Embracing Unity: The Spirit's Call to Leadership

Summary

Today, we gathered as a family of faith to celebrate the greatness of God, the blessing of community, and the privilege of worship. We were reminded of the power of prayer, the importance of interceding for one another, and the gift of being present for each other in both joy and sorrow. Our time together was filled with gratitude for milestones—birthdays, anniversaries, and the faithful service of our ministries. We honored the ways God has blessed us and called us to be generous stewards, giving not just from our hands but from hearts full of gratitude.

At the heart of our gathering was a deep and necessary conversation about spiritual leadership and the question: “Who’s qualified?” Drawing from Galatians 3:23-28, we explored how, in Christ, the old barriers of ethnicity, social status, and gender are dismantled. The Spirit’s work is not limited by human categories or cultural ceilings. We examined how scripture has often been misinterpreted and weaponized to exclude, particularly regarding the role of women in the church. Through careful study of passages like 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2, we saw that context matters deeply—what was once a temporary, culturally-bound instruction has too often been turned into a permanent restriction, contrary to the liberating intent of the gospel.

We looked at the lives of women in scripture—Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, Mary—and saw how God has always called, equipped, and used women for significant leadership and ministry. The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills, and it is not for us to redraw the boundaries that Christ has already torn down. The true qualifications for spiritual leadership are not found in gender or status, but in the presence of the Spirit, a life of faith, wisdom, integrity, and a heart willing to serve.

As a church, we are called to be courageous enough to let go of traditions and misinterpretations that hinder the Spirit’s work. We are invited to embrace the full truth of God’s word, to seek unity that is not afraid of hard conversations, and to trust that God qualifies those He calls. In Christ, there is freedom, and all are invited to participate fully in the life and leadership of the church, according to the Spirit’s leading.

Key Takeaways

- Context is Essential for Understanding Scripture
Scripture must be read in its historical, cultural, and linguistic context. When verses are removed from their context, they can be misused to justify personal biases or oppressive systems. True faithfulness to God’s word requires diligent study and a willingness to challenge inherited misinterpretations. [01:20:41]

- The Spirit Dismantles Human Barriers
In Christ, distinctions of ethnicity, social status, and gender are rendered powerless as qualifications for spiritual leadership. The Spirit’s work is to unite, not divide, and to call people based on faith and gifting, not on external categories. This truth calls us to examine and dismantle any church practices or traditions that rebuild walls Christ has already torn down. [01:27:01]

- Misinterpretation of Scripture Has Real Consequences
History shows that misusing scripture can lead to deep harm—oppression, exclusion, and even violence. The church must repent of ways it has weaponized the Bible to protect privilege or exclude others, and instead seek the liberating, inclusive truth of the gospel. [01:26:12]

- Women Have Always Been Called and Used by God
From the Old Testament to the New, God has called women to lead, teach, and serve in significant ways. The stories of Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, and Mary remind us that the Spirit’s gifts are not limited by gender. To silence women is to shrink the work of the Spirit and to miss the fullness of what God wants to do in the church. [02:10:43]

- True Qualification is the Work of the Spirit, Not Human Standards
The qualifications for spiritual leadership are rooted in character, faith, wisdom, and the presence of the Holy Spirit—not in gender, status, or tradition. When we allow the Spirit to lead, we open ourselves to a church that is more faithful, inclusive, and effective in its witness to the world. [02:21:11]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:20] - Entering into Prayer
[27:24] - Finding Sanctuary from Life’s Noise
[31:04] - Interceding for One Another
[44:43] - Celebrating Milestones and Community
[52:11] - Honoring Marriages and Anniversaries
[54:24] - The Heart of Generous Giving
[55:44] - Prayer for Our Giving
[01:06:27] - Youth Ministry: Hands of Praise
[01:09:32] - Preparing for a Challenging Conversation
[01:13:09] - Reading Galatians: Who’s Qualified?
[01:20:41] - The Danger of Misusing Scripture
[01:27:01] - Galatians: The End of Barriers
[01:37:03] - Addressing Problem Passages on Women
[01:53:23] - 1 Timothy 2: Context and Meaning
[02:10:43] - Women Leaders in Scripture
[02:21:11] - True Qualifications for Leadership
[02:32:22] - Prayer for Clarity and Unity
[02:35:28] - Invitation to Freedom in Christ
[02:38:01] - Closing Announcements and Benediction

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Who’s Qualified?”

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### Bible Reading

Galatians 3:23-28 (ESV)
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.
24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,
26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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### Observation Questions

1. According to Galatians 3:28, what barriers does Paul say are removed in Christ?
2. In the sermon, what were some of the ways scripture has been misused to exclude or oppress others? ([01:23:23])
3. What examples did the pastor give of women in the Bible who were called and used by God for leadership? ([02:10:43])
4. What does the sermon say are the true qualifications for spiritual leadership? ([02:21:11])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Paul emphasizes that there is “no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female” in Christ? What is he trying to communicate to the church?
2. The sermon points out that context is essential for understanding scripture. How does understanding the historical and cultural context of passages like 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2 change their meaning? ([01:37:03])
3. The pastor said, “If you silence a woman, all you’re doing is shrinking what the Holy Spirit is trying to do.” What does this suggest about the relationship between church tradition and the work of the Spirit? ([02:20:04])
4. How does the misuse of scripture to justify exclusion or oppression affect the church’s witness and unity? ([01:26:12])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon challenged us to let go of traditions and misinterpretations that hinder the Spirit’s work. Are there any church traditions or personal beliefs you’ve held that you now see may be more cultural than biblical? How can you begin to re-examine them? ([01:18:54])
2. The pastor shared that misinterpreting scripture has led to real harm, including exclusion and even violence. Have you ever witnessed or experienced scripture being used to exclude someone? How did it make you feel, and what could have been done differently? ([01:26:12])
3. Galatians 3:28 says we are all one in Christ. Are there people or groups in your church or community who are still treated as “outsiders”? What is one step you could take to help break down those barriers? ([01:27:01])
4. The sermon highlighted women like Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, and Mary as examples of God using women in leadership. How can you personally encourage and support the gifts and leadership of women in your church? ([02:10:43])
5. The pastor said, “The true qualifications for spiritual leadership are rooted in character, faith, wisdom, and the presence of the Holy Spirit—not in gender, status, or tradition.” How can you discern and affirm these qualities in others, regardless of their background? ([02:21:11])
6. The message called us to be courageous enough to have hard conversations for the sake of unity. Is there a difficult conversation about inclusion or leadership you need to have—with yourself, your family, or your church? What’s holding you back? ([02:33:29])
7. The sermon ended with a call to trust that God qualifies those He calls. Is there a way you feel unqualified to serve or lead? How might God be inviting you to step out in faith anyway? ([02:34:30])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God for open hearts, courage to embrace the full truth of His word, and unity that is not afraid of hard conversations. Pray for the Spirit’s guidance in recognizing and affirming the gifts in all people, and for the strength to let go of anything that hinders the work of God in your church.

Devotional

Day 1: In Christ, All Are One—No Barriers Remain
The message of Galatians 3:23-28 is clear: in Christ Jesus, all the old divisions that once separated people—ethnicity, social status, gender—are torn down. The only qualification for belonging and serving in God’s family is faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. God no longer sees the outward distinctions that people use to judge or exclude; He sees the faith in your heart. This truth calls us to examine our own hearts and church practices, ensuring that we do not rebuild walls that Christ has already demolished. In the kingdom of God, everyone stands on equal footing at the cross, and the Spirit’s gifts are for all who believe. [01:32:41]

Galatians 3:23-28 (NRSV):
"Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus."

Reflection: Where in your life or church community do you see barriers that Christ has already broken down, and how can you actively help to remove them today?


Day 2: Context Matters—Don’t Use Scripture to Exclude
History has shown the danger of taking Bible verses out of context to justify exclusion, oppression, or personal bias. When scripture is misapplied, it can wound, enslave, and even kill, as seen in the misuse of passages to support racism, segregation, and gender discrimination. God calls us to handle His word with care, humility, and a commitment to the full truth, not just the parts that support our preferences. We must be vigilant not to let tradition or culture override the liberating message of the gospel, and instead, let the Spirit lead us into deeper understanding and unity. [01:26:12]

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV):
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

Reflection: Is there a belief or tradition you hold that might be based on a misinterpretation of Scripture? How can you seek deeper understanding and truth this week?


Day 3: The Spirit Calls—Gifts Are Not Limited by Gender
The Holy Spirit distributes gifts as He wills, without regard to gender, status, or background. Throughout Scripture, women are affirmed as leaders, prophets, and servants—Deborah, Priscilla, Phoebe, and Mary, to name a few. The call of God is louder than the customs of people, and the Spirit’s power is no respecter of persons or prejudice. When we silence or sideline anyone whom God has called, we shrink what the Holy Spirit wants to do in our midst. Let us celebrate and make room for every gift God has placed in His people, trusting that the Spirit knows best whom to use and how. [02:12:59]

Acts 2:17-18 (ESV):
"'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.'"

Reflection: Who in your life or church has a gift that you’ve overlooked or underestimated? How can you encourage and affirm their calling today?


Day 4: True Qualification—The Spirit, Not Human Standards
God’s kingdom cancels cultural ceilings. The true qualifications for spiritual leadership are not about outward appearance, gender, or social status, but about the work of the Spirit and the grace of Christ. Scripture teaches that those who lead should be people of good standing, wisdom, faithfulness, and sound doctrine—qualities that are open to all whom the Spirit calls. When we align our standards with God’s, we open the door for the Spirit to move freely and powerfully in our church and community. [02:24:03]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV):
"But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: What personal preferences or biases might be influencing how you view who is “qualified” to serve? Ask God to help you see others as He sees them.


Day 5: Freedom in Christ—Let the Spirit Lead
In Jesus Christ, there is true liberty—freedom from condemnation, from the bondage of tradition, and from the limitations others try to place on us. The Spirit calls and qualifies whom He chooses, and our role is to surrender to His leading, trusting that His grace is sufficient for all. As a church and as individuals, we are invited to embrace the fullness of God’s calling, letting go of fear and control, and allowing the Spirit to guide us into unity, purpose, and abundant life. [02:34:30]

Romans 8:1-2 (ESV):
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life or faith where you need to surrender control and trust the Spirit’s leading? What step can you take today to walk in that freedom?

Quotes

God's kingdom cancels cultural ceilings. That the culture may have its perspective. The culture may have its practices. The culture may have its standards. But when you are a citizen in the kingdom, the kingdom operates by different rules, different standards, different practices and positions than the culture. [01:34:40] (37 seconds)  #KingdomOverridesCulture Edit Clip

``If God and Paul really meant for women to be silent, why did the Holy Spirit keep giving them something to say? Why? Somebody say, that's a good question. If God didn't want them praying or prophesying in church, why did the Holy Spirit keep falling on them to give them something to say, to speak in the presence of the people? Can I tell you why? And I'm moving and I hope this sets somebody's free. It happened because the call of God is louder than the customs of people. Because the Holy Spirit's power is no respecter of persons or other people's prejudice. [01:48:21] (61 seconds)  #SpiritEmpowersWomen Edit Clip

All Paul is saying to the women and to Timothy he says all I'm trying to get you to show them and tell them is they have to learn before they can lead they got the zeal they're excited but they don't have the knowledge which is why I'm telling you let them learn let them learn once they are trained once they have a grasp on sound doctrine ain't nothing wrong with them going and telling and teaching somebody else. [02:05:14] (36 seconds)  #LearnBeforeYouLead Edit Clip

Paul says in other words those of you who think women are spiritually inferior because of what happened with Eve y 'all really don't understand what it means to be saved that pain in childbirth and submission to her husband was Eve's judgment but it was through childbirth that God provided the grace that overturned that judgment y 'all looking but you ain't listening how did God do it he did it through a woman named Mary who gave birth to a baby named Jesus who came and lifted and reversed that judgment overturned that curse and he restored and redeemed women to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be used by God. [02:07:42] (56 seconds)  #GraceRestoresWomen Edit Clip

When the Spirit distributes gifts, we don't have the right to redistribute them. We don't have the right to say, no, you can't do that, you go do this. That's the Holy Spirit's work. [02:14:13] (17 seconds)  #GiftsBelongToSpirit Edit Clip

If you silence a woman, if you silence a sister, all you're doing is shrinking what the Holy Spirit is trying to do and what the Holy Spirit is trying to say. We have to understand that because we live, and I'm talking about us as believers, that's what, we have been baptized by the Spirit into, into Christ. Christ, those of you who are in Christ, he says, you have been clothed with Christ. Only spiritual people are going to understand what I'm talking about. In a spiritual community, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit ain't looking nothing external. [02:20:14] (53 seconds)  #SilencingShrinksSpirit Edit Clip

Because again, if it was anything external, none of us would qualify. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. None of us will qualify. And don't you tell me a God who has all power can be limited by a body part. [02:21:11] (27 seconds)  #SpiritSeesBeyondExternal Edit Clip