download here

Behavior That Fits – part 1
Titus 2:1-10 (1-5)
May 11, 2025

Well tonight let’s jump back into our study of the book of Titus.

We did look at a couple of verses this morning in honor of Mother’s Day, and we’ll go back through them a little here in this text, but let’s dive back into the book study now.

To remind you of what is going on in Titus.
• Titus is the protégé of Paul.
• He has been left on the Island of Crete
• And he is there to put the churches back in order and to appoint elders

And we spent several weeks discussing
What he was to look for in elders and why they were necessary.

But there is a greater theme at work here in the book of Titus.
We have called this study, “Adorning The Gospel”.

The overall point to be made is that
Not only must the believers on Crete learn to preach the gospel,
But they must also live lives that work in tandem with the gospel.

And I think you all understand this.

Have you ever been perplexed by someone who professes to be a Christian and then has terrible behavior?

• Maybe someone who claims Christianity but they engage in sexual
immorality?
• Maybe someone who claims Christianity but they have a foul mouth?
• Maybe someone who claims Christianity but they have no commitment to the
local church?

And you sort of walk away scratching your head
Because you don’t really know what to do with such a person.

Certainly we know that
• No believer is absolutely sinless.
• Even genuine believers can in fact fall into sin.

We have all read the book of 1 Corinthians where we saw a church with more problems than one can shake a stick at:
• Divisions
• Lawsuits
• Prostitution
• Idolatry
• Gender confusion
• Drunkenness
• Incest
• Gifts out of control
• Denying the resurrection

They had problems, but Paul still recognized them as a church.
So we understand that even a believer who is currently in sin
Can still be a genuine believer.

THE PROBLEM IS that their testimony is confusing.
Their life does not match the gospel they claim to believe.

And not only is it confusing to you,
But it is absolutely detrimental to their witness to the lost.

What is a lost person supposed to do with a professing Christian who is living in sexual immorality?

What is a lost person supposed to do with a professing Christian who spews foul language?

What is a lost person supposed to do with a professing Christian who never goes to church?

Do you see the problem?
THEIR TESTIMONY IS SHOT.

NOW we certainly understand the necessity of gospel preaching.
• We studied it Wednesday night, you read the insert in your bulletin this morning.

Romans 10:14 “How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?”

We understand that preaching is essential.
• You’ll never do enough good works to supplant the necessity of preaching.
• You’ll never love someone enough to save them without giving them the gospel.

But at the same time we understand that
There must be consistent living with the gospel we preach.

I think in many circles this is a little misunderstood.

People agree that we must live lives consistent with the gospel,
But I’m not sure there is an accurate understanding
As to what that means.

We were driving back from Gainesville Sunday and listening to Casting Crowns and a song I hadn’t heard in a long time came on.

He sang:
“When we love, we earn the right to speak the truth.
When we speak truth, we show the world we really love.”

Not a bad lyric, but not totally right either.

First of all, you do not need to “earn the right” to speak the truth.
• The truth deserves to be spoken, even from unworthy vessels.
• Christ deserves to be proclaimed.
• Every man is obligated to hear it because they have been created by God.
• So we aren’t trying to earn the right to speak truth.

But also I would point out that being loving or caring or accepting
Is not the chief adornment we put on the gospel we preach.

If you want to support the gospel you preach.
If you want to truly adorn the gospel you proclaim.
THEN OBEY IT.

In short, “Practice What You Preach”.

You may be “loving”, but if you are not also obedient
YOUR GOSPEL WILL HAVE NO POWER

We believe the gospel changes lives
So it must be preached by those who can also testify to a change.

• Be loving yes
• Be caring yes
• But be holy

Failure to do this and you render your testimony ineffective.

Paul told Timothy:
1 Timothy 4:12-16 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”

It wasn’t just his teaching that he needed to pay close attention to,
But also his example of “love, faith, and purity”.

Or how about the negative example of the Jews?
Romans 2:21-24 “you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.”

That makes the point doesn’t it?

If you go out and preach against sin while living in sin,
I don’t care how loving you are to sinners,
You will blaspheme the name of God and the gospel you proclaim.

• If you’re going to call people to repentance then you need to be repentant.
• If you’re going to call people to faith in Christ then you need faith in Christ.
• If you’re going to call people to obedience then you need to be obedient.

Otherwise your message is nothing but hot air.

Consider what Jesus said:
Matthew 23:1-3 “Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them.”

You see the problem again.
Right message, wrong behavior.
“they say things and do not do them.”

And their message falls on deaf ears.

The call of the book of Titus is to address this problem.

It is not only to call men to proclaim the gospel,
But to address the lifestyle of the one who proclaims it.

IT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT
• When the gospel is preached
• And the lost start examining the church to see if the gospel is real,
• That they are blown away by the difference they see in the redeemed.

That the gospel they are hearing matches the gospel they are seeing.

I hope you realize that about yourself.
• People are watching you
• You are the evidence that the gospel is true.

Paul wrote:
2 Corinthians 3:1-3 “Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.”

There you see the same principle.
When Paul spoke of the credentials behind his gospel ministry,
• He didn’t point to miracles he had worked,
• He didn’t point to his ability to speak in tongues.

When Paul wanted to give evidence of the power of his gospel ministry
He offered men the letter of the Corinthian lives.

“You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men”

Their lives were meant to be the testimony.

YOU GET THE POINT.
The testimony that you offer of a life-changing gospel
Is a changed life.

And that is the point Paul wants Titus to drive home
To the churches of Crete.

As Titus travels throughout Crete
• He will set churches in order like a spiritual chiropractor.
• He will appoint elders in every city for the shepherding of the flock
• And He is to remind the believers that their lives must match the gospel they preach.

Their lives must be different from the world.

We saw that this morning didn’t we?
How women are called to reject the ideology of the world and embrace a biblical mindset.
• If a woman wants a testimony of the effectiveness of the gospel then go be a faithful homemaker, something the world does not do.

THE CALL IS TO ADORN THE GOSPEL.
And that is so clearly seen in this chapter.

Look at the first verse.
(1) “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”

Paul tells Titus to go and encourage behavior
That fits with the gospel they preach.

“fitting” is PREPO
It’s where we get our word “proper”

1 Corinthians 11:13 “Judge for yourselves: is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?”
• Women with uncovered heads were dressing like prostitutes.
• Women who shaved their heads were dismissing femininity.

Paul asked, “Does it fit for a woman to dress like a prostitute or dress like a man and then go in to pray?”

Something is off there. It’s just not proper.

Paul taught Timothy the same thing:
1 Timothy 2:9-10 “Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.”

A woman who wants to claim godliness
Should show it not only in her speech,
But also her wardrobe and by her good works.

And obviously this isn’t only true for women, but FOR ALL BELIEVERS.

Ephesians 5:3 “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;”

• It just doesn’t fit for someone to claim Christianity but then to live in “immorality or any impurity or greed”.

It’s not proper, it doesn’t fit.

AND THAT IS THE CALLING HERE.

Go and call them to live lives that fit.

WHY?
• (5b) “so that the word of God will not be dishonored”
• (8) “so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say
about us.”
• (10) “so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every
respect.”

• Live fitting lives so that God’s word won’t be blasphemed.
• Live fitting lives so that your opponents won’t have any ammunition.
• Live fitting lives so that God’s gospel appears beautiful.

IT MAKES SENSE TO US.

WELL HERE IN OUR TEXT: Paul begins to explain what he means.
• What is the behavior that fits the gospel?
• What is the behavior that protects the gospel from dishonor?
• What is the behavior that silences our opponents?
• What is the behavior that adorns the gospel of God?

I realize we looked at two this morning, but in reality there are 5.
Older men, Older women, Young women, Young men, and Slaves.

We can look at each.

#1 OLDER MEN
Titus 2:2

So here we answer the question:
How does an older man adorn the gospel with his life?

And again, it is by
Living in contrast to the norms of the world.

John MacArthur wrote:
“Increased age typically brings decreased energy, diminished vision and hearing, more aches and pains, and often more depression, hopelessness, and cynicism. In the last chapter of Ecclesiastes we are told, “Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near when you will say, ‘I have no delight in them’; before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and clouds return after the rain; in the day that the watchmen of the house tremble, and mighty men stoop” (12:1-3). As we grow older, change can become harder to accept. Life can become less fulfilling, less satisfying, and more disillusioning. It is easy to become a creature of habit, and the longer a habit is practiced, the more deeply entrenched and formidable it becomes. Besetting sins can become such an integral part of daily living that they cease to be recognized as sins at all.”
(MacArthur, John [MacArthur New Testimony Commentary: Titus; Moody Press; Chicago; IL; 1996] pg. 72)

We sort of understand the stereotype of the “Grumpy Old Man” don’t we?
• The man who is generally unhappy
• The man who is set in his ways
• The man who is unwilling to acknowledge his faults
• The man who is unwilling to change

And the world sort of accepts that persona of an old man.

So, if older men are going to adorn the gospel they preach,
They are going to have to throw off that stereotype and be different

HERE’S HOW:

“Older men are to be temperate”

“temperate” translates (nay–FALL–ee–os)
It means “abstaining from wine”

I don’t think the call here is that they can’t have any at all,
But certainly that they have it under control.

Similar to older women who Paul said “likewise”
They didn’t need to be “enslaved to much wine”.

• Far too many men in our culture actually find identity in the bottle.
• Being a drinker is a celebrated thing.
• Going out to drink is considered entertainment.

And so Paul simply calls for older men to be different.

Ephesians 5:15-19 “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;”

• Paul spoke to the Ephesians who saw their culture get drunk and speak like
fools.
• Paul called for Ephesians believers to instead be spirit filled and to speak true
and God-honoring words.

IN OUR CULTURE, even if you avoid drunkenness
You still have to be aware of the stigma of alcohol.

You and I both know that if you’re sitting at the homecoming parade with a beer in your hand your Christian witness is going to suffer.

• You can argue that you’re not getting drunk…ok
• You can talk about Jesus turning water to wine…ok

But you know there is a stigma that comes with it
And the question is, which matters more;
Your witness or your tastebuds?

IT MATTERS.

Paul gives another criteria
“dignified”
• It comes from a word that just means “honest” or “honorable”.

One thing we have seen drastically decline in our culture is the reality of integrity.
• People no longer keep their word.
• Some intentionally lie, some just don’t value keeping their word.

The older Christian man is called to be different.

THE AREA OF HONESTY IS CRUCIAL.
How will they believe your gospel to be true
If they can’t believe anything else you say?

“sensible”
• It is that word we looked at this morning which means “of sound mind;
curbing one’s desires ore impulses”
• Control yourself.
• Control your emotions.
• Control your desires.
• Control you tongue.

As we spoke about young women being “sensible” this morning
We talked about them not buying the psychotic thinking of the world.

THE SAME WOULD BE TRUE FOR OLDER MEN.
• Our world thinks backward about everything.
• You have the witness and experience and maturity to see through the
nonsense.
• You know where the thinking of the world leads.
• You know the foolishness of the younger generations.
• Don’t embrace it or endorse it, be “sensible”

There is no respect to be had for an older man acting like a teenager.

DON’T BUY THE MESSAGE OF THE WORLD.

“sound in faith, in love, in perseverance”

“sound” of course means “healthy”

AND I LOVE THIS LIST.

What do you think of when you think of a successful older man?
What sort of things do you strive for as an older man?
• Money, fame, pleasure?

Paul said that a godly older man,
Who is adorning the gospel with his lifestyle
Will seek for “faith” and “love” and “perseverance”

These are men who are devoted to the faith and to the local church.
THEY STICK.

• They trust God regardless of the trials or hardships.
• They love God and God’s people regardless of the setbacks.
• And they stick.

And if you want to really sort of summarize how an older man is to live his life to adorn the gospel, I would say it like this: FINISH STRONG

There was an older man at Crawford named Charles Rogers
• I actually got to preach his funeral.
• He had spent his life as a part time tent maker and part time evangelist.
• When he got really old and knew he was near the end he would say, “I’m in my sprinting years now”.

Consequently I grieve over men like Steve Lawson.
• I loved Steve Lawson, still do.
• I learned a lot from him, especially in the realm of church history.
• But he didn’t finish strong and he shipwrecked his ministry.
• He did not adorn the gospel he preached.

Older men, your focus now must be on finishing well.

Think of Paul in his final letter:
2 Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

• That is the goal.
• Finish well.

Think of the church at Philadelphia
Revelation 3:10-11 “Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

What an admonition,
“hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

Don’t disqualify yourself now.

Let go of all the juvenile temptations that ensnare younger men.
• Don’t go out drinking and seeking pleasure.
• Don’t get selfish and try to live it up.
• Don’t leave your wife for some younger fling.
• Don’t try to hold on to some cool image in the world.

Strive to live a “temperate, dignified, sensible” life as a Christian should.
Be known for your “faith” and “love” and “perseverance”.

RUN WELL AND FINISH WELL.
Don’t give the enemy any reason to discredit the life of work you have put in to the gospel.

You are at the point in life where all that should matter to you
Is Christian faithfulness.

You are sooner now to standing before the Lord than at any point in your life.
• You ought to be sprinting toward the finish line.
• You ought to be storing up treasure left and right.
• You ought to be showing the world what really matters.

They should see in you a man who truly believes
He cannot keep this world, but a better world awaits.

MAKE THE GOSPEL LOOK GLORIOUS!
FINISH STRONG.

That is the admonition to old men.

Let’s quickly look again at the two we examined this morning.

#2 OLDER WOMEN AND YOUNG WOMEN
Titus 2:3-5

I don’t want to rehash it all, or put you ladies through the ringer again,
But simply to point out again the purpose.

I like Paul’s use of the word “likewise” in verse 3.

“Older women likewise…”

That is to say, as older women you should share a similar ambition as the older men.

• You too, are in your sprinting years.
• You too should finish strong.
• You too should set your gaze, not on the things of the world, but on the things of heaven.

Again there is a call to reverence, not gossiping or wine.

LET’S JUST CALL THIS LIKE IT IS.

Ladies if you’re in your 40’s or 50’s or 60’s or beyond,
Don’t play the fool like you’re some 20 year old.

• Don’t act like them.
• Don’t dress like them.
• Don’t talk like them.

You ladies know exactly what I mean.
Be dignified.

Paul said you should be “teaching what is good”

That’s all one word in the Greek (kalodi – DOSkillos)
Paul likes to cram words together.

DIDASKILOS = “teacher”
KALOS = “beautiful, handsome, precious, genuine, noble, praiseworthy”

• It is used in Matthew 13 to speak of “fine pearls”
• It is used in Matthew 18 as what is “better”

James used it:
James 4:17 “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin.”

There it is translated “right thing to do”.

And that is what Paul asks you to be a teacher of.
Be an instructor of what is beautiful and precious
And genuine and noble and praiseworthy.

It brings to mind:
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

Be a woman who does not dwell on the sinful things of this world,
But a woman who points to what is good and pure and beautiful.

FOR EXAMPLE,
• Go teach the younger women how beautiful their family is.
• Go encourage that young mother that motherhood is a precious thing.
• Go encourage that woman at her wits end with kids that children are a blessing.
• Go encourage that woman in a difficult marriage how beautiful submission is in the eyes of God.

AS WE SAID THIS MORNING
Go break those harmful deceptions of the world and teach that young woman to love her husband and her kids.
• Tell her to be sensible and chaste and modest and pure.
• Tell her it’s ok to work at home and in fact it is preferable.
• Tell her to be kind.

Encourage her in the beautiful things of God when the world never does.

That is what an older woman does to adorn the gospel.

1. When you think of older men think of FINISHING STRONG
2. When you think of older women think of ENCOURAGING

And then of course we discussed the YOUNGER WOMEN as well.

Because of the degree of attack you face,
You have perhaps the greatest opportunity to adorn the gospel.

What a testimony you give to the world
When you reject all the expectations for women.

• When you refuse to dress like they dress, but instead choose purity and modesty.
• When you refuse to talk like they talk, but instead choose kindness.
• When you refuse to think like they think, but instead choose sensibility.
• When you refuse to pursue what they pursue, but instead choose to work at home.
• When you refuse to act like they act, but instead choose submission.

WHAT A TESTIMONY THAT IS!

NOW,
• They may not like you for it.
• They may even mock you for it.
• They may call you a waste and a fool or lazy or whatever.

But one thing they cannot do
Is deny that you believe what you read in the Bible, and that is the point!

“so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

That is all we are after here.
• We’re NOT trying to win popularity.
• We’re NOT trying to gain their approval.
• We’re NOT trying to get invited into their circle.

We’re trying to prove that the Bible is true!
We’re trying to show that we believe God’s way is right!

We are trying to live in a manner which is “fitting for sound doctrine.”

I didn’t do this this morning,
But let me give you a few negative examples in Scripture here.

Proverbs 9:13 “The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing.”

Proverbs 11:22 “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout So is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.”

Proverbs 21:9 “It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”

Proverbs 25:24 “It is better to live in a corner of the roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.”

Proverbs 27:15 “A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;”

Boy that is the worldly woman right there.
BE DIFFERENT FROM HER.

Be like that excellent wife of Proverbs 31 who honors her husband and feeds her family and clothes her children and teaches kindness.

And show that the gospel
Has not only approached your life, but has transformed it.

THAT IS THE GOAL.

We’re going to stop there tonight,
We’ll get the next two next Sunday, but you are getting the point.

It is absolutely imperative that the church live redeemed lives
To match the redemption that they preach.

“so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

download here

Women Who Honor God
Titus 2:3-5
May 11, 2025

This morning we want to return to our study of the book of Titus.
We took about a month off as we focused on the suffering and resurrection of Christ.

Now we want to return to the study,
But perhaps only a half-way return.

TONIGHT, we’ll jump back more into the overall theme of the letter and tie it all back together and start moving through it again.

BUT THIS MORNING, we want to take the opportunity that is before us,
Since it is Mother’s Day and look at a few verses
That are found here in Titus chapter 2.

We want to look at verses 3-5 as they are very important verses
That deal with God’s calling for women.

Now certainly we are going to discuss mothers specifically this morning,
But in all reality the passage is bigger than that.

• After all, not all women are mothers.
• Not all women are even married.
• Some are widows.
• Some are single.
• All are important to the church.
• All have a ministry to fulfill.

But this passage does speak in a general nature
To the typical role of a woman who gets married and raises children.

And we want to address it all this morning
On this day when we celebrate mothers and motherhood in general.

So if you are a mother with children at home right now,
• We want to see what the Bible has to say to you about that role.

If you are a mother, but your children are grown,
• We want to see what the Bible has to say to you about your role.

If you are a single women who ascribes to be a mother someday,
• We want to see the pattern God lays out for you.

But even if you are an older woman who never had children, or perhaps never even married,
• That does not render you outside of God’s plan, and we want to see God’s pattern for your life as well.

Now, in these 3 verses we see that
Paul breaks his instruction down into two main categories.

1. We have those he calls “older women” in verse 3 through the first half of verse 4.
2. And he has those he calls “young women” in the last half of verse 4 and verse 5.

And if you’re wondering which group you fall into,
Paul’s division seems to be this:
• Older women seem to be categorized as those whose children have been raised and left the home.
• Young women are those whose children are still at home.

If you are a single woman who does not expect to have children,
• Similar to Anna in the temple then you’d follow the counsel given to the older women.

And if you are a single woman who expects to marry and have children
• You’d definitely pay attention to the counsel given to the younger women as what will be your expectation when you do marry and have kids.

BUT YOU SEE THE WAY PAUL BREAKS IT DOWN.

What we see here is that Paul is addressing all of these women
With regard to God’s expectation for their lives.

Now, we’ll talk about this MORE TONIGHT, but:

It is important to recognize the purpose of these commands.

Paul ends verse 5 by saying,
“So that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

“dishonored” is BLAS-FE-MAY-O
It’s where we get our word “blasphemy”

Clearly the concern of Paul here is
That women live their lives in such a way as to honor God’s word
And to protect it from being blasphemed or reviled or spoken evil of.

And this is important right off the bat to grasp.

The purpose for this instruction is the exaltation of the word of God.

The primary reason for this command IS NOT
• Your own fulfillment,
• A successful family,
• Your own personal glory.

Although, we certainly believe that doing things God’s way
Is more fulfilling and does bring success
And will result in you being glorified by God.

We certainly agree that doing things God’s way
Always has a better outcome than walking in rebellion.

But the main point of what Paul says here
Is to give women a way to defend God’s word in the world
And to protect it from being blasphemed.

So ladies, let’s begin this morning with the question:
• Is it your desire to honor God and His word with your life?
• Do you want your life to be a testimony that God’s word is perfect?
• Would you like for your life to be a natural defense of God’s word?

I certainly hope that you would sincerely say “yes” to those questions.

Well, if so, here is how God says to do that.
This is God’s instruction to women
Of how He would have them honor and defend His word.

FAIR ENOUGH?

So, How does God indicate that women should bear testimony to the perfection of His word?

Well, if you are an older woman?
• Reverence
• Self-Control
• Encouragement

And if you are a young woman?
• Devotion
• Self-Control
• Purity
• Kindness

Those are general descriptions,
So let’s talk about the practical application of those principles.

#1 OLDER WOMEN
Titus 2:3-4a

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women…”

The statements are clear and direct, but let’s look at them.

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior”

It simply means that she is to
Act in a fitting manner before men and God.

Her behavior is such that would be fitting
If she were walking in the very presence of God.

There is obviously no crudeness or rudeness or indecency.

I think of what Paul wrote regarding widows.
1 Timothy 5:5-6 “Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.”

• In the early church widows were actually provided for by the church.
• Most of them were totally destitute and poor
• The church stepped in to provide for them.
• They in turn would become servants in the church.

We think of Anna
Luke 2:36-37 “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.”

• Anna served continually in the temple with a specific devotion to fasting and
prayer.

Anna is the type of prototype Paul had in mind when he spoke of widows.

But what was also clear is that
Such widows earned the right reputation even BEFORE they became widows.

• They earned a reputation as women of faith, women of prayer, and those who
abstained from what Paul calls “wanton pleasure”.
• They were reverent women.
• Even before they became widows.

THAT IS THE CALLING REVEALED HERE AS WELL.
Not to follow the pattern of this world, but to be reverent.

To be women of faith, prayer, and those who resist wanton pleasure.

So ladies if you want to honor God’s word then live in a reverent manner.

But if you give yourself to irreverent living
You will bring reproach on the Bible you claim to obey.

Paul continues:
“not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine”

Both of those speak to her self-control.

Again, when Paul spoke of widows he also instructed:
1 Timothy 5:11-14 “But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;”

IMPLIED THERE is that one of the ministries of older women and widows is a “house to house” type of ministry.

• There was no social media.
• There were no cell phones.
• But clearly there was a desire to check on one another and even to fulfill a
desire for fellowship and friendship.

The problem Paul saw in that was that
Younger widows could too easily get caught up in the gossip of the day.

• He feared they would become idle and busybodies.
• And so he refused to put them on the list, instead telling them to get married.
• The calling of visiting and encouraging was to be left to the older and more
mature women.

And the instruction from Paul here is the same.
Don’t be “malicious gossips”.

You can’t be one who just goes from house to house
Or phone call to phone call gossiping about people.
If you do, you will bring dishonor on the word of God you claim to obey.

And the same is true regarding “wine”
• Paul says “nor enslaved to much wine”

We can have all the debates about alcohol and its biblical use
Versus it’s use today, but maybe that will be for another time.

Clearly the implication here is that if you are one prone to getting drunk
You are going to bring shame on the word of God.

AND ALL OF THAT SHOULD BE FAIRLY OBVIOUS RIGHT?

But it is the NEXT POINT I really want us to start to look deeper at.

There is more than just certain behaviors to avoid,
There is also a mission for older women to accomplish.

OLDER LADIES, YOU HAVE A JOB TO DO,
And one that is incredibly important.

You are called to be a voice of godliness in a world steeped in deception.

Paul says, “teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the younger women…”

Paul specifically calls older women to be teachers.
• We aren’t talking about a pulpit here.
• We aren’t even talking about a Sunday school class.

We are talking about older women making the rounds in ministry
And purposely approaching the young women
In order to instruct and encourage them.

CAN I JUST SAY IT LIKE THIS?
No one is under a greater attack in our culture than young women.

The reach of feminism has saturated our culture
And sadly is even becoming the normal train of thought
In the minds of far too many young women.

From the time girls are very little
Our culture starts pushing young girls
In a very different direction than Scripture calls them go.

1. They are bombarded with the importance of worldly success, secular jobs, important degrees, etc.

2. A chip is intentionally placed squarely on their shoulder so that they are taught to be offended if someone implies that something is “women’s work” or “man’s work”.

3. They are told to throw off stereotypes and embrace a new way of thinking.

4. Women who reject such indoctrination and who seek a life of being a wife and mother without education or secular job are scorned and reproached.

OUR WORLD IS LYING TO YOUNG WOMEN.
They get it in the classroom, they get it on the television,
They get it in the marketplace, it is everywhere.

They’re made to feel shame if all they pursue is to raise a family.
They’re made to feel as though they are lazy and wasting their life.

AND THAT MESSAGE IS RELENTLESS.

OLDER WOMEN, then is where you come in.

God has ordained you to be the voice of sanity in their world.

I don’t typically like to lay blame
But at the same time we don’t want to absolve people of responsibility either.

But Biblically speaking
The rise of feminism and its acceptance among younger women as the norm in our culture

Falls at the feet of older Christian women
Who have failed to do the job God has called them to.

What is that job?
“encourage the younger women”

You’ll see in a minute what they are to encourage them to do,
But FIRST let’s look at the word “encourage”.

It is the Greek word (so-fron-EED-zo)

It comes from the root word (so-frone)
• Which means to be “prudent” or “sensible”.
• It is the word used in verse 2 and 5 translated “sensible”.
• It means to be of sound mind.

Paul uses it in a compound form (so-fron-EED-zo)
And it means “to restore one to his senses” or “to teach one to be sober”

Perhaps we should say it like this.

The job of the older women is to cut through all the insanity
That the world is throwing at younger women
And to call them back to their senses.

In verse 3 Paul said “teaching what is good”

• They are to elevate for the younger women what is truly good in this world.
• They are to call them back to their original and highest calling.
• They are to quit letting the world define for them what female success looks like.

WHEN THE WORLD TELLS THEM TO
Flaunt their bodies, abort their babies, divorce their husbands, abandon their kids, get a career, and become a lesbian or transition into actually becoming a man.

THE OLDER WOMEN of the church are to step in
And to CUT THROUGH THE NONSENSE.

And teach the younger women that
That is not what God designed them for
And it is not what God calls them to.

And yes, a preacher from the pulpit can say all of this,
But ultimately God intended for that message to come from older ladies.

It is the job of the older women
To restore sanity into the minds of the young women.

What specifically does that look like?

Well, let’s get to the next part.
#2 YOUNG WOMEN
Titus 2:4b-5

“the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

Older ladies, this is your message.
1. You are to tell them that their high calling is not to abandon the home but to be devoted to it.

2. You are to tell the young women to go home and be a faithful wife and a faithful mother.

And what is really GRIEVOUS TO ME in our day and age
Is that the statement I just made is actually now a controversial one.

Did that preacher really just say that a woman’s place is in the home?
Did that preacher really insinuate that women should be homemakers?

OF COURSE I DID, because that is what the Bible says.

But honestly, when did the home become such a bad thing?
When did the home become a place of derision?

• The home is considered as less valuable than the workplace.
• The home is considered as less fun than the town square.
• The home is considered as less important as the stadium.

And women who make the home their priority
Are literally scorned for doing so.

But honestly, what could be more valuable than the home?
What location could be more important?
What sphere could possibly matter more than the home?

• The home is a hospital when you are sick.
• The home is a diner when you are hungry.
• The home is a workshop for your projects.
• The home is a gathering place for your loved ones.
• The home is a lodge for guests.
• The home is a fortress from dangers.
• The home is a community amongst family.
• The home is a hangout for all.
• It is a refuge of protection.
• It is a sanctuary of peace.
• It is a classroom of sanctification.
• It is a haven of rest.
• And not to mention it is a significant financial investment.

Whoever told you that devoting your life to the home was foolish
LIED TO YOU.

You don’t have a location in this life more valuable than the home.
Being called by God to be the keeper of the home
Is not a demotion, it is a high honor and calling.

Societies crumble when the God-ordained keeper of the home
Abandons the home in favor of worldly pursuits.

I don’t care if that is for more money or more fame or more fun or whatever else.
• Husbands suffer
• Wives suffer
• Children suffer
• When the home is not cared for.

So God tells the older women, to go and cut through the insanity
And to tell the younger women to go home and care for their families.

Specifically to “love their husbands, to love their children”

We ARE NOT speaking here of emotional attraction.
We ARE talking about self-sacrificing devotion.

Young women, go sacrifice for your husband and your children.
Go show them Christ-like self-sacrificing love and devotion.

“to be sensible” – that is of a sound mind.

Don’t buy the nonsense that the world is selling.

This world will tell you to get a degree, get a good job, make a lot of money, accomplish great things, make a difference, etc.

And this world will forget you the second you are gone.

Can I remind you of the woman who bears eternal honor?
It seems to me that a sensible woman would pursue this.

TURN TO: Proverbs 31:13-29

Now first, I want you to see her love personified.

Do you see her devotion?
(12) “she does him good and not evil all the days of her life”

Do you see where he is?
(23) “her husband is known among the gates when he sits among the elders”
• He is getting notoriety, while she is sitting in the shadows.

Do you see here devotion to her family?
• Looking for wool and flax (13)
• Bringing food from afar (14)
• Getting up while it is dark to cook breakfast (15)
• Staying up late to do laundry (18-19)
• Her household is clothed (21)

And at the end of all of it who is praising her?
It’s not corporate America, it’s her husband and her children.

And that is the message that the OLDER WOMEN
Are to be giving to the young women.

Young woman go invest in your family
And let their admiration and praise be enough.

Don’t worry about what the world thinks of you, go love and serve your family.

I honestly could not wait to preach this text this morning,
Even with all of the possible points of contention that it could contain.

And the reason I couldn’t wait is because
It gives me such an opportunity to publicly honor my wife.

My wife was valedictorian of her high school
She studied to be an engineer,

BUT when God convicted her heart and saved her
She walked away from college to pursue one thing; motherhood.

She committed to being a stay-at-home mom
And to be devoted to the raising of our kids.

People brag to me all the time about my kids,
But anyone who knows me knows why, it’s all Carrie.
• She is the teacher, she is the trainer, she is the corrector.
• She decided her legacy would not be bridges with her name on them,
• It would be 2 sons and 2 daughters who would take what she taught them into
the world.

REMEMBER talking about women preachers several weeks ago and looking at that passage in 1 Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:15 “But women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.”

• Paul doesn’t mean their soul will be saved if they have babies.
• He means that is where their purpose in life will be redeemed.
• They won’t stand in the pulpit, but they will have a greater influence on the church than anyone else.

THEY WILL RAISE THE NEXT GENERATION.
Her faith will become their faith.
Her convictions will become their convictions.

Paul instructed Timothy to lead the church at Ephesus, and do you want to know where Timothy went to seminary?

2 Timothy 1:5 “For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

That’s what godly women do.
That’s what my wife has done.

PAUL GOES ON TO TELL the older women to teach the young women “to be…pure, workers at home, kind”

“pure” speaks of being chaste or modest.
• Their goal is NOT to attract the attention of the world.
• Their goal is to mold and instruct their children.

He says “workers at home”

This statement is typically met with quite an argument
As to whether or not it is biblical for women to have jobs at all.

Let’s be as clear and honest as we can here about what is said.

The word itself is (oy-koor-GOS)

OYKOS = house
OUROS = a guard or a worker

She is literally called to be the “keeper of the house”

We read earlier how Paul instructed younger widows:
1 Timothy 5:14 “Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach;”

We should also understand that in Paul’s day
The problem was NOT that too many women were leaving the home to get a secular job. That is just not likely in that day and time.

What was the problem?
That women were at home, but they weren’t working to keep the house as they should.

Paul is calling these women to love their husbands and children
And to do that by keeping the house.

Not being a busy-body, not giving herself to wanton pleasure,
But working hard in the home as an act of love and service to those in it.

Proverbs 31:27 “She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.”

Now we could talk physically about that for a moment
And say that young women should keep a clean home.

There’s nothing sexist or chauvinist about that,
It’s a calling; a job and it’s an important one.

And again I praise my wife.
• I’d put our house up against any house in the world.
• I could wear the same pair of socks every other day if I wanted.

But working at home is more than just cleaning the house.

MY WIFE IS A GUARDIAN OF THE HOME.

What do I mean?
It’s NOT just about wiping your feet before you come in.

• Who in my house is the biggest advocate that we all set down to a family meal and talk to one another?
• Who in my house will actually cook the meal to allow that to happen?
• Who in my house is the biggest advocate that the TV turn off and the phones get put down and we all play a game together?
• Who in my house is the biggest advocate that we all gather under one roof?
• Who will make sure the sheets are clean so everyone is comfortable when the do that?

No one protects the sanctity of our home like Carrie does.
It’s not just about the house, it’s about the family.
• She is devoted to the family.
• She is devoted that I am fed and cared for.
• She is devoted that our children are safe and cared for.
• She is devoted to our home being a home of peace, love, laughter and safety.
• She labors at that.
• She strives for that.

Young women that is your highest calling.
Older women, teach them that.

Now, am I going to say that means you can’t have a job?

I get that circumstances arise.
• Carrie worked as a nail tech for 5 years.
• She kept hours while the kids were in school.

I also am well-aware that that excellent wife in Proverbs 31 worked.
Proverbs 31:16 “She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.”

Proverbs 31:24 “She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies belts to the tradesmen.”

But the point is that your main focus and your main priority
Has to be the home.

• Sending kids off to daycare so you can have a fulfilling career…
• Abandoning your family at home for extra money for a nice car…
• Neglecting the work of the home to do more honorable work in the world’s eyes…

I’m sorry ladies, but that is not the calling.

I think something should also be said here to husbands
Who push their wives to get jobs outside the home
So they can have more money.

• Guys you are cheating her of what God designed her to do.
• You are cheating your children of the present mother God designed them to enjoy.
• And you are cheating yourself of the helpmate God knew you needed.

Strive for contentment.
Strive to have less money and less things.
But let her be the wife and mother God created her to be.

And older women you encourage her to do it.

Paul also calls them to be “kind”
That word is (AGATHOS)
Most of the time it is translated as “good”

You’ve seen it.
Luke 10:41-42 “But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Mary chose the AGATHOS part.

Acts 9:36 “Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.”

You’re just to be a woman devoted to good and kind things.

Remember that excellent wife?
Proverbs 31:12 “She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.”

And finally “being subject to their own husbands”
• The clear and high calling of submission.
• It is God’s natural designed order.

AND WHAT A BLESSING SUCH WOMEN ARE.

• I cannot state it more emphatically that my wife is my greatest blessing in life.
• I cannot state it more emphatically how grateful I am for my mother.

They are godly women who have devoted themselves
To seeing their children trust God and develop godliness in their lives.

• How much money would a man pay to have godly children?
• How much money would a man pay to have peace in his home?
• How much money would a man pay to be able to rest in his house?

I don’t know how much money Carrie gave up when she walked away from that engineering degree, but I’m telling you I got a steal of a bargain in her.

THIS IS THE CALLING.

Older women set an example of reverence.
• Stop gossiping, don’t get drunk and make it your mission to teach the young women to go home and serve their families in godliness.

You ladies who don’t have kids go do the same.
• Encourage them in godliness.

You young women
• Go be devoted to your husband and your children. Love them, sacrifice for them, work for them, serve them.
• Be chaste and modest, be sensible and kind, have a submissive quiet spirit and devote yourself to raising Godly children.

WHY?
“so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

THAT IS WHY YOU DO IT.

This world is constantly attacking the wisdom of God.
This world says that God’s plan is foolish and stupid.

The world mocks and hates titles like
“stay-at-home mom”, “homemaker”, “housekeeper”, “women’s work”

And if you think they are demeaning positions
Then it only proves you have bought the lies the world is selling.

God sees those positions as the highest of callings.
God sees those jobs as infinite in value.

But ladies, when you ignore God’s mandate to follow the world’s advice you cast shame on God’s wisdom.

You in effect preach a message to the world that God doesn’t’ know what He’s talking about and His word is foolish.

• Obviously God was off His rocker when He called for wives to submit to their
husbands.
• Obviously God was out of His mind when He called for women to keep house.
• Obviously God was misinformed when He called for women to raise kids.

The world knew what was best, they are wiser than God.

That is the message that is being preached
When we ignore God’s mandate in favor of the world’s logic.

I AM SO THANKFUL FOR GODLY WOMEN.
I am so thankful for women who are devoted to God’s high calling.

Those of you who are doing that,
Let me encourage you that you are bring honor to the word of God.

You are bearing reproach that God’s word might be honored.

To women who may have missed the mark.
Welcome to the club, we have all missed the mark.

But your final sentence has yet to be written.
You can still choose to honor God’s word.
You can still embrace the role God has for you.

If you are young woman
You can refocus and devote yourself to your family.

If you are an older woman
You can go encourage the young women, even if that encouragement is “Don’t do what I did”.

Our God is full of mercy and grace even in the midst of our failures.

But today let’s make a commitment
To live lives that bring honor to God’s wisdom and His word.

Thank you mothers for that.
• Thank you ladies for your commitment to your families.
• Thank you ladies for your devotion to the word of God.
• I know you fight a hard battle, but may God richly bless you for it.

Proverbs 31:28-30 “Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also, and he praises her, saying: “Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all.” Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.”