1 Timothy 5 By Warren W. Wiersbe

Instruction on how to minister to specific groups in the church  The Older Members (5:1-2)  No show of partiality  Love and serve all people regardless of ages  Church is a family  Treat the older member like your mother and father, and the younger members like your brothers and sisters  The Old Widows (5:3-10)  God’s special care for the widows is a recurring theme Scriptural (Deut. 14:29; Ps. 94:6; Mal. 3:5)

 Without human support ( 5a, 8, “desolate”)  Relatives should care for them  In their time, no pension, Social Security, retirement homes, etc.  Still “Honor your father and mother” (Ex. 20:12, Eph.6:1-3)  Unwilling to help his loved ones: “He is worse than an unbeliever (8)  Missionary  Love God by loving His people  A believer with a faithful testimony (5b-7)  We should care for the widows who are part of our fellowship (church)

 We should do good unto all…especially unto them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10)  Should not be a self-indulgent person seeking pleasure  A godly woman hopes in God and has a ministry of intercession of intercession and prayer  Ungodly widow will be a problem to the church  Must be blameless, or irreproachable  At least 60 years old (9a)  “taken into number”; to be enrolled and put on the list  A good marriage record (9b)  not a divorced woman

 Witness of good works (10)  “brought up children”  Hospitality  Common practice of washing guest’s feet  “Relieved the afflicted”  Ministry to the needy: feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, encouraging the sorrowing, etc.  In turn, they helped care for the church if the church care for them  The Younger Widows (11-16)  Under 60 years of age  Those should not be on the list cared for by the church

 The reasons for refusing them (11-14a)  They can get married and have children (I Cor. 7:39)  Requirements for younger widows (14b-16)  Guide the house; rulings the house (14)  Good testimony silences the accusers  Satan is always alert to destroy Christian home  “Occasion” – base of the operations  Principles of each family caring for the needs of its own family (16)  Believers show love and concern and do all they can to help each other  The Church Officers (17-25)  Pastor’s relationship with any officer  Paying the elders (17-18)

 Elders: laymen who have other vocation and assist in the work of the Lord  Two kinds:  Ruling elder who supervises the work of congregation  Gift of the Spirit: helps and governments (1 Cor. 12:28)  Not dictatorial  Not manager on business  Teaching elder who teaches God’s Word on God’s call, Spirit’s equipping and the witness and work of the men themselves  Ordained and set apart for the ministry (Acts 14:23, 20:17, 28, Titus 1:5)  The local church needs both ruling and teaching  Paid adequately  Deut 25:4, 1 Cor. 9:7-14  Double honor (17)

 Honor as in honorarium  God’s plan to meet the needs of His servants  Poor testimony if not meeting pastor’s need  Pastor shouldn't minister simply to earn money (3:3)  Negotiate  Discipline the elders (19-21)  Extremes; no discipline or evangelical policeman  Disciplining the church members: Matt. 18:15-18, Rom. 16:17-18; 1 Cor. 5; 2 Cor 2:6-11; Gal. 6:1-3, 2 Thess. 3:6-16; 2 Tim. 2:23-26; Titus 3:10; 2 John 9-11  Disciplining of the church leaders  Purpose: restoration, not revenge  Save the offender, not drive him away  Love and tenderness (Gal. 6:1-3)  Restore: set the broken bone

 Cautions  Timothy is to be sure of the facts; have witnesses (19)  Need support with witness if accuse against a pastor  Rumor and suspicious are not adequate ground for discipline  When an accusation is made, witnesses must be present  Godly pastor has been defeated and some resigns from the ministry  Timothy do everything openly and aboveboard (no secret)  An officer should be rebuked if guilty and repent (20) 2 Cor. 2:6-11)  Timothy obey the Word no matter what his personal feelings might be  No prejudice or partiality

 Selecting and ordaining the elders (22-25)  Spiritual wisdom and guidance in selecting officers  No new Christian or member  Some sins are clearly seen or hidden (24)  Some believers’ good works are clearly seen or not noticed (24)  Carefully investigate the lives of potential leaders  Partakers of leader’s sin if ordain  No pastor or church member is perfect yet we continue to strive for perfection.  The ministry of a local church rises and falls with its leadership  Godly leadership leads to God’s blessing