"A Church That Makes the Gospel Beautiful"

Due to technical difficulties the video of today's sermon is not available.  We are, however, making the Sermon Notes available, as well as the Sermon Manuscript for anyone who would like to read the sermon.

Sermon Manuscript 
Sermon Series: Titus
Sermon Scripture:  Titus 2:1-10​

“But as for you…” Paul describes proper Christian living rooted in the gospel, which is in direct contrast to the behavior of the false teachers (1:10–16) but matches what real church leaders should do.

“Teach what accords with sound doctrine”- Titus (and the elders) are not to teach like the false teachers (for selfish gain, man-made commands, Jewish myths, etc.) but instead are to teach sound doctrine.

Faithful pastors must distinguish themselves from corrupt teachers by their message and their life. Titus must continually and consistently teach what is proper and aligns with sound doctrine. Sound doctrine will promote a healthy congregation. And ask, “Does my life match the gospel I profess?”

Titus 2 is about becoming the kind of people whose lives make others want to know more about Jesus. It is a picture of a healthy church that makes the gospel look beautiful to the world, “adorning the doctrine of God our Savior.”

Sound teaching is not just about avoiding heresy, but producing holiness.

This is not a laundry list of duties that we must do to earn God’s favor. They are not meant to be a burden. We do not manufacture these characteristics through our own willpower. These qualities are all different kinds of fruit that the gospel produces through the power of the Holy Spirit. This list should characterize all Christians who have been truly saved by Jesus. The life of the church is a living witness of the gospel.
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Older Men: Be Spiritual Anchors in the Community (2:1-2)
Paul begins with older men (has to do with age and stage of life, not position of leadership), likely because they are expected to be examples and anchors of spiritual maturity in the church. The qualities listed are deeply counter-cultural in Crete, where the norm (according to 1:12) was laziness, gluttony, and dishonesty.

• Be levelheaded - sober, free from intoxication, clear-headed, watchful, disciplined in thinking. Older men must model thoughtful, serious-minded discipleship instead of silliness.
• Be reverent- “dignified”- worthy of respect, honorable in behavior and attitude. He is not a gloomy, but he carries himself with godly seriousness. It’s the same word used for deacons in 1 Tim. 3:8 to describe a man’s character that deserves respect.

Sermon Notes
Sermon Series: Titus
Sermon Scripture:  Titus 2:1-10​

Older Men: Be Spiritual Anchors in the Community (2:1-2)

• Be ______________________
• Be reverent
• Be self-controlled
• Be sound in the faith
• Be ________________
• Be patient

Older Women: Preserve God’s Design (2:3)

• Be reverent
• Be _________________
• Be levelheaded
• Be a _________________
  • Teach younger women how to be a godly _______________.
  • Teach younger women how to be a godly ________________.

Younger Women: Honor the Word (2:4-5)

• Love your _______________
• Love your _______________
• Be self-controlled
• Be pure
• Be a _________________
  • Prioritize _______________ and home.
  • There is _______________ to work outside the home.
  • Submit to God and spouse.
  • Work with integrity and diligence
  • Avoid _________________ others’ choices.
  • Seek wisdom and _________________.
• Be kind
• Be subject to your husband

Younger Men: Show a Pattern that Silences Your Opponents (2:6-8)

• Be levelheaded
• Be a good example
• Be sound in ______________
• Be sound in ______________

Slaves: Adorn the Doctrine of God Our Savior (2:9-10)

• Be _____________ for your superior.
• Be pleasing in your spirit.
• Be _____________ in your speech.
• Be principled in your service.
• Be public in your sincerity.
• Be praiseworthy for your ________________.

Sermon Manuscript continued

Older men should command respect by their character — not demand it by their age.

• Be self-controlled- This word is used 3 times in these verses (2, 5, 6) and is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. It means you are disciplined in desires. Your mind and your passions have been mastered by the Spirit.
• Be sound in the faith- their faith must be alive and vibrant. A man sound in faith understands the gospel and his need for Christ. He not only has trusted in Christ, but he daily pursues Christ through his Word. He does not waver in what he believes because he is firmly rooted in the Word. Though he is older, he never outgrows his dependency upon God.
• Be loving- A mature man should by now be self-giving, showing sacrificial care for others — especially the church and family. Instead of his old age making him grumpy and grouchy, he has grown sweet and tender towards others. Men, fight against apathy, anger, or bitterness in old age.
• Be patient- “Steadfastness” means patience through perseverance… endurance through heavy trials. This is essential for older saints — as their bodies physically decline, as they have encountered much suffering, or discouragement… Paul says: endure faithfully.

Takeaways: Holiness with age is not automatic — it must be taught and pursued. These traits form the foundation for mentoring others in the church. The older men are to be like stone pillars that support the church. So older men, let your age be your platform for ministry, not your excuse for withdrawal.

And for the Church: Look to older men not just for wisdom, but for models of gospel maturity. Encourage and honor older men who walk faithfully in these ways.

Older Women: Preserve God’s Design (2:3)

“Older women, likewise…” There is no double standard. Older women have the same expectations of maturity and holiness as older men.

• Be reverent- Every part of their life should reflect godliness… their speech, their attitude, their appearance, their behavior. Older women should live their lives as if they are serving in the very presence of God.
• Be truthful- “Not slanderers…” Slanderer is the same word used for the devil. It refers to someone who maliciously gossips and tears other people down with her words. Gossip sometimes rises from boredom. Paul warned against women would be tempted toward gossip and being a busybody when they were idle (1 Tim. 5:13). Another common reason for gossip is bitterness.

Paul warns: don’t become a cause of division.  Your words should reflect a heart ruled by grace, not grief.

Proverbs 11:13 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered." (ESV)

Proverbs 20:19: "A gossip betrays confidence, so avoid anyone who talks too much."

Instead… ​

Ephesians 4:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (ESV)

• Be levelheaded- “Not slaves to much wine.” This is similar to Paul telling older men to be “sober-minded.” She must not be a “slave” to wine: The issue isn’t merely drinking, but being mastered by a substance — a kind of self-medication or coping mechanism in older age.
• Be a teacher (This is multi-generational mentorship)

Paul is not saying older women must be public preachers, but personal disciplers — especially of younger women (see v. 4). You are to teach what is good, especially in the home, and by doing so have a strategic role in shaping the church’s future. Just as the false teachers were tearing down families (1:11), older women have the opportunity to build up families.

The word “train” literally means “to bring to someone’s senses.” You cause someone to be of sound mind and have self-conrol. Younger women desperately need the role modeling, teaching, discipling, insight, and practical wisdom that these older ladies can provide. Because they are more experienced in life and in the Lord, they can pass on a godly legacy. There are two primary areas where they are to encourage younger women (specifically married women)…

• Teach younger women how to be a godly wife.

Marriage is the first institution of God, and your marriage is meant to display the gospel.

• Teach younger women how to be a godly mother.

A godly home will orbit around a godly wife and mother.

Older women, have you ever considered your role in the church as a teacher? This is not an optional role for you, but it is vital to the health of the congregation.

Younger Women: Honor the Word (2:4-5)

• Love your husband- cherish him
• Love your children
• Be self-controlled - Same word as before… Christian women should be known for their mental clarity and moral integrity.
• Be pure- morally pure, free from contamination (sexually, mentally, spiritually).
• Be a homemaker- Literally “busy at home.” Paul had to correct some of the widows in Ephesus who had become idle, going from house to house being busybodies and gossips rather than working hard in their homes.

This does not mean that women cannot work outside the home (Prov. 31:16, 18, 24), but Paul expects wives to carry the primary responsibility for the day-to-day care of their homes and children. It is not sinful for a woman to work outside the home, but she must not neglect her responsibilities in the home, specically to her husband and children.
Radical feminists have railed against this kind of teaching saying that wives who are homebound is a form of bondage to males, and all women need to be freed.

1 Timothy 5:14 "So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander." (ESV)

Biblical Counsel for Women in Various Work Situations
1. Prioritize Family and Home
Scripture consistently teaches that caring for one’s household is a primary responsibility (Titus 2:4-5; 1 Timothy 5:14). This means ensuring that the needs of husband, children, and the home are not neglected, regardless of whether a woman works inside or outside the home.

2. There is Freedom to Work Outside the Home
The Bible does not prohibit women from working outside the home. The Proverbs 31 woman is praised for both her management of the home and her business activities, showing it is possible to honor God in both spheres as long as family priorities are maintained.

3. Submit to God and Spouse
Decisions about work should be made prayerfully, in consultation with one’s husband, and with a desire to honor God and uphold the unity of the marriage (Titus 2:5).

4. Work with Integrity and Diligence
Whether at home or in the workplace, Christian women are called to work with excellence, reflecting Christ through the fruit of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23).

5. Avoid Judging Others’ Choices
There is freedom in Christ for women to serve in different capacities. Women who work outside the home should not be condemned, nor should those who focus on the home be looked down upon.

6. Seek Wisdom and Balance
Pray for wisdom and discernment to balance work, ministry, and family commitments. Set boundaries to prevent burnout and ensure that family remains a priority.

• Be kind- Kindness should shape everything she does. It means good-hearted and generous.
• Be subject to your husband- She is to willingly align herself under the leadership of her husband. It is a willing posture of respect and cooperation.

Notice it says “to their husbands,” not “to all men.” This submission is not inferiority. It reflects the order God has designed in marriage — mutual love with distinct roles (cf. Eph. 5:22–33).

Christian marriage models the gospel. A wife’s respectful submission mirrors the church’s trust in Christ. (Like a woman holding up an umbrella… the man was made to take on and protect from the heat of the day and the storms… her role is to support him by holding him up, and in him there should be love and protection within the covenant).

“Ladies, submission is you ducking so that God can hit your husband when he’s not acting right.”

And notice the reason Paul gives for young women to live in this way: “that the word of God may not be reviled.” Reviled means to slander or blaspheme. The reputation of God’s word is at stake.  When Christian women neglect these virtues, it provides the world with grounds to mock or dismiss God’s word.

Application: Our conduct either validates or vilifies the message we proclaim. The home is a platform for gospel credibility. The world will see that the gospel is true by watching godly women in the home.
Younger Men: Show a Pattern that Silences Your Opponents (2:6-8)

• ● Be levelheaded

It’s interesting that Paul gives only one explicit command to younger men… to be self-controlled. Why would this trait be at the top of the list? Because it governs so many areas of life where young men are most vulnerable.
          - Be self-controlled in your desires and don’t give in to lust.
          - Be self-controlled in your emotions, and don’t give in to anger.
          - Be self-controlled in your thoughts, and don’t give in to pride.
          - Be self-controlled in your work, and don’t give in to laziness.

The Christian life for young men begins with learning to master themselves, rather than being mastered by impulse or peer pressure. And brothers, this is a work of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23).

• Be a good example

Paul includes Titus in his discussion of young men, telling him to be a model of good works in all respects. The word used for model is where we get the word “type,” referring to the impression left behind on a stamp. Titus is to be a living example of faith in action, not just a speaker of truth. This sets a standard for pastors and leaders: be what you preach. Leaders teach with their lives first, then their lips. Credibility comes from integrity.

1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity." (ESV)

• Be sound in doctrine

“In your teaching show integrity and dignity”- Not distorted, not self-serving — free from manipulation or error. Not trying to be overly humorous, but making the truth the focus instead of your personality. A leader’s teaching should carry appropriate weightiness instead of being trivial or silly.

(I saw a video recently of a youth event in which God’s word was about to be preached, somber music was playing in the background, the students all bowed their heads in prayer, while the youth leader was walking around on stage dressed in a huge inflated cow costume and prayed, “God, as we prepare to hear your word, please eliminate all distractions from the room").

• Be sound in speech

The words of God’s servant should be life-giving, theologically robust, and ethically sound — so that no one can truthfully discredit them. All of our speech must be shaped by truth and grace.  And once again, notice the reason behind these instructions: “so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.” The church’s reputation should be guarded by the conduct of her leaders. Our aim is not to just avoid sin, but to avoid giving our opponents ammunition.

Don’t miss the main idea here: Your life teaches louder than your sermons. Our goal should be to love the truth and live out the truth.

1 Timothy 4:16 "Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." (ESV)

Slaves: Adorn the Doctrine of God Our Savior (2:9-10)
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The last group that Paul speaks to are slaves, which today the closest parallel for us would be the relationship between employees and their boss. Slaves in Paul’s day were often household servants or laborers in Greco-Roman society. Not necessarily lifelong chattel slavery as in more modern history (think Civil War), but still with limited rights.

The Bible regulates slavery but does not ordain or require slavery. Slavery is not a divine institution. Paul taught that if you can gain your freedom, then go for it! The New Testament lays the groundwork through the gospel to eventually expose slavery for the sin that it is. The Bible gives a radically different perspective for those in slavery through the lens of eternity: The slave is master of his master for the Master! The earthly master who does not know Christ finds his eternal destiny in the hands of his slave, who is actually the free man. It is the slave who knows Christ, it is the slave who possesses the gospel. And it is the slave through his gospel-centered righteous life can actually set his master free.
We could summarize these two verses this way: “The gospel produces godly service that provides an opportunity for gospel proclamation.” (Tony Merida)

• Be productive for your superior.

“Slaves are to be submissive to their own masters…” How can we do this? Why should we do this? Colossians 3:24 provides the answer: “You serve the Lord Christ.” Ultimately when we serve our boss, we are serving Jesus.
Christians are to demonstrate a respectful, Christ-honoring attitude toward human authority. We want to serve this boss, help him, honor him, and seek to be productive for him because we honor the Lord.
Are there exceptions to obeying our superior? Yes, four: when it is unbiblical, illegal, unethical, or immoral. Outside of these, our goal is to submit to him and serve him while we keep our eyes fixed on our true Master, the Lord Jesus.

• Be pleasing in your spirit.

The scope - “in everything”
The spirit - “be well-pleasing.”
Doing work that is not just acceptable, but commendable. It means you go the extra mile, you do excellent work, you don’t cut corners. You arrive on time. Both in action and attitude, the servant of Christ puts on display for all to see the grace of God that brings salvation for all people (v. 11).

• Be polite in your speech.

“Not argumentative” means not talking back or speaking against. Servants of Christ don’t mouth off. They don’t seek out arguments or try to be disagreeable. They do not gripe about their boss behind his back and compromise their testimony as a follower of Christ.  Christians should be the most dependable and peaceable people in the workplace.

• Be principled in your service.

“Not pilfering” means not stealing. The Christian servant is not a thief! Instead, he is someone you can trust when you are not around. He is honest, dependable, and person of integrity. He will go the extra mile in maintaining financial accountability. When you look at his record, there are no inflated expense accounts, false time sheets, or unauthorized use of his employer’s resources. Whether it’s a paper clip or a corporate jet, he conducts himself with absolute honesty.

• Be public in your sincerity.

“Showing all good faith” - Whether supervised or not, Christians should be reliable, honest, and hardworking. This is what “adorning” the gospel looks like.

• Be praiseworthy for your Savior.

The way believers live — even as slaves or employees — either beautifies or obscures the gospel. Our attitude and conduct decorate the doctrine we proclaim. People form opinions about God by watching His people. Does your life adorn the gospel? Does your life bring praise to the Savior?