1 Timothy 5:1-2 A. Paul Assumes an Inter-generational, age-integrated church. 1. Avoid all contact with other age groups? 2. Avoid all age-segregation entirely? 3. How do we integrate the ages? - Avoid purposeful segregation - Honor the elderly. - Listen to the elder men and women (Titus 2)
B. Covenant relationships are God-designed relationships. 1. These covenant relationships are inherently age-integrated 2. How covenant relationships are different from Clubs, YMCA’s, Age-segregated schools, and corporations. a. Widely varying pre-requisites, dealing with broad subject matter and deep implications. b. God’s covenant relationships of family and church are kept together by: - Vows and Respect for vows. - Sacrificial Love, Joy, peace, Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. YMCA’s, Clubs, and Corporations stay together almost entirely by economic contracts. c. Has the church become a club?
C. The Church Relationships Look Like Family Relationships 1. Caveat: The Church relationships don’t replace or obliterate family relationships. 2. God has distinct roles laid out clearly for family and church. 3. If you are a member of this church, this is your family. You have two families.
Eph. 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the FAMILY of God; 1 Tim 3:15 “You should know how to behave yourself in the family of God.”
D. Four Injunctions from 1 Timothy 5 INJUNCTION #1 - Don’t rebuke an older man. Treat him as a father. 1. Don’t correct him sharply, sarcastically. Worst Case Scenario: 1 Sam. 24 2. Parakeleo him. “It’s not Me against You. It’s Me with You” 3. One biblical text on manners. Lev. 19:32
INJUNCTION #2 - Treat the Younger Men as Brothers. Prov. 17:17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; 1. Good Brothers look forward to seeing each other. 2. Good Brothers defend brothers from bullies. 3. Good Brothers are not strangers to each other. Familiarity without rudeness. Trust allows directness. 4. Good brothers care about their brothers’ well being. 5. You don’t disown them, without good reason.
INJUNCTION #3. Treat older women as mothers.
INJUNCTION #4. Treat younger ladies as sisters. 1. There is a difference between a wife and a sister. 2. First consider every young woman here as a sister, then defend her honor and purity.
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