Titus 2

Holding Firm to Sound Doctrine: Reflections on Titus 2

This week we’ve been walking through the book of Titus together—short, but full of weighty truth. On Monday we wrapped up Proverbs, Tuesday we dove into Titus 1, and today we’re sitting with Titus chapter 2. What a rich section of Scripture this is!

Titus is a letter that emphasizes one major theme: sound doctrine. And so today we want to ask the same question we asked each other—what is doctrine, and why does sound doctrine matter so much for our lives as followers of Jesus?

What Is Doctrine, and Why Does It Matter?

Doctrine simply means a set of beliefs or teachings that shape the way we think and live. It’s not just a “churchy” word—it’s everywhere. Political systems have doctrine (like the Monroe or Truman Doctrine). Psychologists have doctrine (Freud, Jung, Pavlov). Everyone, whether they know it or not, lives out of some doctrine—some guiding worldview that helps make sense of the world.

That’s why Paul’s words to Titus are so important. In Titus 2:1, he writes, “You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine.” The truth is, every single one of us will live according to something. We’ll adopt a set of beliefs about what’s right, what’s real, and what’s worth living for. The question is: is it the doctrine of Jesus Christ?

At its core, sound doctrine begins and ends with the gospel—that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). This truth is what saves us, shapes us, and sends us out. Everything else in our lives—our decisions, our relationships, our identity—flows from what we believe about Jesus.

Doctrine Shapes How We Live

We saw this truth come alive in a simple story from everyday life. One of our daughters came home from school and told us she had to help break up a fight between two friends. Her solution? She told them to love each other and then shared the gospel with them. That’s doctrine in action!

Even at a child’s level, she was interpreting her experience through the lens of her faith. Because she believes that Jesus loves her, she naturally responded with love toward others. That’s what doctrine does—it forms how we see the world and how we respond to it.

Sound doctrine grounds us when the culture around us feels confusing or chaotic. It reminds us that God is Creator, and everything He designed was meant to bring life, growth, and peace. When we tell the Creator we know better, things break—whether it’s in areas of faith, morality, sexuality, or generosity. Holding firm to Scripture isn’t about being rigid or judgmental—it’s about trusting that God’s design is good.

And in a time when even some within the church question what the Bible really means, it’s more important than ever that we interpret Scripture with Scripture and cling to what has been taught “for thousands of years.” As Paul warned Timothy, we must “watch [our] life and doctrine closely” (1 Timothy 4:16).

Grace That Teaches Us to Live

Titus 2 closes with a beautiful picture of what sound doctrine produces in us:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
— Titus 2:11–13

Sound doctrine isn’t cold theology—it’s grace in motion. The gospel doesn’t just save us; it shapes us. It teaches us how to live, how to say “no” to the things that harm, and how to say “yes” to the life that God designed for us.

So as we reflect on Titus 2, let’s ask ourselves: What doctrine are we living by? Are we holding to the trustworthy message of Jesus, the gospel of grace and truth? Because when we do, we find not just right belief—but real, life-giving transformation.

“Hold firmly to the trustworthy message.” (Titus 1:9)
May we be a people marked by grace, grounded in truth, and eager to do what is good.