Instructions for Various Church Members Part #1 (1 Timothy 5:1-16) Big Ideas: ● Principles for a healthy Biblical community ● Grid of care for needs ● Compassion for people Principles for a healthy Biblical community 1 Timothy 5:1–2 (NKJV) 1Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, 2older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. ● Rebuke versus Exhort ○ Rebuke means a harsh correction ○ Exhort means beckoning, a call, and encouragement unto something Proverbs 12:18 (NLT) 18Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. ● With all purity (holy cleanliness)--from a pure heart 1 Peter 1:22 (NKJV) 22Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ● Are you exhorting from a heart of pride for self or of grace & mercy led by the Spirit? James 4:6 (NLT) 6And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Ephesians 4:15–16 (NLT) 15Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 16He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (NLT) 4For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. The Five Principles (Heart/Humility/Hospitality/Harmony/Honor) ● Heart Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV) 2And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. John 13:34–35 (NLT) 34”So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ● Humility James 4:10 (NKJV) 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. Philippians 2:3–5 (NLT) 3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.”― CS Lewis ● Hospitality 1 Peter 4:8–9 (NKJV) 8And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. Romans 15:7 (ESV) 7Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. ● Harmony Ephesians 4:1–3 (NKJV) 1I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Colossians 2:2 (NLT) 2I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself. ● Honor 1 Peter 2:17 (NKJV) 17Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. Romans 12:10 (NLT) 10Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. ● These are all concepts that we have heard before. But Paul moves from concepts to application by addressing a big need in the early Church- widows. Grid of care for needs 1 Timothy 5:3–16 ● Paul is speaking about widows, but let’s zoom out to look at it from the standpoint of someone within our Biblical community who is seeking care and/or who has needs. ○ Loving others beyond just words to actions 1 John 3:16–18 (NLT) 16We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. ● A grid to find out how to deal with real needs (from another church’s notes) ○ Discern the need ○ Discern what is helpful ○ Embrace the ministry of giving and receiving Matthew 25:40 (NLT) 40“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’ Older Widows: 1 Timothy 5:3–10 (NKJV) 3Honor widows who are really widows. 4But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. 5Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day. 6But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives. 7And these things command, that they may be blameless. 8But 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. 9Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been the wife of one man, 10well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work. Younger Widows: 1 Timothy 5:11–15 (NKJV) 11But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, 12having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not. 14Therefore I desire that the younger widows marry, bear children, manage the house, give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully. 15For some have already turned aside after Satan. The Spectrum of Empathy - Move from pity, sympathy, and even empathy to compassion. ● Pity- I’m sorry for you ● Sympathy - I feel for you ● Empathy - I feel with you ● Compassion - I am moved by you (suffer with) (1) Compassion for people Matthew 9:36 (NKJV) 36But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 1 Timothy 5:16 (NKJV) 16If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows. ● The Church is full of various needs- spiritual and material- to give the care it takes discerning the real need from the perceived need and caring for people in a helpful way directed by the Lord, not just an emotional reaction. ( from another church’s notes) ● With the synergy of the family and Church caring for the needs, most of the time every need will be covered within the body of Christ. ○ We cannot individually care for all, but together we can care for most if we are willing to care for those that Jesus is calling us to care for specifically. Take away questions ● How can I exhort people in my life versus just rebuking them or extending too much grace? How have I allowed personal preference to jade my heart about exhorting others to know Christ and make Him known? ● Which principle of healthy Biblical community do I need to work on in this current season? (Heart/Humility/Hospitality/Harmony/Honor) ● How can the grid of care help me discern how to truly help someone in need? ● Is there someone in my family that I have expected someone else to care for that I am called to care for in this season? ● How am I called to help care for those in need within my Biblical community? Romans 12:9–13 (NKJV) 9Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. (1) https://www.nngroup.com/articles/sympathy-vs-empathy-ux/