There are some tremendous possibilities for us to be used by God in our families - community - and nation. Titus is a very practical book - it focuses on where we need to be spiritually if God is going to use us as individuals and as a congregation.

There is a story told about an Armenian who was stranded on a deserted island. After he’d spent several years on the island he was finally rescued. His rescuers were naturally curious about how he had survived and how he had spent his time.

This man said that as an Armenian his Christian faith was very important to him and had sustained him through all kinds of difficulties. So, over the years he had built two churches.

Of course - the question came back, “Why two churches? There’s only one of you.”

He said, “Well, this one is for me and that one is for the other guy.”

How many of you have heard that story? What touches us is how true it is. Look at us here in San Francisco - 2 Apostolic churches - one Etchmiadzin - one Antilias - 2 Evangelical churches - ours - and one created from a split with ours.

Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35) How we as a church live together testifies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our life as a Christian community has an impact - good or bad - on our families - our community - and our nation.

This morning we want to look at what Paul says about our relationships together - how we can draw closer to each other in Christ - and our testimony of the Gospel.

Titus 2:1 - Paul writing to Titus who is on the island of Crete setting up churches: “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.”

The culture where Titus was pastoring - Crete: These people were lazy gluttons - focused on whatever pleasures they could get in life for the least effort. The Greek word “kretizo” comes from the word “crete” - meaning “to lie.” They had the same philosophy we have today - everything is okay - get it any way you can - as long a you don’t get caught.

They were wicked - evil. Women and slaves were objects on the lowest level of society. They treated each other like animals - undignified - kind of like a society based on professional wrestling. Crete was a dangerous - unsafe - immoral place to be.

Paul writes to Titus - the church must be different if we’re going to have a serious impact on our families - community - nation. The church must be haven - a place of peace in the midst of this dangerous world - a community that testifies of God’s love - His grace - His forgiveness. People need to come here and feel safe. Titus - speak those things - teach the doctrines - that will produce a loving community which will attract others to the Gospel.

Paul focuses on 5 groups within the church.

First, verse 2: “OLDER MEN are to be temperate, dignified, sensible, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance.”

Older men, see yourselves as God sees you. You’re a model to the young men coming after you. They need to hear about your spiritual walk and see in you a living relationship with God.

Be Temperate: The Cretans were dedicated to the national pastime of drinking. Godly men are to be examples of sobriety.

Be Dignified: Godly men are to live in a way that brings honor and glory to the name of Jesus.

Be Sensible: Rodney Dangerfield once said, “I don’t know why young people love me. Maybe its just because I never grew up.” Be sensible - don’t be a foolish man.

Be Sound In Faith: Be spiritually healthy - live your life based on the word of God - know Jesus personally and intimately.

Be Sound In Love: Godly older men are to have a healthy understanding of God’s love for them - and to love God with everything they are - and love their neighbors as themselves.

Older men - living with this type of character - will stand out like lighthouses in our society - and will have a tremendous impact on generations to come.

Second group - verse 3: “OLDER WOMEN likewise - with the same attitude and goal as the men - older women are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,”

Reverent In Behavior: Display Jesus in how you live your life.

Don’t Be Gossips: In recent years people have left this church because of what was said about them - or others - either to them or behind their back - malicious - attitudes spread by words. Ministries have been hampered because of Gossip. Children have been driven away from the church because of the poisonous words they’ve heard at home.

Its hard it is to hear this. But we need to be honest. Malicious gossip is very serious - very damaging - and a very easy trap for all of us to fall into. Paul says, “Don’t spend your life sitting around, slandering other women, tearing them apart.”

Then Paul says - Do Not Be Enslaved To Much Wine: Wasting your life away trying to avoid reality.

Instead - Teach What Is Good: Many times women come to a point in their lives - their children are grown - out of the house and raising children of their own - their spouses have died - and its easy to feel like there really isn’t a purpose to their lives any more. What’s left?

In a society like ours - where older people who have so much to offer - and where older people are marginalized - discounted - where youth is everything - imagine the value - the purpose - the radical example of Christ’s love - the transforming of lives - if older godly women would see the value of devoting themselves to discipling younger women in godliness.

Then verse 4 - third group: “so that they - the older women - may encourage the YOUNG WOMEN to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

Paul is not putting women down here. He’s not saying that men and women are not equal in God’s sight. Nor is he abrogating men of their responsibility to their family.

His point is that women have a crucial role - a valuable ministry with their children - raising righteous men and women for the next generation.

In Crete - marriages were arranged by parents - women handed out to profitable suitors - children were born without the consent of the wife - children were seen as laborers for the family - the home was not a place of love - of refuge - of peace and beauty. It was a place of ongoing conflict and immoral behavior.

Today - children are raised in day care centers by strangers - latchkey kids come home to empty houses - while both parents pursue careers - and money - and status - larger houses - more toys - expensive cars. Who’s raising the kids? Who’s teaching them morals and values - and about a relationship with Jesus Christ?

There are times when both parents must work - that’s a reality. But Paul is addressing a society in which the next generation was being mortgaged for status - for wealth. As believers we can set a very different example in our society. And, more often than not - that example is set by women - women who see the value of their ministry to the next generation.

Notice this - that value of teaching righteousness to the next generation - is passed from older godly women - to younger women - to their children.

Verse 6 - fourth group: “Likewise urge the YOUNG MEN to be sensible.”

Younger men have great dreams - great self-confidence - great hopes. But they have no experience - they lack the discipline and understanding to put it all together. They need role models - peers and older godly men - to come alongside them and encourage them - to be patient with them - to walk with them in life - teaching them godliness.

Verse 7: Titus - “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”

Actions speak louder than words. Titus - you have to live the example. We have to live the example.

Then - group 5 - Paul writes about our relationships at work: Verse 9: “Urge BONDSLAVES to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering - not stealing - those little perks we award ourselves - but showing all good faith - but showing yourselves to be trustworthy - so that - here’s the purpose - so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

Years ago when someone owned a business they felt a pride in providing a living for their employees. Employees felt grateful to the employer for providing a job. Today the bottom line of business is greed. How much can I get for the least amount of effort?

In the Roman Empire there were over 60 million slaves. They came from every conquered nation, tribe, and social level. They had no rights. A slave was under the supreme authority of his master. He was a living tool - thought of like a pick or shovel. If he rebelled in any way he was crucified - no questions asked. He lived his whole life in fear and at the mercy of his master.

Slaves must have hated their masters - despised them - would think nothing of stealing from them - or slandering them. And yet, many of these slaves were becoming Christians. Imagine what that must have been like - slaves and masters - side by side in church - worshipping God.

Paul writes, “How you slaves treat your masters - or today - how you employees treat your employers - testifies to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

In these first 10 verses, Paul encourages Titus to speak with the church about living sound doctrine - example after example - character trait after character trait - how does a godly person live in order to contribute to the church as a safe - loving - gracious community - that testifies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In verses 11-15 Paul tells us where our ability to live this way comes from.

Verse 11: “For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men - underline that - its the main point of Paul is writing - the grace of God has appeared - revealed in Jesus Christ - bringing salvation to all men - and God’s grace - instructs us - teaches us how - to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age - how we live together in the church - looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus - the second coming of Jesus - who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds” - living out our faith - proclaiming the Gospel in this community of love and safety.

Finally - Titus - verse 15 - “These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.” - don’t let anyone keep you from teaching these things - doing these things.

25 years ago David McAllister kidnapped 10-year-old Chris Carrier - shot him and left him for dead in the Florida Everglades. Although blinded in his left eye by the bullet - the boy - Chris Carrier - survived. David McAllister escaped, and for more than two decades the case went unsolved - until the fall of 1996 - when a distraught McAllister - a blind - 77 year old ex-convict - his frail body bedridden in a Miami nursing home - confessed to the crime.

After learning of the confession - Chris Carrier - then 32 - visited McAllister at his nursing home. But, Chris didn’t go in anger or bitterness. He went to pray with his would-be murderer and share the Gospel of Jesus that had transformed his own life.

That’s God’s grace in action. God’s grace to us should give birth to our grace towards each other.

Jesus came to buy us back from our sin - and the madness of this world. When we come to Him as our Savior and realize His grace in our lives - the Holy Spirit enters into us and empowers us to turn from sin and the values of this world and to choose to live rightly before God - to live graciously towards our brothers and sisters - neighbors and even strangers.

Put simply - if God is so gracious to us - we can be gracious to each other - and live seeking to encourage and uphold each other in His gracious living.

Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:25)  How we as a church live together testifies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our life as a Christian community has an impact - good or bad - on our families - our community - and our nation.