Our culture doesn't know what to do with leaders. Sometimes we worship and idolize them in such a way that we become blind to their glaring flaws. More recently, we tear them down. We resemble kids at a birthday party swarming around a pinata, swinging away with glee. --How do we relate to leaders- Are we going to continue to follow the ebbs and flows of culture- Is there a better way- Our text this morning provides us with tangible, realistic instructions on how to relate with leaders within the church.

In our passage this morning, Paul is pressing in on a particular relationship that Timothy will need to give thought to - his relationship with the widows in the church. Paul is calling on Timothy to be generous- But he wants to make sure that Timothy adds wisdom to his generosity so that he doesn't hurt with his helping.

There has never been a generation more connected than ours. And, simultaneously, there has never been a generation more disconnected either. Relationships matter. And in our passage this morning, the Apostle Paul is laying out some principles for fostering healthy relationships in the household of God.

Timothy needed some encouragement and maybe a challenge as well. This is what Paul offered him in today's text - words that every godly leader needs to hear but also what EVERY CHRISTIAN needs to hear.

Our passage this morning was written because EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED- When Jesus Christ walked out of that tomb, he gave definitive proof that FREEDOM is here- Freedom from sin is here- Freedom from death is here- Jesus came to set the prisoners free, and he has done it-

Good Friday sermon

Today, we're going to turn our attention to one of the Messianic Psalms - one of the Psalms that pointed forward to the Perfect King. Psalm 72 is a prayer of Solomon - a prayer that he likely composed as he assumed the throne from his father David

We do not like to experience negative emotions- we don't like to talk with people who are negative and going through pain. We do not want to make other people uncomfortable by talking about our trials and our sadness. But the Bible tells us in Romans 12-15 to weep with those who are weeping, and the Psalms of Lament are uniquely able to help equip us to do this.