our lives are full of sin – NOT sound speech!
    • It is so important we teach our children to have a relationship with God…
    • Not just in words – they need to see God at work in our lives – see us walk by faith!
    • So that when people want to argue with us – try and deny the need for Jesus…
    • They will be silenced by our SOUND SPEECH – and Godly kids!

Thought our example God might just use us to lead others to Jesus Christ!

6^th – Healthy doctrine for servants… vs. 9-10

BONDSERVANTS… vs. 9

There are FIVE commands given to the BONDSERVANTS…

BONDSERVANTS – (doulos) – in the context here we would simply say EMPLOYEES!

1^st – OBEDIENT – hypotassō – to be under the authority of another … vs. 9

Ever since Adam we have made a living from the sweat of our brow – Genesis 3:19

And most of us have an employer / boss we have to answer to!

Even if we do not agree – we need to listen to their instructions – and OBEY…

Because it might just be our EXAMPLE that leads them to Jesus Christ!

I Peter 2:18 – “Do whatever they tell you – not only if they are kind and reasonable, but even if they are harsh.”

OBEY as though Jesus was our boss…

Do it with joy – do it with the best possible effort – do the job right…

Because no matter what our work – we should do it like it we were doing it for Jesus!

2^nd – Well PLEASING in all things… vs. 9

In other words – WORK HARD – and not just working hard when the boss is watching!

There are many people who work hard – so long as the boss is nearby…

It is what we do when no one is looking – that is who we really are!

3^rd – Do NOT answer back… vs. 9

Do not give our opinion (unless it is asked for) – do not give an attitude…

Because if they want to – they can fire us – and we will no longer have a job!

4^th – Not PILFERING / STEALING… vs. 10

Instead showing all GOOD (agathos) FAITH – adorning the Word of God in all things!

ADORN – kosmeo – to give a pleasing appearance to the Gospel!

It might seem an obvious statement – but do NOT steal from the boss…

But stealing is not just in MONEY – it can also be in MATERIALS (paperclips) – or TIME…

When we are DILLIGENT in our work ethic – we make the GOSPEL appealing!

We are to ADORN the WORD of God – we are to make the Christian faith look good…