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the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday

Relationships in God's Household 2 - Gospel Reality by Pastor Dave

9/2/2020

 
“….you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3: 15
 
1 Timothy 5: 9-16
 
     Visions and reality. How many times in history, and indeed in our lives, has a vision been unsuccessful because the reality of its fulfilment has failed in the delivery of its detail? There are great ideas and ideals that never succeed because as the saying goes, ‘the devil is in the detail.’ The Gospel was and is the absolute ideal. It is the truth of God that provides genuine freedom, real equality and eternal life all wrapped up in a relationship with God to be lived out in His community, the Church. As this truth hit home in the immediate aftermath of Christ’s death and resurrection the early Church ballooned in growth. As new Churches were established and began to grow they each encountered their own peculiar problems in their context. A lot of the content in the letters of the New Testament is about how to live out the truth of the Gospel in the reality of the recipient's situations. This passage today is all about that type of detail. The Vision of the Gospel has been laid out (1 Tim. 2: 3-6) and now Paul is having to get into the detail of how the Church in Ephesus is to live the Gospel in their circumstance.
 
     The life of a widow was a huge challenge because of the social structures and culture. The focus is there because there were obviously difficulties and challenges for the Church. Three key principles arise from the detailed directives though which we can consider for the Church of today. Firstly those seeking provision from the Church must be in genuine need (vs. 9-10). As Tom Wright puts it, “Converts of convenience are not to be tolerated when it comes to social practical support.” Secondly, and linking to the first point if people are able to help themselves or be helped by their family, this should be the first course of action rather than looking to the Church whose resources will be limited. Thirdly there is a warning against idleness (vs. 11-16). Restlessness can result which can lead to interference in other people’s lives and gossip.
 
     It strikes me that Paul had clearly received the ‘Vision’ of the Gospel. He worked very hard to proclaim God’s Good News but equally hard on the details to ensure the growth of God’s Kingdom in the reality of people’s lives. The Church community today needs to base all on God’s truth but must also work hard on the details of relationships within. Many a division, hurt and difficulty arises because we do not deal with the ‘small’ matters; we can also over focus on the minutiae.  In a different interpretation of the saying, ‘the devil can indeed be in the detail,’ the neglected detail. A balance of attention to both the big picture and small detail is required for a healthy church.
   
To Ponder: In your Church what details need to be focused upon to progress the Vision of God’s Kingdom, His Gospel?
What are the different ways widows (and indeed widowers) need the support of family, others and Church today? Are you being called to help?
 
Pray: Bless your church throughout the world by your Holy Spirit, draw the scattered flock of Christ into a visible unity, and make your church a sign of hope to our divided world. Grant that we who bear your Son’s name may be instruments of your peace, bringing peace to our homes, our communities,
our nation, and our world. Amen.
 
Praise: Here O Lord your servants gather
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tuBs1ukENIE
Make me a channel of your peace
Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mT8bybL_DqY

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St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: staidans.churchoffice@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Easter Services
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • The Re-Gathering
  • Youth
  • Cords
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Give
  • Grocery Pick Up
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2023 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101
  • The Psalms Blog
  • Bible in a Year
  • The Re-Gathering