The Titus 2 Model for Mentoring Women

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Spiritual Mothering
By Susan Hunt
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Part I
The Mandate

“You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be
temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in
endurance. 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. Then they can train the
younger women to love their husbands and children, 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.”

-Titus 2:1-5

(Hunt, 2016, p. 7)
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“The combination of younger women who are teachable and godly older women
who are willing to open their hearts gave us the privilege of obeying the Titus
mandate.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 3)

Chapter 1
Our Reference Point
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…
how often I have longed to gather your children together,
as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.”
-Matthew 23:37
(Hunt, 2016, p. 11)

(Hunt, 2016, p. 7)
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Chapter 2
A Life Purpose
“I am the Lord’s servant.
…May it be to me as you have said.”
-Luke 1:38
(Hunt, 2016, p. 25)

“This life-purpose is the driving force of our spiritual mothering definition: ‘When a woman
possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a relationship with a younger woman in
order to encourage and equip her to love for God’s glory.’ The relationship is not the driving
force of spiritual mothering-God’s glory is the premier purpose.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 25)
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The Command

“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. Then they can train the younger women.” -Titus 2:3-4
(Hunt, 2016, p. 39)

“It is interesting that of all the ways Paul could have told the women to combat the
decadence of their culture, he told them to invest their energies in training the younger
women to live Christianly in their society” (Hunt, 2016, p. 43).
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“Paul was smart enough to know that women need women to train them
how to apply God’s Word to areas of our lives that are uniquely
feminine.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 45)

“If you are a Christian woman who is seeking to grow in the faith and to live obediently, then
you are qualified for spiritual motherhood” (Hunt, 2016, p. 49).

“There are wonderful benefits associated with the Titus command. When we make an
investment in younger women, we will be enriched personally, the sense of community in
the local church will be deepened, society will be blessed, and God’s Word will
be honored.”

(Hunt, 2016, p. 51)

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Chapter 4
The Curriculum

“Train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and
pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands.” -Titus 2:4-5
(Hunt, 2016, p. 55)

“Modeling is probably the most effective way older women train younger women.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 57)

“No spoken words will ever teach young women how to love as powerfully as love-filled lives
of older women.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 59)
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Part II
The Model
See Luke 1:30-55

Chapter 5
A Nurturing Relationship
”Mary…hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered Zechariah’s
home and greeted Elizabeth.”-Luke 1:39
(Hunt, 2016, p. 73)

“When two women join together in the study of God’s Word, prayer, and praise, they
enjoy an eternal bond that is possible only because of God’s grace.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 75)
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Chapter 6
Encourage and Equip

”In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women…!” -Luke 1:42
(Hunt, 2016, p. 87)

“We must not allow the voices of the world to set the agenda for this decade, nor must
we allow those voices to teach women how to be women.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 93)
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Chapter 7
To Live for God’s Glory

”My soul praises the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” -Luke 1:46
(Hunt, 2016, p. 97)

 Biblical World View Replaces “My”

 Humility Replaces Pride
World View
 Security Replaces Possessiveness
“Our approach changes from ‘come into my  Appreciation Replaces Resentment
world and make me happy,’ to ‘Father, show  A Legacy of Trust
me how to go into Your world and glorify (Hunt, 2016, pp. 98-105)

You.”
(Hunt, 2016, pp. 98-99)
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Part III
The Method
See Hebrews 10:10-25

Chapter 8
The Ministry of Encouragement
”Encourage one another and build each other up.”-1 Thessalonians 5:11
(Hunt, 2016, p. 113)

“Encouragement is the “If we reverse the process-if we insist on equipping

context in which equipping before we have encouraged-we drive women deeper
can take place.” into the cave. Love motivates. Guilt devastates.”
(Hunt, 2016, p. 115) (Hunt, 2016, p. 123.
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Chapter 10
The Cornerstone of Forgiveness
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave
you.” –Ephesians 4:32

 Breaking the Barrier of

Unforgiveness “Our forgiveness may or may not bring about
 Restraining Bitterness and reconciliation, but it will free us to have a right
Resentment relationship with God and with others.”
 The Fruit of Grace

(Hunt, 2016, p. 141-154)

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Chapter 11
Comfort the Comfortless

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” –Isaiah 66:13

“Our tendency to self-sufficiency

“Caring enough to ‘be there’ communicates loving
can only be overcome when our
situation is beyond our sufficiency.” involvement in another’s pain.”

(Hunt, 2016, p. 159-163)

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“Women have a capacity for comfort and an inclination for action which are
powerful resources in our churches. When women’s nurturing instincts are
mobilized, the ministry of comfort in a church is energized. Comfort creates the
context in which a woman can be encouraged and equipped to use her pain for
God’s glory.” (Parks, 2006, p. 169)
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Chapter 12
Staying…and Separating
“Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.” –Luke
1:56

 Energy to Stay
 Confidence to Separate
 A Change in Relationship
 The Ministry of Spiritual
Mothering
“Not every woman can give biological birth, but
every Christian woman can enter the high calling of
spiritual reproduction and motherhood.”

(Hunt, 2016, p. 173-184)

 Reference
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Hunt, S. (2016). Spiritual mothering: The Titus 2 model for women
mentoring women. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books.