July 24, 2005
"The Many Faces of Ministry"
A Call to Faithfulness—Part 6
1 Timothy 5
1. The church's ministry is built on relationships of respect.
Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.
—1 Timothy 5:1-2
2. The church's ministry is built on the purpose of care.
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
—James 1:27
Care is one of the five purposes of the church!
Key principle:
The widow (person) who lives for pleasure is dead even while she (he/she) lives.
—1 Timothy 5:6
- They must be at least 60 years old.
- They must have a good marriage record.
- Their life must be an example of good works.
3. The church's ministry doesn't replace your responsibility.
...learn that religion begins at their (your) own doorstep and that they (you) should pay back with gratitude some of what they (you) have received. This pleases God immensely.
—1 Timothy 5:4 (MSG)
If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
—1 Timothy 5:8
4. The church's ministry is built on committed leadership.
A. Pay for elders
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.
—1 Timothy 5:17
- Give them respect.
- Give them encouragement.
- Give them appreciation.
- Give them your prayers.
B. Discipline of elders.
Do not listen to complaints against an elder unless there are two or three witnesses to accuse him.
—1 Timothy 5:19 (NLT)
C. Selection of elders.
Never be in a hurry about appointing an elder.
—1 Timothy 5:22 (NLT)
Life principle: The Motorboat Principle
The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
—1 Timothy 5:24-25
Look at the wake!
5. The church's ministry is built by Christ.
Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
—1 Timothy 5:23
From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
—Ephesians 4:16
Lifework
What's your part? Ministry has many faces! It takes many faces to carry out the ministry. Where is the place your face needs to be seen in ministry?
A Call to Faithfulness—Week 6
Personal and Group Study
Getting Started
- When you were growing up, what proverb best described the way your family used money: a) "Waste not want not"? B) "Eat, drink and be merry"? C) "You can't take it with you"? D) "A penny saved is a penny earned"? E) "Penny wise, pound foolish"? What memorable story lies behind your proverb?
- What instructions were you given as a child about caring for various members of your extended family? What instructions have you given your children or would you give your children?
Digging Deeper: Read 1 Timothy 5:1-6:2
- What difficulties might have been going on in the church in Ephesus? How is this different than the problem taking place in the book of Acts, chapter 6?
- It is natural to feel sympathy for those who find themselves in difficult financial situations. Yet, Paul recognizes that there can be abuse of people's generosity. How do you prevent abuse?
- Why are church elders, in general, to receive double honor? How can you honor the elders of your church in practical ways? What is the purpose and goal of discipline?
- Dr. Warren Weirsbe says, "'Where there is smoke there is fire' is a good statement for the fire department, but not a good statement for the church. The smoke might be someone's burning tongue set on fire by hell." How important is it to gain the truth before disciplining any elder or member?
- How can the church protect a leader or a church member from a frivolous or malicious charge? (vv. 19-20)
Applying It To My Life
- How many widows are there in your family? How are their needs being met?
- How do people in the church go about getting their needs met? How could you help the church meet needs in the church body and in your community more effectively?
- Of all the various instructions Paul gave to Timothy in this chapter, which one has your name on it? What will you do about it?