How to have a Healthy Church

Chapter 8Titus 2-3

By Warren W. Wiersbe

Titus was to “speak the things which belong to healthy doctrine” (Titus 2:1)Blending of doctrinal teaching and practical admonitionThe Older Saint•The church needs both the old and the young and they minister to one another. The older men were to be sober, or temperate in use of wine– Grave: dignified; serious• Respect and authority

– Temperate: prudence and self-control in life; opposite of frivolity and carelessness based on ignorance• Sober in 1:8, 2:4, 6, 12• Discreet in 2:5• Seriousness of life and purpose because their time is

short– Sound in faith, in love, in patience• Faith in God’s Word encourages a believer in love and

endurance– Likewise (2:3)• Older women have the same qualities as men plus

other virtues• Reflect holiness

• Must not be slanderers, or false accusers– Gossip

• Teachers of good things– Teach related to temperate; “that they may train by making

sober-minded”– Keeper of the house

– Retired have time for service• Pray, teach god’s word, visit, troubleshoot, and help build

the church

The Younger Saints (2:4b-8)•They have the responsibility of listening and obedience and they hear from older women as they teach– Christian home: new experience as they came out of

paganism

– Love: Eph. 5:18-33– Discreet (2:5): sober-minded• Outlook determines outcome

– Self-controlled:– Chaste: pure of mind and heart• true to her husband

– Keepers at home: caring for the home• Guide the home (I Tim.5:14)• Wife’s ministry: manage the affairs of the family

– Good (2:5): Kind• Law of kindness (Prov. 31:26)

– Husband is the leader and the wife be obedient– Purpose: that the Word of God be not

blasphemed• A good motive for cooperation and obedience

– Older women are encouraged to minister to younger women while Titus to young men• Exhortation and example as tools to build them up in

faith (2:6-7)• Exhort to self-controlled due to many temptations

– Example vs exhort» Preach first by his life» Pastor to be himself

– Tupos (2:7): pattern; English word, type• Originally it mean “an impression made by a die”• Good works, sound doctrine, seriousness of attitude

and sound speech• Be the same man in and out of pulpit

– Hypocrisy ruins the man’s ministry

• Christian Slaves (2:9-15)– Three common sins• Disobedience• Talking back (2:9)• Avoid the sin of stealing (purloining)

– Onesimus

– No slaves, but employees• “they owe it to me”• “well, I’ve earned it”

– Christian workers should be trustworthy (showing all good fidelity)• Sharing a good testimony to the unbelievers• Positive motive: to make God’s message attractive• Negative motive: to keep God’s Word for being

slandered

– Savior (2:10)• Emphasis on grace• Grace redeems us (11, 14a)

– For all men (I Tim 2:4-6)– Universal need and universal remedy for all who will believe– Christ gave Himself for us (2:14)– Redeem: to set free by paying a price– Redeemed “from all iniquity”– Sin no longer control us– Iniquity: lawlessness

• Grace reforms us (12, 14b)– Change in position, attitude , appetites, ambition, action– Reforms our lives and makes us godly– Godly living involves both positive and negative– Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts

– Sober: self-control, prudence, restraints– Believer’s relationship to himself– Righteously: relationship with other people– Christians live “in this present age”– Gal. 1:4; Romans 12:1-2; Eph. 2:2– Grace reforms us because God purifies us and makes us His

own special possession (2:4b)– Sanctification: goal to us more like Jesus– Separation from sin and devotion to God (2 Corl. 6:14-7:1)– Peculiar: not odd or strange, but a special people for God’s

own possession

– Grace rewards us (13)• Jesus’ return, our only hope and glory• Jesus is God; “the great God and our Savior”

• Christians as Citizen (3:1-8)– Good citizens without compromising the faith– Ready to every good work (3:1)

• Operating in those matters that involves the whole community

• Heavenly citizenship and earthly citizenship• Gentle: an attitude of moderation, a sweet reasonableness• Duty to doctrine (3:3): don’t be critical of pagan neighbors

for they were once before God saved them• Kindness and love of God (3:4)• Mercy (3:5)• Washing: “bathed all over”, cleansed from sins and a new

person

– “which”; “whom” Holy Spirit– Been justified (3:7)• God declares a believer sinner righteous because of the

finished work of Christ on the cross– Result of kindness, love, mercy and grace: hope• Heir of God• Looking for that blessed hope (2:18)

– Live godly lives and be careful to maintain good works (3:18)• Sacrificial service of the members such as babysitting to

relieve a harassed mother

• Problem people (3:9-11)– Avoid people who like to argue about the

unimportant things of the faith

• Some do this to cover up sins in their lives, are very insecure, and are usually unhappy at work or home• The heretic: one who makes choice, a person who

causes divisions– Self-willed person thinking he is right

• Admonished at least 2 times and then reject– Titus 3:10– Such a man is warped in character, keeps on sinning, and has

condemned himself (3:11)

• Conclusion (3:12-15)– Learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,

in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives (3:14)

– Artemus” ???????????????– Tychieus in Acts 20:4• With Paul in his Roman impresionment and carried the

epistles to Ephesians (Epn 6:21)• Colossians (Co. 4:7-8) and Phelemon (10)• Zenas and Apollos (3:12, acts 18:24ff)• Carried this letter to Titus

– “Grace be with you all”• Grace and good works