The scriptures we are about to study teach us that we are all connected through the blood of Jesus Christ. Look at what God tells us in this verse:
Acts 20:28
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
The Bible says that we know we have passed from death unto life if we have a love for one another as brothers and sisters. It is an indicator of our relationship to Christ.
Working together has to be one of our greatest assets within the Body of Christ. Excellent, combined, and quick results happen when we work together.
ONE ANOTHER LIKE
1 Timothy 5:1-2
Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a
Remember the old rhyme we used to say as children, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? Nothing could be further from the truth. Words hurt and can often cause more damage than how people treat us.
I want us to see the word “
When he says we are to “rebuke not an elder,” he says we should not strike hard with our words toward someone older.
Paul tells Timothy we should speak to the younger men as our little
Lastly, we see instructions on how to treat the older and younger women of the church. We are to treat the older women as
Jesus said that the world would realize that we are His disciples if we
FOR ONE ANOTHER LIKE
Paul spends the following thirteen verses talking to Timothy and us about how we are to care for the people of our churches who have no family. There is no better scripture than this one below:
James 1:27 says:
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
Some rules or guidelines to remember are that some are widows with families to help and care for them, and some are “
1 Timothy 5:3-4
Honor widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.
A widow the church helps should not be a self-indulgent person, seeking pleasure, but a godly woman who hopes in God and has a ministry of intercession and prayer. —Warren Wiersbe
1 Timothy 5:5-6
Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day. But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.
1 Timothy 5:7
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless.
Look at this final description of the widows’ direct family. We are told that we deny the faith of God and are worse than an infidel, which means an unbeliever. Faith without
1 Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.
ONE ANOTHER LIKE
OLDER WIDOWS ARE TO SERVE THE
1 Timothy 5: 9-10
Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old, having been the wife of one man, Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
Other qualifications for widows in verse 10 include the following:
1. They must be hospitable hosts.
2. They must be humble servants.
3. They must be unselfish.
4. They must be kind.
YOUNGER WIDOWS ARE TO SERVE THE
1 Timothy 5:11-16
But the younger widows refuse: for when they have begun to wax wanton against Christ, they will marry; Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully. For some are already turned aside after Satan. If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed.
God tells the church widows that they are to:
1. Marry if God had blessed them in such a way.
2. Avoid being lazy.
3. Detest gossiping and causing division.
4. And to take the Gospel into their families.
God’s guidance to the church was that we would never bring
2 Chronicles 26:16
But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense.
There are great rewards for knowing our
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