Guarding the Gospel
1 Timothy
Sunday, October 20, 2024

1 Timothy 5:1-25
Introduction
The Church is a Spiritual Family, Let’s Care for Others and Leaders
I. Spiritual Family – Care for Each Other (v.1,2)
The Apostle Paul encourages us to love one another as a spiritual family. Treating
others with respect and love.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another just as I have loved you,
you love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have
love for one another.” John 13,34,35

II. Spiritual Family - Care for Widows (v.3-16)
Paul is pretty clear that we are to care for those who are ‘truly widows.’
v.3-10 – Older Widows
We are to honor widows who are truly widows. But children or grandchildren are to care
for their mother/grandmother during her latter years.
v.8 – “But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his
household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

“This is a scathing judgment – almost all pagans in Roman times did take care of their
parents. To do less than an unbeliever denies the faith because it is an act worse than a
person who makes no profession of faith.” Kent Hughes

v.10 – “Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been
the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up
children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has care for the
afflicted and has devoted herself to every good work.”

v.11-16 – Younger widows
Paul encourages the young widows to marry (4:2) and not become lazy, busybodies,
gossipers, etc. Let them not be a burden for the church so it can care for the older
widows.

III. Spiritual Family – Care for Pastors/Elders (v.17-25)
a. Care for your pastors by paying them!
b. Care for your pastors by proper discipline

Factual evidence of more than one person (beware of gossip)
Public rebuke for factual evidence

IV. Conclusion