What to Teach

Today the message is entitled “What to Teach”

Last week we started out looking at the Bible book “Titus” and covered Chapter one, verses 1-9.
We discussed who Titus was – an uncircumcised Greek Gentile converted by Paul and a close, trusted associate of Paul. He was a strong, assertive individual who troubleshooted for Paul in Gentile churches and unruly churches.
We looked at the main thought of “proper understanding of the truth leads to godliness.” The characteristics of church leaders “the Elders” was reviewed.

Today we are looking at the rest of chapter one and the first ten verses of chapter two. These verses look at false teachers and proper homelife teaching.
This is why the title today is “What to teach.” It could also be “Who should Teach.”
We start with who should not teach!

Titus 1: 10-16 NIV Rebuking Those Who Fail to Do Good – False Teachers.

10 For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group (Israelites/Jewish Old Testament Law).
11 They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.

Jesus brought new teaching on what was required to follow and teach God’s truths. Paul is rebuking those who still held to the old practices and missed the truths of Jesus.

12 Even one of their (Cretans) own prophets has said: “Cretans are always liars, evil brutes, lazy gluttons.” [From the Cretan philosopher Epimenides, 6th century BC, native of Knosses, Crete] 13 This testimony is true. Therefore, rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith
14 and will pay no attention to Jewish myths or to the commands of those who reject the truth.
Adult Study of Titus by Scripture Press states: “Their doctrine had a veneer of Judaism, but its content was a product of human imagination, not divine revelation.”
Also, “Paul clearly hopes that they may be salvaged, not only so that the harm to others will be ended, but so that they themselves may be redeemed.”

15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted.
16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.

The NIV Study Bible states: “To Christians, who have been purified by the atoning death of Christ, For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4:4 NIV

Notice how verse 16 ends. It states “unfit for doing anything good.” If your life is full of disobedience to God, you are not fit to do good things. How can you say you are Christ’s follower if you do not show Christ’s teachings in your daily walk? What aspect of Jesus do people see and hear in you?

Now we look at what God wants us to do as Christians.

I pointed out an idea I had, a while ago, that Jesus and the apostles always stated characteristics and actions we should have and do that were tough for us. In this section of Scripture, I see it again.

Titus 2: 1-10
1 You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine.
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.

Men – we struggle with temperance, self-respect, self-control, love. That is why Paul is encouraging Titus to teach us to work on these and be enduring in our efforts.
Then Paul turns to the women and encourages Titus to teach them to persevere in their efforts to keep family unity and strength.

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.
4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Malign – Webster’s New World Dictionary gives this definition: “To speak evil of, slander, malicious, evil, very harmful”

2 Peter 2: 2 NIV
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.

I need to point out the part that says young women are to be subject to their husbands. This causes a lot of discussion in todays world, but it is quite simple. Husbands do your job of loving and protecting and following God, then your wives can follow and support you.

6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled.
7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Those of us who are older have a responsibility to model Christ’s truth and teachings so that younger people can have a foundation to stand on when the world buffets them.

9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them,
10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.

Here in Dawson Creek, we do not have slaves per say. We are slaves to our debtors for an example. Therefore, we should not bad mouth them, fight with them or try to steal from them – we made our debt. Our treatment of our debtors should make them wonder what we trust in to act that way.

Is your home an example of God’s salvation plan at work?
A family can give the Word of God a bad reputation. Proper family order and behavior make God’s teachings attractive.
So let us strive to be all that God wants us to be! Follow God’s Word of Truth!