From Mark Copeland... The Care Of Widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16)

From Mark Copeland... The Care Of Widows (1 Timothy 5:3-16)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                      The Care Of Widows (5:3-16)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the New Testament church, the care of widows was an important
   concern...
   a. The church at Jerusalem made sure none were neglected - cf. Ac 6:
      1-7
   b. James described caring for widows as "pure and undefiled religion"
      - Jm 1:27
   c. Paul charged Timothy to "Honor widows who are really widows"
      - 1Ti 5:3

2. Yet it was not a responsibility simply to be thrust upon the
   church...
   a. The local church has its limitations
   b. Family members have their obligations
   c. Even widows themselves bear some responsibility

[In the text for this study, 1Ti 5:3-16, the apostle Paul instructs
Timothy regarding "The Care Of Widows."  We first note the care to be
given widows...]

I. BY THEIR FAMILIES

   A. TO SHOW PIETY AT HOME...
      1. "...let them first learn to show piety at home" - 1Ti 5:4
      2. "The word is commonly used to denote piety toward God, but it
         is also used to denote proper reverence and respect for a
         parent." - Robinson
      3. This is one way that children "honor" their parents - cf. Ep 6:
         1-2

   B. TO REPAY THEIR PARENTS...
      1. "and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable
         before God" - 1Ti 5:4
      2. Think of the care and sacrifice parents make for their children
      3. "This debt can never be wholly repaid, but still a child should
         feel it a matter of sacred obligation to do as much toward it
         as possible." - Barnes

   C. TO PROFESS TRUE FAITH...
      1. Refusal to provide for one's own family is a denial of true
         religion - 1Ti 5:8; cf. Jm 1:27
      2. Even unbelievers care for their own:  "Every man should take
         care of his own family" - Cicero
      3. Dare we do any less?

[Families should care for their widows, for "widows indeed" are those
who are left alone and trust in God through prayers night and day (1 Ti
5:5).  They are certainly not ones who "live in pleasure" (1Ti 5:6-7),
of which Paul will say more later.  Next Paul writes of the care given
to "widows indeed"...]

II. BY THE CHURCH

   A. THEY MAY BE TAKEN "INTO THE NUMBER"...
      1. I.e., included on a list of those cared for by the church
         - 1Ti 5:9; cf. Ac 6:1-7
      2. From the qualifications (see below), some conclude these widows
         would be given special duties to fulfill for the church
      3. Since it was not uncommon for the church to provide for its own
         on special occasions (cf. Ac 4:34-35), this appears to be list
         for those given long-term care by the church

   B. PROVIDED QUALIFICATIONS WERE MET...
      1. Over sixty years old, the reasons for which given later - 1 Ti 5:9
      2. The wife of one man - 1Ti 5:9
         a. Assumed by many to mean one husband at a time
         b. Otherwise Paul would later tell younger widows to do that
            which disqualify them for any help in the future - cf. 1 Ti 5:14
      3. Well reported for good works - 1Ti 5:10; cf. Dorcas, Ac 9:
         36-39
         a. Brought up children
         b. Lodged strangers
         c. Washed the saints' feet
         d. Relieved the afflicted
         e. Diligently followed every good work

[Such qualifications were required because the church does not have the
ability to help everyone (cf. 1Ti 5:16).  For younger widows
especially, Paul writes of the care given to widows...]

III. BY THEMSELVES

   A. YOUNGER WIDOWS ARE TO BE REFUSED...
      1. The church is not take younger widows "into the number" - 1 Ti 5:11; cf. 5:9
         a. That is, into long term care by the church
         b. Though short term care might be provided along with others
      2. Reasons to refuse younger widow
         a. They will want to remarry, forsaking the commitment expected
            of those taken into the number - 1Ti 5:11-12
         b. They will become idle gossips and busybodies, saying and
            doing things they should not - 1Ti 5:13; cf. 2Th 3:11;
            1Pe 4:15

   B. YOUNGER WIDOWS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REMARRY...
      1. This is what Paul "desires", it is his opinion or counsel
         - 1Ti 5:14
      2. For younger widows to marry, bear children, manage the
         household - cf. Tit 2:4-5
      3. To give no opportunity to the adversary to speak reproachfully
         - cf. Tit 2:5,8
      4. For some have already turned aside to Satan - 1Ti 5:15; cf. Ph
         3:18-19

CONCLUSION

1. "The Care Of Widows" should be an important concern for us today...
   a. Such care is a mark of pure religion
   b. Such care is an expression of due respect toward those who have
      done so much

2. Yet the church has many obligations, it cannot afford to become
   burdened by this one - 1Ti 5:16
   a. For this reason families must accept their responsibilities
   b. Younger widows must accept their own responsibility
   c. Today, even governmental assistance is often available

For those who are "really widows", left alone, trusting in God, and who
meet the qualifications listed in our text, then "The Care Of Widows" is
a duty not to be neglected by the Lord's church...

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Randomness and bad luck

Randomness and bad luck

Numbers chosen "at random" are chosen without pattern or principle; sheer chance is the only "principle" operating. No one purposed or arranged for that sequence of numbers to be chosen.

When we call an event "random" we mean it happened without purpose or aim or principle. It was a raw event, isolated, a simple link in a chain of causes and effects, devoid of purpose or aim, it wasn’t "meant" and therefore it’s meaningless.

We might be able to trace many of the links, the causes and the effects that in turn became causes of other effects. But since these causes and effects are usually simple physical forces and since we can find no evidence that there is a purposing or choosing agent involved we call the events "random". An animal high above the snowline is startled, cries out, dislodges some snow, which dislodges some more and we have an avalanche. No purpose, no choosing agent—it’s all mere "chance". Some skiers and people in the valley below die but no one holds anyone responsible. To look for "meaning" within the series of physical causes/effects is a waste of time. We may grieve deeply over loss of life but we regard this isolated event as meaningless.

A building, old electric wiring, wear and tear, a spark, a fire and the building’s destroyed. Random! A building, a man with match, a purpose and the building’s destroyed. Arson! A child near a cliff edge, a strong gust of wind, a dead child. Tragic. Random. A child near a cliff edge, a vicious bully, a deliberate push, a dead child. Tragic. Murder.

As soon as we uncover purpose and conscious involvement, the event we formerly saw as "random" is not the same event. The wind and the bully may both make the child fall but everyone knows that "fall" doesn’t mean the same thing in both cases.

When we say an event is chance or random we don’t mean it defies "natural law". Mindless forces remain mindless even in the hands of someone that consciously uses them. But when a conscious mind uses the mindless forces then the mindless forces must not be abstracted from the event and made to stand in isolation. They become part of the conscious purpose of a choosing being.

The wind blows according to strict physical laws and it’s entirely mindless and without purpose. A man in a sailing boat adjusts his sails and arrives at the harbour he wants. He doesn’t control or obliterate the wind nor does he give the wind a mind or purposing ability. He uses the mindless force to gain his purpose and we praise him for his skill.

An observer perceives an event as sheer chance but the discovery of a motive can change the quality and nature of the event for the observer. A court case, what looks like a sheer accident begins to look sinister when vested interests and/or feelings of rage or revenge are uncovered. A court case, what looks like the brutal murder of someone inoffensive begins to look like plain self-defence when evidence of past criminal abuse and a clear threat to the life of the accused emerges.

Sometimes when the whole story is pieced together the "sheer accident" is cruelly and carefully planned murder. Without the motive, without knowledge of certain objectives to be gained we’d be happy to say "accident, chance, bad luck" or whatever. Now that we know the bigger story the heart attack (which remains a heart attack) is no longer just a heart attack—it was induced and it’s murder. The heart attack no longer functions in the narrative in the way it did earlier.

Imagine some sort of volcanic eruption (you remember the history of Krakatoa?). Think of the blind forces that go to generating one of these awful eruptions. There’s randomness everywhere! But what if it is in the biblical record and Genesis says it is God at work in judgement on Sodom?

Imagine that in the judgement on Sodom and Gomorrah out of 60,000 inhabitants fifty or sixty people survived. One child, for example, got trapped in a cellar and others were thrown deep into a cave by a ground tremor and it happened that the cellar and cave protected them from the fires that raged above and around them. It makes sense to say that it was simply "good luck" (chance, random occurrences) that occasioned their survival. But the same ground tremor that trapped the child in the cellar and threw some into the cave brought the roof of a building down on others, killing them. It makes sense to say that it was simply "bad luck" (chance, random occurrences) that brought their death. We say those things because the same mindless ground tremor resulted in two different fates—one is "bad" and the other is "good". The tremor didn’t purpose or choose to save or kill the people.

Within this purposed judgement of God it would be easy to find what we might call "random" events. (The ash and salt filled air overwhelmed Lot’s wife but not Lot or any other family member.) To isolate specific incidents as if they stood alone and to use them to prove that God did not purpose the event as a whole, as a judgement on Sodom, is shoddy thinking and undermines our credibility.

We might say the child in the cellar and the people in the cave were "lucky" to be alive. We might say the people on whom the roof fell were "unlucky" to die. But speech like that makes sense only when we isolate some parts from the whole. When we isolate some parts from the whole, the parts are no longer what they were when seen as a part of the whole.

If indeed we believe that the cataclysm was a purposed act of God then it makes more sense to say that those that died died at God’s hand. And it wouldn’t matter how, precisely, they met death at that moment—a falling rock, a collapsing house or a river of lava. And it would make more sense to say that God spared some people than to think that they luckily escaped his judgement. In fact, their friends would almost certainly thank God for protecting them. They’re not likely to call it "good luck".

(Jesus spoke of God’s judgement on Israel via the invading Roman armies and spoke of some being taken and others left as survivors, people in the same families and close friends. Compare Matthew 24:22,40-41 and Luke 17:26-37.)

Yes, but why would this person rather than that one survive? How is it that the stone missed that person and hit the one beside her? How is it that a Roman arrow ricocheted off a wall and killed a child hidden under a blanket? These are interesting questions but they’re completely beside the point! If indeed the invading army is God’s instrument of judgement no difficult question alters that truth. To say, "You can’t explain why in the battle that this person died and the one next to her didn’t" is no doubt true. But it doesn’t change the fact that the entire proceeding was God acting in judgement.

To call a famine in Amos 4 or the flood in Genesis 6 or the plagues on Egypt random because they were "nature" calamities with rigid cause and effect links is silly. Might as well call the sailor’s arrival in the harbour "random". If these were indeed (as the Bible claims them to be) God acting in judgement the case is closed for a believer.

For believers, it is enough for the Bible to affirm that an event was purposed. Whatever we call "random" within that event cannot be used to offset the biblical witness that the event is purposed.

If God purposes to use mindless forces randomly then "random" takes on a different complexion. It doesn’t matter that he could make it "rain" out of a clear blue and cloudless sky; if he chooses to use winds and temperatures, sunlight and whatever to bring rain to a specific locality (Elijah story here) it’s no surprise to us and it’s what he normally does. He says he brings the rain, and it doesn’t matter that we can "prove" that every step in the development and delivery of rainfall is the result of a chain of physical causes and effects that "could have gone either way". The arrival of rain is the work of God! He says so and the psalmists and prophets praise him for it.

"But someone drew his bow at random and hit the king of Israel between the sections of his armor...and that evening he died." (1 Kings 22:34-35) Imagine a bored soldier, minding the horses, wanting to get in on it, shoots an arrow in the direction of the battle and hits Ahab. He didn’t purpose to kill the king. The arrow could have hit anyone or no one. If we’re consistent we say it was all "bad luck". But when you read the whole story of God and Ahab...

What if we discovered that the hurt and loss, the tragedies and catastrophes experienced by the human family were not just bad luck but the redeeming work of a gracious God who is working to bring the human family to glory and righteousness beyond our imagining?

If you had a choice between that and "it’s just bad luck" which would you choose?

Something needs to be said about "randomness" and "good luck".

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Ben Fronczek... James (Part 12) Sin of Omission

James (Part 12) Sin of Omission

Read: Luke 10:25-37   (click on verse to read)  The story of the Good Samaritan

Here Jesus told a story about a man who was traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. He was robbed, beaten and left for dead on the side of the road. Before long a priest came along and saw him lying there. We don’t what exactly was going through his mind, if he had a specific destination or if he had an appointment to keep, but when he saw the injured man we know that he chose not to stop and help him. Besides, if he stopped to help the injured man, he would become ritually unclean and not be able to participate in a temple worship service until he was cleansed, so, he walked on by.

A Levite (probably a temple assistant) was the next to pass. When he saw the injured man he likewise moved over to the other side of the road and left him for dead.

The next individual to come by was a Samaritan. If Jesus were telling the story to us today, He might use a gang member or an illegal alien for the last one to walk past. To the Jews that Jesus was speaking to, a Samaritan was a nobody, somebody to be avoided. But to the injured man that Samaritan was a savior. He cleaned the crime victim up, took him to a local inn, paid for his room and came back to check on him. The point that Jesus was making when He told that story was that the person who was obedient to God wasn’t those guys who were in a hurry to get to a worship service. The one who was obedient to God was the one who understood the second greatest commandment, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” and actually did something.

I can’t help but wonder if these first two men felt a little guilty after the passed by that man lying in the dirt all beat up and stripped of clothes. Have you ever felt those pains of guilt afterwards, when in your heart you know that you should have done something, but didn’t do it?  Depending on what it is, sometime we harbor guilt for years. The other day I heard someone say, “You should do the right thing even if you don’t feel like doing the right thing.” If we only did things when we felt like doing them not many things would get done.  And she also said, “There is such a feeling of release (or peace) when you do what is right.”

And why is this true? Because even though you may not feel like doing a certain task, if you know that task is right, if it is God’s will, and you do it anyway, you feel better afterwards and you won’t have to carry around a burden of guilt because you didn’t do it.

The puritans classified all sin into 2 categories. There are the sins of commission. The things that we do that we aren’t supposed to do. The ‘Thou shall nots…”  We are instructed not to lie, kill, covet, cheat, envy, lust with our eyes or with our flesh, or use the Lord’s name in vain and all those other ‘thou shall nots.’  When we choose to do something that is wrong, it is a sin of commission.

But they also recognized that there are also sins of omission. These are the good things that we know we should do, but don’t do them. When we decide not to do something that is right, we commit the sin of omission.

Our text in James 4:17 is an eye opener for many. “James wrote, “If anyone,  knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.”

This morning I would simply like to point out some specific sins of omission that we need to avoid.

#1. If you know of a need and choose not to help, that is a sin of omission. The story of the Good Samaritan that Jesus told is a challenge to us to help out when we recognize a special need. Now I certainly realize that in a world filled with needs, we can’t help everyone all the time. But I also know that we probably can do more. Often we excuse ourselves from helping because it’s not easy, or it takes time we think we don’t have. But if we know of needs and simply don’t want to help in any way, we find ourselves in the same position as the Priest and the Levite who walked past the injured man. Let’s be careful, not to make excuses for doing good.

If you were that person beat up and  injures, stripped naked and left for dead, wouldn’t you want someone to stop and help you?

Paul said in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” When your eyes become fixed on a need that God has set before you, don’t hesitate, if at all possible help. More than likely God has put you where you are and pointed you to that need for His purposes.

#2. God has blessed us all with specific talents and abilities. If God puts you in a particular situation where those talents could and should be used to help another, and then we walk away from that opportunity, we may be committing a sin of omission. 

In 1 Corinthians 12:7, Paul talks about the fact that we all have been given gifts, abilities to do things for the kingdom of God. As he discusses these abilities he makes a very important statement. “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”   God did not give you your abilities, those gifts and talents simply to satisfy your own needs. God gave those gifts for the good of everyone.

Now let me get personal. Sometimes serving is a hard, maybe even painful. There are all kinds of excuses, but as you offer them I want you to listen to your words and ask yourself if you are not using your gifts or special abilities because you just don’t feel like it, or because you simply what to avoid the added work. Or maybe you simply just don’t feel like doing what God has set before you or who you have to do it for. If so, you may need to ask yourself am I guilty of committing a sin of omission here? James wrote; “Anyone who knows the good he ought to do, but doesn’t do it, sins.”

#3. What about if you know the truth but with hold it harming another .
What if you heard that someone was being accused of a crime but you knew that the person was innocent and you had proof, would you step up to the plate and provide the information to set that person free if you could? What if you didn’t, if you refused? You would be guilty of a sin of omission because you did not provide that information needed to save that person.

What if you know someone who needs to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior but you never say anything? Or maybe you are you aware of someone who used to be active in church but doesn’t go anymore, yet you socialize with then but never encourage them to do the right thing?

Often the Holy Spirit nudges us to speak to people about our faith and we ignore Him because we don’t want to, or we are afraid we don’t know how to share that information, or we are afraid of rejection. Recognize that the principle of sins of omission means that when we don’t respond to those promptings to tell other people the message of Jesus, we just may be sinning.

Often fear is there because we fail to recognize that God has been working in that other person’s life to prepare them for hearing what we are about to say. If you believe that the Spirit is prompting you to say something to someone about Jesus don’t commit the sin of omission failing to speak up.

Closing:

As I think about the truth that James points us to here in 4:17, I am overwhelmed with my own sin at times. Some people might think themselves so self-righteous that they can avoid sin, but when you come to recognize that sin includes knowing good things to do and not doing them, that can be disheartening . The weight of that guilt could destroy a person, or at least make one feel like it is impossible to ever be right with God. If sin separates us from God, and every time I don’t do the best thing possible I sin, then what hope is there?

The good news of Jesus Christ is that there is a hope. Jesus died to save us from the eternal consequences of our sin. When Jesus shed His blood on the cross, it was for the purpose of saving us from every sin we’ve committed. Instead of being paralyzing by our weakness and imperfections, understanding the complete nature of sin helps us to love God all the more for freeing us from the burden of sin.

However, once you’ve heard the good news about Jesus dying on the cross, we do have a responsibility to respond. The ultimate sin of omission is to know the good news about Jesus and to refuse to obey.

As the author of Hebrews wrote “ how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?” The obvious answer to that question is “We can’t.” Don’t commit the ultimate sin of omission by refusing to respond to the grace of Jesus Christ.

And if you realize that you are still weak  and continue to sin Ask God to help you do better. Ask God to help you become wiser. Ask God to prune you. Jesus said in John 15:1-2,  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

Ask God to prune you so you can grow and mature as a healthy Christian and bear much good fruit.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Gary... Alike all over...

No, these are not my dogs.  My white dog, Buddy, is much smaller than my red one, Pal.  But, they do have something in common- they are nosey.  After-all, a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do.  And as I look at these fine looking Poodles, I am reminded that people are all alike to.  Generically, we all do the same types of things.  Like eating, sleeping, working, thinking and doing things we want to do.  However, there are differences, but first the similarities...

Acts, Chapter 10

  34  Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism;  35 but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.  36 The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— 37 you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;  38 even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.  39 We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree.  40 God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed,  41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.  42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead.  43 All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.” 

  44  While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the word. 45 They of the circumcision who believed were amazed, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was also poured out on the Gentiles.  46 For they heard them speaking in other languages and magnifying God. 

Then Peter answered,  47 “Can anyone forbid these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just like us.”  48 He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.

God doesn't show favoritism because people are all alike.  Everyone who "works righteousness" is acceptable to HIM.  This can be anyone who fears God and does what God wants (righteousness).  The almighty proved this point by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit falling on non-Jews.  Since this showed approval of them, who could forbid them from being baptized and becoming disciples.  Yes, people have a lot in common, but the sad fact is that not everyone will do what God wants.  Some will go their own way, do their own thing.  Personally, I prefer to dwell on the positive and try to be thankful for those who will listen- and obey!!!  If you haven't, why wait???

From Gary... Bible Reading January 10

Bible Reading  

January 10

The World English Bible

Jan. 10

Genesis 10

Gen 10:1 Now this is the history of the generations of the sons of Noah and of Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

Gen 10:2 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

Gen 10:3 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

Gen 10:4 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

Gen 10:5 Of these were the islands of the nations divided in their lands, everyone after his language, after their families, in their nations.

Gen 10:6 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

Gen 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.

Gen 10:8 Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth.

Gen 10:9 He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. Therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh."

Gen 10:10 The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

Gen 10:11 Out of that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah,

Gen 10:12 and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (the same is the great city).

Gen 10:13 Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,

Gen 10:14 Pathrusim, Casluhim (which the Philistines descended from), and Caphtorim.

Gen 10:15 Canaan became the father of Sidon (his firstborn), Heth,

Gen 10:16 the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite,

Gen 10:17 the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite,

Gen 10:18 the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the families of the Canaanites were spread abroad.

Gen 10:19 The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as you go toward Gerar, to Gaza; as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, to Lasha.

Gen 10:20 These are the sons of Ham, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, in their nations.

Gen 10:21 To Shem, the father of all the children of Eber, the elder brother of Japheth, to him also were children born.

Gen 10:22 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram.

Gen 10:23 The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.

Gen 10:24 Arpachshad became the father of Shelah. Shelah became the father of Eber.

Gen 10:25 To Eber were born two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.

Gen 10:26 Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,

Gen 10:27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,

Gen 10:28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,

Gen 10:29 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

Gen 10:30 Their dwelling was from Mesha, as you go toward Sephar, the mountain of the east.

Gen 10:31 These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their languages, in their lands, after their nations.

Gen 10:32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations. Of these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.

From Mark Copeland... Family Matters (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                         Family Matters (5:1-2)

INTRODUCTION

1. In his instructions to Timothy as a minister of the gospel, Paul
   counsels him on how to treat the members of the congregation - cf.
   1Ti 5:1-2

2. The figures used in this passage presuppose that we...
   a. Are indeed a family
   b. Should act accordingly

[In this lesson, I would like to expound upon that thought.  First, as
Christians and members of the body of Christ...]

I. WE ARE INDEED THE FAMILY OF GOD

   A. THAT WE ARE THE FAMILY OF GOD...
      1. Was alluded to earlier in this epistle - 1Ti 3:14-15
      2. Was taught by Jesus during His ministry - Mt 12:46-50

   B. WE BECAME MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY...
      1. By doing the will of the Father - Mt 12:50
      2. By faith and baptism - Ga 3:26-27
      3. By being "born again" of water and the Spirit - Jn 3:3-5
      4. By being "adopted" (to use a different figure) - Ep 1:3-5

   C. WHEN WE BECAME MEMBERS OF THIS FAMILY...
      1. Some might have been cut off by our physical family - Mt 10:
         34-39
      2. Yet we gained a much larger family - Mk 10:28-30
      3. Included in this family are:
         a. God as our Father in heaven
         b. Jesus as our "elder brother" - He 2:11-12
         c. All Christians as our brothers and sisters

[This is a wonderful blessing we can enjoy now in Christ, if fully
utilized.  Yet with blessings come responsibilities; this is especially
true when it comes to the family of God...]

II. WE SHOULD TREAT ONE ANOTHER AS FAMILY

   A. OUR TEXT DEMONSTRATES HOW...
      1. From a young person's point of view, they should treat:
         a. Older men as fathers
         b. Older women as mothers
         c. Younger men as brothers
         d. Younger women as sisters
      2. From an older person's point of view, they should treat:
         a. Older men as brothers
         b. Older women as sisters
         c. Younger men as sons
         d. Younger women as daughters

   B. PAUL PROVIDES EXAMPLES...
      1. As a father to a son (Timothy) - 1Ti 1:2,18; 2Ti 1:2; 2:1; Ph
         2:19-22
      2. As one brother to another (Epaphroditus) - Php 2:25
      3. As a son to a mother (the mother of Rufus) - Ro 16:13
      4. In teaching on family duties - Ep 6:1-4
         a. Like obedient children, we should show honor to our older
            brethren
         b. Like loving fathers, tender treatment should be shown to
            younger brethren

   C. ESPECIALLY WHERE CORRECTION IS NEEDED...
      1. In our text, Paul instructs Timothy on how to exhort
         a. When instructive criticism was necessary
         b. When there is to be caution against "rebuke" (an otherwise
            natural inclination)
            1) Lit., to strike upon, beat upon - Thayer
            2) To chastise with words, to chide, upbraid, rebuke - ibid.
      2. This can make quite a difference in handling differences
         a. We would be gentle with one another - cf. Ga 6:1
         b. As David wanted for his son Absalom - cf. 2Sa 18:5

[Not only is being the family of God a blessing in the best of times, it
can also help when things are not going well; it can smooth the rough
times in our relationships!  Finally, a few thoughts on how...]

III. WE CAN DEVELOP A STRONG SENSE OF FAMILY

   A. LEARNING BY EXAMPLE...
      1. Children of loving families are more likely to produce loving
         families
      2. As children of God, we can learn "family values" from our
         Father and Elder Brother
         a. From God we learn what love is - 1Jn 4:9
         b. From Jesus we learn how to love one another - 1Jn 3:16; Jn 13:34
      3. Thus we are better prepared to love another
         a. When we meditate upon the love of God
         b. When we dwell in the love of the Father and the Son - Jn 14:21; 15:9-10

   B. THROUGH SHARED EXPERIENCES...
      1. For a relationship to exist requires shared experiences
      2. It was shared experiences that bonded Paul and his brethren at
         Philippi - Php 1:3-8
      3. Take advantage of opportunities to be with your brethren, and
         the sense of family will grow!

   C. THROUGH PURITY OF CONDUCT...
      1. Nothing destroys a sense of family like sin
         a. Impure conduct caused Amnon to hate his sister Tamar - cf.
            2Sa 13:15
         b. Impure conduct caused Absalom to hate his brother Amnon
            - cf. 2Sa 13:22
      2. In our text, Paul cautioned Timothy about his conduct toward
         younger sisters
         a. "younger as sisters, with all purity" - 1Ti 5:2
         b. He "was to indulge in no word, or look, or action, which
            could by any possibility be construed as manifesting an
            improper state of feeling." - Barnes
      3. Improper conduct between brothers and sisters in Christ:
         a. Has devastated many congregations
         b. Destroys any sense of family
      4. Thus all would do well to heed a later admonition by Paul - cf.
         2Ti 2:22
         a. "Flee also youthful lusts"
         b. "Pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who
            call on the Lord out of a pure heart"

CONCLUSION

1. One of the greatest blessings of being a Christian is being in the
   family of God...
   a. To have God as your Father, Jesus as your Elder Brother
   b. To have an unlimited supply of mothers, fathers, brothers and
      sisters

2. But to fully experience this blessing, we must treat one another like
   family...
   a. In our love for one another
   b. In our correction of one another

May we reap the fullest benefit of membership in the family of God, by
heeding Paul's admonition to Timothy...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Open theism and God the omelette-maker

Open theism and God the omelette-maker

"Open theism" or "relational theology" is a knee-jerk reaction to a hyper-Calvinism that's when it's done talking makes human life and existence into something like God playing himself a game of chess with humans as little more than pawns. There ought to be some biblical response to that nonsense but the dithering Sovereign that's offered by the "open theism" view is no biblical response. "Open theism" is more more than a poor response to hyper-Calvinism—it's an attempt to defend God's reputation by showing us that he's not responsible in any sense for the suffering in the world. We have all the suffering in the world because God tied his own hands and lets creation unfold as it will while he runs around bringing good out of evil if he can.

I believe God can make an omelette and lemonade at least as good as anyone else. So it’s no surprise to me that when eggs are broken he can make a stunning omelette out of them or if life hands him a lemon he can make the best lemonade make-able. I don’t mind confessing that; bless me, I don’t mind proclaiming it, because I see it written all over scripture but the God I read about in scripture is more than a short-order cook and lemonade-maker. He isn’t pictured as ceaselessly running around trying to make the best of this or that situation in a chaotic world—he’s presented as the Sovereign, the Lord Almighty whose over-arching purpose can't be thwarted.

I don’t think that God’s will is the only will that operates in this world of ours. You don’t have to be Einstein to know that our own human and often evil wills are operating at full speed with terrifying effect. This is old news.

There’s a silly view that continues to make the rounds even in Christianised circles. The view suggests that Bible people didn’t really take secondary causes into account and so they laid everything at God’s feet. Had these people understood or at least taken seriously secondary causes they wouldn’t say about everything that God "did" this or "sent" that. They would lay the blame right where it belonged, at the feet of humans. And if it were a natural calamity (like a tornado or a drought or a flood) they would put it down to chance, random forces. If they took human and natural forces seriously they wouldn’t always lay the occurrence at God’s feet. The view is nonsense.

These ancient Israelites knew how rainstorms gathered, they knew the politics of various nations and their expansionist agendas. They knew fine well that people acted out of lust and envy and material greed, abusing power and privilege and that all that affected lives. Do we think they were idiots? We use to hear that Bible writers talked of miracles because they didn’t know much about the laws of nature. Can you imagine? They spoke of the Virgin Birth of Christ because they didn’t know how babies were made? These people knew very well about the natural order and about social unrighteousness but they also knew that the sovereign Lord was at work in history and nature working his holy and redemptive will. So they laid things like natural calamities and wars at God’s feet and said he was responsible. In fact, they often quoted him as saying he was responsible (see places like Amos 4, Isaiah 10 and Habakkuk 1). They didn’t talk in terms of God always going around making the best out of a bad job that we have done. That’s certainly an aspect of the truth and it’s perfectly biblical to say so but that truth is part of a larger truth that insists that what God "allows" he wills to allow.

Was Joseph’s thirteen years in exile in Egypt an exercise of sovereignty or was it God omelette-making with already broken eggs? Did God watch the brothers take Joseph into Egypt and then respond to their evil by bringing good out of evil or was Joseph right when he said, "You didn’t send me here; it was God who sent me here"?

Was Assyria’s all-out war against Israel and other nations an exercise of God’s sovereignty or was it God merely making use of a harsh reality that happened without him? Or did the prophet quote God correctly when God said, "Look, I send Assyria against a nation that has made me angry"?

Was the cross of Jesus Christ an exercise of sovereignty or lemonade-making? Did Pilate and the boys decide to reject and railroad the Christ, God saw it and in response to their action turn it into something that reconciled the whole of creation? Or was Peter right when he said God delivered Christ to the cross and that Pilate and his allies were doing what God had foreordained to happen (Acts 2:23 and 4:25-28)?

Joseph’s brothers freely chose to do evil, Assyria freely chose to wage war against Israel and Jews and Gentiles freely collaborated to do unspeakable evil. But in their doing what they wickedly wanted to do God was graciously and righteously doing what he wanted to do!

Should such talk frighten us? Why would it? If God were like Stalin or Papa Doc or Vlad the Impaler I’m certain it should. But God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. If that doesn’t assure us, nothing will. If we can’t trust that God, look at life and say, "Be still my soul, the Lord is on our side" then there is no comfort to be found.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Ben Fronczek... James (Part 11) There is Always Tomorrow, or is There?

James  (Part 11)    There is Always Tomorrow, or is There?

In the past I have had the pleasure of conducting Bible studies and sharing the Good News about Jesus with a number of different people. And in doing so I have to admit it is a joyous occasion when the light bulb came on in a person head. They began to understand who Jesus is; the fact that He died for their sin, that they can be forgiven and become God’s child, and have the hope of heaven. They come to believe that if they accept Jesus as their personal Savior, do their best to turn from their sin, confess Him as the new Lord of their life, and then allow Jesus to remove those sins in the watery grave of baptism, they will be set free from all their sin and have the hope of heaven.

What I find extremely sad is when someone learns the true about Jesus and how to be saved, and really believes it all, but then outright refuses to do what they know that they should do, and they put it all off to another day in the future when they think that they can be a better Christian.

Many years ago when I worked with the Saratoga Church, my partner and I had a Bible study with a middle aged lady. She loved the Bible study and learning about Jesus and really understood not only how to become a Christian but also what it meant to be a Christian. But after it was all said and done, she told us that even though she understood it all she did not want to become a Christian at that time because there were some things in her life she did not want to give up doing. She said that maybe sometime later she would become a Chrisitian.

It seemed like only a month later we got a call and we found out that this lady got sick with some weird disease and died suddenly. If I remember correctly both my partner and I shed some tears that day because she had turned her back on Jesus thinking that she had more time.

In James 4:13-16 he write, “¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil.”

Ten years ago Thursday my dad died suddenly. He was out working in the greenhouse and came in for his morning break and told my mom his stomach felt upset. My mom, brother, and son when back out to work while he stayed in the house.

My mom came back to the house a little while later she found my dad’s lifeless body on the floor. We were told that he died of a massive Aortic Aneurism. One of the main arteries going to his heart had a blowout and he died almost instantly.

It was a couple days before Easter and in the greenhouse it was one of the busiest times of the year. It was a time to make some money after a long slow winter season.  I think about what James wrote the man said, “Today or tomorrow we will  carry on business and make money.” ^{And God responds by saying  ”}Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

We work, and drive our self crazy trying to get ahead and make more money. We worry, we fret, we are afraid about what is going to happen tomorrow yet there is a good possibly you may not even live to see another day.

You may think, ‘Ah that won’t happen to me.’  That’s what my dad thought. He thought he was healthy and had plans for his future. Many die suddenly everyday thinking they have more time; probably more than you realize!

Did you know that in the USA about 33,000 people die each year in car accidents. That breaks down to about 90 people per day. It could suddenly happen to any one of us this very day.

Here is a statistic you may not know about: an estimated 325,000 people die each year, or about 9300 people per day from (SCA) Sudden Cardiac Arrest. It is a leading cause of death in the United States where people suddenly die because their heart stops. 9300 people per day that expected to live longer.

And then those who die of Aneurysm which is a sudden killer as my dad found out:

- Aortic Aneurysms about 15000 people die of them per year

- Abdominal Aneurysm about 15000 people die of them per year

- And Brain Aneurysms claim about 20000/year, all without a warning.  So that’s almost another 1000 per week who die suddenly from aneurysms

As James put it, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”         

Now I did not set out to scare you today, rather…

#1.  I want you to face the reality that we may not have a tomorrow, or another month, or another year. Life is frail, Like a mist that’s there one moment and gone another.

And #2.  James makes his whole point by stating, “¹⁵ Instead, we ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”    In other words, it’s all about God’s will not ours. Our life is truly in God’s hands.

What went wrong with the man in James story? In the middle of all his plans he left out God. He forgot to seek the face of the One who created Him. He forgot to determine the will of the One who sustains him. He forgot to seek His blessing as he went off to work.

How many times do we do that? In all of your plans do you asked God if what you are planning is ok with Him and something He will bless? As we plan for the future of this Church, are we asking what God’s plans for us are?

When you look at verse 13, there was nothing wrong with the man planning on going to a city. There was nothing wrong with planning on staying there for a year. There was nothing wrong with planning on starting a business there. There wasn’t even anything wrong with planning on making some money from that business. So what was wrong with the man’s plans? He left God out. He thought he was going to do all that on his own. He forgot that without the Lord, he’s really nothing.

He forgot that even if all of his business plans worked out, his life was but a vapor. He could be the most successful businessman on earth, but that didn’t really matter if God decided his life should end.

He should have  considered making God a partner as he made his plans.

What about you? When you make your plans do you considering God and His will in light of what you want to do?

Have you laid your plan before Him in prayer? And when you pray do you listen and watch for His response? Or do you just push ahead like a raging bull no matter what anyone else thinks, including God.

As I see it, inquiring of God shows how important He is in our everyday life, not just on Sundays.

I personally believe that God is not only concerned about our soul’s eternal destiny; I believe He is also concerned about our everyday affairs and how we conduct our lives in His kingdom. And I also believe He wants to bless us, but He have to put Him and His will first.

And to do that we not only have to seek to learn and understand what He wants of us  in His written word and through the promptings of His Spirit in us, we also have to be do our best to accept and do His will as we live and work in His kingdom..

We have no promise that we will have tomorrow and so we should live like this day is the most important of all; as another day to bring glory to our Father. .

 And if you make any plans, ask God about them. Ask for His approval and blessing. Even consider the advice of other godly men and women you consider wise in the kingdom.  And if it is not God’s will, pray that He will slam the door shut and make it real obvious to you.

Every day that God gives you and me, every day He allows us to live is a gift. Its another day to live, and enjoy our families. It’s another day to be creative or  do something good. It’s another day to show mercy and express love. It’s another day to enjoy what God has created for us in nature.   We can either enjoy those things and use the day to His glory or focus more on our own selfish will and desires; like the man in James’ story.

It’s ok to make plans, work hard, to try to earn and good living in what little time we do have. But if we are to learn anything from this text I hope that you will learn to partner with God in all that you do.

Also realize that you probably should not put of to tomorrow what you should do today.

And if you have not become a Christian thinking that tomorrow will be a better day remember what the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 6:2 where he wrote, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

Each time I drive past the cemetery in back of the Target and Staples stores in Saratoga I remember that lady I studied with who is now buried there. Like when we buried her, I still remember what she said, “I don’t want to become a Christian now; maybe later.”  Later never came for her!

Do not put off doing God’s will, and do not forget to seek His will out for your life.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566