The Dynamic Church
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In Chapter 1 of Titus we saw that truth and sound doctrine lead to godliness. False teaching should be exposed by the Elders whose job it is to shepherd and protect the flock. But how will this godliness show itself? Titus chapter 2 answers that question. The key verse in this chapter is verse 10. We read, “In every way they will make the teaching about God and our Saviour attractive”. The dynamic church is attractive to the outsider. Truth leads to godliness, and godliness is something that can be seen outworked. Godliness isn’t a vague invisible thing, it shows itself in the way we live from day to day. Sound doctrine that is mere head knowledge is useless, it’s ugly. But sound doctrine that is put into practice is attractive. We read in verse 1, “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine”. What follows isn’t a list of theological propositions, but down to earth teaching on how to live your life. It deals with relationships.
In the 1960s Marshall McLuhan invented the phrase, “The medium is the message”. The message itself is important. The message we bring is the life changing gospel. Those who preach it must show its relevance and power demonstrated in their own lives. They become the medium of the message. It will have appeal as people see the observable benefits of following Christ lived out before them in every Christian believer. It’s often here we fail, life doesn’t measure up to lip. A man was led to Christ by his Christian friend. He told him what had impacted him and led him to faith. He said, “You walk the walk and talk the talk. But your walk talks more than your talk talks”!
In verses 2 to 10 Paul shows that the responsibility to live attractive lives for Christ is for all ages and both sexes in the Church. We see the marks of a healthy church. It’s made up of spiritually mature older men. Verse 2 says, “Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance”. We often hear that we must focus on the youth in our church because they are the church of tomorrow. Youth ministry is very important. But older men have something to give to church life. Someone once called the senior believers in church, “the churches hidden assets”!
The word “temperate” means “sober and discreet”. What a blessing spiritually wise older men are in the fellowship. Those men who know their Bible, and are sound in faith, love and endurance. Men like this will enrich the church as they share their understanding of God’s word which has been seasoned over the years. In the same way older women have a vital ministry. We read in verse 3, “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husband and children”. The word “teach” means “to train by making sober minded”. By their word and example older women are able to help the younger women to think correctly about life and their responsibilities. They travelled that road before them. They can show them how to live as a Christian wife and influence the home. The younger women must respond positively to this. Don’t send the older members of your church out to pasture. They have wisdom and gifts worth their weight in gold! If you are in church leadership find ways that you can mobilise your gifted seniors for service. Young people should respect the older members in the church. How many of you can look back to the early days as a believer and how much you were helped by an older Christian?
The youth of the Church have a big responsibility to live in a way that makes the gospel appealing. We read in verse 6, “Similarly, encourage the young men to be self controlled”. Young people are inclined to try everything and go to excess. Everything of the world is new exciting, and attractive to them. But now they have been saved. They must control their appetites and desires. They must strive for holiness. If you’re a young person listening today avoid anything that will cause the gospel to be discredited. You might ask, “How then should I live. What should I try to develop”? The answer is found in verse 7. Timothy is a young man himself. So Paul tells him to be an example to the young men in the church. We read, “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness, and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned”. There we have the standard expected of young people. Give your best youthful years in the service of Jesus. Don’t waste your time in the worthless activities of the world. Don’t follow the gang, follow Jesus. Also, Slaves must please their masters. They mustn’t be insubordinate. They mustn’t steal from them. Paul says in verse 10, “to show that they can be fully trusted”. As a Christian employee you mustn’t take anything from your workplace that doesn’t belong to you. You shouldn’t steal your employers time by wasting it. Throughout this chapter the emphasis is on sanity, self control, being wise, modesty and good sense. We preach the gospel just as much by the way we live. We will attract people to it because they will see in our behaviour that it’s truly a power for good. If they see unspiritual behaviour it will be a turn off and it will discredit the gospel. The way we live our lives in the world must enhance the message we preach.
God has saved you by his grace to be his special people. You’re called to have a different attitude to life. You’re called to live in a different way. You’re called to display the beauty of grace in your lives. Grace is the foundation on which we build our lives. We read in verses 11 and 12, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say `no` to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age”. Grace changes people. Verse 14 says this about Jesus, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good”. As a child of God’s grace you will reflect the grace of God in your life. You’ll avoid the wrong and do the right. If that desire isn’t in your heart then it’s certain that you haven’t experienced the grace of God in Christ. God’s people say `no` to those things that don’t conform to godliness. We will also be motivated to live that kind of life because we know the Lord is coming again. We read in verse 13, “While we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ”.
How will the Lord to find you when he comes? Will you be declaring the beauty of His grace?