INTRODUCTION: The best protection against weeds is a healthy lawn. Likewise, the best protection against a corrupt society (as in Crete) is a healthy and virtuous Christian and Church. TITLE: Truth and Virtuous Living (Titus 2:1-10) Titus 2:2 (NASB), “Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, in perseverance. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:6 (NASB), “Likewise urge the young men to be sensible; 7 in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, 8 sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us. 9 Urge slaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be pleasing, not argumentative, 10 not stealing, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” Virtues for Older Men (Titus 2:2) • Temperate • Dignified • Self-controlled • Sound in faith • Sound in love • Sound in perseverance Virtues for Older Women (Titus 2:3-4a) • Reverent • Not malicious gossips (slander) • Not enslaved to wine • Teaching what is good (to encourage younger women) Virtues for Younger Women (Titus 2:4b-5) • Husband lovers • Children lovers • Sensible (self-controlled) • Pure • Workers at home • Kind • Subject (submissive) to their husbands Virtues for Younger Men (Titus 2:6) • Sensible (self-controlled) Virtues for Titus (Titus 2:7-8) • An example of good deeds • Pure in doctrine • Dignified • Sound in speech (which is beyond reproach) Virtues for Slaves (Titus 2:9-10) • Subject to their masters in everything • Pleasing • Not argumentative • Not stealing • Showing all good faith CONCLUSION: 2 Peter 1:5 (ESV), “...make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue.” WHY? Why is Virtuous Living Necessary? “So that the Word of God will not be dishonored.” (5) “So that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (8) “So that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.” (10)