The Mentor Ministry of Mature Mantrons (Titus 2:3-5)

One of the great joys of systematically studying the scriptures is being reminded of the sufficiency of God’s design for the spiritual growth and welfare of His people. And this study in the second chapter of Titus has thrilled my heart as I’ve seen the wisdom of God afresh.

In taking up the subject of “older women” Paul instructs Titus to give attention to these Matrons of the faith so that their godliness will flow to the benefit of the younger women of the community of saints. These matrons, as they exemplify holiness and self-control, have been given the great purpose of “training” younger women in the particular area of family life. What a blessing – older mature women who have walked with God and experienced His grace taking that experience and wisdom and mentoring young ladies of a church. And the beauty of it all is that God has designed their influence to impact entire households as the younger women are trained in the vanishing art of godly domestic management.

Can you imagine what would happen if more churches made the principles of this passage a priority. I am almost inclined to use the word revival – at least in the sense of family reformation. Older women hold such a strategic key, which when used will unlock the door of gospel order and spiritual health in the family and in the church. May the Lord continue to bless His people with godly matrons who will faithfully mentor a new generation of wives and mothers.

The Necessity of Redwoods (Titus 2:2)

So what does a tree have to do with the local church? Nothing! But, recently, I likened godly older men in the church to Redwoods. Redwoods are massive trees which are known for their height, shade, and resistance to decay. So as Paul instructs Titus to call older men in the church to be "temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, and in perseverance" (Titus 2:2), the picture that came to my mind was Redwoods.

Let me explain. As Paul begins chapter 2, he turns Titus' attention to his responsibilty to "speak the things fitting for sound doctrine", which reminds Titus to make sure the individuals of the local congregations are living out the sound doctrine that they believe. They must not only talk the talk, but they must also walk the walk. The gospel is the message that is to be believed, and that belief is to effect behavior. So Paul gives advice and encouragement to Titus to address various groups within the church; the first of which is the "older men."

Clearly, there is a priority here. These 'greyhaired' brothers in their pursuit and attainment of godliness are to be the examples to others of the flock. And so, as a Redwood is a symbol of strength, stability, and longevity, so too are the older men of a local church. In many respects, these men serve as the spiritual 'fathers' (cf. 1 Tim. 5:1) of a church, and are necessary to the well-orderedness of a congregation. They should be respected, honored, and appreciated as good gifts from the Lord, not set aside and dismissed as fossils from an earlier generation.

Any Pastor with even a little bit of spiritual sense will cultivate deep relationships with the older men of his congregation. And if he is blessed to have older men who are thriving and clearly manifesting the virtues as presented in this text by Paul, he should bless the Lord for these expressions of God's grace. So for all you leaders out there, rest in the shade of godly older men, lean on their branches for strength, and solicit their counsel; trust me, they know more than you.

Silencing Satan's Soldiers (Titus 1:10-16)

The Gospel of God's amazing grace in Jesus Christ is the most precious message known to man, and as such, it should be cherished by every Christian who has embraced it and been transformed by its power. So why then are so many of us quiet when the gospel is under attack in the church? As a working Pastor, that's the question I'm confronted with, especially as I am preaching through the first chapter of Titus.

The apostle Paul instructs Titus and the elders of the churches of Crete to "silence" those who are "teaching things they should not teach for the sake of sordid gain" (Tit. 1:11). Paul's admonition to Titus is as relevant today as it was then because just as then the church is now being infiltrated by greedy false teachers on all fronts. The battle is raging, the gospel is at stake, and we are called to fight. And personally, I am amazed at how little is being said about greedy false teachers who are making sport of unsuspecting and undiscerning folks who are seemingly ready to pay for prosperity in the name of Christ. The great reformer, Martin Luther, once said,

"If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved; and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point."

What a stinging indictment of the contemporary church--so many of us soldiers fighting where there is little threat, and ignoring the constant barrage of prosperity heresy bombs exploding in our midst. So, from the text, I see five actions that we must take in silencing those who seek to destroy the purity of the gospel:

1. We must acknowledge the existence of false teachers (Titus 1:10)

2. We must consider the character of false teachers (Titus 1:10, 11c)

3. We must mute the mouths of false teachers (Titus 1:11)

4. We must warn the victims of false teachers (Titus 1:12-14)

5. We must realize the condition of false teachers (Titus 1:15-16)

And in the end, Pastors and Elders will have to give an account to our Commander-N-Chief as to how we fought the fight at the point where the battle raged most intensely. So, let us take a stand against those who are perverting sound doctrine by peddling the Word of God for profit. These pitiful prophets for pay are no better than Judas, the treasonous treasurer who traded the Savior for 30 silver shekels.