Embracing Humility and Holiness in Worship

This morning, we gathered as a church family to worship, to pray, and to open God’s Word together, specifically looking at 1 Timothy 2:8-15. In the midst of our worship, we also paused to grieve with and pray for Debbie and her family after the passing of Paul Britt, a beloved member whose life was marked by a desire for others to know the love of God. As we turned to the Scriptures, we considered Paul’s instructions to Timothy about the order and character of the church, focusing on the themes of holiness and humility in our worship.

Paul’s words to Timothy are both challenging and instructive, especially as they address the roles and postures of men and women in the gathered church. For men, Paul calls for prayer marked by holy hands—hands that are clean, open, and free from anger or quarreling. This is a call to humble dependence on God, a posture that resists the default tendencies toward self-reliance and aggression. For women, Paul emphasizes the importance of inner beauty, urging that their reputation be built on good works rather than outward appearance. Both admonitions point to a worship that is not about self-promotion but about humble service and godliness.

The passage then moves into more difficult territory, addressing the roles of women in teaching and authority within the church. Paul’s instructions are rooted not in cultural trends but in the order of creation and the narrative of the fall, reminding us that God’s design is purposeful and good. The call for women to learn quietly and with all submissiveness is not a statement of inferiority but an invitation to participate fully in the life of the church as disciples and learners. Submission, as described here, is a voluntary acceptance of leadership for the welfare of the community, a posture that Jesus himself modeled.

As a church, we strive to interpret and apply these passages faithfully, recognizing the diversity of gifts among men and women and seeking to honor both the authority of Scripture and the value of every member. We are reminded that God’s order is not about exclusion but about flourishing—each person contributing according to their gifts for the building up of the body of Christ. Ultimately, our worship and our life together are to be marked by humility, holiness, and a readiness to serve, trusting that God’s ways are good even when they challenge us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Humble, Holy Prayer as True Masculinity Men are called to lead in prayer with holy hands—hands that are open, clean, and free from anger or quarreling. This posture is a radical act of dependence on God, countering the cultural narrative that equates masculinity with self-reliance and control. True spiritual strength is found in humble submission to God, not in aggressive self-assertion. Let us examine our hearts and ask whether our worship is marked by this kind of prayerful humility. [48:56]
• 2. Inner Beauty and Good Works Over Outward Appearance For women, the call is to adorn themselves with modesty, self-control, and especially good works, rather than focusing on external beauty. God values the transformation of the heart and the outflow of good deeds as the true measure of a woman’s character. This challenges all of us to consider what kind of reputation we are building—one based on how we look, or on how we serve and love others. [52:19]
• 3. Submission as Voluntary Acceptance, Not Oppression Biblical submission is not about inferiority or forced silence, but about a voluntary acceptance of leadership for the sake of the community’s welfare. Both men and women are called to submit in various contexts, following the example of Christ himself. In the church, submission creates space for learning, growth, and the flourishing of all, rather than perpetuating power struggles or injustice. [61:10]
• 4. God’s Order Is Rooted in Creation, Not Culture Paul grounds his instructions not in the cultural issues of Ephesus, but in the order of creation and the account of the fall. This means that the church’s structure and roles are not arbitrary or culturally conditioned, but reflect God’s intentional design. When we ignore God’s order, we invite confusion and dysfunction; when we honor it, we participate in the restoration and flourishing God intends for his people. [70:09]
• 5. Every Member’s Gifts Are Needed for the Body’s Growth The church thrives when every member—male and female, young and old, from every background—contributes their God-given gifts for the building up of the body. Our roles may differ, but our value and calling to serve are shared. Let us seek to discover, develop, and deploy our gifts in humility, so that the church may be strengthened and Christ glorified in all we do. [84:37]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [30:45] - Greeting and Kids’ Dismissal
• [31:40] - Remembering Paul Britt
• [33:30] - Introduction to 1 Timothy 2
• [34:51] - The Church as God’s Household
• [36:09] - Reading the Passage
• [37:19] - Wrestling with Difficult Texts
• [39:47] - Four Principles for Interpreting Scripture
• [43:40] - Instructions to Men: Holy Hands in Prayer
• [50:53] - Instructions to Women: Modesty and Good Works
• [54:47] - Women as Learners in the Church
• [58:02] - Quietness and Submission Explained
• [63:04] - Teaching and Authority in the Church
• [66:58] - Redwood Chapel’s Practices on Leadership
• [69:31] - Paul’s Reasons: Creation and the Fall
• [79:27] - Saved Through Childbearing?
• [83:14] - Five Applications for the Church
• [87:16] - Communion and Reflection
• [91:05] - Announcements and Missionary Update
• [95:13] - Benediction and Dismissal

Bible Reading

1 Timothy 2:8-15 (ESV) — 8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.
12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.
15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Observation Questions

1. According to Paul in verse 8, what specific posture and attitude does he call men to have in prayer?
2. In verses 9-10, what does Paul say should be the focus of women’s adornment, and what should it not be?
3. What two activities does Paul prohibit for women in verse 12, and what reasons does he give in verses 13-14?
4. How does the sermon describe the meaning of “quietness” and “submission” for women in the context of learning in the church? [[58:02]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon suggests that Paul’s call for men to pray with “holy hands” is a challenge to cultural ideas of masculinity. In what ways does this challenge the typical ways men might approach leadership or worship? [[48:56]]
2. Why does Paul emphasize inner beauty and good works for women, rather than outward appearance? How does this reflect God’s values versus cultural values? [[52:19]]
3. The sermon explains that biblical submission is a voluntary acceptance of leadership for the welfare of the community, not oppression. How does this understanding of submission differ from how it is often misunderstood or misused? [[01:01:10]]
4. Paul grounds his instructions in the order of creation and the fall, not in cultural trends. What is the significance of rooting church order in creation rather than culture? [[01:10:09]]

Application Questions

1. For men: The sermon challenges men to lead in prayer with holy, open hands, free from anger or quarreling. What are some practical ways you can prepare your heart before coming to worship or leading your family in prayer? Are there specific attitudes or habits you need to confess or change? [[48:56]]
2. For women: Paul calls women to focus on inner beauty and good works. What are some ways you can intentionally build a reputation for good works rather than outward appearance? Are there areas where you feel pressure to focus on how you look rather than how you serve? [[52:19]]
3. The sermon describes submission as a voluntary, Christlike posture for the good of the community. In what relationships or church settings do you find it difficult to practice this kind of submission? What would it look like to follow Jesus’ example of humble submission in those situations? [[01:01:10]]
4. The passage and sermon both stress that every member’s gifts are needed for the church to flourish. What gifts or abilities has God given you? Are you currently using them to build up the church? If not, what is one step you can take to start serving? [[01:24:37]]
5. The sermon warns that ignoring God’s order leads to confusion and dysfunction, but honoring it leads to flourishing. Are there areas in your life or in the church where you have resisted God’s design? What would it look like to trust that God’s ways are good, even when they are challenging? [[01:10:09]]
6. The pastor encouraged everyone to be humble learners of God’s Word, even when the text is difficult. How do you respond when you encounter challenging or uncomfortable passages in Scripture? What helps you stay humble and open to learning? [[01:23:54]]
7. The sermon highlighted the importance of serving those in need (the fatherless, the widow, the oppressed). Is there a specific person or group you feel called to serve this week? What is one concrete action you can take? [[01:26:00]]