Honoring Widows (1 Timothy 5:9-16)
Sermon Notes:
Main idea: 1 Timothy 5:9–16 gives us practical instructions on caring for widows so that we will excel in showing the tender mercy of God by providing for them and causing their hearts to sing for joy.
What is the unique responsibility of individual families?
a. Care for your own widows! (5:4, 7–8, 16)
What is the unique responsibility of the church family?
a. Honor true widows! (5:3, 5)
b. Who to Enroll (5:9–10)
i. Age requirement: older widows (60+) (5:9)
ii. Character requirement: godly widows (5:9–10)
1. Faithful in the home
a. Devoted to her husband
b. Devoted to her children
c. Devoted to hospitality
2. Faithful in the church
a. Humbly serves the saints
b. Mercifully cares for the suffering
c. Who Not to Enroll (5:11–15)
i. Age: younger widows (5:11)
ii. Four Unique Temptations of younger widows (5:11–13)
1. Temptation to wander from Christ (v.11–12)
2. Temptation to be idle (5:13)
3. Temptation to be gossips (5:13)
4. Temptation to be meddlers (5:13)
iii. Specific Counsel to younger widows (5:14–15)
1. What to do (5:14)
a. Marry
b. Bear children
c. Manage your household
2. Why? (5:15)
a. Guards from straying after Satan
b. Secures faithful devotion to Christ
Why should we fulfill these responsibilities?
a. Because it’s pious (5:4)
b. Because it’s pleasing to God (5:4)
c. Because it’s proof of genuine faith (5:8)
d. Because it’s proper (5:4, 10–11; 16)