The Titus 2 Woman - Lesson 2 - Reverence
Posted Thu, 03/11/2010 - 1:39pm by Kristie Kerr
The Titus 2 Woman
Lesson 2
Reverence
Teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. They must not go around speaking evil of others and must not be heavy drinkers. Instead, they should teach others what is good. These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to take care of their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.
Titus 2:3-5
Today we are going to look at Titus 2:3
Similarly, teach the older women to live in a way that is appropriate for someone serving the Lord. (TLB)
Other versions put it differently:
- Live lives of reverence
- Be reverent in behavior
- Live priestly lifestyles
- Behave as holy women should behave
- Be reverent in their deportment
Your lives should be:
- Respectful
- Admirable
- Honorable
- Esteemed
- Held in high regard
If you want to be honored, be honorable. If you want to be respected, be respectable.
Dave Pedde
What does it mean to live a life of REVERENCE?
REVERENCE –
- A feeling or expression of respect or awe
- To treat someone with respect
- To regard someone with admiration
RESPECT –
- State of being admired
- Held in high regard
- Esteemed
Reverence to your God
I never stopped loving Jesus, I stopped fearing God.
Jim Baker
A son honors his father, and a servant respects his master. I am a father and a master, but where are the honor and respect I deserve?
Malachi 1:6
No wonder people everywhere fear him. People who are truly wise show him reverence.
Job 37:24
Reverence for the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. The rewards of wisdom come to all who obey him.
Psalm 111:10
“Fearing” an authority in our lives is less and less prevalent in our society today
- Parents
- Teachers
- Politicians
Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path? Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you? Return and help us, for we are your servants and your special possession.
Isaiah 63:17
- A healthy fear of a God that has authority over us and our lives is important.
- Definitions of Fear:
- NOT: an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger
- NOT: anxious concern
- NOT: reason for alarm; danger
- BUT: profound reverence and awe
We have no need to “be afraid” of our loving God!
- A recognition of who God is…His worth and power SHOULD inspire awe and reverence and fear
Many times we are guilty of not revering Him and giving Him the respect He deserves.
1. How do we do this?
- By treating our walk with the Lord casually
- By allowing sin to go unchecked in our lives
- By making light of the things of God
- What should we do?
- Judge everything by its effect on our spiritual walk
Fear of the Lord teaches a person to be wise; humility precedes honor.
Proverbs 15:33
Unfailing love and faithfulness cover sin; evil is avoided by fear of the Lord
Proverbs 16:6
Fear of the Lord gives life, security, and protection from harm.
Proverbs 19:23
1. Be ruthless about confessing sin
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
2 Corinthians 7:1
All who fear the Lord will hate evil. This is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech.
Proverbs 8:13
1. Treat the things of God as precious
And now that I am away, you must be even more careful to put into action God’s saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Philippians 2:12
Respect for those around you
And further, you will submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:21
1. We honor Christ by honoring others
1. How do we miss this?
1. We criticize those in leadership over us
1. We dismiss people around us who don’t seem as important or worthy of our time
1. We have a lack of respect for those older than us
1. We don’t choose words that honor our children, husbands, and friends
1. It is so easy to look down on the choices and habits and even personalities of others
1. What should we do?
1. Honor the authority God has placed over us, even if we don’t agree with them.
- Miriam and Aaron – Numbers 12
- What is God’s response to Miriam and Aaron’s complaining about Moses?
Cyrus, the Babylonian King – Isaiah 45
- Even though Cyrus didn’t even believe in God – he is called “anointed” and God uses him to accomplish his purpose for Israel.
Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and warn you against all that is wrong. Think highly of them and give them your wholehearted love because of their work.
I Thessalonians 5:12 – 13
1. View everyone you come into contact with as a child of God who deserves your respect and attention.
Since God chose you to be the holy people whom he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. You must make allowance for each others faults and forgive the person who offends you.
Colossians 3:12
1. Make special attention to honor your elder
1Show your fear of God by standing up in the presence of elderly people and showing respect for the aged.
Leviticus 19:32
1. Guard your tongue and choose your words carefully.
Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as though he were your own father. Talk to the younger men and you would to your own brothers. Treat the older women as you would your mother, and treat the younger women with all the purity as your own sisters.
I Timothy 5:1-2
Reverence for yourself
1. Do you know who you are?
1. You are a child of God
So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family – calling him “Father, dear Father.” For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.
Romans 8:15
1. You have something to offer
Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am only and ear and not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? Suppose the whole body were an eye – then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything? But God made our bodies with many parts, and he has put each part just where he wants it.
I Corinthians 12:14 – 18
1. You are in process
- We are all in on a journey and no one is perfect!
Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
Eleanor Roosevelt
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be.
Philippians 3:12
1. Don’t behave less than who you are
Character & Community – How this trait should affect your personal character and your relationship with others.
- Character: Be reverent in your deportment
- Deportment – the way that you stand, sit, or move, especially whether you have a straight back, move smoothly, and carry yourself well.
- Respectful
- Walk confidently
- Speak carefully
- Keep your chin up
- Be full of life
Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
I Timothy 2:12
Community: A community of respect
- Respecting others lifts you above the ordinary
- A community of graceful, accepting, non-judgmental people
It is God’s will that your good lives should silence all those who make foolish accusations against you. You are free to live as God’s slaves. Show respect for everyone. Love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God. Show respect for the king.
1 Peter 2:15-17
Discussion Questions:
- Do you have a healthy fear of God? Discuss how this can easily get out of balance.
- Who do you have a hard time respecting?
- What makes you respect someone?