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Reflection #7: A Healthy Lifestyle (Tuesday, March 27)


To many people our lives may be the only sermon they hear, or see!  Is your life a testimony to the gospel you preach?


Titus 2:1–15 (NIV) — 1 You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. 2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance. 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us. 9 Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything, to try to please them, not to talk back to them, 10 and not to steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted, so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive. 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. 15 These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.


1. Read Titus 2:1-15.  The word “sound” (v. 1) is a medical term that literally means “healthy.”  The healthy teaching that follows in vv. 1-10 has to do with a lifestyle.  What is the reason for living the prescribed lifestyle, according to v. 5? … v. 8? … v. 10?

2. Comment on this statement: “Your life is a visual aid for the gospel, and it’s either very helpful or very confusing.”

3. Can people malign the word because of the way you live?  Does your life make the Bible’s teachings attractive to others?   Which of the specifics in vv. 2-10 do you most need to pray about and give attention to?

4. What is the motive for living this lifestyle, according to vv. 11-14?  What does grace teach us to say “no” to (v. 12)?  For what two reasons did Jesus give himself for us (v. 14)? What does “redeem us from all wickedness” mean?  What is to be one of the distinguishing marks of the group of people Jesus forms (v. 14)?

5. In v. 15, Paul tells Titus he is to be teaching these kinds of things to the church at Crete.  He knew that all Christians need to be taught and exhorted in regard to the proper lifestyle so that they would live it.  What opportunities do you have to be taught, encouraged, and rebuked about your way of life?  Are you allowing yourself to benefit from these opportunities?

6. PRACTICAL APPLICATION:  Be sure to pray about your answer to number 3.  Confess whatever you need to and ask for help in developing a spiritually healthy lifestyle. 


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