A Supportive Family

You don’t get to choose your family. And depending on your story, that lands very differently. For some, that word family feels warm—support, consistency, belonging. For others, it’s complicated. And for some, if we’re honest, it’s painful. So when the church says, ‘we’re a family,’ that can feel like an invitation… or something you’re not sure you want. The Bible doesn’t avoid that word—it actually leans into it. And God’s design isn’t that we do this because all families are good. God has done something about what the family was meant to be.

Last week, we stepped into a big claim: that the church is not peripheral to God’s plan—it’s central. In Ephesians 2–3, we saw that what God is building in our world isn’t just individual lives—it’s a people. A community. A family. And, last week, I asked you to capture some images to help us see clearly how the church is at the center of God’s plan, showing God’s glory to all. 

We said the church is brought into the light—what was hidden is now revealed. God’s plan isn’t a mystery anymore. We saw the church is a building, on the foundation of the teaching of the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the cornerstone, holding everything together. Related to the building idea, we saw the church as a temple—not simply a place we go, but a people among whom God dwells. And, finally, as we centered on purpose, we had that image of a bullseye—the church is right at the center of God’s eternal purpose in Christ. In other words, the church isn’t an add-on to the Christian life. It’s where belonging and purpose come together.

All of this introduction raises a really important question: If that’s what the church is… then what kind of community are we actually talking about? What is the shape and contours of this thing God is building? Because if we’re honest, it’s easy to drift into thinking of church like a place you attend…or a service you consume…or even a group you choose when it fits your life. But the New Testament keeps pressing us somewhere deeper—somewhere more relational… and more demanding.

Back to where we began, in fact, one of the primary ways the Bible answers that question is by using that same loaded, complicated word: family. The Bible doesn’t envision this family being perfect (after all, it required the death of God’s Son to make us who we are). This is not an easy family. All the “one another “commands of the NT envision a people with a lot of relational work going on. But, it is authentic and a real family, formed not by preference or anything we could dream of, but from the heart of God Himself. It is His doing. Today, we move in that direction of the church as a family of families. I’ve titled it “a supportive family,” a play on words that might help you connect with where we’re headed. 

Today, we turn to one of Paul’s later letters to get some sense of how we are to be established in thinking about the church. Paul had a very intentional process of establishing strong, mature, multiplying churches with solid leadership and high community impact with the gospel. In the early letters, middle letters, and later letters, Paul was not just randomly dropping knowledge here and there but seeking to impact others. You might remember the three later letters:

1 Timothy was written to Timothy, who was at Ephesus, in the autumn of 62.

Titus was written to Titus, who was in Crete, in the summer of 66.

2 Timothy was written to Timothy, autumn of 67 (shortly before Paul’s death).

The organizing center [of these three letters] is the passage before us today, 1 Timothy 3:14–16. Let’s read these verses together and when I get to the end, I’ll say, this is God’s Word and you can say, “Thanks be to God,” as a response.

1 Timothy 3:14-16 – I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,

vindicated by the Spirit,

seen by angels,

proclaimed among the nations,

believed on in the world,

taken up in glory.

In these verses specifically and in 1 Timothy generally, we get a framework for fully setting in order the churches according to Christ’s design as a household of God—a “family of families.” Timothy was at Ephesus, fully establishing them. And Titus was an example of establishing a small new network of churches.

As I read today’s verses, you might have heard the connection to what we read and heard last week from Ephesians 3:8–10. In Ephesians, Paul lists the house order (administration, overall plan, grand strategy), and in Timothy, he uses the term "conduct in a household of God," which refers to a local church. Look specifically at Paul’s two important word choices: oikonomia(grand strategy) and oikos (household, family) of God.

In today’s passage, Paul is helping us understand how the church is meant to function and live. And right in the middle of that, he gives us this defining statement: that the church is ‘the household of God.’ We’re being told how to function as a family. Last week, we saw that the church is central to God’s plan. Today, we’re asking, “What does it mean to live inside that plan—as a people who belong to one another?” 

Ephesians 3:8-10, which spoke of the house order, isn’t the only connection to 1 Timothy. You might remember that Ephesians 2:19-21 said that we are no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.” I can’t emphasize the whole house theme enough. Maybe you should mark those in your Bible. Draw a house next to Ephesians 2:19. Draw one next to the word plan in Ephesians 3:8-10. And draw a house next to 1 Timothy 3:15. These are all the same concepts in Paul’s mind to draw us together so that we can be established together. 

So, if you are wondering, the first blank in your notes is I. The Church as Family or household. Family is the word that comes to mind when I have you draw those houses in your Bible. When Paul speaks of the family or household in our passage, he gets to that idea in a specific way. Listen to the passage again: “I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.” Paul hopes to help the churches understand these things in person, but he’s putting down words on paper for them and us. Verse 15 doesn’t mix it up. He’s written this so that we may know how to behave in God’s family, the church. And v.16 is included as an early church confession of sorts. They are going to fail to measure up; they will surely blow it. But Jesus didn’t. He came to live this out, the Spirit vindicated Him, and angels saw this. Now this truth is going everywhere and being believed by many, and Christ is in glory. So, will we be a people who show forth that glory in the way we live as a family? Will our living as a family be so much of Jesus that the world will have no other choice but to see how glorious He is? I long for that. I want us to be compelling as a family. 

Another concept at play here comes in the middle of v.15: II. The Church as Support. This passage is written so that we may know how to behave in God’s family, the church of the living God, the pillar and buttress of the truth. I put some 1st century pillars in your notes. Kids, if you’re looking for something to draw, maybe you could design your own pillar in the notes somewhere. 

There were three basic types or orders of Greek columns or pillars: Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian.

Let’s hear how that is translated in some other versions, as I’m not an architectural specialist like some in this room. NASB says, “how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” NIV says, “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.” KJV: “how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” NCV: “how to live in the family of God. That family is the church of the living God, the support and foundation of the truth.” And one of my favorites, NTFE: “this will help you to know how people should behave in God’s household, which is the assembly of the living God, the pillar and firm foundation of the truth.” So, pillar is pretty clear, but we have buttress, support, foundation, ground, firm foundation.” The idea is that the life of God’s church supports (like a pillar or strong foundation) the truth.

One scholar summarized it like this: “The image [of the church being the pillar and support of the truth] ultimately conveys that the church stabilizes truth through both doctrinal vigilance and relational integrity—the household’s internal order enables its external credibility.” So, when we’re talking about our behavior supporting the truth, we’re talking about aligning our beliefs with our practice. Many scholars in this section showed how: “The order of the church is related to the order of a human household. Members of the church are to treat one another as they would members of their own family (1 Timothy 5:1–2). They are to care for one another in need (1 Timothy 5:5, 16). The overseers are to be men skillful at managing the household of God, as demonstrated by their earlier skill with their own immediate families (1 Timothy 3:1–7).” As the church, our way of life matters. The church is the pillar—not because truth doesn’t matter, but because the truth is meant to be lived out through His people. Our lives make the difference in how the truth is supported before the watching world.

Why does all this idea of [establishing the church in a way consistent with Christ’s plan] matter to Christ? Well, it appears that there is a relationship between truth and household order in a local church, between the structure of relationships within a community of believers and the preservation of the truth, the proclamation of the gospel, and the teachings of Christ. The local church is to be the pillar and support of the truth, and Christ wants the community to be ordered and established in such a way that the truth can be guarded and practiced in a sound manner.

This has always been the case for the people of God. All the way back in Genesis 12, remember the promise to Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). They lived in a way before the world so that the world could see that God was keeping His promises. And the same is true for us. We live in a way that shows the world God keeps His promises. We behave a certain way in the church, in God’s family, so that God’s reputation, trustworthiness, and embodiment of truth are supported by our lives. 

As we wrap up today, we’ve seen that the church is a family and a support. I’m calling this a supportive family so that we can remember it. We are a family that doesn’t just feel supportive—but actually supports the truth. The good news that changes our lives is that Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and reign are compelling, inviting us to respond. Anyone who trusts in Jesus receives the forgiveness of sins. And God places us into His family, the church. We get to behave and live in a way, through our life together, that upholds all that He stands for and all that He does. Today, one response might be to believe in Jesus and see the change He brings into your life. For others, I hope you’re progressing to see that the church is not only the centerpiece of God’s plan, but we are invited to live in this family in ways that support the truth that might look like choosing commitment over convenience… or forgiveness over distance… or showing up when it would be easier not to. There are some Discussion Questions in your notes that may help your families or small groups dive deeper into the truth. 

“What are some particular ways that you have experienced the church as family with Crestview?

“Understanding the church is a family, how does this affect the way you live?

God is infinitely glorious and invited us, as His family, to demonstrate His glory to a watching world. Let’s live together in ways that demonstrate we know Jesus so that He is known, and as a result, we join others in glorifying and enjoying Him forever.