1st Timothy Pt. 8: The Family of God

A Culture of Family Care

As Jesus Christ’s followers formed into communities they created culture, traditions, social norms and ways of life. They had the teaching of Jesus, O.T. Scriptures and some letters written by Apostles that were copied & circulated. In these letters, early communities of believers were given guidance by Apostles.

Theology: Revealed truth about God, His purpose, nature and how we relate to Him

Doxology: How WE respond to the revealed truth about God

Beliefs that lead to actions…which create and sustain culture. In Scripture you find belief statements with corresponding actions: Guidelines for the early church. Letters such as 1st Timothy are full of guidelines for them and for US!

Today we have: Guidelines for:

  • How leaders in Christ’s church are to correct people
  • How the Body of Christ will care for Widows

‘The List’ Acts Ch 2. Back then, The Church was the ONLY social safety net for their members. The ‘Widows’ list was the way members of Christ’s body who were without support, were taken care of.

1 Timothy 5:1-16 NASB 1995

1 Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but rather appeal to him as a father, to the younger men as brothers, 2 the older women as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.

  • This is guidance to Timothy and all who lead in Christ’s Body
  • This sentence, 2 verses, serves as a guide to ‘Christ-Like Correction’
  • When you have something hard to communicate, do it with respect
  • The idea is to treat people like they are family: be honest, yet kind
  • The end: ‘in all purity’… this is our motivation while correcting others

3 Honor widows who are widows indeed; 4 but if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents; for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

  • Criteria for the ‘Widow’ designation as it pertained to the N.T. Church
  • There must have been women getting help by faking widowhood…
  • This Scripture puts the responsibility on the family FIRST…then church
  • In Christ’s Body, the cultural is that widows are cared for, one way or another

5 Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day. 6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

  • Widows without family live in a state of dependence on God
  • They do not take it for granted that God is their only hope and source of life
  • In contrast, a focus on self-pleasure is a sign of spiritual deadness

7 Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

  • Prescribe is to ‘command’, or to ‘insist on’….why?
  • These rules protect individuals reputations AND Christ’s reputation
  • Biblical Christians live out their faith in Christ by caring for the ‘least of these’

9 A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, 10 having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.

  • Old age is a requirement
  • One marriage is a requirement
  • A reputation in the community of Christ followers for being ‘others-focused’
  • It was an expectation for women who lived godly lives to be care for

11 But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, 12 thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 13 At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house; and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention.

  • If they are young they are still going to want male companionship
  • It’s bad if they pledge to be dependent then change their mind…
  • The reason old was a requirement… they didn’t want to remove them
  • If on the list too young: they learn to be unproductive, & unhealthy relationally

14 Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; 15 for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. 16 If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed.

  • If you husband dies, keep keeping on…to avoid falling into sin [it happens]
  • The burden for family falls on men & women alike
  • The principal is to share the burden between families and the church
  • If families do their part, the church will have resources to care for the needy

Biblical Principals:

In the Body of Christ, correction of others is to be done respectfully, appealing to them as if they were family.

Christian communities have always placed a high value on honoring and financially supporting widows; first at the family level, then as a church body.

Widowhood is a place to live in dependence on God and His people, not the pursuit of whatever makes you happy.

It is unacceptable for Biblical Christians not to care for widows.

The Body of Christ has criteria for who is to be supported as a Widow. These rules are there so that all parties may honor God.

Application Questions:

Do you view other members of the Body as family and treat them as such?

Do you support widows within your family? How?

How should we support widows as a church?

Why are the correction others and the treatment of widows important to Christ’s Body?

/by

1 Timothy Pt. 7: Lifestyles of the Christian Leader

1 Timothy 4:6-16 (ESV)

20 October 2024

What is in our text this morning? Paul hits on several topics, some key themes describing how God’s leaders should act, how they should conduct themselves.
–       Instructions for godly living. He tells us what we should be doing in order to honor God with our lives.
–       He connects that to an encouragement to Timothy to be an example for others to follow.
–       Paul clarifies the mindset of a believer. He’s going to tell us why we do all this, to build a strong spiritual investment with each day, and the hope that we have in Christ.

[4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.] 6 If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. 

•       Paul is asking Timothy to be obedient and to share “these things” with the rest of the church. I believe Paul is referencing the last bit of what Todd preached last week. 

7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 9 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. 

•       These are instructions on how Timothy can focus his ministry and teaching. Not on silly things that are irreverent, disrespecting to God. Focus instead on Godliness.  
•       Paul uses the word “train”. he’s saying you have difficult work to do, and you need to prepare to do it. 
•       Paul’s point is that those preparations and the value of physically training ourselves pale in comparison to building up the character of godliness. 
•       It is important because of its lasting value. Important now and later. It is NOT just important today. 
•       This is another trustworthy saying, that Godliness will hold its value both in this life and the one to come. It is a good investment

10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. 11 Command and teach these things. 

•       He finishes the thought on Godliness by describing it as our end goal. It is “to this end” that we work hard, toil, sweat. Make your life about THIS. 
•       Paul tells us the motivation for why believers can do it. Simply, we have hope in the true and living God
•       This radically transforms our priorities and motivations. It allows us to pursue godliness
•       1 John 4:19
o       19 We love because he first loved us.
•       (vs 11) Timothy is instructed to teach the church this essential fact, that we have our hope set in Jesus, and that becoming more like him is THE goal

12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 

•       Not to be looked down upon. Also, can read this as a rebuttal to giving ourselves excuses. I’m young, my age precludes me from doing something. Paul was telling Timothy at least that was not a legitimate reason to ignore the call.
•       Paul tells him instead to be a well-rounded example, both through words and the way he acts. Three specific ways: love, faith, purity.
John 13:35
o       35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
•       His faith is to be an example, a Godly leader shows how we trust and depend on God with our lives.
•       In purity, we set ourselves apart. As Christians we are not full of the things of this world. We live distinctly different.

13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 

•       Instructions for how Timothy is to lead the church. He is to read scripture publicly. It was meant for all to hear.
•       These are standards for the church. The leaders should do these things. Members should demand them. We should be a church that publicly reads the scripture.
•       Paul assigns Timothy to “exhortation”. This is encouragement, urging on the body. Christian leaders are to provide encouragement and direction
•       vs14 Paul tells Timothy not to neglect his gift. the instructions here are for him to use what he’s got. 
•       God’s leaders use the gifts, skills, situations and relational capital that God has given them.

15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

•       Timothy is told to immerse himself in these things. Make it his lifestyle. It is not something he does on the side, or in his spare time. But he is to be immersed.
•       It is central and the thing that everything else orbits around
•       He’s telling us that Godly leaders should live this way outwardly, all the time, so that they are accountable to the church. 
•       Matthew 5:16
o       let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
•       It’s going to require diligence. A leader diligently watches his or her own lifestyle and what they are teaching.
•       Persist we save others. Reading scripture in context we know that we don’t save people, and that’s not what Paul is saying here.
•       Paul is saying that a Christian leader has a more credible witness when he practices what he preaches. That is a heavily worn expression, but this scripture is where it comes from. 

Paul is telling Timothy that Christians are to focus on godliness. That aim will be hard, but because of the hope we have in Jesus, it is possible. Practically, when we focus on godliness our lives will look a certain way, and we will have a strong witness because of it.

Takeaway Points

Expectations for Christian leaders.
The church should be led specifically through:
–       Publicly reading scripture
–       Leaders that practice what they preach

Age is a number, not an excuse.
–       Timothy was not to and likewise we should not make an excuse out of our age. 
–       As a young person you can say I’ll get to it. As an older person you can say, I’ve done my time. age isn’t an excuse, aim higher.

A Christian leader uses the gifts he or she has got. 
–       We need to answer our calling. We don’t hide them or play our gifts down

We are to surround ourselves with Godly influences, with the things of God. 
–       Being a Christian should not be cultural. But it should absolutely be our culture. 
–       It should influence what we watch and read, the things we spend our time on, the company we keep. 
–       Is Jesus your identity?

Application Questions

Who keeps me accountable? Am I keeping my leaders accountable?
–       Am I growing, and can people tell?
Are my leaders devoted to the things of God? Public reading, exhorting others?
–       In case you think this question isn’t about you, remember that our leaders are to be good examples of this.
–       so are YOU devoted to this too?
What about my calling am I afraid of?
–       We are all called to something. Do not neglect it. Is it laziness? Fear of getting it wrong?

/by

1st Timothy Pt. 6: Conduct Based On Christ

1 Timothy 3:14-4:5 [NASB1995]

The big picture of this letter: Cultural Norms & Values based on God’s Word. Jesus is the author & perfecter of our faith: THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS. Paul was given the job of laying the foundation of Christ Jesus’ church. This letter was and is so important to a church like ours

14 I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long;

All Spirit indwelt believers must be on guard for false teachings by diligent study of Scripture and persistent prayer. We must reject legalism and focus on heart condition.

  • So far these things being written are:
    • Charge certain persons not to teach different doctrine
    • The need in Christ’s Body of a vibrant, Biblical prayer culture
    • To focus on what the goals are of Christ discipleship are:
      • A Pure Heart / A Good Conscience / A Sincere Faith
    • The purpose of the Law / Torah is to reveal our need for God to us
    • Christ’s role as Mediator between God and humanity
    • Gender roles in the church’s gatherings based on creation
    • Qualifications for Elders and Deacons [Christ-Like Leadership]

15 in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.

  • Paul wants to come to see Timothy in Ephesus, but must go where God leads
  • Conduct = Culture
  • What we DO flows from what we believe and value
  • The Body of Christ is those who have been ‘Set Apart’ for God / ADOPTION
  • This community is to become what supports ‘The TRUTH’ about Christ
  • This letter sought to lay foundations for how Christ’s church was to function

16 By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness [faith in Christ]: He who was revealed in the flesh, was vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.

  • Common Confession = What we all are to believe the same about [UNITY]
  • The Mystery being described here is how God saves wretched sinners
  • These are the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
    • Revealed in the flesh = He was born a human, He shared our condition
    • Vindicated in The Spirit = Baptism, Miracles, Transfiguration
    • Seen by Angels = In the desert…at His resurrection
    • Proclaimed among the Nations = [Salvation for all people groups]
    • Believed on in the world = Mass Salvation at Pentecost
    • Taken up in Glory = Ascension after resurrection

THIS TRUTH IS TO BE TRANSFORMATIVE IN THE LIFE OF BODY MEMBERS

4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

  • This is referring to Old Testament prophecies and direct revelation to PAUL
  • This is the practice of trying to incorporate the world’s wisdom into Christianity
  • People seeking to follow Christ can be deceived about what that entails
  • There are ‘blind guides’…people so lost they don’t even know they are lost

3 those who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.

  • These are various types of legalism, rules without a heart for God
  • Focus on Jewish kosher requirements
  • Acts chapter 10:9-16 [Peter’s Vision]
  • God spoke then and here: Gratitude unlocks the vault of God’s blessings

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.

  • For those ‘In Christ’ all of God’s creation is good when used as directed by God
  • Recognition of God’s provision & gratitude for it gives Christ’s people freedom
  • With focus on God’s Word & Prayer we can enjoy all that God has created

GOD BREATHED TRUTH!

SUMMARY & APPLICATION

God has given the Body of Christ guidelines for: conduct, leadership, discipleship, gender roles and other things thru Scripture because His Church is ‘The’ Foundation of Truth.

All Spirit Indwelt followers of Christ Jesus must make God’s standards their standards, God’s values their values and adopt God prescribed attitudes by yielding to His Spirit in us.

SUMMARY & APPLICATION

The Body of Christ is to be united around the Biblical Gospel, sharing in common an understanding of who Christ Jesus is and what He has done.

Every member of Christ’s Body must completely understand and be able to articulate the essentials of the Biblical Gospel.

You must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ~ 1st Peter 3:15 NLT

SUMMARY & APPLICATION

There will be spiritual and human that will lie and deceive people into focusing on behavior and not belief. But if Jesus’ Body clings to His Word and prayer by His Spirit we can enjoy all God has created with thanksgiving!

/by

1 Timothy Pt. 5: Spiritual Leadership

I Timothy 3:1-13 (ESV)

There are several different words in Scripture that refer to overseers/pastors. They describe different aspects or characteristics of the same office, e.g. maturity, care, protection, direction, leading, etc. Paul describes the qualifications for the church’s servant leaders, using the phrase “the saying is trustworthy”, meaning that this teaching is crucial to the formation and function of the church. He describes 16 qualities or qualifications for the church’s overseers (“episkopos” or teaching leaders). An overview: personal character is essential; he maintains an orderly, God-honoring home; he must have teaching aptitude; he has a mature experience in the Lord.

The saying is trustworthy: if anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, and into a snare of the devil. (v.1-7)

He is a “one woman man” in faithfulness, fidelity, purity, and transparency. Marital status is incidental until we reach v.4; that’s where the matter of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage is properly evaluated. His home is orderly. His young children “fall in line”. The larger text reveals how husbands and wives work together in serving the Lord. Additional considerations: (1) the overseer cannot be zealous of his personal reputation, it leads to deception and dishonesty; (2) his thoughts are tempered and careful, unmixed with wine, worldly cleverness counts for nothing when selecting an overseer; (3) he rightly divides the Word, use the Word to edify the church and expose those who lie and deceive, special preaching charisma or giftedness plays no role in this selection; (4) the overseer is not prone to secret indulgences nor the tempers that worldly excesses arouse, he doesn’t hold a grudge, he doesn’t keep a record of offenses, he doesn’t cut people down with verbal or emotional intimidation; (5) winning at all costs is excluded, he cannot love controversy; (6) recent converts are vulnerable to pride and worldly ambitions, to significant shifts in beliefs swayed by others’ opinion or popular consensus, he hasn’t been pruned sufficiently by the cross, he hasn’t demonstrated victory over sin and significant renovation of his life.

Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, nor greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their households well. For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. (v.8-13)

The deacons (“diakonos” or servants) are men and women of high character, serious, considerate. The men are not double tongued (devious). The women are not slanderous (diabolical). Interesting that all 3 servant-leader evaluations caution us to watch our mouths, e.g. guard our hearts! Deacons are temperate, self-controlled, not money-oriented (especially since deacons handle/steward church resources). Deacons cling to gospel truth that has now been fully revealed in Jesus Christ and possess a conscience formed and guided by God’s Word. Deacons are known for managing the affairs of the home well and guiding their children in godliness. Deacons demonstrate faithfulness in small matters, then greater kingdom responsibilities eventually are entrusted to them (e.g. Stephen and Philip). Faithfulness in small matters produces boldness in eternal matters.

In Summary:

– It’s a good thing to desire to serve God and humbly lead His people. You are not out of place nor about to waste your life regardless of what people around you say.

– All of us should be pursuing this walk with the Lord. To say “this is not for me” is a denial of a true salvation confession of Christ.

– Insist your elders: (1) have a walk with God (2) maintain an orderly, God-honoring home and personal life (3) can rightly divide the Word (4) have a mature experience in and with the Lord. If not, we are corruptly authorizing everyone in the church to pursue a selfish, worldly life. Peter instructed the elders to be an example to the flock (I Peter 5). Encourage a God-honoring life among all God’s people, by living one ourselves.

/by