Women, Ministry and Submission
August 21, 2011 | Todd Cyphers
Luke 8:1-3
Women, Ministry and Submission
Luke 8:1-3
I. Some Lies Some Churches Tell Women:
1. God created women as Inferior beings.
husbands…show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered. 1 Peter 3:7 (NASB)
…all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Galatians 3:27 (NASB)
2. Women should never work outside the home.
(Wives are) to be sensible, pure, workers at home..." Titus 2:5 (NASB)
An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels…She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard...
She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies belts to the tradesmen. She looks well to the ways of her household….Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband also….. Proverbs 31:10, 16, 24, 27-28 (NASB)
3. Wives must obediently submit to their husbands in all situations.
“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.” Ephesians 5:22 (NASB)
He longs to see her liberated from everything which spoils her true feminine identity & growing towards that 'glory', that perfection of fulfilled personhood…. " John Stott
4. Women must have the same roles as men in the church in order to be equal to men.
Different but equal sounds good, but how can it be “logically possible for the same person to be at once spiritually… equal and permanently, comprehensively,…subordinate?” Rebecca Merrill Groothuis
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28 (NASB)
II. Why Did God Create Male Servant Leadership in the Church & Home?
1 Corinthians 11:1-16
1. We reflect the Trinity. Vs.1- 3
2. The original creation order & design of men and women. Vs. 4-9
3. The concern & benefit of the angels. Vs.10
4. The clear witness of nature and the way life is meant to be. Vs. 11-15
5. There is no other teaching for the “Church” other than Scripture. Vs. 16
Questions to consider?
1. What are some “lies” you picked up growing up concerning men and women (their roles etc.)? How have those lies influenced you over time?
2. What are some “truths” you picked up growing up concerning men and women? How have those truths benefitted you over time?
3. What are some reasons it so difficult for us at times to play a subordinate role to other people?
4. Read the Scripture below. What do you notice about submission-who is it for? (vs. 21) What must be happening to a believer for him/her to be willingly and joyfully submitting to others? (vs. 18). What are some other results of being “filled (controlled) by God’s Spirit and how do these help with the willingness to submit to others for their welfare and God’s glory? (vs. 19-20)
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; [20] always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; [21] and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. Ephes. 5:18-21 (NASB)
5. Since God is our Creator and knows what is best for us, He designed that the church would be orderly according to Hid divine plan. Check these Scriptures and see what you notice about God and “order” (1 Cor. 14:26-40, Colossians 3:22 and 2 Thess. 3:14)
6. What do these Scriptures show us about Jesus being willing to follow on earth what he has commanded us to do concerning honoring and accepting the God-given “roles” we now have? (Mark 10:45, Phil. 2:1-11)
7. Study 1 Corinthians 14:20-40 with someone and jot down what you see and discuss. Look for what problems were going on in the church and how Paul says the problems can be rectified.