Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Speak To Everyone As You Would Your Own Family Members

5 Do not sharply-rebuke an older man, but be appealing-to^[a] him as a father, younger men as brothers, ² older women as mothers, younger women as sisters in all purity.

Provide Church Support For Real Widows Attested By Faith And Good Works

³ Be honoring widows— the real^[b] widows. ⁴ Now if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to reverence^[c] their own household and to give-back a return to their ancestors. For this is acceptable^[d] in the sight of God. ⁵ But the one who is a real widow and has been left-alone^[e] has put her hope upon God, and continues-in petitions and prayers by night and by day. ⁶ But the one living-indulgently is-dead while living. ⁷ Indeed be commanding these things in order that they may be above-reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide-for his own relatives, and especially family-members, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.