Family: 1 Timothy 5:1-2

1 Timothy - Lasting Instruction: Family: 1 Timothy 5:1-2 Pastor John Weathersby Sunday March 10, 2019 Have you ever tried to layout for someone something that felt so basic it was difficult to detail? Perhaps you can see things in easy steps, or maybe you’ve been doing it for so long it’s just easy. Maybe you’re been at work, and there is that person that’s been there forever, they just know how to get things done, and they make it all so easy… That’s what I think we see in Paul here. And it’s interesting - I think we often see a side of Paul that feels rules oriented, here we see his personal side. Paul here is laying out a general approach for Timothy as a leader to be personable, winsome, and build a spirit of grace in the church body. Paul has been instructing Timothy on matters of church structure and discipline, he’s talked to him about protecting the church from bad doctrine - but now we see Paul’s character come through. Also we see not an exhaustive list of how to be Church family - like write these down and if you’re doing each, you’re doing it you’re nailing the Christian life— rather you see two things: 1) markers of church family 2) results of growing together as church family. Paul continues in 1 Timothy 5. It’s a continuation of his Lasting Instruction to Timothy, which is lasting instruction for the Church today. 1 Timothy 5:1–2 (ESV) Instructions for the Church 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. Rebuke here is a harsher treatment. The word carries with it a sense just short of physical harm almost. To metaphorically give blows or to beat. Do not be verbally harsh with an older man, young Timothy; encourage him as you would a father. This doesn’t say that Timothy shouldn’t rebuke an older man 1 Timothy 5:20 (ESV) “As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear” this is not undone because of 1 Timothy 5:1-2. There are lots of ways you can talk to people as a leader giving correction - young Timothy is encouraged as someone who is to lead, that he should be correcting in a way that people would want to follow. Leaders, without followers may not be good leaders - the life of the Church is in balance. Paul can seem so harsh, but in scripture he is correcting specific errors - I think in person he would have been different than he comes off in his letters, at times. Here in the midst of doctrinal truth we’re seeing his softer encouraging side. Younger men, should be treated as brothers. Young Timothy in his leadership is being encouraged not to lord over people. How to correct yet still be encouraging. Have you ever talked to someone who points out where they think you’re wrong in such a way it just makes you angry with them because honestly they’re just a jerk, verses someone who causes you to actually think. I appreciate that person who causes me to think, the person who is a jerk just solidifies me because I’m reading to them and not their point. Paul encourages young leader Timothy, don’t be the hardening agent be graceful - with older men don’t speak harshly give them respect and due - to younger men think of them as family talk to them lovingly, and younger women as sisters… but he ends here, in all purity. 1 Timothy 5:2 (ESV) 2 older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Why? Timothy is a young guy I see two reasons Timothy needs to watch his purity here - 1 for his own good, two for the younger woman good, 3 for the churches good. 1) His own good To watch his own affections, we’re to be far from temptation, not delivered into evil. Men and women naturally attract Timothy is to actively guard against this. He is a leader and shepherd, not a dating show candidate - he is not a participant on The Bachelor handing out roses - he is the under shepherd of Jesus leading people to deeper love of God. I read a tragic story from one of the SBC seminaries with a professor in an abusive relationship with a young woman recently, I’ve been in a church that was split and lastingly hurt over a pastor sleeping with his secretary (and administrative pastor’s daughter) Pastor guard against those relationships, they grow over time, Timothy says to young Timothy - be pure in your relationships with women in the church, what are your guide rails, not guard rails. Guard rails keep you from flying off the road but get you really close - guide rails tell you where you should be. 2) The younger woman’s good Emotions are confusing - having an environment of purity keeps them from coming into play. Perhaps Timothy’s meetings with the ladies of the church shouldn’t be over a glass of wine and a candle. But, what else should Timothy guard against? If he is remembering the young woman is a child of God, a treasured valued member of God’s kingdom for whom Jesus’ blood was spilled, perhaps he’ll treat her differently? He is a leader of Jesus’ church - not looking who should get a rose at the end of the night. 3) The Churches good This has to do with inappropriate relationships (guard rails) as well as perceptions (guide rails) of inappropriate relationships. We can tend to forget that the Church is Jesus church. People would at times say, they don’t like the Church, they just follow Jesus, perhaps “I don’t follow men, I follow Jesus” - I wonder if they’ve even listened to Jesus Matthew 16:18, Jesus stood up, gave the pattern for and organized the church. Sent the Disciples on mission, created the apostles (Ephesians 2:20) who’d build the church, grow the church, and now in Paul pass down the church. Paul tells Timothy in this book how to protect the church - and so, would we have people saying of a church, I don’t know that pastor is a womanizer (think it doesn’t happen - think again). Matthew 16:18 (ESV) 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Ephesians 2:20 (ESV) 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, Guard rails let the car slam into them and keep them just far enough from death - guide rails keep the cars in safe places, you don’t touch them, you’re aware of them keenly - Church we need to know we’re but dust, sin. Consider some things here: Genesis 4:7 (ESV) 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.” James 1:14–15 (ESV) 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Let me leave you with 3 John 11 (ESV) 11 Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. Timothy is to watch his conduct. I love that Paul included all this talk of family matters and treatment of people down at the categorical level sandwiched in the middle of rich doctrine to Timothy. Because if you’re all doctrine, if you’re all about being right on matters of Scripture but there is no love in you, if you’re a cold argumentative Christian, if you’re not in Christian family, you’re missing it. Also, this is encouragement, not a battling ram. I’ve heard people say - they’re not served well by the church - you may be missing it. Paul shows. 1) Markers of church family. 2) Growing together as church family. Pray: Pray through the following questions: • Does my treatment of people show a mark of God on my life? • Do I help create a family atmosphere in my church life? • Am I hard to get along with, or easy to get along with? • Am I coldly argumentative or do I encourage peoples considering of the scripture? • Am I as other winsome Christians were to me?