Titus 2:1-10

The Sound Mind

Titus 2:1-10

Sound Teaching (1)

• Wholesome teaching is plain and clear.
  • Expository preaching, verse by verse best achieves this.
  • Example of bad teaching: NO MORE FISH!
• Preaching and teaching that is not practical and wholesome is not of God.
• Teach not only with your words but your actions.

Discipleship in the Home and Church (2-10)

• House codes, unpopular, old fashioned, or limits human freedom.
  • Men, women, and slaves. – Roman Culture
    • The Role of Slaves – Some scholars have estimated there were fifty million slaves living in the Roman Empire during the first century, comprising perhaps one third of the population.  The institution of slavery was deeply enmeshed in Roman society. It would have been impossible to change this system suddenly without the collapse of the entire culture. In dealing with slavery, Paul does not suggest an open rebellion but a revolution from within.  He calls on owners to provide their slaves with what is “right and fair” (Col. 4:1) and calls on slaves to treat their master with respect (1 Tim. 6:1). Paul goes so far as to state that believing slaves and their Christian owners are brothers (1 Tim. 6:2). In the sight of God, Paul teaches, “there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Ga. 3:28).  
• Do or Do Not
  • The box illustration.
  • True freedom is never mere anarchy.  Being a rebel is fine, sometimes even necessary; but it can’t be the only thing you believe in and do, or you end up isolated, lonely and aimless.  Even revolutionaries, when they’re successful, discover that they then have to reinvent social structures in order to get on with the business of life.  Far more important, especially if you’re part of a small and struggling Christian community, is to live with integrity in the framework you’ve got, and make your witness to the gospel tell by refusing to give outsiders any chance to mock or criticize your home and family life.  

• Older men and women are to be an example of lifestyle to younger generation.  Everyone is an ambassador to the World.
  • Three times in Titus, Paul expresses a concern over the way our behavior impacts the world around us.  He admonishes young women to live “that the word of God be not blasphemed” (2:5)., or as J.B. Philips puts it, so they will be a good advertisement for the Christian faith.”  Paul challenges Titus himself to live and teach “so that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (2:8). Finally, Paul urges slaves to live so “that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things”  (2:10). Whatever our station in life, we are observed by others. The manner in which we live will be our first witness to the power of the Gospel.
• The family is, according to biblical wisdom, the center of God’s covenant activity.  It could easily be argued that as the family went, so went Old Testament Israel. When the family has remained strong in Christian history, so has the faith of the community.  
  • Intentional

Everyone is to pursue the following: Sober Thinking

• Wholesome mind
• “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” – ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7
  • What things trap our mind?
  • Fear, pride, past, drugs, etc.
• “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” – Philippians‬ ‭4:8-9‬