1 TIMOTHY                                                                                STUDY 6

 

EVERYDAY LIFE IN THE FELLOWSHIP                              1 Timothy 5:1-6:2

 

Introduction

The local church should be interested in the whole person, not just in his faith and doctrine, but in the daily life he lives, both inside and outside the Christian fellowship.

In this section Paul deals with a variety of subjects which were important issues in the everyday experiences of the Christians in Ephesus.  Some of the issues affect us directly (and there may be new situations which were not relevant at that time), yet all the principles raised are of ongoing importance for us.

 

1.      How do we get on with different age-groups in the church? (vs. 1,2)

Timothy was given this advice as a younger man with pastoral, teaching and administrative responsibilities.  It deals with relationships with older and younger people, with one’s peers and the opposite sex.  How should your own particular age-bracket relate to these groupings in our church?  What attitudes and elements are particularly important for us?

 

2.      How do we help people in need? (vs.3-8)

a.  Widows were an outstandingly needy group in Paul’s day.  What groupings are particularly needy today?

a.      How would you about sensitively discovering those ‘really in need’ (v.3), remembering that many people often conceal their needs?

     What insights might verses 5,6 provide?

b.      Should the church leave various needy individuals to the government agencies, etc.?  If not, why not?  Should there be someone in the church who could advise on how to get government help?  How could you set this up?

c.       What part should Christian families play today in taking responsibility for their own needy members e.g. the elderly, or young people on drugs, etc. etc.?

Think about the principles in verses 4,8 and 16.

d.      Verses 9-16 give Timothy guidelines for structuring and organising help within the church itself, creating a ‘list’ and criteria for receiving help (9,10).  Some would be excluded, and the reasons are given in (11-16)

    Are any particular structures, or specific funds needed within the church today?  If    

    so, what?

    In Timothy’s day widows could be remarried rather more easily than today.  Even   

    today in some Asian churches and families, responsibility will be taken for trying to

    arrange such marriages.  That might not be appreciated here!  The principle in these

    verses was that young widows should not be a burden to the church when other steps

    could be taken, and that they might be saved from various areas of temptation (11-

    15).  With our changed cultural situation what steps can the church take to alleviate

    need in its various forms?

    In addition to those widows, think about the needs of people who have experienced

    divorce and separation; also one-parent families.  Extending the principle, what can

    churches do about the problems created for the redundant and unemployed?

    Remember, too, that we’re not thinking only about physical needs, but also about

    emotional, mental and spiritual pressures involved.

3.      How do you view the elders? (vs.17-20)

a.       On what basis are they to be considered ‘worthy of double honour’ (v.17)

     Think about 1 Thess. 5:12,13.

b.      Verse 18 indicates financial support, implying that some might be serving as elders full-time (or part-time), instead of earning their living in secular work.  What do you think about this possibility?

c.       Elders can fail.  Why is it particularly important in their case to have the accusation thoroughly authenticated?  Note the possibility of public rebuke.

 

4.      How would you go about organising the church? (vs. 21-25)

Obviously Timothy wasn’t having an easy time.  Note the five guidelines Paul lays down:

a.  Be impartial (21)

b. Don’t make premature appointments (22a)

c. Don’t join in with the mud-stirrers (22b)

d.      Keep yourself pure (22c)

e.      What your health (23) – these pressures can affect you physically.

Why are these guidelines particularly important to any leader?

 

5.      How should a Christian behave in his secular employment? (6:1,2)

a. Think about attitudes to the non-Christian boss (1)

b. Think about attitudes to a Christian boss (2)

    What points is Paul making, and why are they still relevant today?

    Fill out your thinking by looking also at Eph. 6:5-9 and Col. 3:22-25.  This was 

    further teaching which those in Timothy’s care would almost certainly have

    received.