We invite you to listen in. The sermon will be an exposition from 1 Timothy 5:1-2. Follow along with the outline below...

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS IN THE WORLD

THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY

1 Timothy 5:1–2 1 Rebuke not an elder [harshly, as in striking], but intreat [exhort, encourage, support, urge, comfort, call to one’s side] him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; 2 The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.

HONOR GOD’S GOOD CREATION ORDER WITH:

1) HUMANITY AS UNIQUELY CREATED TO IMAGE GOD IN COMMUNITY 

2) AGE AS A GIFT FROM GOD TO HONOR (Leviticus 19:32; Exodus 20:12; Proverbs 20:29)

3) MALE AND FEMALE AS COMPLIMENTARY AND AS THE ONLY GENDERS 

4) FAMILY ROLES AS TIED TO GOD-GIVEN GENDER AND AGE 

PRINCIPLE: CHURCH RELATIONS ARE BOTH SUPPORTIVE AND REFLECTIVE OF FAMILY RELATIONS.

Q: Do you have a greater appreciation for God’s wisdom in His creation order? Do you see why the gospel is the answer to our society’s blindness, confusion, and dishonor of God’s creation order?

APPROPRIATELY ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER IN LIGHT OF IT WITH:

• ELDER MEN AS FATHERS (Consider also: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12)

• YOUNGER MEN AS BROTHERS

• ELDER WOMEN AS MOTHERS

• YOUNGER WOMEN AS SISTERS—WITH ALL PURITY

Q: How might you need to adjust the way you interact with others in Christ’s church? Outside of it? Are you appropriate? Are you respectful? Is it in all purity?

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: We honor God with appropriate treatment of one another as we fellowship in the gospel with all purity as a family.