- Teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.
- Teach the older men
- Teach the older women
- Then they can urge [teach] the younger women
- Encourage [another form of teaching] the young men
- Urge bondslaves
Some commands we want to write off as for a certain crowd, those with the “gift.” Hospitality is for someone else. Witnessing is reserved for those blessed with that ability. Teaching requires a degree, or at least a spiritual gift.
Yet, in Titus 2 many people are told to be taught and to teach. Older men, younger men, older women, younger women, and that pretty much covers everyone. Of course, the older ones are generally told to do the teaching, but many people fall into that older category.
So, if I’m to accept this task, how do I learn? God’s grace.
Seems too easy, but that’s what it says: 11For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. His grace teaches us how to live and enables us to pass along that teaching to those younger than us.
We aren’t left in the dark about how to teach either:
– Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works
– in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and sound speech that cannot be condemned
– Declare these things with all authority.
Or what to teach about:
– teach what accords with sound doctrine.
– train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
– urge the younger men to be self-controlled.
It’s too easy to read a chapter like this and pass the buck. After all, I’m busy enough living my own life and raising my own kids to be taking on other teaching. The more I learn, the more I realize God teaches me so I can teach others. I should not be a dead end street of information and insight.
Lately a busy schedule has kept so much growth bottled up. Spiritual growth is pretty pointless if it’s hidden under a bushel. Hmm, sounds like a principal I sing to my kids from the time they’re in preschool.
Lord, help my faith to overflow. I pray the gospel would be readily on my tongue, but that all the lessons you gently teach each day come tumbling into conversation with others as well. Thank you for teaching me so patiently, and please continue to give me opportunity to pass along your wisdom as well. Thank you, Lord! ~In Jesus’ name Amen
Sixty-six books in a year 