Becoming a Titus 2 Woman
Growing Older in Grace, Wisdom, and Purpose
Scripture Reading: Titus 2:3–5 and 2 Timothy 1:3–5 (KJV)
Good Morning, Ladies. Pull Up a Chair.
Today, I want you to imagine something with me.
Two rocking chairs sitting side by side on an old Southern porch.
In one chair sits a woman who has lived through decades of life's joys, disappointments, mistakes, and victories.
In the other sits a younger woman, trying to figure out marriage, motherhood, relationships, faith, or simply where she belongs in this world.
There's no podium.
No microphone.
No classroom.
Just two women, a couple of cups of coffee, and an honest conversation.
One woman has questions.
The other doesn't have all the answers.
But she's willing to listen, open her Bible, and share what she's learned.
Ladies, when I think about the ministry of mentoring, that's the picture that comes to mind.
And I believe it's something we need more of today.
Not older women standing over younger women telling them how to live, but women walking alongside one another and growing in God's Word.
What Does Titus 2 Actually Teach About Mentoring?
Let's return to our foundational passage.
Paul writes:
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." — Titus 2:3–5 (KJV)
Now, ladies, there's a lot in these verses.
And I don't want us to rush through them or pull out only the parts that sound comfortable.
Remember the context.
Paul left Titus in Crete to help establish order in the churches and encourage sound doctrine.
In Titus 2, he addresses different groups within the church and explains how their conduct should reflect the truth they profess.
Older women are instructed to live reverently and become teachers of good things.
And then Paul explains that their teaching should help younger women develop godly character and fulfill their responsibilities faithfully.
Notice something important.
Paul gives older women a meaningful responsibility in the spiritual formation of younger women.
Their role isn't insignificant.
Their experience isn't dismissed.
And their influence isn't limited to their own households.
But we also need to recognize that Paul is addressing women within a particular first-century setting, including younger women who were wives and mothers.
We shouldn't turn these verses into a claim that every woman must be married or have children to be faithful to God.
Nor should we assume every woman will mentor in exactly the same way.
The larger principle is that mature believers have a responsibility to help others grow in faith and godly living.
And for older women, Titus 2 makes that responsibility especially clear.
Mentoring Is More Than Giving Advice
Let's talk about something that can be difficult for those of us who have lived a little life.
Sometimes we confuse wisdom with having an opinion about everything.
We've raised children.
We've worked jobs.
We've navigated relationships.
We've experienced disappointments.
And when we see a younger woman facing something we've already been through, our first instinct may be to tell her exactly what she needs to do.
But here's something I want us to consider.
Just because we've experienced something doesn't mean we fully understand someone else's circumstances.
Our experiences can be valuable.
But they are not Scripture.
The way we raised our children may not be the only faithful way to raise children.
The decisions we made in our marriages may not be appropriate for every marriage.
And the traditions we grew up with may not all be biblical commands.
A Titus 2 woman needs discernment.
She needs to know the difference between what God's Word requires and what she personally prefers.
Because mentoring isn't about producing younger versions of ourselves.
It's about helping other women become more faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes the Best Thing We Can Do Is Listen
Have you ever shared a struggle with someone and, before you could finish speaking, they started telling you what you should do?
They may have meant well.
But perhaps you weren't looking for instructions.
Maybe you just needed someone to hear you.
I think we sometimes forget how powerful listening can be.
Especially when we're mentoring younger women.
They may be navigating challenges that look different from what we faced at their age.
The world has changed.
Technology has changed.
Workplaces have changed.
Family dynamics have changed.
But the truth of God's Word remains.
Our responsibility isn't to insist that younger women recreate the lives we lived.
It's to help them apply biblical truth faithfully within their own circumstances.
And sometimes that begins with asking a simple question.
"Tell me what you're going through."
Then listening.
Not interrupting.
Not comparing.
Not immediately correcting.
Just listening.
Because you cannot wisely encourage someone if you haven't taken the time to understand what she's facing.
A Beautiful Example: Lois, Eunice, and Timothy
Now I want us to turn to 2 Timothy.
Paul writes:
"When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also." — 2 Timothy 1:5 (KJV)
I love this passage.
Paul is writing to Timothy, his younger coworker in ministry.
And he remembers the sincere faith that was evident in Timothy.
But he also mentions two women.
His grandmother, Lois.
And his mother, Eunice.
Think about that.
These women are remembered in Scripture because of their faith.
And Paul recognizes that same sincere faith in Timothy.
Now, the passage doesn't tell us every conversation they had with him.
It doesn't describe their daily routines or explain exactly how they taught him.
But it clearly connects the faith of these women with the faith Paul recognizes in Timothy.
Later, in 2 Timothy 3:15, Paul reminds Timothy that he has known the Holy Scriptures from childhood.
Together, these passages give us a beautiful picture of faith being nurtured across generations.
And ladies, I want you to notice something.
Lois and Eunice weren't described as famous speakers.
We aren't told that they led large ministries.
We aren't given a list of impressive accomplishments.
Yet their names are preserved in Scripture.
Never underestimate the influence of a woman who faithfully teaches and lives God's Word.
You Don't Have to Be a Mother to Be a Mentor
I want to make something clear today.
Not every woman has children.
Not every woman has grandchildren.
Some women have experienced infertility.
Some have lost children.
Some never married.
And some have families that look very different from what they imagined.
But that doesn't mean they have nothing to offer the next generation.
The ministry of encouraging younger believers is not limited to biological motherhood.
Maybe you're the woman who takes time to encourage a young coworker.
Maybe you're the aunt who listens without judgment.
Maybe you're the woman at church who notices when someone is sitting alone.
Maybe you lead a Bible study.
Or perhaps you're simply willing to open your home and make room for a conversation.
There are so many ways to invest in another woman's spiritual growth.
And sometimes the most meaningful mentoring relationships begin without anyone officially calling them mentoring.
They begin with kindness.
Consistency.
Trust.
And a willingness to show up.
The Danger of Turning Mentoring Into Control
Now, ladies, here's where I think we need to examine our hearts.
Because mentoring can become unhealthy when we start believing that younger women must follow our advice in order to be faithful to God.
There's a difference between offering biblical guidance and trying to control another person's decisions.
A mentor should never make herself the final authority in someone else's life.
That place belongs to God.
And Scripture must remain our standard.
We should encourage younger women to study the Bible for themselves.
To pray.
To seek wise counsel.
To grow in discernment.
And to take responsibility for their own decisions.
Sometimes they'll make choices we wouldn't make.
Sometimes they'll disagree with us.
And sometimes they'll teach us something we needed to learn.
That doesn't mean the relationship has failed.
It may mean we're both growing.
A godly mentor doesn't need to be the most important voice in a younger woman's life. She wants God's Word to be the most important voice.
What If You Don't Feel Qualified?
Maybe you're reading this today and thinking:
"I don't know enough about the Bible."
"I've made too many mistakes."
"My own life is still a work in progress."
"Who am I to mentor anybody?"
Ladies, I understand those feelings.
And I think we need to approach this with humility.
No one should pretend to possess biblical knowledge or maturity they haven't developed.
If we're going to teach God's Word, we have a responsibility to study it carefully.
But we don't have to know everything before we can encourage someone.
We can begin by being faithful students of Scripture ourselves.
We can say:
"Let's look that up together."
"I'm not sure what that passage means. Let's study it."
"I've struggled with that too."
"I made a mistake, and here's what I learned."
There's no shame in admitting what we don't know.
In fact, that kind of honesty may be one of the most valuable lessons we can pass down.
A Personal Thought From the Well
One of the reasons The Midlife Well means so much to me is because I believe women need places where they can have honest conversations.
Not just about the easy things.
But about the hard things too.
Marriage.
Family.
Aging.
Faith.
Disappointment.
Starting over.
And all those questions we sometimes feel uncomfortable asking.
I don't want this to become a place where one woman stands at the front claiming to have all the answers.
I want it to be a place where we open our Bibles together.
Where women can learn.
Where older women can share wisdom without judgment.
And where younger women feel welcomed rather than measured against someone else's expectations.
Because I think there's something beautiful about women of different generations sitting at the same table.
One has lived through things the other hasn't experienced yet.
The other may see something from a perspective the older woman hasn't considered.
And both have something to learn.
Maybe that's one of the things we've been missing.
We've become so accustomed to separating people by age and stage of life that we've forgotten how much we can learn from one another.
And I want to help change that.
One conversation at a time.
One open Bible at a time.
One chair at the well at a time.
I don't want to be remembered as a woman who always had something to say. I want to be remembered as a woman who helped others find their way into God's Word.
Day 5: Let's Study Together
Read: Titus 2:1–5, 2 Timothy 1:3–5, and 2 Timothy 3:14–15.
As you study, consider the difference between biblical instruction, personal experience, and cultural traditions.
Then reflect on these questions:
According to Titus 2:3–5, what are older women instructed to teach, and why does Paul connect their teaching with godly behavior?
What does the example of Lois and Eunice teach us about the influence of faith across generations?
What is the difference between mentoring someone and simply giving unsolicited advice?
Have I ever expected a younger woman to follow my personal preferences as though they were biblical requirements?
What qualities would make a younger woman feel safe coming to me with questions or struggles?
Am I continuing to grow in my own understanding of Scripture so that I can encourage others faithfully?
Today's Journal Assignment
Complete these statements:
One woman who has influenced my spiritual growth is...
One lesson she taught me, through her words or example, is...
One way I can intentionally encourage a younger woman is...
Today's Challenge: Make Room for Another Woman
Think of one woman you could encourage this week.
She doesn't have to be much younger than you.
She may simply be in a different season of life or faith.
Reach out to her.
Invite her for coffee.
Send an encouraging message.
Ask how she's doing.
Or offer to read a passage of Scripture together.
But here's the important part.
Don't approach the conversation with a list of things you need to teach her.
Approach it with a willingness to listen.
Let the relationship develop naturally.
And ask God to give you wisdom about how you can be an encouragement.
Let's Pray
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the women You have placed in my life.
For the ones who encouraged me when I was struggling.
For the ones who prayed for me.
For the ones who spoke truth when I needed correction.
And for the ones whose quiet faithfulness showed me what it means to walk with You.
Lord, help me become that kind of woman for someone else.
Give me wisdom rooted in Your Word.
Teach me to listen before I speak.
Guard my heart against pride, judgment, and the desire to control others.
Help me recognize the difference between biblical truth and my own personal opinions.
And when You place another woman in my path, help me encourage her with humility, compassion, and grace.
May I never point her toward myself when I should be pointing her toward Jesus.
In His precious name, Amen.
Before You Leave the Well...
Ladies, I want to leave you with a question today.
Who is a woman who has made a lasting difference in your life, and what did she teach you?
Maybe it was your grandmother.
Your mother.
A Sunday school teacher.
A friend.
Or someone who simply took the time to listen when you needed it most.
I'd love for you to share about her in the comments.
And if she's still living, maybe today would be a wonderful day to tell her how much her influence has meant to you.
Tomorrow, we're moving into Day 6: Still Bearing Fruit.
We're going to look at what Scripture teaches about spiritual fruitfulness in our later years and discover why our usefulness in God's kingdom isn't measured by our age or how busy we are.
Until then, keep your Bible open and your heart teachable.
And remember:
You don't need a platform to make a difference. Sometimes all you need is an open Bible, a listening ear, and an empty chair beside you.
There's always room for another woman at the well.
The Midlife Well
Where midlife meets living water.