WHAT MAKES A SOUND CHURCH?

SOUND FAMILIES

Titus 2: 1- 15

Introduction:

1. Reading the context of this famed passage, one immediately notes the FAMILY ties involved with teaching TRUTH. Aged men are to teach younger men; aged women are to teach younger women; even Timothy was to be an instructor as a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned.

2. That FAMILY communication is critical to the establishment of SOUNDNESS in the Lord’s work, we need to study the SOUND FAMILY.

I. AGED MEN HAVE A GOD GIVEN RESPONSIBILITY

A OLD MEN TEACH

1. FIRST BY EXAMPLE – VS. 2

2. FROM THESE MEN COME ELDERS AND DEACONS

a. TITUS 1: 6 – 9

b. 1 TIMOTHY 3: 1 - 13

B IF FATHERS …

1. EPHESIANS 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

2. COLOSSIANS 3:21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

II. NOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF THE AGED WOMEN TEACHING

A FIRST BY EXAMPLE – VS. 3

B TEACHING YOUNGER WOMEN – VS. 3 – 5

1. 1 PETER 3: 1- 6

2. NOTE EXPRESSLY …

a. 1 TIMOTHY 3:11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.

b. THE WIFE IS THE HELPER FIT FOR HER HUSBAND’S NEEDS. SHE SHOULD BE THE COMPLIMENTING, STEADYING, AND ENCOURAGING FACTOR OF HIS LIFE’S WORK. IF IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, SHE SHOULD BE HIS GREATEST SUPPORTER AS THEY, LIKE AQUILLA AND PRISCILLA WORKED TOGETHER IN THE CAUSE OF OUR LORD.

III. THE CHILDREN’S ROLE IN SOUND FAMILIES

A EPHESIANS 6: 1- 3

B COLLOSIANS 3:20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

C TITUS 1:6 -- If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly.

1. CHILDREN WHO LOVE THEIR PARENTS WILL ENDEAVOR TO SUPPORT THEM IN RIGHTEOUSNESS, RATHE THAN REBELL AGAINST IT.

2. WHILE PARENTS MUST TEACH, AND CHILDREN MUST LEARN, IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN! EACH SOUL HAS ITS INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY OF OBEDIENCE – AND SOME WILL CHOOSE TO DISOBEY GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS! NEVER SAY, “MINE WON’T –“ THEY MAY, NOT NECESSARILY BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU TAUGHT THEM, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CONVINCED IN THEIR OWN MIND!

3. AS PARENTS, WE MUST INSIST THEY THINK MORE ABOUT GOD THAN OF US – WE ARE NOT THEIR ETERNAL JUDGES, BUT GOD IS! TEACH THEM TO FEAR GOD AND KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS!

IV. USE SOUND WORDS TO MAKE FOR SOUND FAMILIES

A 2 TIMOTHY 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

B 2 TIMOTHY 4: 4 - 5 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.