Community ... by Paul. 1 Timothy 1.3-6

Community ... by Paul. 1 Timothy 1.3-6

Greetings.

Timothy has received the much-treasured letter from Paul, and clings to it like a life raft. Paul’s blessed greeting of grace, mercy and peace washes over Timothy with the strong tenderness from which Paul wrote it. He reads as Paul reminds him of his departing words to him, back on the day when he left for Macedonia, entrusting the church at Ephesus into his care. He recalls Paul’s instruction and warning: ‘make sure that any who teach or have a platform ‘teach no other doctrine, and do not give any credence to fables and endless genealogies, because they cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith.’

And now, Paul reminds him, Timothy, my dear son, “The purpose of the commandment [that I gave you about teaching no other doctrine] is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk…”

‘You can do it, Pastor Timothy, and you must,’ Paul encourages him. The word pastor comes from the Latin word which means shepherd. The shepherd has always been charged with leading his sheep--guiding, herding, being on the lookout and protecting his flock from predators--making sure they had food on which to graze and a safe water source.

It is a big job. Many times a thankless job … at least on this side of eternity. But you said ‘yes’ when you were called to lead, pastor.

And Friend, Bible study leader—well, you accepted the challenge as well. You are not just teaching, you are leading a community of Christ followers; it is your job to shepherd them well.

What would the kind of community Paul described—one that comes from the love of a pure heart, clear conscience, and sincere faith—look and feel like? I believe I should like to be a part of it!

Well first, I can tell you what the community would not feel like, from my own experience. When I first moved to San Clemente, more than 13 years ago, my neighbor invited me to a women’s Bible study. Understand, I had just moved 500 miles south, leaving behind a loving group of women I had built and nurtured around God’s Word, and missed terribly. My new friend had gotten the study notes and questions for me ahead of time, and I had my six pages of homework completed. On that Tuesday morning, I got three schoolchildren ready and off to school, and then readied two-year-old Danny and myself, grabbed my Bible and homework, deposited Danny in a foreign child care room, and with a little nervous apprehension, walked into the room where my small group was assembling. I settled into a chair, and from across the circle of 15 women, the leader said, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, we don’t have any room for you.’ My new friend, Ally, jumped in to explain that I had just moved to town … ‘oh, I see, but our group is already too large.’ ‘But, but … look,’ I blurted out, ‘I have all of my homework done!’ I pathetically held up my notes and broke out into a sweat.

A community that is guided by love would never say we have no room for you.

The church or community guided by love flourishes when folks come and participate from a pure heart, clear conscience and sincere faith. Let’s unpack that:

Love never grows weary of making room

Love always believes the best about others

Love gives the benefit of the doubt –even to the person who talks too much!

Love constrains ~ when errant thinking or teaching is brought forward, the shepherd carefully handles it, dignifying the sharer, but refers to Scripture; the shepherd does not let gossip or back-biting feel at home, by giving them room; rather, should they find their way in, they are extinguished

Love protects ~ promotes confidentiality and safety

Love honors ~ feelings, people’s time, churches, one’s faith journey, etc.

Love reigns ~ for we hold as our highest good: Love the Lord your God with all

your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength;

and love your neighbor as yourself.

Love bears all things ~ including one another’s burdens

Love spurs one another on to good deeds ~ including holiness

Love points people to Jesus ~ and creates an environment where

folks can learn and grow in their faith in him

Love offers grace~ we all have need of grace! Giving grace is a learning curve that we shall surely practice all of our days.

Love forgives.

Wow, it would be great to part of a community or a church like that!

Christine

PastorWoman.com