CHURCH OF CHRISTdegaulledrivecoc.com/wp-content/uploads/... · 5/5/2018 · saw Himself as the...
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SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY MID-WEEK _____________________ ELDERS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: [email protected] WORKS SUPPORTED: Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, AL Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Budapest, Hungary: Curry Montague [email protected] India: Ron & Karen Clayton [email protected] Marshall, Texas: Azael & Dinora Alvarez PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching Wes Arabie 504-858-2881 Howard Goodale 504-319-3572 Steve Tucker 504-812-2617 Scott Cain 504-392-4110 Wes Arabie 504-858-2881 CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com May 20, 2018 Concern for the underprivileged & vulnerable has always mattered to God. Three such categories in every society in every generation are immigrants (strangers), orphans, & widows. This study pertains to the third group. Under Old Testament Law, if you wanted to get on God’s bad side, then mistreat a widow (Deuteronomy 10:18; 14:29; 24:17; Psalm 94:6; Isaiah 1:17; Malachi 3:5). He saw Himself as the judge & supporter of widows (Psalm 68:5; 146:9; Proverbs 15:25). In the New Testament, concern for widows was an emphasis of the early church (Acts 6:1–6; 9:36–43). It is essential for pure religion (James 1:27; Galatians 6:10). In writing to Timothy, Paul considers the question of who should receive support from church funds (1 Timothy 5:3–16). (To “honor” widows meant to assist them financially. [1] ) A key principle is “do not let the church be burdened” (5:16). Paul gives three filters for the church to use before “enrolling” widows in an ongoing support program (cf. Acts 6:1–6). (“Taken into the number” is important in understanding 1 Timothy 5. It means “to be enrolled & put on the list.” [2] ) These would not necessarily be filters for other benevolent situations (Galatians 6:10; James 1:27). FIRST FILTER: FAMILY (1 Timothy 5:4, 8, 15). Does the widow have family to take care of her needs? God’s rule was a widow should not get help from the church if she can get help from her family. It is a duty of children to take care of their parents in their old age. If she had no living (or loving) children, then grandchildren[3] were to step in (5:4). Widows had every right to expect this, for this is God’s plan. “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:1–3), includes benevolent responsibilities. If anyone refuses to provide for his own extended family, especially his household (spouse, children, parents), he “is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:8). How does this principle apply? Ancient societies did not have retirement pensions, Social Security, or nursing/assisted living homes. Today these make it less likely that families will have to step in, but it does not relieve the obligation when there is a need. We must honor parents & grandparents by providing for their needs. Paul did not specify how families should relieve widows. • Some may simply give money to the widow. • Some children may take the widow into their home. Yet not every Christian family is able to take in another person, & not every widow wants to live with her children. • Some choose to move into the widow’s home temporarily or take turns with other siblings in staying with her. • Where there is sickness or a handicap, children may need to pay for professional care either in the widow’s home or in a nursing facility. The golden rule helps in making such choices (Matthew 7:12). SECOND FILTER: AGE (1 Timothy 5:9, cf. 5:6, 11-15). Has she reached sixty years of age? The dangers of travel, the ravages of disease, war, & dangerous jobs could rob a young wife of her husband. Since younger widows might be inclined to seek male companionship in view of a future marriage, Paul Morning Bible Class 9:00 AM Morning Worship 10:00 AM Pew Packers 5:30 PM Evening Worship 6:00 PM Tuesday Ladies Class 10:00 AM (September – May) Wednesday Bible Class 7:00 PM ALLEN WEBSTER
Transcript of CHURCH OF CHRISTdegaulledrivecoc.com/wp-content/uploads/... · 5/5/2018 · saw Himself as the...
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES SUNDAY
MID-WEEK
_____________________
ELDERS EVANGELISTS EMAIL: [email protected] WORKS SUPPORTED: Benevolence: Childhaven of Cullman, AL Media: Gospel Broadcasting Network In Search of the Lord’s Way The Old Landmarks The Truth in Love MISSIONS: Budapest, Hungary: Curry
Montague [email protected]
India: Ron & Karen Clayton [email protected]
Marshall, Texas: Azael & Dinora Alvarez
PREACHER TRAINING: Memphis School of Preaching
Wes Arabie 504-858-2881 Howard Goodale 504-319-3572 Steve Tucker 504-812-2617 Scott Cain 504-392-4110 Wes Arabie 504-858-2881
CHURCH OF CHRIST 4700 GENERAL DEGAULLE DRIVE
NEW ORLEANS, LA 70131 www.DegaulleDriveCOC.com
May 20, 2018
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Concernfortheunderprivileged&vulnerablehasalwaysmatteredtoGod.Threesuchcategoriesineverysocietyineverygenerationareimmigrants(strangers),orphans,&widows.Thisstudypertainstothethirdgroup.
UnderOldTestamentLaw,ifyouwantedtogetonGod’sbadside,thenmistreatawidow(Deuteronomy10:18;14:29;24:17;Psalm94:6;Isaiah1:17;Malachi3:5).HesawHimselfasthejudge&supporterofwidows(Psalm68:5;146:9;Proverbs15:25).IntheNewTestament,concernforwidowswasanemphasisoftheearlychurch(Acts6:1–6;9:36–43).Itisessentialforpurereligion(James1:27;Galatians6:10).
InwritingtoTimothy,Paulconsidersthequestionofwhoshouldreceivesupportfromchurchfunds(1Timothy5:3–16).(To“honor”widowsmeanttoassistthemfinancially.[1])Akeyprincipleis“donotletthechurchbeburdened”(5:16).Paulgivesthreefiltersforthechurchtousebefore“enrolling”widowsinanongoingsupportprogram(cf.Acts6:1–6).(“Takenintothenumber”isimportantinunderstanding1Timothy5.Itmeans“tobeenrolled&putonthelist.”[2])Thesewouldnotnecessarilybefiltersforotherbenevolentsituations(Galatians6:10;James1:27).
FIRSTFILTER:FAMILY(1Timothy5:4,8,15).Doesthewidowhavefamilytotakecareofherneeds?God’srulewasawidowshouldnotgethelpfromthechurchifshecangethelpfromherfamily.Itisadutyofchildrentotakecareoftheirparentsintheiroldage.Ifshehadnoliving(orloving)children,thengrandchildren[3]weretostepin(5:4).Widowshadeveryrighttoexpectthis,forthisisGod’splan.“Honoryourfatherandyourmother”(Exodus20:12;Ephesians6:1–3),includesbenevolentresponsibilities.Ifanyonerefusestoprovideforhisownextendedfamily,especiallyhishousehold(spouse,children,parents),he“isworsethananunbeliever”(1Timothy5:8).
Howdoesthisprincipleapply?Ancientsocietiesdidnothaveretirementpensions,SocialSecurity,ornursing/assistedlivinghomes.Todaythesemakeitlesslikelythatfamilieswillhavetostepin,butitdoesnotrelievetheobligationwhenthereisaneed.Wemusthonorparents&grandparentsbyprovidingfortheirneeds.Pauldidnotspecifyhowfamiliesshouldrelievewidows.
• Somemaysimplygivemoneytothewidow.• Somechildrenmaytakethewidowintotheirhome.YetnoteveryChristian
familyisabletotakeinanotherperson,¬everywidowwantstolivewithherchildren.
• Somechoosetomoveintothewidow’shometemporarilyortaketurnswithothersiblingsinstayingwithher.
• Wherethereissicknessorahandicap,childrenmayneedtopayforprofessionalcareeitherinthewidow’shomeorinanursingfacility.
Thegoldenrulehelpsinmakingsuchchoices(Matthew7:12).
SECONDFILTER:AGE(1Timothy5:9,cf.5:6,11-15).Hasshereachedsixtyyearsofage?Thedangersoftravel,theravagesofdisease,war,&dangerousjobscouldrobayoungwifeofherhusband.Sinceyoungerwidowsmightbeinclinedtoseekmalecompanionshipinviewofafuturemarriage,Paul
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excludedthemfromsupport.Hepresupposed(instructed)thatyoungerwomencouldmarryorsupportthemselves.Makingittosixtyyearsoldwasrareinthefirstcentury.Awomanwhodidreachsixtywasnotlikelytoremarry,thoughmanymarryaftersixtytodaysincelifespansaremuchlonger.Thisrestrictionlimitedthenumberthechurchhelped.
Paul’scommandmentisthattheyoungerwidowsmarry,raisegodlyfamilies,stayathome,&becarefulnottogiveSatanopportunityforaccusation.“Youngerwidows”inthiscontextwouldtechnicallybeanywomanundersixty,butnodoubtPaul’sinstructiontomarrywasgearedmoretowardthetwenty-nine-year-oldsthanthefifty-nine-year-olds.(Awomaninherfiftieswouldnot“bearchildren”ifsheremarried,5:14).
Paullistsreasonsforrefusingtosupportyoungerwidowsfinancially(5:11–14).Becauseoftheirage,theywerenaturallyattractedtomen&wouldwanttomarryagain.Paulseemstoimply(5:12)thateachofthewidowsenrolledpledgedherselftoremainawidow&servetheLordinthechurch.
Further,Paulimpliesthatthatgenerally,youngerwidows,ifcaredforbythechurch,wouldhavetimeontheirhands&getinvolvedinsinfulactivities(5:13).Theywerelikelytobecomeself-indulgent(5:6).Theterm“pleasure”(spatalosa)means“toindulgeoneselfbeyondtheboundsofpropriety,liveluxuriously”(cf.James5:5).Idlenessleadstosuchsinsasgaddingaboutfromhousetohouse,gossip,&beingbusybodies.
Movingfromthenegative,Paullistedpositivethingshewantedyoungerwidowstodotobeapproved(1Timothy5:14–16).Paul’spointseemstobethatweshouldnotgiveaidtothosewhowasteit.Hissolutionwasforwidowsofamarryingagetoremarry&havefamiliesifpossible.Whilenoteverypersonhastogetmarried,marriageisnaturalformostpeople.Whyremainlonelyiftherewasyetopportunityforahusband&afamily?Ofcourse,allofthiswouldhavetobe“intheLord”(1Corinthians7:39).
“Befruitfulandmultiply”wasGod’smandatetothefirsthumans(Genesis1:28).Thenormalresultofmarriageisafamily.ThosetodaywhorefusetohavechildrenbecauseofthesinfulnessoftheworldshouldconsiderhowdifficultthetimeswereinPaul’sday.IfChristiansdonothavechildren&raisethemtoliveforGod,whowill?
INELIGIBLEWIDOWS• Younger• Livesforpleasure• Sensualdesiresovercomeher• Gossips&busybodies
Justasanelderistohaveagoodreputationwithoutsiders(1Timothy3:7),&servantsarenottobringreproachonGod’sWord(1Timothy6:1),sowivesaretohaveagoodinfluence.
Satan(theadversary)isalwaysalerttoanopportunityoroccasiontoinvade&destroyaChristianhome.Thewordoccasionisamilitarytermthatmeans“abaseofoperations.”AChristianwifewhoisnotdoingherjobof“guidingthehouse”givesSatanabeachheadforhisoperations.WhiletherearetimeswhenaChristianwife&mothermayhavetoworkoutsidethehome,itmustnotdestroyherministryinthehome.Thewifewhoworkssimplytogetluxuriesmaydiscovertoolatethatshehaslostsomenecessities.Itmaybegoodtohavewhatmoneycanbuyifyoudonotlosewhatmoneycannotbuy.PaulwrotethatChristianwomenaretobe“discreet,chaste,homemakers,good,obedienttotheirownhusbands,thatthewordofGodmaynotbeblasphemed”(Titus2:5).
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THIRDFILTER:CHARACTERPaulwrote,“Nowshewhoisreallyawidow,andleftalone,trustsinGod,andcontinuesinsupplicationsandprayersnightandday...Donotletawidowundersixtyyearsoldbetakenintothenumber,andnotunlessshehasbeenthewifeofoneman,wellreportedforgoodworks:ifshehasbroughtupchildren,ifshehaslodgedstrangers,ifshehaswashedthesaints’feet,ifshehasrelievedtheafflicted,ifshehasdiligentlyfollowedeverygoodwork”(1Timothy5:5,9–10).
Familysupportfreesthechurchtouseitsfundstocareforwidowswhohavenofamily.“Widowsindeed”wereelderlywidowsinastateofhelplessnessandhopelessness.Thiswasbeforehospitals,retirementpensions,SocialSecurity,ornursinghomes.Theyhadnohusbandtosupportthem;theyhadnochildrentocareforthem;theyhadnomeansofmakingaliving.Theywere“desolate”(KJV)—withouthumansupport,leftallalone(5:5,8).
PaulwarnedTimothyagainstusingthe“charity”ministryofthechurchtoencouragepeopletobeidle(1Timothy5:13).Thechurchcertainlyoughttoassistthosewhoreallyneedhelp,butitmustnotsubsidizesin.Somerefusetowork,ortheywasteresources,andthenaskthechurchtosupportthem.Godsaysifamanwillnotwork,neithershouldheeat(2Thessalonians3:10).Iflazypeoplecangethandouts,whybothertogotowork?ToomuchofGod’smoney,sacrificedbyfaithfulworshipers,iswastedbywell-meaningChristians.Suchdecisionsarerarelyeasy.
Paulgivestherequirementsforwidowsbeing“takenintothenumber”—tobesupportedbythechurch(1Timothy5:5,9–10).
ELIGIBLEWIDOWS• Paulwrote,“Nowshewhoisreallyawidow,andleftalone,trustsinGodandcontinuesinsupplicationsand
prayersnightandday.Butshewholivesinpleasureisdeadwhileshelives.Andthesethingscommand,thattheymaybeblameless”(5:5–7).Thechurchcouldnotcareforallthewidowsinthecity,butitshouldcareforbelieverswhoareapartofthefellowship.Weshould“dogoodtoall...especiallytothosewhoareofthehouseholdoffaith”(Galatians6:10).Luke2:36–37givesanexampleofthiskindofwoman.Onepreachersaidhisexperiencewasthatgodlywidowsare“spiritualpowerhouses”inthechurchandthatungodlywidowscreategreatproblemsforthechurch.Theydemandattention,complainaboutwhattheyoungerpeopledo,andoftengetonthetelephoneandgossip.
• Faithfultoherhusband.“Hasbeenthewifeofoneman”isliterallya“one-manwoman.”Thatis,shewasnotpromiscuous.Shemusthaveagoodmarriagerecord(1Timothy5:9).Wehavemetthisrequirementbefore,forbishops(1Timothy3:2)andfordeacons(1Timothy3:12).Theimplicationisthatthewidowwasnotadivorcedwoman.Faithfulnesstoone’smarriagevowsisimportantintheeyesofGod.Weknowthatthisisnotreferringtoremarriage,becausePauladdressesthatin1Timothy5:14.
• “Broughtupchildren.”Thiscouldrefereithertoawidow’sownchildrenortoorphanswhoneededahome.Ifitreferstoherownchildren,thentheywouldhavetohavedied;otherwisethechurchwouldnotsupporther.ItislikelythatthereferencehereistothepracticeofrescuingabandonedchildrenandraisingthemtoknowtheLord.
• Wellknownforhergoodworks.“Ifshehaslodgedstrangers”referstohospitality(5:10).TheGreektermxenodocheōreferstowelcomingstrangers,andseemslikephiloxenos(“lovingstrangers,”3:2).“Ifshehaswashedthesaints’feet”doesnotrefertoaspecialritual,buttothecommonpracticeofwashingaguest’sfeetwhenhearrivedinthehome(Luke7:44).Hospitalityisimportant—itwasespeciallysointhosedayswhentravelwasdangerousandsafeplacestosleepwerescarce.ItcouldreferingeneraltoservingothersinlowlytasksasJesusintimatedatthelastsupper(John13).Itwasnotbeneaththiswoman’sdignitytotaketheplaceofahumbleservant.“Relievedtheafflicted”couldcovermanykindsofministeringtotheneedy:feedingthehungry,caringforthesick,encouragingthesorrowing,forinstance.
Inreturnforcarefromthechurch,widowsweretoservethechurchratherthanthemselves,contributingtostabilityandpeacewithinthechurchandsettingagoodexample.
REFERENCES[1]Theword“honor”in1Timothy5:3means“tofixthevalue,”asinourword“honorarium,”anamountpaidtoaspeaker
forservices.
[2]Forexample,itwasusedoftheenrollmentofsoldiers.
[3]Translatedas“Nephews”(KJV).
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