Care in the Household of God - 10/26/25 - Worship Service

Devotional

Day 1: Correction with Compassion and Respect in the Church

Correction in the church is necessary, but it must always be done with a spirit of compassion, dignity, and respect, recognizing the familial bonds that unite believers. When addressing error or sin among fellow Christians, the approach should not be harsh or degrading, but rather gentle and encouraging, coming alongside others as one would a beloved family member. This posture of correction—treating older men as fathers, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters—reflects the heart of Christ and fosters unity and growth within the body. The goal is not to shame, but to restore and build up, ensuring that truth is spoken in love and received in humility. [43:37]

1 Timothy 5:1-2 (ESV)
"Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity."

Reflection:
Is there someone in your church family you need to lovingly correct or encourage today? How can you approach them with the same respect and gentleness you would show to a close family member?

Day 2: Honoring and Providing for True Widows

God calls His people to honor and care for widows who are truly alone, recognizing their faithfulness and devotion to Him and the church. These women, having lost their husbands and without family to support them, are to be cared for by the church, especially when they have demonstrated a life of prayer, service, and good works. This care is not just financial, but also relational and spiritual, reflecting God’s own heart for the vulnerable. The church is to discern genuine need and respond with generosity, ensuring that no one who is truly alone is left without support or dignity. [52:49]

1 Timothy 5:3, 5, 9-10 (ESV)
"Honor widows who are truly widows. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day... Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work."

Reflection:
Who in your community might be overlooked or alone? What is one tangible way you can honor or support someone in need this week?

Day 3: Family Responsibility to Care for Their Own

Scripture teaches that caring for one’s own family, especially aging parents or relatives in need, is a primary expression of godliness and faith. Children and grandchildren are called to repay the care they once received by providing for their elders, demonstrating love and gratitude in action. Neglecting this responsibility not only dishonors one’s family but also brings discredit to the faith, as even those outside the church recognize the importance of caring for their own. God is pleased when believers show godliness at home, and there is a unique blessing in honoring parents through sacrificial care, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. [57:42]

1 Timothy 5:4, 8 (ESV)
"But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God... But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

Reflection:
Is there a family member—parent, grandparent, or relative—who needs your help or presence right now? What is one specific step you can take this week to care for them in a way that honors God?

Day 4: Grief Does Not Always Lead to Godliness

Experiencing loss and grief does not automatically draw a person closer to God; in fact, it can sometimes lead to self-indulgence or choices that pull one away from faith. The pain of loss can tempt individuals to seek comfort in unhealthy ways or to become vulnerable to negative influences, as seen in the warning against self-indulgence and being led astray. God invites those who grieve to set their hope on Him, to persist in prayer, and to trust in His provision, rather than turning to destructive behaviors or abandoning their devotion. Grief is a crossroads—one that can either deepen faith or lead to spiritual decline, depending on where one turns for comfort. [01:01:48]

James 1:2-4 (ESV)
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Reflection:
When you face grief or disappointment, where do you turn for comfort? Is there a habit or influence you need to surrender to God so that your pain leads you closer to Him rather than away?

Day 5: Christ’s Ultimate Example of Care

The ultimate model of care is found in Jesus Christ, who saw humanity’s greatest need and responded not with words alone, but with sacrificial action. Jesus cared enough to leave heaven, take on human flesh, and give His life on the cross so that we could be reconciled to God. This self-giving love sets the standard for how believers are to care for one another—moving beyond sentiment to tangible acts of service, generosity, and presence. As the church, we are called to reflect Christ’s care by meeting both spiritual and practical needs, proclaiming through our actions that God’s love is real and active among us. [01:21:18]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection:
How can you imitate Christ’s sacrificial care for others this week? Identify one specific need—spiritual or practical—that you can help meet for someone in your church or community.

Sermon Summary

The heart of God is a heart of care, and this care is meant to be reflected in the life of His people, especially within the household of faith. God’s word is not only sufficient and transformative, but it also gives us practical direction for how we are to relate to one another as a spiritual family. In 1 Timothy 5:1-16, we see that care in the church is not a passive sentiment but an active, dynamic commitment to meet both tangible and intangible needs. This care is rooted in deep concern for one another, moving us beyond words to action.

Paul instructs Timothy—and by extension, all of us—to approach correction within the church with dignity and respect, using familial language: fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters. Correction is necessary, but it must be done in a way that honors the person, coming alongside rather than coming against. This posture of care is not just about maintaining order, but about nurturing spiritual health and unity.

The passage then turns to the practical care of widows, a group especially close to God’s heart throughout Scripture. Paul distinguishes between “true widows”—those who are truly alone and have demonstrated a life of faithfulness—and those who have family able to care for them. The church is called to provide for those who are truly in need, but family members bear the primary responsibility for their own. This is not just a social obligation, but an act of godliness that pleases God and reflects His character.

Paul also addresses the dangers of grief turning into self-indulgence, reminding us that loss does not automatically produce godliness. The church is to exercise discernment, supporting those who are devoted to God and the community, while encouraging others—such as younger widows—to pursue godly paths appropriate to their season of life.

At Redwood Chapel, this biblical vision of care is lived out through a variety of ministries: benevolence, counseling, food pantry, foster and adoption support, and more. These ministries are tangible expressions of the church’s commitment to come alongside those in need, stewarding resources wisely and prayerfully. Ultimately, our care for one another is modeled after Christ Himself, who saw our deepest need and met it through His sacrificial love.

Key Takeaways

1. Correction in the church must be relational, not confrontational. Approaching one another as family—fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters—means that even when correction is necessary, it is done with dignity, respect, and a desire to restore rather than to shame. This posture reflects the heart of Christ, who comes alongside us in our weakness rather than standing over us in condemnation. [43:37]
2. True care is active and sacrificial, not just well-wishing. To care in the household of God means to be moved enough by another’s need to take action, whether that’s meeting a tangible need or offering spiritual support. Faith that does not move us to practical love is incomplete; our care must have “hands and feet.” [34:27]
3. Family responsibility is a spiritual calling. God’s design is that children and grandchildren honor their parents and grandparents by caring for them in their time of need. This is not merely a cultural expectation but a reflection of godliness, and failing to do so brings discredit to our faith. The church supports where family cannot, but the first line of care is always the family. [56:59]
4. Grief can either draw us closer to God or lead us into self-indulgence. Loss does not automatically sanctify; it can expose both our dependence on God and our vulnerabilities to temptation. The church must be discerning, supporting those who respond to grief with faith, while gently guiding others away from destructive paths. [61:48]
5. Wise stewardship is essential in care ministry. Not every request is a need, and the church is called to exercise discernment in how resources are distributed. True care means coming alongside those in genuine need, stewarding what God has provided with prayerful wisdom, and always pointing to the ultimate care found in Christ’s redemptive work. [80:14]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[30:55] - Opening Prayer and Worship Reflection
[32:59] - Introduction: Care in the Household of God
[33:42] - Defining Biblical Care
[35:52] - Two Dimensions of Care in 1 Timothy 5
[36:27] - Reading 1 Timothy 5:1-16
[40:07] - Correction with Respect and Dignity
[43:37] - Familial Approach to Correction
[48:07] - Honoring True Widows
[52:49] - God’s Heart for Widows Throughout Scripture
[54:51] - Family Responsibility in Caring for Widows
[56:59] - Honoring Parents and Grandparents
[61:13] - Grief, Godliness, and Self-Indulgence
[63:28] - Younger Widows and the Call to Remarry
[69:23] - Practical Applications for Church Care
[73:49] - Redwood Chapel’s Care Ministries
[80:14] - Stewardship and Discernment in Benevolence
[81:18] - Christ: The Ultimate Expression of Care
[82:19] - Communion: Remembering God’s Provision

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 5:1-16 (ESV) — Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity. Honor widows who are truly widows. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever... (continue through verse 16)

Observation Questions

According to 1 Timothy 5:1-2, what kind of language does Paul use to describe how we should approach correction within the church?
What are the characteristics of a “true widow” as described in verses 3, 5, 9, and 10?
In the sermon, what distinction does Paul make between widows who should be cared for by the church and those who should be cared for by their families? ([54:51])
What warning does Paul give about grief and self-indulgence in the lives of widows? ([01:01:48])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Paul uses family terms (father, mother, brother, sister) when talking about correction in the church? How does this change the way correction should be given and received? ([43:37])
What does it mean for family responsibility to be a “spiritual calling” and not just a social or cultural expectation? ([56:59])
How does the church’s role in caring for widows reflect God’s own heart and character, according to the sermon? ([52:49])
The sermon mentions that grief can either draw us closer to God or lead us into self-indulgence. What might be some signs that someone is moving in one direction or the other? ([01:01:48])

Application Questions

Think about a time when you needed to correct or confront someone in the church. Did you approach them as family, with dignity and respect, or was it more confrontational? What would you do differently now? ([43:37])
Are there people in your life—family or church—who have tangible or intangible needs that you have noticed but not acted on? What is one specific step you could take this week to move from “well-wishing” to active care? ([34:27])
If you have aging parents or grandparents, how are you currently honoring them? Are there practical ways you could better fulfill your spiritual calling to care for them? ([56:59])
Have you ever experienced a season of grief or loss? Did it draw you closer to God, or did you find yourself tempted toward self-indulgence or withdrawal? How can the church support people in these seasons? ([01:01:48])
The sermon described several care ministries at Redwood Chapel (benevolence, food pantry, counseling, foster/adoption support, etc.). Are you involved in any of these, or is there a ministry where you feel called to serve? What’s holding you back from getting involved? ([01:13:49])
The church is called to exercise discernment and wise stewardship in meeting needs. Have you ever struggled to know when to help and when to say no? How can you seek God’s wisdom in these situations? ([01:20:14])
Christ is described as the ultimate model of care, meeting our deepest need through sacrificial love. How does remembering Christ’s care for you motivate you to care for others in the church? ([01:21:18])

Sermon Clips

Timothy, you need to check yourself also to make sure that when you are talking to people, when you are correcting people, you need to approach them with a measure of dignity and respect because of whom you are talking to. [00:43:11] (18 seconds) #RespectfulCorrection

Don't come at them, but rather come alongside them. That in the verse, next verse, he says, appeal to them or encourage them as a father, as a brother, as a sister, as a mother. And what he is saying there, the verb there, appeal or encourage, is the Greek term parakaleo, and that should ring a bell for us because why? Because in John chapter, in John chapter 14, 15, and 16, Jesus says what? If I don't go away, the comforter will not come. I'm not going to leave you comfortless, but I'm going to send you another one, another comforter, parakaleo, to walk alongside you. [00:43:31] (46 seconds) #EncourageWithParakaleo

When we are young, our parents have the responsibility of providing for us, and we have the responsibility of obeying and honoring them. As we get older, guess what? So they get older too, okay? And as they get older, they may not be able to care for themselves to the same extent that they cared for us when we were young. Now that we are in, supposedly, the prime areas of our lives, our responsibility as children and grandchildren is to come alongside of our parent and provide care for them. [00:56:18] (39 seconds) #HonorThroughCare

Yes, it's hard. Yes, you've had to cry. Yes, you've had to go without. Yes, sometimes you bewilder, but guess what? If and when they make their transition, you will be able to stand proudly and say, I was there. And that's one of the things that Paul is communicating to Timothy today. [01:00:44] (19 seconds) #YoungerWomenServeWell

Redwood chapel pastors and elders be sensitive. And how we correct airing members. We need to show respect. We need to show compassion without compromise. We need to remember who we're talking to. We are not to come at somebody. We are to come alongside from the verbiage uses, encourage the older man as a father, the older woman as a mother, the younger, man as a brother, the younger woman as a sister. [01:09:41] (48 seconds) #RemarriageIsGrace

Providing for one's immediate family members is a biblical principle. And as believers in Christ, we bring discredit on the body of Christ. When I claim to be walking with God, Jesus is real in my life. I'm saved. I'm filled with the Holy Ghost. I'm on my way to heaven anyhow. And I got relatives in my own family that I turn my back on. How does that align with my profession of faith? [01:12:20] (36 seconds) #ComeAlongsideCare

We are reminding ourselves, God cared enough for me to redeem me. We are reminding each other, God cared enough. And we are proclaiming to the unseen world that we are God's redeemed children. May we partake in faith. [01:22:28] (20 seconds)

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