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Titus 2:1-6, 1 Timoteüs 5:1-2 en
1 Tessalonicenzen 5:14-15
Sermon 10

WE ARE FAMILY

So what is a Church? And why do we need to confront one another? This has everything to do with the DNA of the Church: discipleship. Church isn’t merely about attendance… don’t be proud of managing to get yourself to the chair you’re sitting in. No. Church is about participating in the discipleship program that God has created. It’s being part of a flock that walks around you, bumps into you, bites your calves and makes a bunch of noise. We’re supposed to involve ourselves in each other’s lives.
And that’s where culture gets in the way. We live in a radically individualistic society that wants you to be you on your terms. That’s not what God wants… He wants you to be like Christ on His terms. But we bring the culture in through the front door of the Church and tend to want everyone to leave us alone in our little corner of the auditorium.
So how does the Bible describe the Church? There are many pictures in the New Testament… bride, body, flock, vine, etc.
One that is particularly interesting is found in Timothy… the Church is a family and we should treat each other like family members.

Titus 2:1-6
More proof that the Church is about discipleship. It starts with good theology put into practice, which is applied to the characteristics of the mature believers (older men and older women), but consequently moves into the role the gray-haired saints are to have in the lives of younger believers. Teaching young wives and mothers what their responsibilities are, teaching young men to have self-control

1 Timoteüs 3:15; 5:1-2
And here you have it. This is instruction given to Timothy on how to deal with/approach four group of people in the Chruch (the same groups of people we saw in Titus 2). Older men as fathers, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers and younger women as sisters. So what does this mean for you? Well, an elder is intended to be an example to the flock (we’ve learned this last year), so these words are valuable insights for every member of the Church.
As fathers… this means respectful, as someone who is ahead of you in life-experience.
As brothers… this means humble, as someone who is an equal with the other (Cain: Am I my brother’s keeper? Yes… we are).
As mothers… this means gentle, as a child that takes great care to honor the person you are approaching.
As sisters… this means honorable, since Paul adds the phrase “in all purity”. Sisters are not to be viewed sexually, but brothers instinctively feel protective of their sisters. The Bible portrays with in the case of Dina and Tamar -- the dishonor of their sister lead to sinful vengeance by her brother(s).
This gives us a lot to think about in the way we approach each other in the Church. And it makes us realize Scripture wants us to think about each other in familial ways. And families are always up in each other’s business!

1 Tessalonicenzen 5:14-15
So first in understanding how to deal with each other is identifying who each of our fellow Church members is… that’s right… we all end up somewhere in these verses and need others to help us out of these verses.
And these verses - which really aren’t very difficult to understand - help us to know how we should respond to each situation.
The disorderly (not in proper arrangement, due to improper thinking or rebellion). We are to actively convince them or warn them of the right way of walking (ordering our lives).
The discouraged. We are to allow them to be encouraged through our friendly speech regarding the earthly circumstances of their lives.
The weak. We are to allow them to lean on us and even use us as a defensive shield (hiding behind us) as we support them in their weaknesses.
All. We are to be patient (long-suffering with God as our blueprint). We are to guard ourselves and the Church against vengeance. We are to do good to all for the benefit of all.

Geoff Chang writes the following:
“Biblical confrontation is the loving protection of each other against the deception, seduction and consequences of sin through the repeated proclamation and application of the gospel to each other.”