Living Out Sound Doctrine in Everyday Life
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. It's wonderful to be back after a two-week trip out west, where we experienced everything from hailstorms to great food and fellowship. Today, we continue our journey through the book of Titus, focusing on chapter 2. This chapter is a call to both pastors and congregants to uphold sound doctrine and live lives that reflect the teachings of Christ. Paul’s letter to Titus, written around 64 AD, is part of the pastoral epistles aimed at guiding young pastors like Timothy and Titus in their duties and responsibilities.
Paul emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine as a foundation for right thinking, which leads to right living and right actions. He warns against false teachings that were prevalent in the early church, such as Jewish legalism, Gnosticism, and asceticism. These false teachings can easily lead believers astray, making it crucial for us to know the Word of God intimately. Paul’s charge to Titus is clear: teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine and ensure that the church is grounded in the truth.
The chapter outlines specific instructions for different groups within the church: older men, older women, younger women, younger men, and slaves. Each group is given attributes to strive for, such as temperance, self-control, and soundness in faith. These attributes are not natural and must be taught and cultivated through the Holy Spirit. The goal is to make the gospel attractive to outsiders by living lives that reflect Christ’s teachings.
For pastors and elders, the primary responsibility is to preach the Word and guide the congregation in truth. For congregants, the call is to support their leaders, pray for them, and strive to embody the attributes outlined in Titus 2. This mutual effort ensures that the gospel is adorned beautifully and becomes appealing to those who do not yet believe.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Sound Doctrine: Sound doctrine is the foundation for right thinking, which leads to right living and right actions. Knowing the Word of God intimately helps us distinguish between false teachings and the truth. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of our faith and ensuring that we are not led astray by deceptive doctrines. [34:11]
2. Attributes of Older Men and Women: Older men are called to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. Older women are to be reverent, not slanderers, self-controlled, and teachers of what is good. These attributes are not natural and must be cultivated through the Holy Spirit. [57:06]
3. Teaching Younger Generations: Older women are instructed to teach younger women to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, kind, and subject to their husbands. This mentorship is crucial for passing down godly wisdom and ensuring that the younger generation lives in a way that honors God. [01:07:56]
4. Self-Control for Young Men: Young men are specifically called to be self-controlled, a trait that is often lacking in youth. This self-control is essential for living a life that reflects Christ and sets a godly example for others. Titus is also encouraged to model integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech. [01:10:40]
5. Making the Gospel Attractive: Our lives should adorn the gospel and make it attractive to outsiders. This is achieved through holiness, mercifulness, kindness, integrity, unselfishness, and self-control. By embodying these attributes, we reflect the beauty of Christ and make the gospel appealing to those who do not yet believe. [01:17:17]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[26:40] - Trip Highlights and Reflections
[27:09] - The Value of Gathering Together
[28:37] - Introduction to Titus Chapter 2
[29:05] - The Authority of Christ
[30:04] - The Narrow Way and False Teachers
[31:03] - Background on Titus and Paul's Letters
[32:28] - Review of Titus Chapter 1
[33:23] - Paul's Passion for the Church
[34:11] - The Importance of Knowing the Word
[35:06] - Examples of False Teachings
[37:55] - The Context of the Cretan Church
[38:57] - Charges to Elders and Congregants
[40:27] - Preach the Word
[41:04] - Congregant Responsibilities
[42:20] - Reading Titus Chapter 2
[43:01] - Teaching Sound Doctrine
[47:01] - The Relationship Between Doctrine and Good Works
[49:33] - The Definition of Doctrine
[50:49] - What is Sound Doctrine?
[52:22] - The Unity of the Church
[53:23] - The Role of Sound Doctrine in Worship
[54:22] - Attributes of Older Men
[57:06] - Attributes of Older Women
[01:07:56] - Teaching Younger Women
[01:10:40] - Self-Control for Young Men
[01:13:37] - Personal Reputation and Integrity
[01:14:14] - Instructions to Slaves
[01:17:17] - Making the Gospel Attractive
[01:18:05] - Application: Right Actions
[01:22:59] - Call to Response and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- Titus 2:1-10
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific attributes does Paul instruct older men to cultivate in Titus 2:2?
2. According to Titus 2:3-5, what roles and behaviors are older women encouraged to teach younger women?
3. In Titus 2:6, what is the primary attribute that young men are encouraged to develop?
4. How does Paul suggest that slaves should behave towards their masters in Titus 2:9-10, and what is the ultimate purpose of this behavior?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Paul emphasize the importance of sound doctrine in Titus 2:1? How does this relate to the overall health of the church? [34:11]
2. How do the attributes listed for older men and women in Titus 2:2-3 reflect the teachings of Christ? Why might these attributes be particularly important for these groups? [57:06]
3. What is the significance of older women teaching younger women to love their husbands and children, and how does this mentorship contribute to the church's mission? [01:07:56]
4. How does the call for young men to be self-controlled in Titus 2:6 align with the broader theme of living a life that reflects Christ? [01:10:40]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the importance of sound doctrine in your own life. How can you deepen your understanding of the Word to better distinguish between truth and false teachings? [34:11]
2. Older men and women are given specific attributes to cultivate. If you fall into one of these categories, which attribute do you find most challenging, and how can you work on it this week? [57:06]
3. For younger women, what practical steps can you take to love your family more effectively and be busy at home in a way that honors God? [01:07:56]
4. Young men are called to be self-controlled. Identify an area in your life where self-control is lacking. What specific actions can you take to improve in this area? [01:10:40]
5. How can you support your church leaders in their mission to preach the Word and guide the congregation in truth? What specific prayers or actions can you commit to this week? [40:27]
6. Paul encourages believers to make the gospel attractive through their behavior. What is one specific way you can embody holiness, kindness, or integrity in your daily interactions to reflect Christ to others? [01:17:17]
7. Consider the mutual effort between pastors and congregants to adorn the gospel beautifully. How can you contribute to this effort in your church community? [41:04]
Devotional
Day 1: The Foundation of Sound Doctrine
Sound doctrine is the bedrock of our faith, guiding us in right thinking, which in turn leads to right living and right actions. In a world filled with various teachings and philosophies, it is crucial to know the Word of God intimately. This knowledge helps us discern between truth and falsehood, ensuring that we are not led astray by deceptive doctrines. Paul’s letter to Titus emphasizes the importance of teaching what is appropriate to sound doctrine, grounding the church in the truth. By doing so, we maintain the integrity of our faith and protect ourselves from the dangers of false teachings such as Jewish legalism, Gnosticism, and asceticism. [34:11]
Titus 1:9 (ESV): "He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it."
Reflection: How can you deepen your understanding of God's Word this week to better discern between truth and falsehood in your daily life?
Day 2: Attributes of Older Men and Women
Older men and women in the church are called to embody specific attributes that reflect their maturity in faith. Older men are to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. Similarly, older women are to be reverent, not slanderers, self-controlled, and teachers of what is good. These attributes are not naturally occurring but must be cultivated through the Holy Spirit. By striving for these qualities, older members of the congregation set a godly example for others to follow, contributing to the overall health and unity of the church. [57:06]
1 Timothy 5:1-2 (ESV): "Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity."
Reflection: What specific attribute can you work on cultivating this week, and how can you seek the Holy Spirit’s help in doing so?
Day 3: Teaching Younger Generations
Older women have a unique role in mentoring younger women, teaching them to love their husbands and children, be self-controlled, pure, busy at home, kind, and subject to their husbands. This mentorship is crucial for passing down godly wisdom and ensuring that the younger generation lives in a way that honors God. By investing in the spiritual growth of younger women, older women help to build a strong, faith-filled community that reflects the teachings of Christ. This intergenerational relationship fosters a sense of unity and continuity within the church. [01:07:56]
Proverbs 31:26 (ESV): "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."
Reflection: Is there a younger woman in your life whom you can mentor or encourage this week? How can you share godly wisdom with her?
Day 4: Self-Control for Young Men
Young men are specifically called to be self-controlled, a trait that is often lacking in youth. This self-control is essential for living a life that reflects Christ and sets a godly example for others. Titus is also encouraged to model integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech. By developing self-control, young men can navigate the challenges and temptations of life with a steady and faithful heart, ultimately glorifying God through their actions and decisions. [01:10:40]
1 Peter 5:8 (ESV): "Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
Reflection: In what area of your life do you struggle with self-control? What practical steps can you take this week to grow in this area?
Day 5: Making the Gospel Attractive
Our lives should adorn the gospel and make it attractive to outsiders. This is achieved through holiness, mercifulness, kindness, integrity, unselfishness, and self-control. By embodying these attributes, we reflect the beauty of Christ and make the gospel appealing to those who do not yet believe. When our actions align with our faith, we become living testimonies of God's transformative power, drawing others to the truth of the gospel. [01:17:17]
Matthew 5:16 (ESV): "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Reflection: How can your actions this week reflect the beauty of Christ and make the gospel attractive to those around you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Knowing the word of God grants us the capacity to distinguish between what is false teaching and what is right teaching and what is truth. It's just as important today as it was in 64 AD. So what I would say in that before we get into this text is don't rely on me, don't rely on Pastor Stan, don't rely on life group teachers, don't rely on authors, don't rely on podcast or on Twitter feeds but read your Bible, dig in so that meditate on it so that you as a follower of Christ by way of the Holy Spirit have the capacity to distinguish between what is false and what is true." [34:11]
2. "We have the truth, it's in the word, it's in the word. We need not look anywhere else because I'll tell you it takes one one second one opportunity to hear some kind of external non-truth and the enemy will use that to twist and manipulate that untruth or that non-truth and somehow try to embed it and reconcile it with what we know to be truth and we are off. You ever got to that spot? Know the word, that's our protection and that's what the Lord has provided." [35:06]
3. "Sound doctrine leads to right thinking. Doctrine primarily being about the way you think, what you think about when you think about God, what you think about when you think about God's relationship with humanity and with creation. So having sound doctrine leads you to have a sound worldview which means you have right thinking about God and about His creation. Right thinking leads you to right living so if I know truth will that and I know it's true and it's been confirmed and it's truth and scripture and that truth is resonated in me by way of the Holy Spirit teaching me that will impact your living it will and then right living includes right actions." [47:01]
4. "We delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment. C.S. Lewis says that praise and that joy. It's the appointed consummation of who we are and what we're supposed to be. How else do we adorn through being an individual of integrity. May our yes be yes and our no be no simple as that be a person of integrity." [01:20:13]
5. "True self-control is not about bringing ourselves under our own control but under the power of Christ. These are all works that Christ has to do in us and we have to deny ourselves take up our cross daily. Be quick to forgive and hold no resentment when wronged our speech needs to be uncorrupted. We show patience in the midst of adversity. We maintain a holy calm and gentleness and spirit when things aren't going our way. That's what self-control does as the Lord works and by way of his Holy Spirit moves in us." [01:21:09]
### Quotes for Members
1. "So what are some examples of the false teachings and we see some of that in chapter 1 that these creeds were being exposed to there in the early church you heard of Jewish legalism or Judaizers that taught that Christians also had to submit it's the Jesus plus something right? that you heard about they had to submit to some other way to be a follower of Christ so you've got the Judaizers you had the Gnostics in that particular time period and Gnostics would be claiming that I have a truth that you don't necessarily have and since I have that truth and you don't necessarily have you need to listen to me we have the truth this is God's specific revelation to you that Gnosticism also a form of false teaching asceticism which contended that sin is inherent and in the material substance of the body therefore our body needs to be punished in some way because that sin is in the material elements of our body it's another false doctrine and another false teaching that was happening at that time." [35:30]
2. "So what does it look like for us to be a joy not just to Titus' congregants what does it look like not just for an elder or pastor to be obedient and preaching the word but what does it look like as far as those things being like a wrap around service to where the gospel the goal being the gospel of Jesus Christ can be adorned and adorned well that it can be beautiful to those that are looking from the outside so that's where we're at so Titus chapter 2 starting in verse 1 you however who's he speaking to when he says you Titus you however must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine so we see all this previous stuff in chapter 1 we heard of all the false teachings that were taking place but you Titus you teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine that other stuff is not for you this is for you not truth truth truth is for you teach the older men to be temperate worthy of respect self-controlled and sound in faith and love and in endurance." [42:20]
3. "So to the young men. Self-controlled. Again. Not enslaved to worldly things. They show restraint. But then also he's to model. Not just to the younger men. But to all integrity. Means acting without compromise. Facing the truth. Embracing responsibility. And doing what is right. Facing responsibility in our culture. Is something that we're kind of lacking. Something that happened this week. That was in our community and beyond. Was I may go something like this. I made a decision. There was backlash. I made a decision to not do what I originally said I was going to do. Now it's everybody else's fault. No. Who made the decision? I made the decision. There was backlash. I made the decision to cancel. None of that is the responsibility of these. Right. It's taking responsibility. Did you do it? Are you responsible for it? Yes. That's integrity. That's taking responsibility. And it's doing what is right. When no one's looking. You've probably heard integrity defined as that before." [01:11:41]
4. "So promoting the glory of God and attractiveness of the gospel in Crete mirrors our context here. So what are these right actions? Paul is telling Titus. These are the right actions. What are these right actions that allow us to adorn the gospel and make the gospel beautiful to those in our context? Well I will say this. It's not through anything we can wear. It's not through anything that we can produce. But it's through who we mirror with our lives. And that's where these attributes come from. So here are the right actions. And this is really going to be our point of application. The whole thing is a point of application. Right. But as we depart. May we be committed to throw to to show beauty through holiness. Show beauty through holiness. We show the beauty of the Lord. We see from John chapter nine. Christ says himself. I've come into this world so that those who do not see may see. Aren't you glad you can see? Because of the work of Christ. God is the foundation and the fountain of all being in all beauty. From whom all is perfectly derived. May we know these attributes." [01:18:05]
5. "So what are pastors and elders called to do just as Titus was called to preach the word point them to Jesus and point them to right action so that the gospel of Jesus Christ. Christ can be beautiful to the unbeliever. What are we as congregants supposed to do? We have to go against what is unnatural and in the power of the Holy Spirit do these things that are characteristics of the Savior that we serve. And when we're not there we repent and ask for forgiveness and we say God help us get there because it's not natural. That's our call and we want to help and equip our pastor our leaders our elders to be able to do that. Not just in our midst but beyond our midst and beyond our context as well." [01:21:09]
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