Marks of a Godly Church

Last week we began a study of the apostle Paul's letter to Titus. So I invite you to take your Bibles and turn to that epistle in the New Testament, and as you turn there last week we saw that Paul wrote to Titus and said to Titus, my true child in common faith. Grace and peace from God the father in Christ Jesus our Savior.

And last Sunday morning pastor Eric Hill walked us through the first nine verses of chapter 1 we learned about the need for godly leaders to shepherd and protect the flock.

We also learned the about the character of godly men to lead the church. Men who are above reproach leaders who model godliness in the church and are fully committed to God's word. Look at chapter 1 verse nine and outermost hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Then last Sunday evening. Pastor Russia Pat walked us through verses 10 through 16.

There we learn why we need strong leadership in the church because there existed at the beginning of the church like today many hindrances to the building up of our Christian faith.

False teachers were infiltrating churches and teaching an array of false doctrines.

Take a look at verses 11 and 12 for there are many who are insubordinate empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision party. They must be silenced since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. We also learned of the problem with superficial professions of faith. Look at verses 15 and 16 to the pure Paul says all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their minds and their consciences are defiled, they profess to know God, but they denied him by their works they are detestable, disobedient and unfit for any good work, people then right now make professions of faith in God, but by their words and deeds demonstrate that they are not truly saved in pastor's Abu emphasized a very important point. Last Sunday night.

In this context, Erie he made the point that the true gospel always transforms us more than just a profession of faith as we just read here the true gospel always transforms us.

That is why it is imperative beloved for us to pursue God's admonition to godliness, whether young or old, male or female.

So why is this so important to us as 21st-century believers because our culture unfortunately mirrors the Cretan culture today more than ever before. Our culture is drowning in sinful ideologies and behavior. The second Timothy 3135 ring true about our society today. Just listen as I read that there Paul wrote to Timothy, but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud and arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, on a peaceable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness but denying its power. Unfortunately, these attitudes have crept into the church whereby churches are being shaped more by the teachings of our secular culture than holy Scripture, the cultural pundits of our day from the median to our educational systems want to neutralize if not eliminate any gender distinctions and differences that God has hardwired into us as men and women Genesis 127 so God created man in his own image in the image of God he created him male and female he created. However, false teachings and false doctrines continue to pervade churches everywhere around the world today. However, beloved, here, the Lord gives us clear teaching and throughout Scripture as to what it means for man to be masculine and women to be feminine. What it means to be holy. What it means to pursue godliness. He teaches us how to fulfill his divine directives for men and women both in the church and in the home and we find that clear teaching in Titus chapter 2, which is our passage to study this morning.keep in mind that the main purpose of this epistle was to instruct Titus about what he should teach and what he should do in the Cretan churches mainly to exhort Christians to exemplify a life of godliness in a godless society and oh how we need to model godliness of were going to influence this dying world for Christ today. Now more than ever we as the church need to model godliness. These commentators say this never has the church needed more desperately to hear the words of Titus chapter 2 verses one through eight. This is a tax that makes God's plan. God's assignments. God's roles for men and women in the church plane and clear.

He defined godly living that is consistent with sound doctrine. So here in Titus to the apostle Paul gives us some specific duties to pursue if we are going to display godliness in our homes and in the church and in a corrupted world that we live in.

Follow along as I read Titus chapter 2 verses one through 10 but as for you, referring to Titus. Teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober minded, dignified self-control, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine they are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled, pure working at home, kind and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled, show yourself in all aspects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us bond servants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything they are to be well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. Now let's unpack this beautiful text. Take a look at verse one, but as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Notice Paul's transition here, from the false teachers who profess to know God, but denied him by their unholy living and were therefore detestable, disobedient and unfit for any good work he says here but as for you, teach what is right. In other words, you Titus and you elders that he appoints. You are commanded to teach about right living, as well as right doctrine. Don't capitulate or be intimidated by the false teachers.

It's a command teach what accords with sound doctrine. That's important to note here that Paul is not focusing on the teaching and preaching of sound doctrine as he doesn't. Verse nine that we looked at earlier.

He is focusing on the practical instruction about what accords with sound doctrine as flows through these verses the things which are based on an appropriate to sound doctrine that he is already taught. It came to mean that which is fitting. Teach what is proper.

Teach what is appropriate with sound doctrine as it gives us here.

The word sound itself has the idea of being well and healthy exactly where we get our English word hygiene Paul saying you need to have good hygiene here teach good sound doctrine that accords of the things that accord with sound doctrine uses the form of this word five times in this epistle and it is always in relation to personal righteousness and spiritual well-being. The Bible always connects true doctrine with right-thinking and behavior, right doctrine produces spiritual healthiness.

He saying, have good hygiene Titus teach the things that accord with sound doctrine. Practice righteousness because right doctrine produces healthy spiritual living.

For example, after presenting 11 chapters of basic New Testament Dr. to the Romans. Paul then said this in Romans 12 one and two. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a what living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. So with that, by way of introduction. How can we demonstrate the marks of a godly church that Paul gives us here. How can we demonstrate that both in the church and to a dying world by pursuing a blueprint that God has given to the church. In this text. These are our marching orders right here found in these 10 verses first. He speaks to the older men of the church. If manner to influence others in the church and society that must number one pursue God's blueprint for older men look at verse two. Older men are to be sober minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith and love and in steadfastness. Here Paul uses the Greek term for older men presbyteries which he used of himself and Philemon 9 when he was in his 60s. The only other time it's used in the New Testament that refers to Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist Luke 118 tells us they are the Zacharias set for I am an old man. Thus, it refers to those of advanced age.

So you see your men. Listen up here closely notice his first adjective here that he uses older men are to be what sober minded the root idea here is to be free from intoxication. Someone who is temperate and moderate a temperate man is one who avoids extravagance and overindulgence in things he sober minded he doesn't drink too much.

She does not have other idols in his life.

He's moderate. He keeps things in perspective. His priorities are in the right order and he uses his energy more carefully than when he was younger he satisfied with fewer and simpler things. Toward the end of his life he sober mind. He understands clearly his relationship to Christ.

My own father didn't come to saving knowledge of Christ until he was an older man at the age of 76.

He died at the age of 91, some nine years ago.

He was this way as God transformed his heart toward the end of his life. He gave things away provided for kids and so forth. He wanted to die with nothing. He was very wise in giving out what God had blessed him with to us.

His family, he was very sober minded.

He got it. Notice next.

Paul says here. Older men are not only to be sober minded, but there to be dignified, not only reverence for God, but this also refers to being honorable to be honorable.

Older men are to be sensible and spiritual, spiritually healthy to live an exemplary life before the Lord the church in the world. He is not frivolous or superficial. This man whose dignified, he doesn't laugh at things that are immoral. He doesn't laugh at things that are vulgar or sinful in any way, nor does he laugh at the expense of other people. He's dignified. He walks humbly.

This is where younger men can look at this type of older man and say I want to be what like him.

I want to follow like him, as Paul tells us to the Corinthians.

Imitate me as I imitate Christ. This older men's dignified third manner to be self-controlled, they should be discerning and use sound judgment that comes from walking with God for many years the mark of a godly older man is that he controls his physical passions and rejects worldly standards and attractions. This man by God's grace, like the apostle Paul thinks so as to have a sound mind.

As Paul says in Romans chapter 12 verse three forth older men are to be characterized by three enduring attributes notice they are to be sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness, sound in faith your refers to that which is healthy. Proper whole. The way it should be a mature man, should be sound in his faith should be sound in his love, and he should be a steadfast man.

This is a man whose faith, trust in God's goodness and grace in the midst of life's trials and tribulations he stand strong in the storm. He doesn't doubt the sufficiency of God's word or waiver in his hope that God's divine plan will be fulfilled. He trust the Lord. He sound in faith, the love that he has is evident toward God and other people and to those who just meet him for the first time he loves other people by bearing the burdens. Galatians 62.

He lovingly forgives people and lovingly serves others.

He loves even when his love is rejected or when he suffers for the emulates the prodigal son's father is doors open extending that love to the prodigal son who came back. That's the kind of love that he demonstrates and then finally he said his lot is sloppy, sound in faith, in love and he is steadfast, meaning he perseveres in his faith through hardships and disappointments and failures. He has graciously learned to live with such difficulties as physical weaknesses of being misunderstood or underappreciated.

He doesn't lose heart.

But his perfect confidence that God causes all things to what work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose. This man is steadfast. I've often kidded with the senior saints here in my classes at the church did not just come to sit so can sour I'm trying to teach the seniors of the church or recovery to come and sit so and continued to serve God calls you home, not just to come and sit and so can sour, but to serve, that's what Paul is talking about here for older men to be sound in faith, in love and steadfastness. This man also desires to train younger men in the faith by teaching and modeling godliness.

Let me close. Let me quote one of our men here in our church. I am grateful to the Lord for his leading in my life is been so patient with me. I have grown so much in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Over the past 30 years he has given me the great privilege of helping others grow in the same way I've been involved in one-on-one discipleship of the number of younger men at Calvary, helping them to see how God's word applies to their lives and encouraging them to submit to and live for him. I have also taught other men how to teach and lead others. I have developed special relationships with each man they have become very dear brothers to me by God's grace we are sharpening each other as iron sharpens iron. I want to model the attributes that Paul enumerates in Titus two for the glory of God and the good of his church here at Calvary is important for my own spiritual growth as well. Is there older men. That's what we must be about to teach and train the younger men as well. Now the second group of people are the older ladies in the church so older ladies listen up here carefully. Point number two here to pursue God's blueprint for the older women found in verses three through 53 through four specifically older women likewise verse three are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine they are to teach what is good and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be self-controlled sure working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands now older women. The term itself. Paul doesn't specify the age of a woman here, to qualify as older, but typically he's probably speaking to ladies around 60 and up. Why do I say that because he mentions at first Timothy chapter 5 verses three through 10. He talks about the windows of the church being 60 and up noticed.

First of all that older women are to be reverent in their behavior. They are to be dignified like older men are what does that mean they again older women are to be honorable, dignified, living a life of integrity. An example that Paul wrote to Timothy in Timothy chapter 2 first Timothy to the godly women are to adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, both with what is proper for a woman who professes godliness is our theme godliness with good works. Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness as he writes there. Second, Paul goes on to say that older women are not to be slanderous.

They are not malicious gossips. What does that mean well. They refused to listen to or pick up gossip has the term in the New Testament to rake up something bad about somebody else.

Older women are not to do that don't pick up slanderous or demeaning words about other people. Paul uses the word that he uses here Diablos some 34 times in the New Testament which we get our English word. What diet molecule Diablos uses also in reference to who our enemy, Satan, the one who accuses the brethren day and night, the false accuser Satan himself. Older women are not to be like that.

Not slanderers. Third, these older women are not to be slaves to much wine. What is happening and not going to get drunk. They're going to be careful again walking in the spirit.

But as many as done throughout history.

Older people at Crete sometimes turned to drink as a panacea for their pain or frustration is an loneliness of old age. But this woman pursues walking in the spirit and doesn't desire to carry out the desires of the flesh. She wants to walk in the spirit and not turned to alcohol, drugs or other things is a panacea for life. Fourth, she teaches what is good. Those things that are pleasing to God, particularly the lessons that we will look at in a minute or two here to teach the younger women, the things that are pleasing to God. That's what she wants to teach and to model to younger women. Again, let me quote one of our members here at the church. One of her senior ladies. Just this past week and talking to three nurses before going into surgery for my endoscopy, they, they remarked about my age, which is 90, meaning that they said there were very sweet and they said I did not look my age, which is certainly true. Taking advantage of this. I told him I could offer them some advice ladies respect your husbands which the Scriptures tell us to do, and encourage them. I know I had failed to do this at times over the years, but I also know that I'm forgiven because our Savior's ongoing work in my heart and I went on to tell them about my husband and how I am able to encourage him each day since he has had a stroke and now resides in the care center for the beautiful testimony of an older woman teaching younger women love your husbands, encourage them respect. Tell your husband that often is Paul saying here so may I submit to you older ladies of the congregation. Your coverage you have the unique privilege to influence younger women by your life experiences both good and bad. You can impact the younger women here at Calvary and beyond to use your experiences to teach them what it means to be a godly wife. Now Paul turns his attention to the younger women of the church so younger ladies and outlets in the point number three pursue God's blueprint for younger women. Verses four and five. The older women are to teach the younger women what is good. Specifically, here and so train the young women to love their husbands and children to be self-control pure working at home, kind and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be what reviled this passage is probably among the most attacked by the cultural pundits of our day because of God's high calling for young women to make their homes. Their first priority. Older women notice are to purposely train as we see here in the English standard version that's a good translation to train the young women to love their husbands. Other translations and translated here to encourage their husbands or the KJV says to teach the younger women. These things that Paul uses the term here for young women. But the context is clear that he speaking only to wives here. Younger wives why because first he speaks to all young women who are married first young women love your husbands.

Then he speaks to those who have children women to love their husbands and children, whether they be natural children or adopted and then he returns to all young wives by the rest of the list to be self-control, pure working at home so he speaking here too young wives and the first Mark about godly young woman is very clear and straightforward. Here, there's no conditions or exceptions. Wives are counseled to love their husbands.

Interesting to note that this is the only time of the Bible were woman's encouraged to love her husband instructed to love her husband Paul's not addressing a romantic or sexual love here in this context, which certainly is important in marriage, but of a committed love that godly wives choose to have for their husbands just as godly husbands were commanded three times in Ephesians 5 alone husbands what love your wives, Paul wanted us as men to get that point it was pizza three times in Ephesians 5.

Here he says it wants ladies love your husbands and this sort of love of husbands and wives for each other, involves total commitment and unqualified devoted next to each other because that is what God requires. It means training yourself to do loving things for the other person, whether or not you what feel like doing to be totally committed to each other.

It involves putting their interests and welfare above your own.

It involves sacrificial giving of yourself to your spouse and family for their sakes, not for the sake of appreciation or returned love or favor.

Proverbs 3110 of 11 an excellent wife who can find she is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusted her and he will have no lack of gain. As with love for their husbands. They must also love their children by bringing them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord Paul's instruction here is inclusive young mothers, young wives are to love their children spiritually, physically, socially, practically and morally, with no limits or conditions. This young wife is also to be self-controlled and pure notice.

Her moral life is to be above reproach and she is by life and reputation on one-man kind of woman she is faithful to her marriage vows and sexually gives herself to only one man. Her husband, the man in her life.

Trust her because she is pure. Next, Paul says she's to be working at home. What a beautiful high calling that is for women to keep a godly home with excellence for husband and children as the NIV translates it here she is to be busy at home. Her home as her primary base of operation and the focus of her attention in her Christian walk is her primary sphere of influence.

Her home.

This Christian woman is not seduced by the sirens of the modern-day feminist movement and tell her she's wasting her time and talent as a homemaker know she's busy at home or focus is proper return to Proverbs 31 again which interestingly left is written by a godly mother to her son, King let me well and describes her devotion as a homemaker. Proverbs 3115 through 18. She rises while it is yet night, and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considered a field and buys it with the fruit of her hand. She plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her Armstrong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable per lamp does not go out at night. She's productive. She's a hard worker. That passage goes on to say in verse 27 she looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Now if you were working outside the home. Out of necessity or otherwise ladies master asked you to use good judgment by consulting with your husbands or consulting with wise older men and women in the church to help you decide how much time you can afford to spend, whether at a paying job, or in other forms of service. Don't let the world's thinking, diminish what you do for your family.

It is a beautiful it's beautiful in God's eyes, and he is pleased when you're serving alongside of your husband, and investing in your kids. John MacArthur writes this quote she may have a reasonable outside job or choose to work in the church or to minister in a Christian organization hospital school are many other ways, but the home is a wife's special domain and always should be her highest priority on quote and that's what Paul is talking about here very clearly to be a worker at home. That's God's high calling for a Christian wife and mother.

Notice also young wives are also to be kind and submissive to their own husbands, lovingly submitting, as unto the Lord, so that the word of God may not be reviled. And that's the purpose of godly conduct to eliminate any reproach on Scripture or God so that there will be no scandal brought upon Scripture as unbelievers watch us. Beloved, they judge the truth and power Scripture based on our lives by watching us as Christians. So you younger ladies had the privilege to shape not only the temperature in your own homes, but you have great opportunity to model God's design for the family to the corrupted world that we live in, specially now here in the states. Listen to this mother is an older mother with many children. I can attest with certainty that my greatest mission field is my home Titus to gives women clear instructions on how we are to live and we say amen to all the attributes of a godly woman in verses three through five, but we get confused and caught up on workers at home. Feminism has stolen the order that God is plainly put in place in the Scriptures, feminism says that we can do everything and be everything but God has clear design in order to his creation. Once our identity is in Christ, that is to say once we have been born again, our affections are transformed in our desires are now what is written plainly in Scripture.

Romans 12 to but I alluded to earlier read earlier says that God's will is perfect, taking care of our husbands and children is God's plane instruction in God's perfect will for wives and mothers. The text is clear. God always knows what's best and we can trust him but like our mother Eve. We always want more and are always asking ourselves. God actually say that in that yes he did. She's right. It's very clear. So ladies, you have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate what a godly woman looks like in your home and your witness to the world by following what Paul teaches us in this passage. Next, he turns his attentions to the young men in the church pursue God's blueprint for the young men verses six through eight.

Likewise, hers the younger man this would be 12 and older to be self-controlled, show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned so that opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. The key word here for the young men of the church. Is this the importance of self-control that can't be emphasized enough. This means that young men are to control their thoughts and passions leading to godly behavior there to model good works. They also like the older matter to be men of integrity and dignity to walk in a blameless way to speak truth in their heart is King David says in Psalm 15, Proverbs 423 says keep your heart with all vigilance for from it flow the springs of life, self-controlled young man will actively engage the battle for his mind knowing that he must control his thought life.

If he is the win the battles of this Christian life. Guys are bombarded with those temptations today. But this man battles that stays away from pornography, things of the world.

Drugs, drinking this man actively takes his thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ because he wants to be a man of integrity. Like Paul wrote to Timothy, let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers.

An example in speech and conduct, in love and faith and purity.

This young man pursues these things, he flees from immorality and things of the world and pursues holiness and righteousness again by way of example, listen to one of the young man in our church who wrote to me with this testimony apart from the Bible and other godly influences in the young man's life today young man had been raised to believe self-control is either optional or something. He does not need to strive for until he is older men are presented with all manner of temptation and worldly pursuits. Greed, lust, selfishness, and with a mind devoid of self-control. He easily justifies the pursuit of any unholy desire. He may have Christ is called his followers to a much different lifestyle we are to set our affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

We are to love one another and submit to one another, a young man following Christ will have self-control by being ultimately controlled by the Holy Spirit right so that he can resist the enemy.

Love those around him, and fulfill the mission given by Jesus to his church. Good words, good words young man pursue God's flee the things of the world and pursue these things that Paul writes here that leads us to the last group in the passage at all.

Briefly mentioned here pursue God's blueprint for bond servants and employees generally speaking to employees to our context today. Look in verses nine and 10. Paul instructed bond servants, those who were slaves, bond servants in that day and age in the Roman Empire are to be submissive to their own masters in everything they are to be well pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, not stealing, but showing all good faith, so that in everything that may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, so the Bible gives clear instruction even here to the on slaves of that day in our time. We have have a godly attitude for those that were working for our bosses.

Those were over us. How can we do that and why should we do that, because Paul's point here even to the slaves in that day and so forth, and even to masters that they came to Christ was to treat each other with respect and be well pleasing do everything adorn the doctrine of God our Savior to be a good ambassador matter what your station of life may be. So why would we do this well.

Paul instructed the Colossian church. Colossians 323 and 24 provides that answer. Do your work as heartily as unto who God not from man because he goes on to say you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter where he's placed you dislike Joseph matter how bad life could get trust God, serve him be an ambassador for him so beloved by way of application. Let me give you a few thoughts as we close. Here God gives us clearly hear the marks of a God's high calling for men and women in the church's clearly outlines it here and for people to be convinced that they need salvation from their sins. They need to see Christians who live holy lives because many people been able to mock God and the truth of the Bible because of the sinful behavior of those who claim to be Christian. Think about that people look at the church and say hey you folks are about to hypocrites. Why do I need Christ in my life when you're cheating on your wife or your doing this or you're getting drunk, things of that nature. Why should I have to change but by following God's blueprint here in Titus to the world will see a difference between themselves and us.

If we pursue godly lifestyles. If we are marked by godliness. As Christians, all of us again, whether old or young, male or female. We must follow the blueprint that God clearly gives us here in this passage. So ask yourself this morning. What do I need to change in light of Paul's truth here this morning. What selfish things do I need to deal with in light of this passage and how can I go about to make those changes. May I speak to you or say to you by way of application.

This whole passage speaks of discipleship discipleship's older man in the congregation are you discipling younger men younger man are you pursuing older men as a mentor you older ladies here, you senior saints, senior ladies are you discipling mentoring younger women you need to be in you younger wives and single moms. You need to be pursuing older women in the church to discipling you. That's the driving concept here in this whole passage under the umbrella of godliness.

Discipleship we need each other. We need to help each other and that's how our church will be stronger by following what Paul teaches us here as individuals but corporately is the body of Christ here at Calvary and we need to be discipling each other. Can I use kind of a fun analogy with you. We need to be thermostats. We need to set the temperature for the world as Christians when they look at the church not thermometers reacting to what the cultures tries to impose on us.

Don't be a thermometer reacting to what the world says be a thermostat but set the temperature here at Calvary. By pursuing these things. The Paul clearly outlines for us in this passage the marks of a godly church by discipling each other. So in closing whose discipling you.

Even if you're over 60 or so whose appear that speaking into your life and if you're younger you speaking into your life.

Oh how we need to be in each other's lives and pursue God's. What a great text of Scripture very clear early sound. May we beloved. Pursue the things that God calls us to hear. Titus two. Let's pray heavenly father we thank you for the clarity of your word. We thank you for the marks of godliness that Paul gives us here in this text help each one of us to pursue these things on a daily basis. Help us to be discipling each other help us to put off fleshly deeds and to pursue holiness and righteousness. The things that we've learned this morning.

Help us Lord not that sick here this morning to be hearers of the word, but to actually go and to change based on the truth of her this morning.

O may we be a church that's a beacon on the hill here in Charlotte and beyond that we walking godliness that were known for that. So help us Lord, teach us continue to sanctify us, for we thank you for this great these great truths in Jesus name, amen