We Are Family

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.