3 church obligations believers have in their church community
I. Relational Dynamics in God's Household
A. Treat older men as fathers
1 Timothy 5:1 - Do not sharply rebuke an older man, but appeal to him as a father.
B. Treat younger men as brothers
1 Timothy 5:1 - …to the younger men as brothers.
C. Treat older women as mothers
1 Timothy 5:2 - …the older women as mothers…
D. Treat younger women as sisters
1 Timothy 5:2 - …and the younger women as sisters, in all purity.
II. The Priority of Family Responsibility
A. Honor those truly in need
1 Timothy 5:3 - Honor widows who are widows indeed…
1 Timothy 5:5 - 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.
B. The obligation of children and grandchildren
1 Timothy 5:4 - …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.
C. A warning to the widow and to those who neglect their own family
1 Timothy 5:6-8 - But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. 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.
III. Criteria for the Church’s Enrollment of Widows
A. Requirements for official church support
1 Timothy 5:9-10 - 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, 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.
B. Exclusion of younger widows from the list
1 Timothy 5:11-13 - But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. 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.
C. Counsel for younger widows
1 Timothy 5:14-15 - Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach; for some have already turned aside to follow Satan.
D. The final practical rule
1 Timothy 5:16 - 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.
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