MADE FOR FELLOWSHIP 1TIMOTHY 5:1-16

¹Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, ²older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. 

³Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. ⁵The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. ⁶But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷Give the people these instructions, too, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, ¹⁰and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. 

¹¹As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list. For when their sensual desires overcome their dedication to Christ, they want to marry. ¹²Thus they bring judgment on themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. ¹³Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. ¹⁴So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. ¹⁵Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan. 

¹⁶If any woman who is a believer has widows in her family, she should help them and not let the church be burdened with them, so that the church can help those widows who are really in need. 

 Fellowship is learning to love one another in God’s family.

“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.  “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Gen.12:1-3)

 God is creating a family for himself

 “In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will” (Ephesians 1:4)

 1)Fellowship is a priority for all Christians

Will you invest time into loving one-another?

• Bring and share lunches
• Barn dances
• Quiz Nights
• 20s and 30s
• Knit and Natter
• Create and Craft
• Open Church
• Link-up Lunches
• Housegroups

Is fellowship:

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

 “Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”(1Timothy 5:1-2)

 2)Fellowship is loving with purity.

Treat younger women like sisters, with absolute purity

3)Fellowship is loving across the generations

“Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)

4) Fellowship is loving financially

to be eligible for help, widows had to be:

• without any other means of support,
• Christian,
• aged over 60,
• known for their faithfulness to their husbands,
• good parents,
• servant-hearted,
• helpful and
• devoted to doing good deeds.

(i)The food bank.

(ii) Christians Against Poverty Money Management Course

(iii) Financial help –

______________________________________________________________

I want to know more:

• What is Christianity? 321 The Story of God, the World and You: https://youtu.be/tKyZjvK-d2M
• Who is Jesus? Roger Carswell – available for free in the foyer.
• More on 1Timothy. The best readable commentary is “The Message of 1Timothy and Titus” by John Stott (Bible Speaks Today)
• Chipping Barnet Foodbank: http://chippingbarnet.foodbank.org.uk/
• CAP Money course: https://capuk.org/i-want-help/cap-debt-help/introduction
• Want to join a housegroup? IF you’re a regular attender at St James, go to the CONNECT board by the coffee bar, and find out about our groups then approach a group leader.