Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20010211.htm

TITUS: ADDRESSING WEAK CHURCHES IN DETERIORATING CULTURES
Part III: The Need For Church Leaders To Affirm Correct ROLES In The Church
(Titus 2:1-10)
  1. Introduction
    1. In today's morally declining cultures, people face influences toward deceitful, abusive and uncontrolled behavior that undermines their family, social and economic institutions, cf. Titus 1:12 with 1:10-11.
    2. This becomes a formidable trend, for even people in the Church can adopt culturally-induced behaviors that are evil, and accept them as innocent contrary to the will of God.
    3. Paul reveals God's program that overcomes such culturally-induced error in discipling others as follows:
  2. The Need For Church Leaders To Affirm Correct ROLES In The Church, Titus 2:1-10.
    1. Church leaders are to affirm correct roles in the Church by teaching about such roles, Titus 2:1-6, 9-10:
      1. Church leaders must speak things suitable to sound teaching regarding the roles of mature men, 2:1-2a:
        1. They must teach men to be temperate, respectable, self-controlled and sound in doctrine & love, 2b.
        2. They are to teach these men to endure the trials of life in God's available power, Titus 2:2c.
      2. Church leaders must speak things suitable to sound teaching on the roles of mature women, 2:3-4a:
        1. They are to teach mature women to be worthy of reverence in their conduct, Titus 2:3a.
        2. In particular, they are to teach such women not to slander or practice substance abuse, Titus 2:3b.
      3. Church leaders must speak things suitable to sound teaching on the roles of younger women, 2:4b-5:
        1. They are to teach the mature women to instruct younger women on godly living, Titus 2:3-4a
        2. That instruction is for younger women to be emotionally attached to their husbands (philandros) and children (philoteknos) as opposed to "playing the field" in relationships, cf. Moulton & Milligan, Voc. of the Grk. N.T., p. 668), to be self-controlled, morally pure, homemakers, kind and to be submissive to their own husbands so the Word of God will be not maligned, Titus 2:4b-5.
      4. Church leaders must speak things suitable to sound teaching on the roles of younger men, 2:6: they are to teach these young men to be self-controlled, meaning self-controlled opposite the uncontrolled deceit, abusiveness and general behavior patterns of their culture, cf. Titus 1:12.
      5. Church leaders must speak things suitable to sound teaching on the roles of employees (slaves), 2:9-10:
        1. They are to teach slaves (today's employees) to obey their overseers in all things on the job [that are not admonitions to sin, of course, cf. Acts 5:29], Titus 2:9a.
        2. They are to teach slaves (today's employees) to be pleasing, not talking back disrespectfully, not stealing on the job, but showing reliability in their work as trustworthy employees, Titus 2:9b-10.
    2. Church leaders are to impact this teaching by properly exampling their own roles well and courageously:
      1. In every way, the church leaders giving such instruction are to exemplify godly works, Titus 2:7a.
      2. Hence, their teaching must be without taint of sin, delivered with seriousness and with true words that will stand up under even scrutinizing CRITICISM of objectors they face even in the Church, 2:7b-8.
      3. Also, these church leaders are to exemplify temperance, respectful conduct, self-control and soundness of doctrine and love even amidst criticism for their Biblical stands and deeds, Titus 2:7-8 with 2:2b,c.
Lesson: For the health of the church amidst the influence of decaying cultures, God calls church leaders COURAGEOUSLY to COUNTER aberrant relationship roles by affirming godly ones instead.

Application: (1) If we see the Church leader(s) teach from SCRIPTURE on the ROLE we as a mature adult, or as a maturing adult or as an employee (or employer via application) are to have, we should HEED that word as GOD'S directive for US in accord with Titus 2:1-10. (2) If we are a Church leader, we should accept the responsibility to TEACH the right ROLES and to EXEMPLIFY godliness in our OWN role as an impacting influence to that teaching as GOD'S calling FOR US, and courageously, humbly DO so opposite the influence of the decadent culture! (3) Church leaders ministering in a decaying culture must be aware that even Church people can be so influenced by cultural error that they may be blinded BY it, and in turn CRITICIZE such leaders for affirming right roles and actions, Tit. 2:8b,c; Jn. 16:2! Such leaders must be able to show how each stand made is Scriptural, Tit. 2:7-8!