SET AN EXAMPLE

Passage: Titus 2:1-10

Key verse: 7

NIV

Doing Good for the Sake of the Gospel

You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.(A) Teach the older men(B) to be temperate,(C) worthy of respect, self-controlled,(D) and sound in faith,(E) in love and in endurance.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers(F) or addicted to much wine,(G) but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women(H) to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled(I) and pure, to be busy at home,(J) to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands,(K) so that no one will malign the word of God.(L)

Similarly, encourage the young men(M) to be self-controlled.(N) In everything set them an example(O) by doing what is good.(P) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 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.(Q)

Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,(R) 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(S) attractive.(T)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Teach Sound Doctrine

But as for you, teach what accords with (A)sound[a] doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, (B)sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. (C)Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, (D)not slanderers (E)or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, (F)pure, (G)working at home, kind, and (H)submissive to their own husbands, (I)that the word of God may not be reviled. Likewise, urge (J)the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be (K)a model of good works, and in your teaching (L)show integrity, (M)dignity, and (N)sound speech that cannot be condemned, (O)so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (P)Bondservants[b] are to be submissive to their own masters (Q)in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not pilfering, (R)but showing all good faith, (S)so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.

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Footnotes
  1. Titus 2:1 Or healthy; also verses 2, 8
  2. Titus 2:9 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Self-controlled and pure (1-8)

Sound doctrine involves the way we live as well as what we profess to believe. Keeping spiritual order is a part of sound doctrine. The young shepherd must teach older men to be self-controlled and worthy of respect. Older women should live reverent and pure lives; they should not gossip or be addicted to alcohol; they should teach younger women by precept and example to love their husbands and children, to be busy at home, and to be kind, self-controlled, and pure. The young shepherd must be a prayerful and sincere Bible student and a clear and forceful messenger of the word of God. He must set an example by his life, so that no one can malign the word of God.

2. Make the teaching about God attractive (9-1

)

We do not live in a slave society, but people on the bottom of society sometimes feel like slaves. God's people must not be rebellious; they should set an example of diligence and honesty, so that unbelievers will be drawn to Jesus.

Prayer: Father, help me to study your word faithfully and live by it.

One Word: Set an example