Titus: Practical Faith
Godly Women: Living Example
February 25, 2024 • Jermaine Arphul • Titus 2:3–5
POINT 1 - Older women (LIKEWISE) are to be Christ-like living examples (v.3a) By their reverent behavior STRENGTH BUT NOT GOSSIPS NOR ENSLAVED TO MUCH WINE Paul speaking to a particular issue ***1st century women were not working but rather getting drunk and slandering.*** Being GOSSIPS/SLANDERERS/ACCUSING FALSELY/acting like the devil; bringing false charges that destroy someone BEING DRUNK (being controlled by wine)...the culture admired heavy drinkers back then. It was a common thing for older women in Greek and Roman cultures to drink a lot of wine. God says don’t get sucked into that: Ephesians 5:18 - "Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit." Proverbs 20:1 - "Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise." God warns us not to let anything influence our behavior other than the Spirit of God. Life hidden in Christ - A LIVING EXAMPLE By teaching what is good A teacher of winsome goodness Teach God things Which means you have to know the things of God The word of God dwells richly inside Studies God's word so she can teach sound doctrine from a place of authority. Jesus LIVED this example: Acts 10:38:"how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him." John 13:15:"I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." All this is attractive to anyone because we live in a world where we don’t see a ton of this and because we were made by Him. This is DIFFERENT than what Cretans were known for and is DIFFERENT than the cultural norm we live in today. What a calling!!! Much better than biding time getting drunk and wasting words/defaming your neighbor! 4a - For the purpose of training (Translations might say: encourage/urge/train/) younger women how to be Christ-like living examples POINT 2 - Older women are to train up younger women to be Christ-like living examples (v. 3b-5a) By loving their husbands and children well LOVE HUSBANDS WELL (in particular their husbands and children) - love = phílandros - properly, the special affection of a woman for her life-time mate (husband), embracing him as her "calling" (stewardship) from God (used only in Tit 2:4); HUSBANDS/MEN TOLD YOU NOT TO CHECK OUT! - WE TALKING ABOUT BEING AN EPHESIANS 5:22-27 HUSBAND! (LOVE HER LIKE JESUS) Application: purpose to make friends with your husband; don’t give your BEST to your friends, to your club and neglect what’s right in front of you. (this MIGHT TAKE SOME CREATIVITY…cause we’re BORING! HAHA.) It takes time and energy to connect. LOVE CHILDREN WELL - love one’s children - philoteknos; this is not agape love. It's friendship love. Paul is telling Titus to tell the women to build relationships within her family. Let me tell you why Paul says kids. Kids are HARD and sometimes you don't love them well (sometimes you want to send them back to where they came from! Haha It’s been said of parenting ‘the days are long and the years are short’ By being: Self-controlled (mentioned in Titus 2:2, 2:6, 1:8 - REMINDER 4 THE GUYS!) Discreet, sober, temperate sṓphrōn ("acting in God's definition of balance") makes someone genuinely temperate, i.e. well-balanced from God's perspective. Example: An opera singer controls the length (quality) of their tones by their diaphragm which even controls the ability to breathe and moderates heartbeat. Hence it regulates ("brings safety") to the body, keeping it properly controlled.] Are you the thermostat or the thermometer in your home? You’re called to be the thermostat. You're determining the temperature of the home. Pure 1 John 3:3 - “And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” ok what this is saying is that everyone who has this hope in him chastens himself just as Jesus is chaste. This is a woman who has her mind set on being like Jesus and how she can please Him more than anything. She is more concerned about becoming more like Jesus than any other achievement or accomplishment. Keepers (workers) of the home (keep a good house) Translation: “keeping at home and taking care of household affairs” This is often viewed as offensive in the 21st century - why? Because in a world opposed to God, anything from the bible is offensive (biblical value); but we still anchor to the truth. WHAT IT DOESN’T MEAN: Women should only work in the home (you can be a boss at work!) Women that work in the home are inferior That women should only focus on throwing the best bday parties at home and making the best Martha Stewart backyard Women are inferior/have less value than men That Women have to be married (1 Corinthians 7) That men have no role in the home. Come on fellas, stop playin. None of this modeled well as how we are supposed to live biblically. This an emphasis on the importance of discipleship and what goes on in the home. WHAT IT DOES MEAN AND WHY IT’S COOL! It’s a high calling. Meaning it’s valued. Meaning you have value. Because the home is where ‘the heart’ is This is where at the end of the day we all go back to. The most influential place! Proverbs 31! A LIVING EXAMPLE Proverbs 31:28-31 - “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women have done excellently, but you BUT YOU WOMAN OF GOD (i added this) surpass them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. She takes care of her home in verse 27 AND in verse 24 she leads a business. Each of these characteristics outside of the home are STRONG and these ‘keeper of the home’ characteristics are STRONG….AND THEY complement each other. They DON'T COMPETE! Heaven is highlighting a Godly Woman. Heaven is giving an accolade…a compliment…a praise to a Godly Woman. In fact from Heaven's perspective, a Godly Woman has always had equal value…just different in function. THIS PROVERBS 31 WOMAN IS AN EXCELLENT WIFE AND MOTHER. ALSO A MANUFACTURER, MANAGER, REALTOR, SEAMSTRESS, AND MERCHANT JUST TO NAME A FEW THINGS. HER STRENGTH AND DIGNITY DO NOT COME HER ACHIEVEMENTS, BUT ARE A RESULT OF HER REVERENCE FOR GOD. AND HER FAMILY’S SOCIAL POSITION IS HIGH UP! AND I PRAY THAT YOU WOULD SEE THIS AS INSPIRATION! DON’T TRY TO DO ALL THESE THINGS, JUST KNOW YOU ARE ALL THESE THINGS IN CHRIST. PROVERBS 31 WOMAN… A LIVING EXAMPLE Kind (Do Good) ((agathós) describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in their life, through faith.) this means to want and desire to be like God Jesus in His kindness leads us to repentance. He’s the living example. His Spirit enables us to do so! So we imitate him in life. Submissive (to be subject to their own husbands) to subject oneself, to obey; to submit to one's control; to yield to one's admonition or advice: absolutely In Titus, the assumption is that we are speaking about a Godly man. About a man who sacrifices for his wife like Jesus sacrificed for the church. We're speaking about a man who loves his wife as Christ loved the church. We're speaking about a man who serves his wife in a manner where he esteems her in such a way that she is lifted up, edified, built up. Women: WHAT IT DOESN’T MEAN Be subject to an abusive ungodly man. That women should keep quiet/’know their place’ - as if they are inferior Your man/men is above Jesus! Christ is still the main object of affection. (Your husband doesn’t replace Christ) That you have to stay at home and/or make less money That you and your husband don’t have discussion over decisions being made. WHAT IT DOES MEAN (AND THIS IS GOOD!) That when godly men love their wives like Jesus and godly women submit to their husbands work together beautifully. Luke 2:51 - Love how the king of kings was submissive to his parents! “And he went down with them(parents) and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them.” - not about value! It's a role! POINT 3 - THE WHY (v.5b) “So that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Why: So that the word of God would be attractive! It’s interesting. Although the world hates God's standards, it has no problem calling out our hypocrisy when we do compromise. But more so, we don’t want to bring shame to His name. So that God would be honored So we do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ We say yes so that EVERYTHING…EVERY WORD AND EVERY DEED comes under the lordship of Jesus Christ. If I cannot say that thing in Jesus’ presence I don't say it If i cannot do that thing in front of Jesus then I don't do it But if there are things that he affirms, I say them. If there are things He approves I do them. I want to live in accordance with the KING BECAUSE the world needs to see an authority who loves. Because that's our king, not just a life coach. He is the beautiful mix of grace and truth POINT 4 - PRACTICAL EXAMPLES Sign up for 121 Discipleship Program Invite Younger Women into your world Invite women into your homes! Let them see how you run things. (Don’t try to make your house look perfect.) This includes single women! There will be opportunities to connect individually with other women in the body and to talk and engage and get to know each other. Serve in Family Ministries Teach Lifegroups Go hang out with 121Students Men Pray for Wives (If Single, pray for this type of wife) POINT 5 - THE HOW By relying on the grace of Jesus! (Titus 2:11 - For the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation to all mankind.) Maybe you’ve been in denial of that grace and you are just now realizing that grace is available? Look, I think it's important to remember that we won’t and don’t do this perfectly. Last week I heard Tim Green say, “Tomorrow doesn't have to be like yesterday. If you haven't done it perfectly, that's ok. It can be different tomorrow because GOD can do anything!” Jesus is saying to you, Do you love Him? Do you love Him? Do you love Him? Then tend My sheep Jesus = the PERFECT LIVING EXAMPLE to follow The bible doesn’t say be a perfect a woman, be a perfect mom, be a perfect older woman The Bible says JESUS was and is perfect! So you don’t have to be! So leave your grave clothes behind Put on your grace clothes! BUT IT MUST BEGIN WITH THE GARMENT OF SALVATION!!! THE ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! God has been in the garment business ever since the garden of eden when He took those fig leaves off and put on sheepskins that required the death of an animal to cover the sin of Adam and Eve. He’s willing to do that through His Son Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
The Goodness of Godly Leadership
February 4, 2024 • Eric Estes • Titus 1:5–9, Acts 14:23, 1 Peter 5:2
Leadership has fallen on hard times - people are often cynical and distrustful of leaders. But God shows us that Godly Leadership in the local church is good and He tells us what to look for in a godly leader. These qualities are not just for leaders they describe a life lived in light of His goodness.
