Our passage today is Titus 2. Here Paul tells Titus what teaching he should be giving to the members of the church. Verse one tells Titus to teach with a sound doctrine, a complete understanding of the scriptures that is not distorted by his own ideas but specifically focused on the Word of God.

• Lessons for older men – To have a controlling temper, worthy of respect, self controlled and to have a sound faith
• Lessons for older women – Live reverently, teach what is good, do not speak falsly against others, do not live addicted to alcohol, be self controlled, busy at home, kind and support your husbands.
• Lessons for young men – Be self controlled, be a good example, teach with integrity, soundness of speech and seriousness
• Lessons to slaves – Be subject to your master, try to please him and do not talk back to him and be trustworthy.

Whats important to see here is not the lessons that Titus is asked to teach. Rather lets look at why they should be taught.

1. So that no-one can malign the Word of God (vs 5)
2. So that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say (vs
3. So that the teaching about God is attractive (vs 10)

Two weeks ago we looked at living a life beyond reproach. We saw that we are all windows that people see God through. Chapter 2 of Titus echoes this same theme. Here we are asked to live a good life, free from sin and beyond reproach so that God is represented correctly to this world.

If all Christians were to lives lives beyond reproach then there would be no way to malign the Word of God and no way to oppose it. Most importantly God would be attractive to this world!!

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1. Beyond Reproach?
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Titus has always been an inspiring book as it deals with the responsibilities of leading Christians. The verses in Titus deal with the character of an elder in the church. Elders need to be:

1) Blameless
2) The husband of one wife
3) A man whose children believe in Christ
4) He must not be over-bearing, quick tempered, given to drunkenness, violent or pursue dishonest gain
5) He must be hospitable, ones who loves good, self controlled, upright, holy and disciplined

The reason for these character traits in an elder is simple. Elders are entrusted with God’s work. They need to live a life beyond reproach purely because as they live their lives they are portraying God in the work they do.

An elders personal, work, spiritual and social life all become windows that people see God through. The work that God does through an elder is either supported or destroyed by the actions of the elder. When a respected elder or pastor gives into a sinful desire and is discovered publicly, the work that God has done through that man’s life is jeopardised and weakened. Not because God is weak but because the window that people see God through (in this case the Elder) has been blurred, dirtied and difficult to see through. The attention of the person looking through the window moves to the dirt on the window, rather than focusing on the love behind the window.

Here’s the challenge: Are not all Christians, window’s that people see God through? Should we all be living a life beyond reproach?

Surely this would provide God with more windows to show the people in this world who He is.

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