We spend one more week thinking about the truth we find in 1 Timothy 5.3-16. This Sunday we unpack the idea that if we’re going to be a church who faithfully cares for the needy, we must first care for the needs of our own family. This means that we cannot faithfully care for the needy in the church while at the same time neglect to care for the needs of our own households. In this sermon, we consider three motivations for why we should care for our own families: 1) Our Care Honors Our Family, 2) Our Care Honors Our Church, and 3) Our Care Honors Our King.

In 1 Timothy 5.1-2, Paul explains how the church is the family of the triune God. We have been brought into the family of the Father, Son, and Spirit. As the household or family of God must relate to one another. In this text we find two distinct ways: 1) We must relate to the older saints as fathers and mothers and 2) We must relate to the younger saints as brothers and sisters.

God's purpose for families is to create multi-generational wisdom that flourishes in God's world, under God's rule. There are two essential requirements for wise families: 1) parents must discipline their children, and 2) children must honor their parents.

There are many perspectives on the family (marriage and parenting) in our culture. As we continue our series through Proverbs, we consider God's wisdom for the family. In Proverbs we find that God's purpose is that families create multi-generational wisdom that flourishes in God's world, under God's rule. If we're going to do that, the church must pursue and foster wise marriages.