Empowered Womanhood: Embracing Purpose in God's Kingdom
Summary
In today's discussion, we explored the concept of a "Kingdom Woman" and the empowerment that comes from understanding one's role within God's kingdom agenda. The focus is on empowering women to reach their full potential and manifest the purpose for which they were created. This empowerment is not just about personal fulfillment but is deeply connected to God's broader plan. In a world where women often feel overwhelmed and undervalued, this study aims to reorient them towards what truly matters and what God is calling them to be.
We acknowledged the societal pressures and false narratives that have led many women to feel devalued. Despite efforts to uplift women, many still feel oppressed, often because they are listening to the wrong voices. The true kingdom, as we discussed, offers a different kind of empowerment—one that brings peace and strength under God's rule. This empowerment is not about ignoring past abuses but about changing perspectives and trajectories by aligning with God's will.
The discussion also touched on the importance of understanding biblical roles for both men and women. In today's culture, there's a lack of clarity about these roles, which often leads to misplaced priorities. Happiness, for instance, is often pursued as a primary goal rather than a byproduct of fulfilling one's purpose. We emphasized that discomfort and challenges are sometimes necessary for growth and that they can lead to true happiness and success when viewed through a kingdom lens.
We also highlighted the importance of knowing God fully. God desires to be known and has made efforts throughout history to reveal Himself to us. The journey of a Kingdom Woman involves seeking a deeper understanding of God and experiencing His presence in every aspect of life. This holistic approach to womanhood and spirituality is what makes the study and the accompanying book so impactful.
Key Takeaways:
1. Empowerment through Purpose: True empowerment for women comes from understanding and fulfilling their God-given purpose. This involves aligning with God's kingdom agenda, which brings peace and strength. By focusing on purpose rather than societal expectations, women can find true fulfillment. [00:24]
2. Overcoming False Narratives: Many women feel devalued because they listen to false narratives that promise empowerment but lead to oppression. By embracing the true kingdom, women can change their perspectives and find genuine empowerment under God's rule. [02:01]
3. Redefining Happiness: Happiness should not be the primary goal but a result of living in alignment with God's purpose. Challenges and discomfort are often necessary for growth and can lead to true happiness when viewed through a kingdom perspective. [02:55]
4. Understanding Biblical Roles: Clarity about biblical roles for men and women is crucial in today's culture. Understanding these roles helps in setting the right priorities and achieving true success and happiness. [02:27]
5. Knowing God Fully: God desires to be known, and the journey of a Kingdom Woman involves seeking a deeper understanding of Him. This holistic approach to spirituality allows women to experience God's presence in every aspect of life. [04:05]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:24] - Empowerment through God's Kingdom
- [00:44] - Women's Role in Rule and Dominion
- [01:09] - The Struggle of Modern Women
- [01:31] - False Kingdoms and True Empowerment
- [02:01] - Changing Perspectives under God's Rule
- [02:27] - Understanding Biblical Roles
- [02:55] - Redefining Happiness
- [03:16] - Growth through Challenges
- [03:44] - Seeking God in Difficult Times
- [04:05] - Knowing God Fully
- [04:30] - Conclusion and Encouragement
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kingdom Woman
Bible Reading:
1. Genesis 1:26-28 - Discusses the creation of man and woman and their role in dominion over the earth.
2. Proverbs 31:25-30 - Describes the characteristics of a virtuous woman.
3. Ephesians 2:10 - Speaks about being created for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
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Observation Questions:
1. What does Genesis 1:26-28 reveal about the original purpose and role of women in God's creation?
2. How does Proverbs 31:25-30 describe the strength and dignity of a woman, and how does this relate to the concept of a "Kingdom Woman"?
3. According to Ephesians 2:10, what is the significance of being created for good works in the context of God's kingdom agenda?
4. In the sermon, what societal pressures and false narratives are mentioned that lead women to feel devalued? [01:31]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How can understanding one's role in God's kingdom agenda lead to empowerment and fulfillment for women? [00:24]
2. What are some ways that false narratives can oppress women, and how can aligning with God's kingdom change this perspective? [02:01]
3. How does the sermon suggest that challenges and discomfort can lead to true happiness and success from a kingdom perspective? [02:55]
4. What does it mean to know God fully, and how does this understanding impact the journey of a Kingdom Woman? [04:05]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current understanding of your role within God's kingdom. How can you align more closely with this purpose in your daily life?
2. Identify a false narrative you have believed about your value or role as a woman. How can you replace this with the truth of God's kingdom?
3. Think of a recent challenge you faced. How can you view this challenge through a kingdom lens to find growth and happiness?
4. In what ways can you seek a deeper understanding of God this week? Consider specific actions or practices that can help you experience His presence more fully.
5. How can you encourage other women in your community to embrace their God-given purpose and find empowerment in God's kingdom?
6. Reflect on the biblical roles for men and women discussed in the sermon. How can you apply this understanding to set the right priorities in your relationships?
7. Choose one characteristic from Proverbs 31:25-30 that you want to cultivate in your life. What practical steps can you take to develop this trait?
Devotional
Day 1: Empowerment through Purpose
Understanding one's God-given purpose is essential for true empowerment. Women often face societal pressures that can lead them away from their true calling. By aligning with God's kingdom agenda, women can find peace and strength, focusing on their divine purpose rather than societal expectations. This alignment not only brings personal fulfillment but also contributes to God's broader plan. Embracing this purpose allows women to manifest the potential for which they were created, leading to a life of true fulfillment and empowerment. [00:24]
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)
Reflection: What societal expectations have you been prioritizing over your God-given purpose, and how can you begin to realign your focus today?
Day 2: Overcoming False Narratives
Many women feel devalued because they listen to false narratives that promise empowerment but lead to oppression. These narratives often come from societal pressures and cultural norms that do not align with God's truth. By embracing the true kingdom, women can change their perspectives and find genuine empowerment under God's rule. This involves rejecting the voices that devalue and oppress and instead listening to God's voice, which offers true peace and strength. [02:01]
"See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ." (Colossians 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a false narrative you have believed about yourself. How can you replace it with the truth of God's word today?
Day 3: Redefining Happiness
Happiness should not be the primary goal but a result of living in alignment with God's purpose. In today's culture, happiness is often pursued as an end in itself, leading to misplaced priorities. However, true happiness and success come from fulfilling one's God-given purpose, even if it involves discomfort and challenges. These challenges are necessary for growth and can lead to true happiness when viewed through a kingdom perspective. [02:55]
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)
Reflection: What challenge are you currently facing that you can view as an opportunity for growth and alignment with God's purpose?
Day 4: Understanding Biblical Roles
Clarity about biblical roles for men and women is crucial in today's culture. Without this understanding, priorities can become misplaced, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction. By understanding and embracing these roles, individuals can set the right priorities and achieve true success and happiness. This involves seeking God's guidance and wisdom to understand these roles and how they apply to one's life. [02:27]
"Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives." (1 Peter 3:1, ESV)
Reflection: How can you seek a deeper understanding of your biblical role and apply it to your daily life?
Day 5: Knowing God Fully
God desires to be known, and the journey of a Kingdom Woman involves seeking a deeper understanding of Him. This holistic approach to spirituality allows women to experience God's presence in every aspect of life. By knowing God fully, women can align their lives with His will and experience the peace and strength that comes from His presence. This journey involves a commitment to seeking God and experiencing His love and guidance in all areas of life. [04:05]
"And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." (John 17:3, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take today to deepen your understanding and experience of God's presence in your life?
Quotes
"I'm so excited about Kingdom Woman and the empowerment I think women are going to get out of this. I think the thing that will make this maybe a little bit unique from just traditional women studies is that it's designed to empower women to their full expectation and full manifestation of what they were created to be and why they were created to be that in terms of their connectedness to God's kingdom agenda." [00:00:04]
"I want women to come out of there being lionesses, roaring at the excitement of the empowerment. Chrystal, you've got to enjoy that. I mean, that idea you can empower women. It's very exciting, I think, from Christendom to hear about how much God wants you to participate in rule and dominion, and how much He created you to be a strong part of the world that we're in." [00:00:34]
"Unfortunately, far too many women have been listening to a false kingdom. And the vibes from that kingdom, while the beat sounds good, they found out that that beat can beat them down. And so, what we've tried to do is show what the true kingdom looks like and why it's really the empowerment way to go." [00:01:50]
"And we don't cut corners to talk about the fact that there have been abuses, but yet, when you bring it back to being under the rule of God, it changes your trajectory. It changes your perspective. And I think women will be at peace while simultaneously feeling empowered." [00:02:09]
"What is my biblical role? And there's not a lot of that understanding in the culture, again, today. We want to be happy. Yeah, we want to be happy, and we make happiness the purpose rather than the result. If we get the purpose straight, then we can get to the result and the result won't destroy us." [00:02:37]
"And what we don't realize sometimes is that the very things that make us uncomfortable are the very things that make us better, and sometimes happiness is not the way to actually get to where God wants you to be. It has to be mixed in with a few other things, and I think that's what the study and that's what the book does a really good job of is looking at the full spectrum, you know." [00:02:55]
"It's not just about the good stuff. It's sometimes the bad stuff is what leads you to the good stuff, and we see that exemplified in so many of the Bible stories that we touch on in the book, and how God used all kinds of circumstances with women in the Bible to set them up for godly success, kingdom oriented success." [00:03:13]
"And Chrystal, I see in you a strong person, I really do. And I mentioned this on the radio program that we taped not long ago, just your strength of character. Even though you had difficulties, but you remind me of somebody who steps in front of God and says, 'God I'm not getting it. I don't understand. How come you didn't show up in this time and in this space?'" [00:03:29]
"No, I believe that God is a God who wants to be known. He's gone through a lot of trouble through history, throughout biblical history and just the history of time, to make it clear that He's running after us. And so, my desire is to know Him fully." [00:03:54]
"I think that's what's so great about this book. It's not just about one aspect of God or one aspect of womanhood. It's the full spectrum and how we as women can know God fully, and how we can be empowered to fully experience Him in the lives that we live." [00:04:11]
"Isn't it fascinating that in a culture that has so wanted to lift women up and throw all the socio engineering tactics, that women feel more devalued today? That's the impression I have, that there's more oppression that women are feeling." [00:01:34]
"There's so much to do, so many things to be. You know that old commercial a long time ago about bringing home the bacon and frying it up in a pan? I mean, you know, we've gotten burnt by the grease a few times. We're just kind of worn out." [00:01:09]
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