Mothers' Day 2012

Good morning.

We're going to be in Titus chapter 2.

Titus 2 · chapter mention

I'd like to say Happy Mother's Day to all the moms that are here.

! If I haven't told you in person, Happy Mother's Day.

As I studied and thought about this week and this morning,

what I was going to say,

I watched my wife, Jamie, mother, our four kids.

Moms, you do a whole lot.

You do an amazing amount of stuff and you guys are amazing.

Thank you for everything that you guys do.

Honestly, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you guys in so many levels.

This morning, we want to honor moms.

We want to celebrate our moms and the moms that are represented.

So Titus 2 is where we're going to be.

Verses 3 through 5.

We're going to look at what a godly woman looks like.

So what characteristics does she display?

And why does she live that way?

As we look at a godly woman, my hope is that you'll be encouraged to think of your mom or think of yourself.

Be encouraged to love on them this morning.

If as I'm talking, something I say reminds you of your mom, celebrate that.

If as I'm talking, you aren't reminded of your mom at all.

Maybe she's not a Christian yet.

Thank God for her.

Pray for her.

Pray for opportunities to share the gospel with her.

Don't get angry because your mom isn't godly yet.

Don't beat her up in your head.

Celebrate the gift of your mom and love her.

If you're a mom, I want to encourage you this morning and not discourage you.

I want to challenge you, not handcuff you.

And if you're going to be a mom someday, about 60% of you in this room, maybe 50% of you in this room,

listen and file this away.

Revisit it and pray for when that time comes when you will be a mom.

Guys, I know that you're thinking this has nothing to do with me.

Well, not so fast.

The subject may be moms, but the principles apply to you and I as well.

So we all can be challenged this morning.

Let's read our text.

Titus chapter 2, verse 3 through 5.

Titus 2:3–5

Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior,

not slanderers or slaves to much wine.

They are to teach what is good,

and so train the young women to love their husbands and children,

to be self-controlled, pure, working at home,

kind and submissive to their own husbands,

that the word of God may not be reviled.

Pray with me.

Father, I thank you for this time.

I thank you that you have called us here to gather together.

Father, I thank you that you have united us through your Son, Jesus,

through the Holy Spirit that you sent.

God, I ask God that the Spirit would work,

that we can hear, not just with ears,

but with our entire being, with our lives,

God, that we would leave here ready for action,

leave here to live differently because of your word.

And God, not because of what I say or my opinions,

but God, that I would speak your words this morning

and that what is spoken will be from you to us.

There is power in your word.

There is conviction in your word.

There is counsel in your word.

God, we ask you to work,

and your will would be done this morning.

In Jesus' name I pray.

Amen.

So let's just jump in.

Verse 3 starts with older women.

Now here's a little bit of encouragement to you older women in here

on our standards.

In Paul's standards here, writing to Titus,

older women is 60 to 65.

So if you're under 60 or 65, you're young.

You're a young woman, not an older woman.

Women who have, Paul is addressing or addressing Titus,

is talking about women who no longer have kids in their home,

who are no longer raising kids,

and encouraging them to love the younger women.

So what I want to do is look at what a godly woman looks like.

As Paul is addressing to Titus some needs here,

Titus is a pastor in Crete.

He's left in here very similar to Timothy in Ephesus.

He's left Titus to be the pastor or elder on the island of Crete.

And he's given him some instruction,

and Titus and the two Timothys are very similar in that way.

If you've read 1 or 2 Timothy, you can kind of see that.

So here he gives him instruction on older women,

how they are to live.

And I've changed it a little bit for us to look at what a godly woman looks like,

so that it can apply to the young women in here,

the young women described in our text,

and even us guys,

of what does a godly woman look like.

So the first point this morning,

a godly woman is in pursuit of holiness.

A godly woman is in pursuit of holiness.

Now of course, no one is perfect.

No one is holy.

Your mom may be wonderful, but she is not perfect.

She can, though, as a Christian, pursue holiness,

pursue perfection, strive to be sinless,

strive to be godly.

A godly woman strives to honor God in all circumstances,

in all situations.

So let's look at some of this language in these three verses.

In verse 3 it says,

Older women, likewise, are to be reverent in behavior.

Godly examples of holiness.

Flip back two books to 1 Timothy.

To the left, two books.

1 Timothy chapter 2.

1 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

Start reading in verse 9.

Likewise, also that women should adorn themselves

in respectable apparel with modesty and self-control.

Not with beaded hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,

but with what is proper for women who profess godliness

with good works.

Reverent in behavior.

A couple words there in 1 Timothy.

Profess godliness, modesty, self-control.

An example of what a godly person looks like.

An example of holiness.

Reverent in behavior.

In 1 Peter chapter 3.

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

1 Peter writes,

Do not let your adorning be external.

The braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry

or the clothing you wear.

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart.

With the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which in God's sight is very precious.

A woman who is pursuing holiness is more concerned

with the inner being.

What's happening on the inside.

What's happening in the heart.

Not the outside apparel.

Not the braided hair or the jewelry or the gold or whatever.

All that stuff is secondary.

She is reverent in behavior.

And her behavior reflects what's happening on the inside of her.

What God is doing in her.

Through her.

She is reverent in behavior.

Verse 3 also says,

Not slanderers.

She's not a false accuser.

She's not a malicious gossip.

See, men are inclined to abuse physically.

We'll throw a punch pretty quick.

Women are inclined to abuse verbally.

Of course, we're both guilty of gossip

and the sin of entertaining gossip.

But here, Paul is addressing this malicious gossip.

A godly woman is not a slanderer.

A slave to much wine, later in verse 3.

Does not mean she doesn't drink wine.

It means she is not controlled by wine or anything else.

Food.

TV.

Shopping.

Couponing.

It's a big deal right now, right?

See, we are so sinful as creatures

that we turn good things into God things

that makes them bad things.

We turn couponing into bad things.

We make it a God.

We make it something we have to do.

And what happens as a result is we make it a bad thing.

We make it an idol.

We worship it.

We become enslaved to it.

And that's the picture here,

what Paul is trying to get across.

Slave to much wine.

It's not the fact that she drinks.

So that she doesn't drink.

That's secondary here.

She is controlled.

She is enslaved to it.

Definition of slave is to be held and controlled

against one's will.

It's more of a prison than a means of escape.

I have a co-worker.

I'll call him a co-worker

because I've worked with him a couple days.

who,

who,

beginning of last week,

ran out of beer at home

and decided to go to the convenience store

on a lawnmower,

got pulled over

and got a DUI

for driving a lawnmower

to the convenience store

to get more beer.

It's a funny story.

I know.

It should be a country song or something.

It's,

I don't have a tune yet,

but it's working.

Four days later,

he's at home

and he runs out of beer

and gets in his truck

and goes and gets more beer

at the convenience store

and gets another DUI.

Poor guy needs Jesus, yes.

but the control of that sin

in his life,

he is enslaved

to that desire

to fulfill that need.

He is controlled

by that need.

And that's that picture here,

slave to much wine.

Now,

as I've said,

I gave you a list,

food,

shopping,

TV,

couponing,

it could be anything.

But what controls you?

What are you enslaved to?

Later on in verse 5,

here's some more traits

that fall under pursuit of holiness.

Self-controlled.

Are you sensible?

Is your mom sensible?

Common sense and good judgment.

Can you go to your mom

or can your children come to you

and you give them good judgment

and sound advice?

Another characteristic

in verse 5

is pure.

Is there moral purity?

Is there faithfulness

within the marriage?

Thoughts and actions.

Ladies,

is there a pursuit

for holiness in your life?

Do you see these traits

in your mom?

Celebrate that.

Rejoice.

Thank God for that.

If you don't,

pray for your mom

and challenge her.

Second point,

not only is a godly woman

pursuing holiness,

but a godly woman

is also building

a legacy of disciples.

Building a legacy

of disciples

and not a legacy

in financial

or worldly idea here,

but a legacy of disciples.

You want to know

what a woman is all about?

You want to know

what she loves,

what she holds close to her,

what her convictions are?

Look at her disciples.

Look at her children.

Look at who she's taught,

who she's led.

And my sister-in-law

is a Mary Kay saleswoman,

I guess.

I don't know.

She's a pink Cadillac lady.

She's successful.

Super successful.

Almost freaky successful.

And if you go to

the most successful

of her disciples,

the most successful

of her followers,

and you talk to them,

you know exactly

what Meg holds important

and what she holds dear to her

and what she's trying to give

and have the women follow.

The idea here

is that Meg invests

in the girls

so that they will succeed

like she has succeeded.

And here,

a godly woman

builds a legacy

not of Mary Kay saleswomen,

but of God-fearing,

godly disciples.

Verse 3 and 4

tells them

to teach what is good.

Verse 3 and verse 4,

so train the young women.

Women.

It almost gives us

a picture of this

classroom-like teaching.

Now sit down,

I have things

I want to tell you,

things I want to teach you.

Even like a gathering

like this.

But that's not the case.

This picture here

is more of a modeling.

More of a life-on-life

teaching and instructing.

You instruct what is good,

what is noble,

what is excellent

by living it out

in front of them

and with them.

Which means,

women and men,

husbands and wives,

that you invite people

into your life.

That your home

has an open door

where people come in

and see how you live.

That the home

isn't necessarily

your fortress

where you go

and you hide.

It's a fort

where people come

and find safety

and find comfort.

Teach what is good,

so train the young women

by living it out

with them.

So,

older women,

we need you.

Older men,

we need you as well.

We need you to help us.

To disciple us.

A godly woman

builds a legacy

of disciples

who love Jesus,

who love His Word,

who are pursuing holiness.

And that's the type

of legacy

that's going to

change the world.

That's the type

of legacy

that's going to

move mountains

and see

Christians

created

to the ends

of the earth

and made.

Look at what

they're to teach.

Verse 3,

it says,

teach what is good,

noble,

excellent,

what is right

and true.

Verse 4 and 5,

it says,

love their husbands

and children

to be self-controlled

and pure.

Already talked about

self-controlled

and pure.

It says,

working at home.

A little lightning rod

statement right there.

Working at home.

It does not

necessarily mean

that a woman

cannot work

outside the home,

but it does

mean

that her home

needs to be

her highest

priority.

Women of all

ages

have fallen

victim to the

feminist agenda

telling women

that their worth

and value

is not in

family,

it's not in

home,

it's not in

their husband,

it's not in

any of that,

it's not in

children,

it's in the

workplace

and in how much

money they can

make and how

much schooling

they can have.

Well,

that's not the

case.

And I don't do

this very often,

but I would

encourage you,

if you have

time to listen

to a sermon,

go to

gracetoyou.com

and listen to

John MacArthur's

Titus 2 sermon.

He breaks down

and the whole

sermon is basically

about the

feminist movement

and takes it

all the way

back to

Gnosticism,

which was in

Jesus' time

and before

Jesus' time.

it's

enlightening

and it will

help you to

see what is

happening around

us.

Nonetheless,

so when

women stay

at home,

when they get

to stay at

home,

they feel

less valued.

The world

tells them

they're not

as valued.

They feel

a loss of

identity because

they're not

at work and

being successful,

they're not

making money,

they're not

doing what the

world tells them

to do.

Now,

of course,

there are

reasons to

work.

There are

reasons to

go to

work.

But women,

you must be

sensible,

as we've

already touched

on,

as commanded

in making

the decision.

So questions

like,

are your kids

old enough?

Can you be

home when they

get home?

Can you still

do what you're

called to do

as a mother

and as a wife?

not only do

women have

an impact

with people

around them,

making disciples,

inviting people

into their

home,

but they also

have an impact

at home

with their

children.

The home is

where women

have a global

impact.

This is where

they can train

their children

to be disciples,

to invest in

their kids,

to nurture

their kids,

to teach them

the treasures

of Jesus

and His

commands,

that they

will go

to the

ends of

the earth.

You can

shoot them

out like

arrows

to build

the kingdom

of God.

The home

is also

where a woman

can find

authentic

and satisfying

fulfillment

as a Christian.

A godly

woman builds

a legacy

with younger

women outside

the home

and from

within the

home with

their children.

Do you

see that

legacy from

your mom

or wife?

Celebrate

it.

Celebrate

her.

But not

only does

a godly

woman pursue

holiness,

not only

is she

building

a legacy

of disciples,

she also

has a

selfless

sacrificial

love.

A

selfless

sacrificial

love.

An example

of that

is verse

five

that we

just touched

on.

Working

at home.

Putting

the needs

of the

family

above the

wants

of herself

or above

what the

world or

sinful nature

or whatever

is telling

her to do.

Putting the

needs of the

family above

the wants

of herself.

But verse

four says

to love

their husbands

and children.

To love

their husbands.

This is not

a romantic

love.

This is not

an emotionally

volatile

love.

It's a

committed

love.

A willing,

determined

love, not

based on the

husband's

worthiness,

but on

God's

command.

So when

your husband

is unlovable,

you love

him.

You sacrifice

not for him

necessarily, but

because you are

commanded to

do so.

It is a sin

if you don't.

When those

moments come,

you love

him, you

serve him

sacrificially.

John

MacArthur

says,

when you

sacrificially

serve someone,

it becomes

almost impossible

not to

love them.

Where there

is genuine

practical

love,

genuine

emotional

love is

sure to

follow.

And I

think he's

right.

If we

practice

love,

emotional

love is

going to

grow out

of that

or alongside

that.

A good

example of

sacrificial

love here

on earth,

apart from

Jesus,

apart from

his life,

death,

and resurrection,

is motherhood.

It says to

love her

husband and

children.

Love her

children with

a sacrificial

love.

Again, not

an emotional,

oh, isn't

he adorable?

I just love

that kid.

Not that

kind of

love.

And I

think that

might be

some of

the parenting

problems out

there today.

They love

the idea of

being a

parent.

They love

the little

guys dressed

up really

nice, but

they might

not necessarily

love being

a parent.

Might not

necessarily

love when

the little

dressed up

guy who

looks so

cute is

hitting his

sister and

throwing stuff

all over the

place and

making messes

for you

to clean

up.

A

sacrificial

love, though,

grows out

of what

God is

doing and

has done.

Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2.

Turn to

Philippians

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2.

Now this,

of course,

is not

talking about

motherhood.

This is not

talking about

being a

mother or

the love

that a

mother has,

but this

illustrates,

in Paul's

words here

to the

church of

Philippi,

I think

a perfect

picture of

motherhood.

Philippians

Philippians 2:2

chapter 2,

verse 2.

Complete my

joy by

being of

the same

mind,

having the

same love,

being in

full of

court of

one mind.

Do

nothing from

rivalry or

conceit,

but in

humility count

others more

significant than

yourself.

a godly

woman,

a godly

mother counts

others more

important.

Counts others

more important.

During Christmas

time, during the

Christmas season

from Thanksgiving

to Christmas,

the movie A

Christmas Story

is on about

150 times.

It's over and

over and

over.

And if you

know the

movie, the

little kid,

I can't remember

his name,

he's narrating

the story,

kind of telling

the story,

and there's

this scene

where,

where he's

talking about

his mom,

and he

says,

you know,

my mom,

she's,

paraphrase,

okay,

my mom hasn't

had a hot

meal in 15

years.

And the

picture is

her in the

kitchen and

the family

sitting down

and she

tries to

sit down

and eat

and then

something else,

she's got to

get something

else in the

kitchen,

or she

tries to

sit down

again and

he needs

something to

drink,

or she

tries to

sit down

and the

husband

needs a

knife,

and she

tries to

sit down

over and

over and

over and

over.

That's

sacrificial

love.

It's a

movie,

but that is

sacrificial

love,

and I see

that all

the time

in my

wife.

My wife

will sometimes

not even

eat lunch

because the

kids have

needed something

over and

over and

over,

and that's

what kids

do.

I've seen

her put her

lunch in

the microwave,

and when a

microwave beeps,

I don't know if

it's something in

me, but I've

got to go get

it.

It's

ready to

eat.

It's

time to

eat.

I've

seen her

have things

sit in

there for

30 minutes

because she's

helping and

trying to do

other things

that need to

get done.

That's that

sacrificial

love, and I

see it in my

mother-in-law.

Julie is the

last person to

sit down at

the dinner

table.

That is a

sacrificial

love.

So when

Nathan calls

Julie a

godly

mother, he

is right.

when I

say that I

see this in

Jamie, yes,

she is

sacrificing

herself to

be a

mother to

her children

and our

children.

This

sacrificial

love is

from God.

It is a

result of

Jesus'

life, death,

and resurrection.

Because of

sin, it is

impossible to

continue this

love laid

out.

It is

impossible to

love somebody

in this way

for a long

period of

time.

Now, of

course, of

course, there's

this motherly

desire.

There are

good mothers

who don't

know Jesus

yet.

There are

good mothers

who are not

Christians, and

I understand

that.

And they

love their

kids, and

they're, but

try sacrificially

loving a

husband who

is a sinner

without the

grace of God

to do so.

Jesus'

love enables

us to

love

sacrificially.

That's

why it

saddens me

when Christians

say they

don't love

each other

anymore, and

they get a

divorce.

Of course,

question whether

they are

Christians at

all.

Do you see

this love in

your mom or

in your

wife?

Celebrate

her.

Praise Jesus

for her.

And if not,

challenge your

mom.

Pray for

your mom.

Love your

mom today.

Finally, a

godly woman,

her life draws

people to the

gospel.

Her life draws

people.

There's an

attraction to

the gospel, not

because she's

beautiful or the

way she's

dressed or how

charismatic she

is, but there's

just something

about her life

that draws

people in.

The opposite

of this is to

repel people.

And that's

what we see

in the end of

verse 5 back

in Titus

Titus 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2.

To be

self-controlled,

pure, working

at home, kind

and submissive to

their own

husbands, that

the word of

God may not

be reviled.

That the word

of God may not

be dishonored,

defamed, or

blasphemed.

The idea

here isn't

just how you

live or how

you preach or

how you

communicate to

people, but

it's also how

you don't

live, what

you don't

say.

The bad

things we do

and the good

things we fail

to do or

say are equally

important.

And people

all around are

watching to see

how you as

mothers, you

as godly

women, us

as men and

husbands, how

we live.

See, the

bottom line is

people don't

care about

your theology.

People don't

care whether

you're a

Calvinist or

a Minion or

whether you're

post-millennial or

pre-millennial,

they don't care

about that.

What they care

about is how

you live.

What communicates

to them is not

what your

feeling is on

how Paul wrote,

if Paul wrote

Hebrews or not.

that doesn't

matter.

What matters is

how you live

it out.

That's the

point that

James has with

faith without

works.

He's dead.

People care

about your

faith lived

out.

They care

about how

you mother

your child.

They care

about how

you live.

They care

about how

we men

treat our

wives,

father our

kids.

kids,

how you

treat your

moms,

not just

on Mother's

Day,

hallmark made

up day,

not just

on today,

as special

as it is.

And if

they care

about how

your faith

is lived

out,

then you're

either attracting

people to the

gospel and the

truth of God

and the power

of the gospel

or you are

repelling people

or you've

got bug spray

on and you're

repelling people

from the

truth of

God's word.

The purpose

for women to

be godly is to

proclaim the

gospel and to

bring glory to

God.

That's why God

does everything.

That's why he's

planned and ordained

everything here in

scripture is to

bring much glory

to him.

So today,

let us celebrate

our mothers.

Let us rejoice

in the gospel

and bring honor

and glory to

God.

And there's a

response for all

of us this

morning.

Moms,

are you living

out and

attracting people?

Are you pursuing

holiness?

Are you making

a legacy of

disciples?

Are you building

disciples that

will form and

shape generations

to come?

Are you

sacrificially,

selflessly loving

your children?

Ladies,

not moms yet?

Do you want

to be this?

Do you pursue

holiness in your

life now?

Are you building

a legacy of

disciples?

And are you

attracting people

to the gospel

or repelling?

And guys,

same thing.

Are you pursuing

holiness?

Are you striving

to be holy and

to love your

wife as Christ

loved the

church?

That is a

command.

It's not an

option.

It's not

multiple choice.

Guys,

are you

building a

legacy of

disciples?

Are you

training younger

guys to come

up and to be

godly husbands

and godly

fathers?

Are you

drawing people

to the gospel?

There is a

response.

Question,

examine

yourself

this morning.

not because

it's

mother's

day,

not because

it's

Sunday,

but because

of the

gospel and

the power

of Jesus

Christ that

has made

you who

are dead

alive.

And as

Nathan said

earlier this

morning,

we celebrate

moms,

but we

rejoice.

We are

excited and

we are here

to worship

not our

moms,

but Jesus

Christ,

the Savior.

let's pray.

Let's pray.