Family Matters
Sermon Notes
This morning, we're walking through 1 Timothy 5:1–16, where Paul is giving Timothy instruction for a real family— one that honors the elderly, cares for the vulnerable, and holds each other accountable. Paul starts adressing in the verses about how to treat different groups in the church—older men, younger men, older women, younger women, and then he spends a lot of time talking about widows. Paul reminds us that godliness starts at home: providing for your own family isn't optional but essential to authentic faith and, reflection of Godly character. To help you reflect and apply this truth, we've provided a weekly reading plan with discussion questions. You can find it on the CityBridge App to follow along. Worship Set List →
Key Points
F - Faithfully honor all generations (vv. 1-2)
A - Attend to those truly in need (vv. 3-5)
M - Make relatives responsible first (vv. 4, 8, 16)
I - Identify worthy recipients (vv. 9-10)
L - Lead younger widows wisely (vv. 11-15)
Y - Yield resources strategically (v. 16)
Discussion Questions
How do you view the church? Do you view it as a service to attend, a building to maintain, or even a brand to promote?
Younger Adults: How are you doing at honoring the older generations in our church? Are you seeking their wisdom? Are you treating them with the same respect you’d give your own parents?
Older Adults: How are you doing at honoring the older generations in our church?
Is there someone in your life that is “truly alone” that God is calling you to care for? Spend time in prayer asking the Lord to put someone in your path to care for, who is in need.
How are you doing at taking responsibility for the members of your own family? Are you aware of the needs of your aging parents, widowed aunt, or your struggling sibling?
As the church body, are we being good stewards of what God has entrusted to us? Do we recognize that our resources—time, money, energy—are limited and need to be allocated wisely?
