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Bobby Stafford |
The Need For The Older, Mature Ladies in the Church |
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Women |
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The Need for Older Women in the Church
Introduction:
The church so very much needs
the wisdom and counsel of older women, women who have been married for many
years and have raised a family, women who have worked outside the home at
times in various careers, women who have taught Bible classes and helped the
church in many different ways. God’s word exhorts older women to model
godliness and instructs the younger women about what it means to be a
Christian woman. In our text, the Bible reveals three aspects of Christian
womanhood.
Text:
Titus 2:3-5
Body:
I.
Women Modeling Godliness
Titus 2:3
“the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not
slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things” –
NKJV
·
“Reverent” – Calling forth respect Her behavior and state of mind are
suitable to holiness, like those in sacred service. She is to be a godly
example of holiness. (Luke
2:37)
“and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart
from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.”
NKJV
It’s her character and faith that adorn her. (I
Timothy 2:9-10)
“in
like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothing.”
NKJV
·
“Not slanderers” – Not malicious gossips She does not use her tongue
to run others down. (Proverbs
10:18)
“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, And whoever spreads slander is a
fool.”
NKJV
·
“Not given to much wine” – Having self-control These older women are
to be models of temperance and self-control. They are to be sober minded,
in control of their minds. They avoid trivial and foolish things. (I
Peter 4:7)
“But
the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your
prayers.”
NKJV
·
“Teachers of good” – By advice and example she shows what is good,
excellent; what provides a superior benefit. (Proverbs
1:8-9)
“My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of
your mother; For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And
chains about your neck.”
NKJV
The older women must be in order that they may do good works.
II.
Training the Younger Women
Titus
2:4-5a
“that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their
children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own
husbands,”
NKJV
·
“Train” – Give instruction in wise behavior and good judgment
·
“Love husbands” – Be the companion that God meant you to be. (Genesis
2:18)
“And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will
make him a helper comparable to him.’ ”
NKJV
This love includes devotion and friendship. If you gripe about his bad
habits, you are not loving him! Here are some ways a wife can love her
husband:
o
Use a kind tone of
voice.
o
Have positive body
language.
o
Have a gentle
touch.
o
Have a listening
ear.
o
Share quality time.
o
Speak well of him.
o
Apologize when
needed.
Whenever the community learns of a Christian family falling apart, it
hurts the church’s influence.
·
“Love the children” – Motherhood is a high and holy calling. Love
takes deliberate effort. Time spent with children is never wasted. Note
Paul’s advice in
I Timothy 5:14. “Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear
children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak
reproachfully.”
NKJV
When it comes to loving their children,
I Corinthians 13:4-7 is an excellent
text.
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade
itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is
not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in
the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures
all things.”
NKJV
·
“Self-controlled” – Sensible, balanced, discrete, not a woman of extremes!
·
“Pure” – Modest, chaste
(I
Peter 3:1-2)
“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do
not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their
wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.”
NKJV
·
“Working at home” – Looks after domestic affairs; has primary care of
day-to-day activities of the home. She is to guard the priority of the
home. It is not to take a backseat to anything.
·
“Kind” – A nice person to be around, pleasant, not rude or ugly in attitude
(Proverbs
31:26)
“She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.”
NKJV
·
“Submissive to their husbands” – This is God’s design for the home. (Ephesians
5:22-23)
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is
head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior
of the body.”
NKJV
Submission does not imply inferiority. See
I Peter 3:3-6.
“Do not let your adornment be merely outward – arranging the hair, wearing
gold, or putting on fine apparel – rather let it be the hidden person of the
heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is
very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the
holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to
their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose
daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”
NKJV
III.
The Christian Woman’s Motivation
Titus
2:5b
“that the word of God may not be blasphemed.”
NKJV
·
Why should Christian women exhibit these qualities of character? So
the word will not be reviled or blasphemed or dishonored.
·
A godly woman
brings glory to God. (Proverbs
31:30-31)
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord,
she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her
own works praise her in the gates.”
NKJV
Conclusion:
Ladies, what difference can one
woman make? All the difference in the world! She can impact generations to
come.
Bobby Stafford
September 10, 2017
