Rules for Living with Others
5 Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.
3 Take care of widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to do their duty to their own family and to repay their parents or grandparents. That pleases God. 5 The true widow, who is all alone, puts her hope in God and continues to pray night and day for God’s help. 6 But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is alive. 7 Tell the believers to do these things so that no one can criticize them. 8 Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.
Statement of Main Point
In Christ, we are the Family of God.
Statement of Main Goal
Challenge the congregation to enjoy their family status, and encourage other to join the family.
Outline
I. Introduction
a. Reference: Going to be in I Timothy
b. Good News / Bad News
i. Doctor’s Visit
ii. Falling from an airplane
iii. Life is full of good news / bad news
1. Earlier Flight
2. Next to the back row – middle seat…
c. Today – good news / bad news
II. Household
a. Found in I Timothy 3, starting in verse 14
i. Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth.
ii. That word “household” in the NIV is written in the New Century Version as “Household”, in the New Revised Standard Version as “Household”, and in the King James Version as “House”.
iii. The Greek word is oikos /oy•kos/ which is translated as a dwelling place (such as a house) or a family. The concept carries with it one unit – it is singular – there are not “households” of God – but one household of God. The Greek word carries with it the inclusion of the entire family – by blood or marriage, including slaves and workers.
III. We find this same word earlier in Paul’s letter to Timothy
a. I Timothy 3:4-5
i. He [An overseer] must manage his own family [same word] well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family [same word], how can he take care of God’s church?”
b. I Timothy 3:12
i. A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and household [yes – same word] well.”
c. Let’s read I Timothy 5:1-8 (NEW CENTURY VERSION)
Do not speak angrily to an older man, but plead with him as if he were your father. Treat younger men like brothers, 2 older women like mothers, and younger women like sisters. Always treat them in a pure way.3 Take care of widows who are truly widows. 4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to do their duty to their own family [yes – same word] and to repay their parents or grandparents. That pleases God. 5 The true widow, who is all alone, puts her hope in God and continues to pray night and day for God’s help. 6 But the widow who uses her life to please herself is really dead while she is alive. 7 Tell the believers to do these things so that no one can criticize them. 8 Whoever does not care for his own relatives, especially his own family members, has turned against the faith and is worse than someone who does not believe in God.
d. Obviously – Family matters – and the good news is that we are a family – God’s Household!
IV. That’s the good news! The church is a household or a family.
a. Ephesians 2:19-20
i. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
b. The writer of Hebrews calls us brothers and sisters as part of God’s family
c. Hebrews 2:11
i. 11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
V. WE ARE FAMILY
a. Same Heavenly Father
i. Matthew 23:9
1. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
ii. Only way in the family
b. General sense that everyone is a child of God
i. Made in His image
ii. He is the creator of all
iii. God is over all
c. But the Bible seems to be a little more restrictive than that
i. John 8 – Jesus talking to the religious leaders who opposed him – said they were children of the devil, not children of God.
1. 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. 43 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! 46 Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
ii. NOT EVERYONE IS A CHILD OF GOD
1. Jesus defined his brothers and sisters as those who obey and follow Him (Luke 12).
2. Hope you are!
3. Not – race, wealth, background, etc.
4. Not in joining the church (as this morning), rituals, etc.
5. Through Faith in Christ
6. Anyone can be
7. Theme from OSM – Galatians 3:26-28
a. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
d. The Good News – we are Family – and Anyone can be in the Family through Faith in Christ
VI. We are Family
a. Same Father – Brothers and Sisters
b. Family Resemblance
i. HAVE FUN WITH THIS!
c. Moral character
d. Spiritual qualities / fruit
i. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Kindness, Self-Control
e. Not all alike, but FAMILY RESEMBLENCE OVERSHADOWS OUR DIFFERENCES
VII. We are Family
a. We are not alone
b. This passage talks about caring for each other
i. Hurt / Discourage / Honor (rejoice together – graduation)
ii. Older people to teach us – younger people to make us laugh
c. Taking care of each other
i. Passage (widows – biological family first, but then the church)
ii. Same here (bio family not here – mom/dad – church in Michigan)
d. Family of God song by Bill and Gloria Gaither
i. Bill and Gloria Gaither’s song that we occasionally sing says it well, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God, . . .Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,…. You will notice we say "brother and sister" ’round here, It’s because we’re a family and these are so near; When one has a heartache, we all share the tears, And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear. From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King, No longer an outcast, a new song I sing; From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong, I’m not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong! I’m so glad I’m a part of the Family of God!” (Family of God, 1970).
VIII. We are Family
a. Family Reunion one day
b. (Have fun!)
IX. Well that’s the good news – here’s the bad news…..
X. We are family!
a. We are like most families- kind of like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts (please, no pointing!)
b. George Burns quote
i. “Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family – that lives in another city”!
c. Charlie Brown
i. One day Linus and Lucy, the brother and sister of Peanuts cartoon fame, were quietly walking down the sidewalk talking. This in itself was a miracle. You may remember that Linus said, “Big sisters are the crabgrass in the lawn of life.” Linus says to Lucy, “Charlie Brown says that brothers and sisters can learn to get along.” He pauses to make sure she is listening. “He says that they can get along the same way mature adults get along.” Again he pauses to let the words of wisdom sink in. “Charlie says that adults can get along the same way that nations get along.” This time the pause is a little longer. He begins to think about what he is saying. Finally Linus scratches his head and concludes, “At this point the analogy breaks down.”
XI. The Good News is that we are Family – the Bad News is that we are family
a. Most families have their moments – even preacher’s families
i. (not mine of course – three daughters – always angels!)
ii. From their dad – As I remember it, I was the perfect child… except for the time… (stones and the cars – ran away from home)
b. Families don’t always get along
c. Remember these words from Winston Churchill at the beginning of World War II
i. "Remember Winston Churchill’s immortal words at the beginning of WWII?—‘We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills!’ That sounds like some family vacations!"
d. It may seem impossible to you, but families sometimes quarrel – even Christian families – even Church families. I heard someone say that if you find the perfect church – don’t join it – you’ll ruin it!
XII. I Timothy 5 contains great words from our Heavenly Father.
a. The NIV has it titled “Advice About Widows, Elders and Slaves”
b. The Message has it titled “The Family of Faith”
c. The New Century Version has it titled “Rules for Living With Others”
d. It’s about living in faith together – how to get along in the family
XIII. The first paragraph from the Message:
a. “Don’t be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters.”
i. Generation gap is not new – did not start in the 60’s! perhaps the 0060’s
b. The call is to have compassion on others – to show mercy and grace to each other and that we are responsible for each other…
Brothers and sisters, men and women, old and young have always struggled with rivalry, misunderstandings, and ill spoken words. The New Testament is filled with warnings and advice about handling conflict, controlling your temper, restraining from gossip, and taming the tongue. All of it was addressed to the church family. All of that was needed because the good news is the church is like a family. And the bad news is the church is like a family.
Conclusion: There’s good news and bad news. It’s both the same. The church is like a family. But it is no ordinary family. This is the household of God. That means there’s a lot at stake. We have a special responsibility. Did you catch the reasoning in 1 Timothy 5? Note verse 7 “Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame.” In verse 14, it warns against giving “the enemy an opportunity for slander.” The Father’s reputation is on the line. It is not about us. It is about him.
But because this is no ordinary family, we also have some extra assets. The Father knows best in this family. His advice always works—when followed. This is also a family of grace and forgiveness. We can’t get to be a part of the family without knowing that. That’s why the Bible says, “Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.”
