Grow by Investing in Others (Titus 2:1-8)
But you are to proclaim things consistent with sound teaching. Older men are to be self-controlled, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love, and endurance. In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not slaves to excessive drinking. They are to teach what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, and in submission to their husbands, so that God’s word will not be slandered.
In the same way, encourage the young men to be self-controlled in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity in your teaching. Your message is to be sound beyond reproach, so that any opponent will be ashamed, because he doesn’t have anything bad to say about us.
WHO WE SIT WITH
Paul’s writing a letter to Titus, who’s helping bring order to chaos in Crete. In this particular passage, he drives home the point that in order for things to get better in the church, it’s not just better leadership that’s needed; everyone needs to pitch in! So Paul paints a picture of a church where the older sit with the younger and all of them sit under sound teaching together.
How have older men and women made a difference in your life? Tell us about it!
If you are older, what have you enjoyed (or not!) about investing in younger people? Tell us about it!
Why is it so important for this older-to-younger investment to happen?
What can the church look like if it doesn’t?
What can the church look like if it does?
What specifically do older saints have that younger ones need?
How are you purposefully placing yourself around people of different ages with the intention of investing in them?
What questions, hurdles, or doubts do you have about doing that?
Are any of those practical / logistical things we can help with?
Are any of those heart-level / gospel issues that Jesus helps with?
WHAT WE SIT UNDER
How do you decide if someone (or something) is sound or not?
What teaching would you say you “sit under?”
What role does the bible play in that?
Paul tells Titus that whatever is proclaimed needs to be “consistent with” sound teaching. What all might this include?
Why is that kind of consistency so important?
How does that call us to bring Scripture over every area of our life?
Does the weight of passing on sound teaching and a sound example drive you away from investing in others?
How could it actually drive you towards Jesus?
Can you lead others to Jesus by showing them your need for him? Why or why not?
Who do you think you need to be in order to be qualified to invest in someone?
What role does God (Father, Son, and Spirit) play in discipling others that can free you up to play yours?
Are there practical ways the church can help put sound teaching in your hand?