Instructions for Christian Living: Building a Healthy, Multi-Generational Church

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, ² in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began ³ and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
⁴ To Titus, my true child in a common faith:
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.
⁵ This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you— (Titus 1:1-5, ESV)

1. Good is essential to good health in a church or any organization.

2. Good is essential to good health in a church or any organization.

⁶ if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. ⁷ For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, ⁸ but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. ⁹ He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (Titus 1:6-9, ESV)

3. is essential to good health in a church.

“sound”  -> Greek, hygiaino

                  -> healthy, whole, correct, right, accurate 

2 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. (v. 1, ESV)

4. Right is intended to produce right .

² Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. ³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. ⁶ Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. (vv. 2-6, ESV)

5. The healthiest churches are comprised of and , and more than one .

At Ingleside, we are a multi-generational church
with a next generation orientation.

6. While much of our teaching is for , some should be more specific and directed toward different , , and .

 (1) Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. (v. 2, ESV) 

(2) Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women (vv. 3-4a, ESV)

(3) and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (vv. 4-5, ESV) 

(4) Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

(5) Pastors/leaders – Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, ⁸ and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us. (vv. 7-8, ESV)

 (6) Bondservants are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior. (vv. 9-10, ESV)

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

¹⁵ Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. (vv. 11-15, ESV)

7. The gospel of God’s in Jesus Christ is for people, and it teaches us how to live , even as we eagerly await our Lord’s return.