BECOMING A HEALTHY CHURCH
The Book of Titus #4
Keith O’Connor
Woodland Church
Wednesday, May 13, 2026
(Titus 2:1-6, NLT) “As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching. Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.”
1. Healthy Churches Teach Sound Doctrine
(Titus 2:1, NLT) “As for you, Titus, promote the kind of living that reflects wholesome teaching”
a. Command to Teach Sound Doctrine
b. Every Believer has a Ministry
c. Every Believer has been Gifted by God to:
- Serve others
- Strengthen the church
- Represent Christ in daily life
2. Older Men Model Spiritual Maturity
(Titus 2:2, NLT) “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience”
a. Exercise Self-Control – Clear-headed and spiritually disciplined
b. Be Worthy of Respect – Live with dignity and godly character
c. Live Wisely
(Titus 2:2, 5-6, NLT) “Teach the older men to exercise self-control, to be worthy of respect, and to live wisely. They must have sound faith and be filled with love and patience. …to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God. 6 In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely.”
d. Have Sound Faith
e. Be Filled with Love and Patience
3. Older Women Model Holiness and Discipleship
(Titus 2:3, NLT) “Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that honors God. They must not slander others or be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good”
a. Live in a Way that Honors God – Behavior, Demeanor
b. Do Not Slander Others – No Gossiping
c. Do Not be Heavy Drinkers
d. Teach Others what is Good – To Train is to Train by Showing
4. Younger Women Build Godly Homes
(Titus 2:4-5, NLT) “These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God”
a. Love their Husbands and Children
b. Live Wisely
c. Be Pure
d. Work in their Homes
e. Do Good – Be Kind
f. Be Submissive to their Husbands
(Titus 2:5, NLT) “Then they will not bring shame on the word of God”
5. Young Men Practice Self-Control
(Titus 2:6, NLT) “In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely”
a. Live Wisely
b. Be Sober Minded
c. Practice Self-Control
Growthwork
- Pray for God to bless the older men and women in our Church
- Pray for the young men and women in our Church
- Pray that God would continue shaping us into a healthy, Spirit-filled, Christ-centered church—one that reflects Jesus in everything we do