Titus 2: Woman to Woman Discipleship

Women have become an important topic not only in culture but also in the church. There is a discussion that is missing in the church when it comes to women: discipleship.

A healthy implemented discipleship program is the marker of a healthy church.

Discipleship is intentional not only to build relationships, but also to address areas of spiritual health that sermons cannot. This is essential for spiritual growth. It is so important, in fact, that teaching be part of the Great Commission of Matthew 28:

"Go therefore, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, unto the end of time. Matthew 28:19-20

Woman-to-woman discipleship is crucial to the Body of Christ. It is vital to the health of a believing woman in her walk.

Men can't talk about a woman's life the way another woman can.

Titus 2 is the model for woman-to-woman discipleship within the church. Paul writes to Titus in Crete, where he was left to help set up and equip the newly established church. Much of the letter focuses on church health and leadership roles.

Paul was probably addressing the issues facing the church by giving specific instructions to Titus on how to teach and appoint church leaders.

In Titus 2 there are specific instructions for women regarding discipleship. In a way, it is descriptive of the life cycle of church discipleship.

Looking at the full passage, it addresses men and women equally, but we can note the special instruction for women in particular:

"But you teach what is in accordance with sound doctrine. Older men should be sober in spirit, worthy, self-possessed, strong in faith, in love, and in constancy. Similarly, older women should behave respectfully, not gossip or slaves to lots of wine. They must teach what is good, and thus train young women to love their husbands and children, to control themselves, to be pure, to work at home, to be kind and submissive to their own husbands, so that the word of God not be reviled. Titus 2:1-5

There is a specific behavior in older women that should be present if they are to teach younger women.

Respectful in their behavior - For a woman to train another woman well, she must lead by example. She must be a woman seeking to walk holy as God is holy. The phrase I often use is that she must be a woman who practices what she preaches to other women. Older women should live the example of spiritual maturity.

Not slanderers - Unfortunately, women are notorious for gossip. Our words matter to God. What we say about others has a big impact. Disciple-seeking women, as I have said before, should be the example. Their words should be as respectful as their behavior.

Not a slave to a lot of wine – Being a slave to wine will directly affect your behavior. If we want to guard our hearts against sin, we must ward off that which can cause us to stumble.

Teaching What Is Good - Women and men are called to teach sound doctrine and scripture and to point out the gospel in all things. They cannot teach what is good if they do not know what is good. Older women should be trained to become disciples of younger women. This is what I call the life cycle of the disciple. Older women train younger women. Young women will become older women and the cycle will continue.

What are older women called to teach younger women? We know they should teach sound doctrine and what is good, but there are specific areas where only a woman can speak about another woman's life:

Loving Your Husband - Older women who have experience in marriage can talk about areas of marriage where a woman may have difficulty. They can encourage and even reprimand if necessary. Older women can give expert marriage advice. This does not mean that you have to be married for fifty years to qualify. For a bride in my twenties, I am an older woman who has been married for sixteen years. (There will always be a woman younger than you).

To love their c...