1 Timothy 5

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Feast of Purim

St. Pats on March 15th

Activity

Amoeba

An elimination game where players try to pull others into an object.

Players stand in a circle and hold hands. A trash can is in the middle of the circle. The leader says 3-2-1-go at which point players, while holding tightly to the hands of the players next to them, try to pull the circle back so that other plays are pulled into the trashcan.

If a player touches the trash can, they are out. If two players let go of each others hands, both of those players are out. The last one remaining wins.

Life as a Family

Lesson Summary

Tonight I’m going to start with a very brief lesson on how to relate to the older and younger generations. After that, I would like to split into groups where each group will spend time focusing on either our relationship to widows or to elders (pastors) and as slaves to masters.

The church is a family. In fact, in Jesus’s day the church was treated much in the way that families were treated. Here’s a big word “patrilinealism.” This is an idea that means the greatest relationship in the ancient world was between siblings. Brothers and brothers and sisters and sisters and brothers and sisters. Before a woman would marry, she needed not only approval from her father, but her brothers and sisters as well. This is super foreign to us. The idea was that bringing someone into the family would change the family dynamics relationally, morally, spiritually, religiously, financially, and practically.

When you think about the weight of a brother or sister at that time, think about this: why do Christians call each other brothers and sisters in Christ?

It’s because it is one of the weightiest relationships you will ever have. Being a brother and sister in Christ means you look out for the whole family and everyone who enters in. Instead of people marrying into the family of Christ, which does happen, God himself is the one who increases our family. Yes, we preach and share the gospel, but we don’t get to be choosy about who becomes a Christian. We rejoice when anyone turns to Christ.

But our relationship as brothers and sisters is also strong. We have older brothers and younger brothers. We have older sisters and younger sisters. We have stronger and weaker siblings. We have siblings with different social statuses. We have siblings who are slaves and some who are masters. We have siblings who are married and widowed.

All of them are the strongest relationships we have in this world.

Paul is presenting us another example of how to live in this family, in the church. Our sin isn’t yet gone and we need to remember how to treat one another.

Tonight you all will teach something in groups. You can teach it how you like, but you will need to think through how you can make this all work in your life today.

I’ll start, and give you a quick example of how to think through it. Let’s do the first 2 verses of 1 Timothy together.

(1)Relating Generationally

Give it a Read

I’ll read the text aloud as an example for how groups should work.

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ESV

1 Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.

Observations

Timothy is to give proper respect based on age, but respect nonetheless.

Encouragement is juxtaposed with rebuke. One can call out a sin forcefully, but Paul is explaining that older men may need to be encouraged not to sin. The approach matters just as much as the intention to help think through sin.

Younger sisters should be treated with purity. Our culture tends to devalue young women and objectify them. Christian brothers do not do this. They protect and love their sisters.

Guiding Idea

Correction is important in family. We don’t adhere to a disobedient child, but we try to help the child conform to the family. At every age, we can be like disobedient children and sometimes the younger brother calls out the older one. Rather than being a tattletale, Paul gives examples of how younger brothers treat older ones. He also talks about treating our sisters the same way with purity, that is, we seek to protect and honor the holiness of our sisters rather than objectify them as the world does. He is charged to minister to them, but in a way that protects their dignity and empowers them in the gospel.

Questions

What are some challenges you face when relating to older generations, and how can you overcome them?

Why do you think it's important to relate to different generations in your life, and how does this shape your understanding of faith?

What are some ways you can create opportunities for intergenerational activities within your family or church?

Service. Participating in family life means being at the table. You can’t only go to things like youth group, but you go to people’s homes and ask questions. You seek others who are older and ask your family to invite them over.

Teach it!

Paul is setting an example of how to treat male and female generations in the family of God.

Questions I had:

Does Paul mean I should never rebuke an older man?

What does “in purity mean?”

Answers:

I think Paul means this in a general sense. It is best to approach older Christian men with respect before making an example of them. Encouragement is more of an appeal to one’s heart and rebuke is more direct. You may win an older brother through an encouraging appeal, but you may lose him if you lambaste him before others.

In purity doesn’t mean that Timothy should stay away from young women altogether as if they were a source of temptation. Rather, he should minister to them in a way that keeps all hearts pure before the Lord. Devotion to Christ, and one’s spouse, are the best safeguards against improper relationships.

Answer the three group questions:

Language can sometimes be a challenge. Also, the technology we grew up with gives us different perespectives on how to live. Older genereations didn’t have the digital tools we have now, and often view them as “progressive and innovative” compared to what they grew up with. Younger generations tend to long for the analog and are looking for ways to disconnect. Either that, or since they don’t have the same medium of communication and etiquette around it (i.e. social media), it makes it awkward to talk.

The best way to overcome these challenges are to meet in the middle. We break ice by breaking it together. Face to face conversations that focus on mutual understanding are the best kind. We can only know someone’s intentions when they are communicated and listened to.

There is a givenness to faith. Something was given to someone that was given to someone that was given to someone. Yes, my faith is my own, but I heard the gospel from someone who learned it from someone who learned it from someone. It makes faith valuable because it was worth being passed on. Romans 10:15

Romans 10:15 ESV

15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Service. Participating in family life means being at the table. You can’t only go to things like youth group, but you go to people’s homes and ask questions. You seek others who are older and ask your family to invite them over

Ask/Answer Questions from the group.

Your Turn! Group Time

(2) Relating to Widows

Give it a Read

For this lesson, have students read the text (reading aloud is completely fine). Have them write down significant observations, ideas, or applications they come across as they read.

1 Timothy 5:3–16 ESV

3 Honor widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. 5 She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, 6 but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. 7 Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 9 Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 10 and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. 11 But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry 12 and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 13 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. 15 For some have already strayed after Satan. 16 If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.

Observations

Ask students what stood out to them before helping them think through the passage. Try to get the quiet students to speak more, and the talkative ones to give space too.

Transition into the “guiding idea” after everyone has shared.

Guiding Idea

These guiding ideas are helpful. However, if you sense that other areas of this passage need addressed to help students understand what’s happening go that direction!

Our church does have widows, but we also have a significant amount of younger people in our church. Help students think about widow care, but also to expand to the greater principle of caring for the weak, vulnerable and those who don’t have family in the church. This passage helps to show how a church can help a vulnerable community with limited resources. It affirms the dignity of widows and orphans (orphan literally means “fatherless.” If a husband and father dies, a widow’s child fits under that description).

Group Questions

In what ways can you encourage your peers to take care of their families as taught in the lesson about caring for widows?

In what practical ways can you assist younger widows in your congregation to build a supportive community?

What lessons about community and support can be drawn from the way the early church cared for its members?

Teach it!

Your group will teach their passage to the whole group. Try to keep it succinct (5-8 minutes is absolutely awesome).

To teach it, they should:

Explain the “main idea” of the passage.

What is Paul getting at here? What makes this passage valuable?

Show what questions they had after reading the passage.

Just pick 1-2 questions your group may have had.

i.e. “Why is Paul so concerned about widows? How does this relate to us today?”

Show how they think those questions can be answered.

i.e. “It looks like the widows were more vulnerable to false teaching for some reason. Maybe vulnerable people are more susceptible to falling prey to false teaching.”

Now have them answer the three Group Questions listed above.

Let the group ask questions to them about their passage, and give them a chance to answer. “I don’t know” is a perfectly acceptable answer.

(3) Relating to Elders

For this lesson, have students read the text (reading aloud is completely fine). Have them write down significant observations, ideas, or applications they come across as they read.

1 Timothy 5:17–6:2 ESV

17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 20 As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 21 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of the elect angels I charge you to keep these rules without prejudging, doing nothing from partiality. 22 Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments. 24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden. 1 Let all who are under a yoke as bondservants regard their own masters as worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and the teaching may not be reviled. 2 Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

Observations

Ask students what stood out to them before helping them think through the passage. Try to get the quiet students to speak more, and the talkative ones to give space too.

Transition into the “guiding idea” after everyone has shared.

Guiding Idea

These guiding ideas are helpful. However, if you sense that other areas of this passage need addressed to help students understand what’s happening go that direction!

Elders (pastors, elders and overseers) are held to a higher standard in the congregation, though they are not above it. It’s good to appreciate church leaders because a component of their leadership is being rebuked publically when they sin. Lord willing, they instruct not only by their teaching and preaching, but also in their repentance. The elders don’t stand above the church, but they are called out from among its members and are accountable to the church.

In the first section of chapter 6, Paul singles out slaves and how they relate to the congregation. This is an ancient institution that shows signs of transformation by early Christianity (Philemon is a great example of this). Here, focus on how Paul is calling believers to represent Christ and to honor others in their present circumstances. Liberation is good! Slavery is bad! But even the Moravians sold themselves into slavery to try to win their captors to Christ. They began this work in 1732 as cross cultural missionaries so they could share the gospel to enslaved africans and their masters.

Group Questions

How can you demonstrate respect and honor to pastors, elders and overseers in your life beyond just words? Give a specific example of what this might look like.

Why do you think Paul treat rebuking elders of a church so seriously? What do you believe it looks like to be too quick to make someone a pastor?

Why do you think being a faithful servant is important to Paul? What are some practical examples of what this might look like?

Teach it!

Your group will teach their passage to the whole group. Try to keep it succinct (5-8 minutes is absolutely awesome).

To teach it, they should:

Explain the “main idea” of the passage.

What is Paul getting at here? Why single out pastors?

Show what questions they had after reading the passage.

Just pick 1-2 questions your group may have had.

i.e. “Is Paul saying slavery is ok? How often should we bring an elder to be rebuked before the congregation?”

Show how they think those questions can be answered.

i.e. “I think slavery was common for Paul’s time. Also, I don’t think he’s advocating for slavery but is saying to glorify God in all circumstances. I don’t think an elder should be brought up every week to repent for his most recent sins. I think it’s for when he’s done something big, obvious, or blindly. Something like that maybe.”

Now have them answer the three Group Questions listed above.

Let the group ask questions to them about their passage, and give them a chance to answer. “I don’t know” is a perfectly acceptable answer.

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