DEMONSTRATE GRACE PERSONALLY. Titus 2:1-8 To maintain an orderly church, as taught in chapter one, the "commandment of God our Savior" must be obeyed. We do that by preaching God's word rather than sharing personal opinions about church life and practice. Eternal life needs to be clearly explained so people can understand what it is and how it affects us today. Additionally, the Lord's people, as well as others, need to see clearly the character of God, so they do not misinterpret what He does or who He is.
In Chapter Two, two more of "the things of God' are mentioned. One is the "doctrine of God our Savior." There is a paragraph that clearly presents the Gospel. We must make sure that people understand that salvation is available, that grace is the reason salvation is offered, and that everyone is included in the offer of salvation. It is also important to recognize that changing this doctrine to please people is wrong.
A third mention of the "things of God" is the "appearing of the great God who is our Savior Jesus Christ." That will indeed happen in God's time and in His way. It is a blessed hope for Christians and a positive reality for everyone to consider. The whole world will see and honor our Lord Jesus Christ. One reason for gathering as an assembly of believers in a certain area is that it provides a safe place for believers and also "adorns the doctrine" that is actually observed by onlookers. Instructions are given regarding the character and conduct expected of a servant toward other believers from different groups. The coming of Christ is the motivation behind this grace that should be evident in our homes. Our personal lives should “adorn the doctrine” through our speech, in the practice of good works, and in all aspects of life. When we recognize the importance of order in an assembly, our training on accountability in church life must be put into practice. This will show in our homes and personal activities when we follow these guiding principles of conduct. We may never be asked to identify elders in an assembly so that members know their leaders. Still, there will be times when those we know from other religious groups will want to understand how a scripturally gathered assembly functions. A scripturally gathered assembly maintains order in a way that is quite different from most church groups. They either have a headquarters located far away from which they receive guidance on their faith and practices, or they follow directives similar to those of an organization or a business. An assembly guided by biblical teachings is a living entity, like an organism, and this idea is not easily understood by those who do not read the Bible as it was meant to be read. They try to fit church truths into their preconceived notions. Not only is the order of an assembly rarely practiced, but church discipline is often overlooked or carried out in a manner similar to firing someone from a job or reprimanding them. The discipline within an assembly follows a pattern like that of a body that has been injured and needs time to recover and restore full health. The different disciplinary methods are tailored to the specific issue, allowing the body to heal itself. A steward has a responsibility to uphold in Chapter One.
In chapter two, the servant has work to do. The truth he teaches is to practice what he preaches in his lifestyle and attitude toward others. In doing so, he "adorns the doctrine of God our Savior" in his personal life. When teaching sound doctrine, he should teach others what he practices himself. Preaching what one practices is how we adorn the doctrine with our speech. This is the essence of our faith, combining knowledge and understanding with practical application.
Sometimes, the best way to teach personal things is to do so in a personal manner—through small groups or one-on-one. It is up to us to determine the most effective way to teach a subject that meets the needs to achieve the desired results. When teaching aligns with biblical principles and emphasizes "God our Savior," the outcome will be good behavior toward others and spiritual health and well-being in ourselves and those we teach.