Instructions for the Church

Church discipline & care of widows and elders

Order of Service

Welcome

Prayer

Hymn -

Notices

Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm

Friday 7pm - Online

Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm

Tithes & Offerings - £

Main Prayer

Hymn - THERE IS A HOPE THAT BURNS WITHIN MY HEART (1230)

Reading

1 Timothy 5 ESV

Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows. 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. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. 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. Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 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. But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. 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. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. For some have already strayed after Satan. 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. Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear. 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. Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure. (No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.) The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Sermon

Correcting Sin

1 Timothy 5:1–2 ESV

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

in the course of pastoral work there are times Timothy will have to correct the faults of others

do not sharply rebuke - Avoid treating them harshly - show respect & love

older men - fathers

younger men - brothers

older women - mothers

younger women - sisters

in the action of purifying

Widows

1 Timothy 5:3 ESV

Honor widows who are truly widows.

Honor means give consideration to

implies material support

widow - one bereaved and deprived of husband and means of support

the neglect of widows is why the first deacons were appointed

truely widows (play on words) - truly in need of support

Orphans and Widows:

James 1:27 ESV

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

1 Timothy 5:4 ESV

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.

Against natural state

Dutch proverb “it seems easier for one poor father to bring up ten children than for ten rich children to provide for one poor father”

implied in 5th commandment “honor your father and your mother”

1 Timothy 5:5–6 ESV

She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.

true widow, left all alone

set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day

she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives

1 Timothy 5:7 ESV

Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.

Command & Teach

1 Timothy 5:8 ESV

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.

verse explains itself

they lack love

1 Timothy 5:9–10 ESV

Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, 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.

enroll

widow over 60 years of age

wife of one husband

having good reputation for good works

brought up children

shown hospitality

wash the feet of the saints

cared for teh afflicted

devoted to every good work

1 Timothy 5:11–12 ESV

But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith.

refuse to enroll younger widows

they may pledge to dedicate themselves to Christ

their passions draw the away from Christ

they desire to marry

contrary to their pledged devotion to Christ

1 Timothy 5:13 ESV

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.

1 Timothy 5:14 ESV

So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

1 Timothy 5:15 ESV

For some have already strayed after Satan.

1 Timothy 5:16 ESV

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.

1 Timothy 5:17 ESV

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:18 ESV

For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.”

first saying Deut 25:4

Deuteronomy 25:4 ESV

“You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain.

second Jesus’ words Luke 10:7 & Matthew 10:10

Luke 10:7 ESV

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.

Paul reiterated this teaching

1 Corinthians 9:14 ESV

In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

1 Timothy 5:19 ESV

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

Deut 17:6 - putting to death for serving other God’s

Numbers 35:30 - putting to death for murder

Pastors/Elders are safeguarded against having to answer a charge unless supported by evidence of two or three witnesses

Lacking this criteria the accusation must not be even taken up or entertained

The reputation of the elder must not be unnecessarily damaged, and his work must not suffer unnecessary interruption

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.

For those who persist in sin

Repentance is required (Leviticus 4:22)

if no repentance, must be rebuked publically

1 Timothy 5:21 ESV

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.

read verse

prejudging - a prior, anticipatory decision

partiality - lean againgst elder or join with accuser

facts and a concrete case, fully investogated, must be established

1 Timothy 5:22 ESV

Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor take part in the sins of others; keep yourself pure.

1 Timothy 5:23 ESV

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

1 Timothy 5:24–25 ESV

The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Some sins are so obvious, they go before them to judgement

the sins of others appear later

So also good works are obvious

works that are not good cannot remain hidden

Hymn -

Q&A

Hymn -

Closing Prayer

Doxology