Ira Baptist Church
August 2

      • Psalms 84.1-2ESV

      • Psalms 84.3-5ESV

      • Psalms 84.6-9ESV

      • Psalms 84.10-12ESV

  • Come Christians Join

      • Romans 5.1-3ESV

      • Romans 5.4-5ESV

  • Bless the Lord
  • Were You There
  • 1 Timothy 3:15 ESV
    if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth.
    Robert E. Lee offered command of the union field troops by Winfield Scott.
    Ultimately declined, saying that he couldn't bring himself to raise a sword against my relatives, my children, my home.
    Family Problems
    First pages of the Bible,
    Husband pitted against wife
    Brother killing each brother
    Again, these are instructions Paul gives to Timothy in terms of his pastoral ministry, but the principles apply to our relationships across the board within the context of the church.

    The church, the household of God, is a family; and thus, there are family ethics which God gives us to govern our fellowship and love.

    1. Family Interactions

    Luke 6:31 ESV
    And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.
    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.
    Older Men - Elders, but in the context it is clear that it is referring to older men in general.
    As Fathers
    How do you treat a father?
    With honor. Respecting the place that age and experience has brought him to, but not neglecting to hold accountable.
    It is easy for younger individuals, especially in places of leadership, to disregard or even disrespect the elderly.
    Younger Men
    As Brothers
    Older Women
    As Mothers
    Younger Women
    As Sisters
    in all purity

    2. Family Support

    Support of Widows
    An issue in the church, already seen in our discussion of the deacons from Acts 6.
    Context, no husband, no hope of marriage, no help from family, no social support, truly dependent upon God.
    A. True Need
    vs. 5-6
    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.
    1 Timothy 6:18–19 ESV
    They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
    B. True Religion
    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.
    *If your Christianity doesn’t work at home, it doesn’t work.*
    The call to care for family is sharp.
    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.
    A reversal in society
    Expectation of care or inheritance.
    By extension, expectation of care from outside sources.
    The faith of both the family of the one in need, and the one in need are brought into focus.
    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.
    Maturity, Fidelity, and Charity
    Not encouraging early retirement or resignment to hopelessness.
    Expectation to Serve because of being served.
    In this context, it seems that this list was of widows who would be unequivocally devoted to serving Christ and the Church. Like Anna in the birth narrative of Jesus, a widow who had given herself to devotion and prayer night and day.
    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.
    Overarching principle, end of 16.
    The church is ready to meet and relieve need.
    The instructions given here are to encourage righteous behavior toward family, and prevent abuse of the church’s bent toward showing mercy.

      • 1 Timothy 3:15ESV

      • Luke 6:31ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:1–2ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:5–6ESV

      • 1 Timothy 6:18–19ESV

      • James 1:27ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:8ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:9–10ESV

      • 1 Timothy 5:16ESV

  • All I Have is Christ

      • Psalms 121.7-8ESV

Ira Baptist Church
1 member