Family Honor
- Dave Gustavsen
- Jan 24, 2010
- Series: Vintage Church
Family Honor
A Word to the Church (v3, 9-10)
A Word to the Widows (v5-7, 9-15)
A Word to Us All (v4, 8, 16)
Sermon Questions for 1 Timothy 5:1-16
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SPECIFIC PRAYER (suggestions)
Please pray for the annual meeting on January 31st at 4 pm. We will be celebrating what God has done and casting a vision for the near future. Leadership needs your prayers!
SCRIPTURE AND SHARING
Crawl:
How many of the 12 disciples can you name? (Don’t worry, most can only think of less than half). What does it communicate to you that we struggle to name all the disciples, but each one impacted the world, changed its course forever, and we stand on their shoulders?
Walk:
Read 1 Timothy 5:1-3, 9-10
Do you treat others as you treat your family? If not, why? If so, how did you learn this concept? Who modeled it?
What is the main difference between a family member and a person you see everyday?[1] If that were true, would you treat them better?
How different would your relationships and interactions be if you treated everyone with the same honor you treat your family?
Who today do we need to keep a special “eye” out for? Is it still widows? Who are the truly “needy” that God has put among us? What can your group do to make an impact among that group?
If God is calling the church to be compassionate and action driven, and we are the church, then what does that mean for your group?
Read 1 Timothy 5-7, 9-15
If you have any widows in your group, it might be a good idea to turn the floor over to them and have them speak about their life story, what it’s been like, their struggles, their joys, what they have learned through this process, and what they want others to know.
When unexpected, horrible things happen, there are basically two ways to respond, you can be self-indulgent or you can set your hope on God. Which one do you naturally fall into? How can you help people in trials discover hope and leave their self?
Read 1 Timothy 4, 8, 16
If you claim to be a Christian, where is the first place your Christianity should be put into action?[2]
How can you honor your mother and father today? Is it by calling them? Visiting them? Sending them a card? If they are deceased, maybe it is by telling a positive story about them to one of your children. Or sending a picture of them to a grandchild so they can know their great- grandparents. How can you emotionally connect with them?
Run:
What can we do to better care for the poor around us, and not leave it up to someone else?
How can we better honor the elderly among us? Especially those who serve without the need for recognition in the church? Share your ideas with
Key Words and Further Study:
Widows: Deuteronomy 5:16, 10:17-19 and Isaiah 1:17
Mark 7:9-13 There was this religious tradition where you could gather all your possessions and all your money, and you could declare it “Corban,” which means, “this is devoted to God. It belongs to God.” And therefore, I can’t give any to you, Mom and Dad! Sorry, but it’s not mine! It’s been devoted to God!” See John 19:26-27
“The rhythm of life includes reversal of roles. Those of us who have held and cared for children one day will be held and cared for by those same children.”
SERVICE (fodder for ideas)
Morris Habitat for Humanity is desperately seeking people who can work construction DURING THE WEEK. They have several projects going on right now where they need more bodies from Tuesday to Friday. If you are retired, out of work, or have an extra day to give, please contact Cindy Flanagan at or 973.891.1934.
[1] You don’t live with those you work with, even though you may spend more time with your workers. If you lived and worked with the same people, your relationship might be better (or it might be worse!)
[2] Your family, your own home.
