Speak to us, dear Jesus, in the storms of life and in the calm of rest; and lead us through the trials we experience by the comfort, power, love and strength of the Holy Spirit. May we hear Your word of encouragement crystal clear, and may we follow the Spirit’s leading step by step, to prove our faith to all and take the eternal prize of life! AMEN
Use these for group work, or to assist your personal reflection.
- What does this passage of Scripture teach us about how we might speak to each other today?
- If the widows were the poorest of church people in the early church, who are the poorest today? Students? Single parents? The unemployed?
- Why is it not possible for the church to pool resources and use its wealth to provide for all? Is this vision truly Christian, or is it communist, as some suggest?
Topis covered by this text
- Social care in the early church
- Speaking to each other appropriately
- Sexual innuendo in the church concerning leaders
Personal comments by author:
This passage does not immediately inspire many who read the letter to Timothy, but it does give some straightforward and useable advice. Firstly, none of us should shirk the responsibilities we have for our families, and secondly, it is worthwhile working consciously at how we speak to each other in different circumstances. Sometimes it is only when we take simple advice such as this, that we are then in a position to take in the deeper truths of faith we long to hear.
Ideas for exploring discipleship
- If you are in a meeting at church, watch and observe the way in which people speak to each other, and assess who feels included and excluded by the meeting. If you observe problems, try to do something about them.
- Fast and pray for the genuinely poor in the world today, and pray that the church will be involved in every possible way with relief of poverty however it is expressed.
Please refer to the general advice on the page ‘discipleship challenges’
The notes below are offered to help you think about the challenges of God’s Word. Read the notes and suggestions below, but don’t try to follow through any more than one thing at any one time!