Introduction:
Titus 2:1-8 (Paul commanded Titus to teach these things that are sound doctrine. We often think of doctrine as being issues of how the sinner is saved, how the church should function, etc. While these are doctrinal issues, doctrine is much broader than that. Family and moral values are also doctrinal, and they are just as important. We will consider these instructions as they apply to different age groups of people. Remember, though you may not think you are old or young, age is relative. You are likely old in someone's eyes and young in someone's eyes. So these are responsibilities we all must meet in our various relationships.)
Aged Men:
1. Sober: 2 Cor. 5:13 (This passage defines sober by showing us its opposite. Paul contrasted sobriety with being beside yourself. This shows that sobriety has to do with being sound and serious minded.)
2. Grave: (This is similar to soberness. It includes the idea of serious mindedness, but also dignity and respectability. You must conduct yourself in such a way that reflects dignity and merits respect from others.) Eccl. 4:13 (Aged men are sometimes perceived by the young as being stubborn, unyielding, know-it-all, and unwilling to listen. As an aged man you can use this stereotype to prove you are open minded and willing to learn. An old fool who will not accept instruction from the young, who will not listen is worse than a young person who is trying to grow in wisdom. An old person willing to listen and learn will gain more respect from others and reflect more gravity.)
3. Temperate: 1 Cor. 9:25 (The Bible teaches the necessity of exercising self control in all areas of life. Because you are older, others are looking up to you, expecting to see a good example in you.)
4. Sound In Faith: (The young are looking to you for spiritual soundness and stability, perhaps more than you realize.)
5. Sound In Charity: (You should project an attitude of love, not cantankerousness.)
6. Sound In Patience: (We who are young need you to be patient with us as we learn and grow. You did not attain your level of wisdom and experience overnight. You were once young and unlearned. We need you to be patient with us as folks were once patient with you. We are going through the same development you went through to get where you are today.)
Aged Women:
1. Becometh Holiness: (Is gossip consistent with holy behavior? Is the clothing you wear or endorse consistent with conduct that reflects holiness?)
2. Not False Accusers: (Sometimes gossip involves carrying tales about others that are not true. You may not lie intentionally, but if you carry stories that are not true it can involve you in false accusation.)
3. Not Given To Much Wine: (As with the aged men, we who are younger look to you for a good example. Enslavement to vices such as drinking disappoints the younger and can lead us into deeper enslavement.)
4. Teachers Of Good Things: Mt. 28:18-20 (Part of the great commission is to teach disciples to observe the commands of Jesus. You can help fulfill this work outside the assembly.)
5. Teach The Young Women: (You have a specific responsibility to teach the younger women. You must be willing to accept this responsibility. They are constantly bombarded with all the wrong ideas about family and morals. They desperately need you to counter this onslaught with godly values. Are you teaching them godly values or are you promoting worldly ideas about submission, domestication, etc.?
Young Women:
1. Sober: (See thoughts on sobriety above.)
2. Love Husbands: (You must love your husbands. This means you will be loyal to them and not give way to the idea of falling out of love or growing apart.)
3. Love Children: Prov. 13:24 (The Bible says that loving your children will lead you to discipline them. Mothers often let their maternal affections cause them to let up on children. If you love your children, you will not do this. Nor will you stand in your husband's way when he attempts to carry out this discipline in a godly fashion.)
4. Discreet: (See thoughts on chasteness below.)
5. Chaste: (Being discreet and chaste involve the idea of modesty in clothing, behavior, speech, etc.) 1 Tim. 2:9-10 (The Bible commands women to be modest in dress. Do the clothes you wear project an image of godliness? Do your clothes suggest your affections might be for sale? for free? Do you look like a prostitute in the way you dress?)
6. Keepers At Home: 1 Tim. 5:14 (You have a fundamental domestic responsibility to your family. Even if you work outside the home, the domestic affairs of your family are your responsibility. Would you want your husband to stop earning a living?)
7. Good:
8. Obedient To Husbands: (You must be submissive and respectful to your husband. The fact that this principle is inconsistent with modern ideas, and perhaps your own ideas, is irrelevant.)
Young Men:
1. Sober Minded: (You must be serious minded. This is the same as with the aged men above.) Eccl. 3:4 (It is easy to get caught in a trap of always making jokes and being silly. Humor and laughing have their place. They are not wrong, but you must be serious minded. Use discretion regarding when you joke and the subject of your jokes.)
2. Pattern Of Good Works: 1 Tim. 4:12 (God requires you to set forth a pattern of exemplary deeds. It is not enough to occasionally do good deeds. This must be the consistent pattern of your life.)
3. Uncorrupt Doctrine: (Don't let others convince you doctrinal issues aren't important, including family and moral issues.)
4. Gravity: (Remember, this means dignity and respectability. You need to consider your jewelry, cloths, hairstyle, etc. Do your choices in these things merit respect?)
5. Sincerity: (In connection with being sober, you need to limit your silliness. Let people see the sincere side of you.)
6. Sound Speech: (Foul language, off color jokes, hatefulness, insults, etc. are not consistent with this principle.)
Conclusion:
Titus 2:5b, 8b (There is much at stake. If we as Christians don't adopt these characteristics it will sorely affect the way others see the church.)