1 Timothy 5

Intro

We’ve been going through 1 Timothy for the duration of summer, and we’ve been going through it in this round table kind of discussion.

Everyone online, I realize that it has not quite been the same experience for you, but I would encourage you, if you are watching or listening to this later, to join us on Sunday mornings, jump on Altar, and participate with the others who are logged on.

The biggest reason I would encourage you to join is because what we’ve been doing is training for ministry. We often equate ministry to what I do; grab a microphone and make a presentation about the facts and the scripture. Actually, ministry is what you’ve been doing these last 6 weeks. You don’t have to have all the answers, you just need to share from your experience and perspective. You just have to be willing to walk with people as they discover who Christ is.

What is happening every Sunday at your tables is ministry, and you’ve been doing it all summer long. The challenge now is to keep on doing it. Don’t stop, keep having conversations and encouraging one another.

So real quick, for those who have been a part of our summer journey, what do you think about the discussion style service? Do you like it? Should we keep this style? Couple minutes, let’s hear some feedback.

Pause for Thoughts

1 Timothy 5

as we dive into 1 Timothy 5, one of the things that jumps out right away is the correlation between the church and family.

Paul uses members of a family as the standard that Timothy should use when talking to different age categories within the church.

1 Timothy 5:1–2 NLT

Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.

now these are really great analogies and guideposts for someone that grew up in a somewhat healthy family, but what if you didn’t grow up in a functional, healthy family?

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You read, “Talk to younger men as you would your own brother” and get very uncomfortable. Do you know how my brothers and I talk to each other?

This also plays a factor in how some people relate to God. If we are to see God as our Father, and our earthly father was abusive or judgmental, that is going to have a major impact on our view of God.

This verse may also explain why some people have trouble connecting in church. Believers share a deeper connection with each other then people outside the church because we have the Spirit of God in us that brings unity where there would otherwise be division. But if you grew up in an unhealthy family, the instant you begin to feel that connection, you become defensive against it.

One of the things you are going to discuss this morning is what do those relationships look like when they are healthy.

The second family connection Paul makes is in taking care of people in our families. Paul goes to great extent to unpack how widows are to be handled. Interesting verse I want to point out that needs to be understood in a broader context.

1 Timothy 5:13 NLT

And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.

Paul is addressing younger widows here, but I would suggest that maybe all women need to heed of this. The only reason I point to the women is because last week Paul gave instruction to the men.

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Last week, Paul told Timothy to work hard and give himself to his tasks so he wouldn’t get swept up in empty discussions and arguments. Men, is it fair to say that when we are lazy or not working, we tend to become argumentative and can easily get swept up in controversy.

On the flip side, ladies, would it not be fair to say that when you are not busy, it is easy to get swept up in the latest gossip and stick your nose where it doesn’t belong? I mean, not anyone here, but you know of ladies that can get caught in that?

but more importantly, I want to point out 1 Timothy 5:8

1 Timothy 5:8 NLT

But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

In chapter 3, Paul said that anyone who cannot manage their own household well should not be put in leadership of the church.

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Paul is talking about widows, but wouldn’t it be fair to say that there are those who expect the church to care for their families.

When it comes to kids, just trust that Sunday school and Kidz club are enough, not taking any initiative of our own to grow our kids spirituality.

How about the youth? How about your spouse? I’m so glad that my spouse is involved with the mens or womens ministry so that they get some good spiritual teaching. Why aren’t you taking initiative to growing together as a couple?

You may not have any widows to take care of in your family, but you probably have some family members that need your attention.

The final point has to do with gossip. I want to paint a scenario for you. If you had someone come up to you with a story about your sibling or your parent, and it is less then flattering, would you not defend your family member? Would you not do the due diligence to look into it and see if it was true?

Paul closes the chapter by telling Timothy the same thing. Paul is addressing when an accusation comes against an elder, but I would expand it to anyone in the church. If you hear something about someone, look into it. If 2 or 3 people corroborate the story, then deal with it. If only one person is bringing the accusation, the person is a gossip and needs to be corrected.

Closing

Take a look around the room. Every single person in the sanctuary is part of your faith family. That means the bond you share with each of them goes deeper than a casual aquaintence on Sundays. These are you brothers and sisters and need to be loved accordingly. God has adopted each person here into His family at great cost. So the same way we invest ourselves to see our kids and our families grow and succeed in life and faith, we need to invest ourselves into each other with the same goal in mind.

You are part of the family of God. Treat those who are older as though they were your parents. Treat those that are the same age as if they are your siblings, and treat those that are younger like your own kids. When we act like the family of God, then the world will see us for our love and know we disciples of the living God.

On to your discussion

1. What stands out to you from the passage?

2. What does a heathy family look like? What was your upbringing like?

3. Read 1 Timothy 5:8 again. What does it mean to care for your relatives? How should a believer’s care differ from an unbelievers?

4. What would it look like if believers loved each other like family? How can we grow in that love?