General Principles

The general principle is that older people in the church due to their wisdom and experience should be instructing the younger people in the church of like gender.
In addition to the leadership, biblical instruction should occur informally and personally through other people in God’s flock.
Titus 2 relationships are intended to "pass the torch," prepare and equip the next generation of believers.

Practical Guidelines

Like genders should be working with each other. For example, an older woman should assist the immodest young lady and an older man should address the younger man who needs to develop a more sensible spirit.
Much of this instruction is often informal. While we would not wish to exclude an "official" Bible study, some of the most effective Titus 2 relationships have been friendships that incorporate biblical principles through a life-on-life association. Possibly it could be a conversation over lunch or during a walk or while enjoying a shared interest. It often makes it more comfortable to have a purpose for your meeting that is secondary to the discipleship process (i.e. making spaghetti sauce, decorating cookies, etc).
In order to be profitable, instruction should focus on but not be limited to, the specific principles mentioned in Titus 2. These principles primarily center upon character and domestic responsibilities.
Some possible conversation starters (for both parties):
- What are you studying in God’s Word?
- What has the Lord been teaching you?
- How did you do this when you were my age?
- What did your typical day look like?
- What do you wish you had done differently?
- What are some of the greatest lessons you learned from marriage and parenting?

To Those Mentoring:

You should spend much time listening to those you are discipling. This will actively show you care, encourage the person to "open up," and enable you to engage another’s thoughts and feelings.
The most effective way you can teach is through example. Your actions will impart far greater instruction than your words.
Take the initiative. Many younger people do not know where to begin or what questions to ask.
Always base your instruction on the authority of Scripture. Keep taking the younger individual back to the Word. Remember, the context of Titus 2 is "sound doctrine" (Tit. 2:1). While the instruction should be very practical, it always should be based in sound theology. It is only the truth of God’s Word that the Holy Spirit will use in and through us.
Here is a good way to direct the younger people to the Word of God for their answers and facilitate further discussion. If a question arises, offer a few verses that the individual is to consider and then have the person return with what he or she believes is the correct response.
Offer advice but remember you are not the Holy Spirit. In the gray areas, younger people need the freedom to think and choose for themselves and oftentimes learn from their mistakes.
Pay attention to the interests of young people.
Be God-centered!
Build a relationship.
Be sure to spend time in prayer together.
Encourage! Encourage! Encourage!
Seek the Lord as to who He would like you to train and mentor.
It should be your goal to get the person you are mentoring to the point where he or she can mentor others (2 Tim. 2:2).

To Those Being Mentored:

Don’t expect older adults to immerse themselves in your life. They are busy too! Furthermore, the young people far outnumber the older folks. Be happy and content with the times you are able to meet. When not officially together, make a special effort to observe them through the ebbs and flows of life.
Older does not always means more spiritually mature. However, even if you know the Scriptures better, the older people have much to impart that they have learned with age that especially relates to the character issues and domestic responsibilities outlined in Titus 2.
Be humble, teachable and thankful.
Have eyes to see the needs of those assisting you. Bless them by your service.
Remember older people are not perfect. They are learning too!
If you feel no one is pursuing you, take the initiative yourself to begin a mentoring relationship.

Further Thoughts

Older people are to be addressed with respect and younger women in all purity (1 Tim. 5:1-2). Even Titus as a young male pastor was called to spend the least amount of time with the young ladies (Tit. 2:2-8).
Classifications are not to be inflexible. There can easily be a mentoring relationship within a similar age classification. For example a mature young lady may find great success discipling a new young lady in the faith.
In the ideal situation, a child’s primary instructor should be his or her parents (Eph. 6:4) and wife’s primary instructor should be her husband (1 Cor. 14:35; Eph. 5:25-27).
Each one of us should be engaged in this discipleship process. We should be reaching down to those who we can assist and reaching up to those who can assist us. There are to be no spectators or lone rangers. We are all to be givers and takers.
These informal relationships for the purpose of spiritual growth are the foundation of a healthy church community.
For those who think the church today is too weak and the culture is too godless to implement this instruction, remember what Titus was up against in Crete when he received this instruction (Tit. 1:10-16)!

Helpful Quotes

Sorry they are all from the ladies perspective; the guy’s side obviously applies as well!

One woman said, "I am hesitant to try to define the roles and relationships of mentoring (too precisely). For Biblical mentoring is not a church program or a new fad which one must play in accordance with someone’s prescribed set of rules. It is, in fact, a lifestyle — a lifestyle to which Christian women have been appointed by God. It is a lifestyle in which older Christian women invest themselves as servants of God in the lives of their younger Christian sisters, and younger Christian women, in humble, joyful obedience to their Lord learn how better to please Him in their calling within the home."
Gene Getz in his book Elders and Leaders said, "Paul presented this "older woman (teaching) younger woman" model as one of the greatest teaching opportunities mature Christian women can have in the church. They care share wisdom out of their years of experience, something even mature men have no capacity to do. Furthermore, these mature women can do what men should not do in a personal setting — to communicate with women regarding very intimate matters. It’s obvious Timothy faced this challenge in Ephesus when Paul exhorted him — particularly as a young sin man — to "treat…older women as mothers, and younger woman as sisters, with absolute purity" (1 Ti. 5:1-2) (p. 118).
According to Martha Peace, "A Titus 2 woman is an older, mature Christian woman who teaches and encourages the younger women. Her ministry is based on the Scripture passage in Titus 2:3-5. It seemed to me that every Christian woman regardless of age or marital status should aspire to become a Titus 2 Woman. It also seemed to me that most churches today are woefully lacking in the training of these ladies. They may have organized woman’s functions, but there seems to be few if any older women who are discipling the younger women biblically as required in Titus 2:3-5" (Becoming a Titus 2 Woman, Introduction).