Understanding Women's Role and Authority in the Church

Devotional

Day 1: Invitation to Learn with Humility

In the early church, Paul encouraged women to learn and participate in ministry, emphasizing a posture of humility and submission. This was not about silencing women but about fostering an environment where everyone could grow in their faith within the church's structure. The cultural context of Ephesus, where the Artemis cult influenced societal norms, required a specific approach to maintain order and unity. Paul’s instructions were meant to guide the church in a way that respected the established leadership while inviting women to engage deeply in their spiritual journey. [50:01]

1 Peter 3:4 (ESV): "But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

Reflection: In what areas of your life can you adopt a posture of humility and openness to learning, especially in your spiritual journey?

Day 2: Understanding Cultural Context

The cultural backdrop of Ephesus, dominated by the Artemis cult, shaped the societal norms and gender roles of the time. Paul’s instructions to the church were not meant as a universal prohibition against women teaching but were addressing specific cultural issues that could disrupt the church's order. By understanding the historical context, we can see that Paul was advocating for a church structure that would withstand cultural pressures and maintain its integrity. This perspective helps us appreciate the nuanced approach needed to address cultural influences on faith communities. [51:50]

Acts 19:27 (ESV): "And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

Reflection: How can understanding the cultural context of biblical teachings help you apply them more effectively in your life today?

Day 3: Authority and Submission in the Church

Paul’s teachings on authority and submission were aimed at preserving the unity and integrity of the church. The focus was not on prohibiting women from teaching but on ensuring that teaching did not usurp the established authority of male eldership. This structure was intended to maintain order and reflect God’s design for leadership within the church. Submission to church leadership is a call for all members, emphasizing the importance of unity and respect for God’s established order. [53:04]

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV): "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

Reflection: In what ways can you support and respect the leadership in your church, contributing to its unity and integrity?

Day 4: Role Distinctions and Equality

Paul’s reference to creation order highlights the role distinctions between men and women, emphasizing that these distinctions do not imply lesser value or capability. Men and women are ontologically equal before God, and the roles they play within the church are about submission to God’s established order. This understanding encourages believers to appreciate the diversity of roles within the church while recognizing the equal value of all members in God’s eyes. [01:19:47]

Galatians 3:28 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you celebrate the diversity of roles within your church while affirming the equal value of all its members?

Day 5: Call to Confession and Accountability

The message concludes with a call for communal confession and accountability, urging believers to align their lives with God’s order. By confessing sins to one another and praying together, the church community can find healing and strength. This practice is vital for maintaining spiritual health and community integrity, as it fosters an environment of support and growth. Engaging in confession and accountability helps believers stay aligned with God’s will and encourages a deeper connection with one another. [01:34:25]

James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to engage in confession and accountability within your community, fostering spiritual growth and healing?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the challenging passages from 1 Timothy, focusing on the role of women in the church and the interpretation of Paul's instructions regarding teaching and authority. We delved into the historical and cultural context of Ephesus, where the Artemis cult influenced societal norms, particularly regarding gender roles. Paul’s instructions were not a blanket prohibition against women teaching but rather a call for order and submission within the church's established leadership structure, which is male eldership.

The key takeaway is that Paul invites women to learn and participate in ministry, but with an attitude of humility and submission, not usurping authority. This is not about diminishing the value or capability of women but about maintaining the order God established. The teaching and authority Paul refers to are not inherently negative; rather, the issue arises when authority is exercised in a way that disrupts the church's order.

We also discussed the broader implications of submission and authority, emphasizing that all members of the church, men and women, are called to submit to the church's leadership. This submission is not about gender but about maintaining the integrity and unity of the church body. The message concluded with a call to confession and accountability, urging the congregation to align their lives with God's order and seek healing through community support and prayer.

Key Takeaways

1. Invitation to Learn: Paul’s instruction for women to learn in quietness and submission is an invitation to engage in ministry with humility. This is not about silencing women but encouraging them to learn and grow within the church's structure. The emphasis is on a posture of humility, which is essential for all believers. [50:01]
2. Cultural Context: Understanding the cultural context of Ephesus, where the Artemis cult promoted a form of female dominance, helps clarify Paul’s instructions. He was addressing specific cultural issues that could disrupt the church's order, not issuing a universal prohibition against women teaching. [51:50]
3. Authority and Submission: The prohibition is not against women teaching but against teaching that usurps authority. Paul emphasizes the importance of maintaining God’s order, where male eldership leads the church, and all members submit to this leadership. This is about preserving the church's unity and integrity. [53:04]
4. Role Distinctions: Men and women are ontologically equal before God, and role distinctions do not imply lesser value. Paul’s reference to creation order is about submission to God’s established order, not about limiting women’s roles based on ability or value. [79:47]
5. Call to Confession and Accountability: The message concluded with a call for communal confession and accountability. By confessing sins to one another and praying together, believers can find healing and strength to align their lives with God’s order. This is a vital practice for maintaining spiritual health and community integrity. [01:34:25]
** [94:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[47:25] - Introduction and Context
[48:28] - Tackling Difficult Passages
[50:01] - Invitation to Learn
[51:50] - Cultural Context of Ephesus
[53:04] - Authority and Submission
[53:31] - Role Distinctions and Equality
[54:22] - Prohibition Against Usurping Authority
[55:12] - Observations on Paul's Instructions
[56:18] - Understanding Disallowing
[58:06] - Examples from Scripture
[59:05] - Submission to God's Order
[60:05] - Advocacy for Women in Ministry
[61:09] - Submission for All
[94:25] - Call to Confession and Accountability

Sermon Clips

1) "And so. We have been tackling, I have been tackling these difficult passages and explaining how I get to my interpretation or my understanding of what the text says. And why is it that here at REACH we have women teachers, if these passages are so clear as some have been made to believe. And I've told you guys that, listen, there are beautiful people on both sides of this conversation that I love who may disagree with me and they may and I might disagree with them. But at the end of the day, we must give grace in these passages because they truly are. They are not that easy to interpret. There are different words and different grammatical structures and historical background that we don't have access to that leaves gaps and holes in some of these passages. And so all we can do is the best that we can do." [48:28] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "And so he's saying, come learn, come be invited into ministry, but do not break or overstep the boundaries still that are a part of God's. God's created order in that you be submissive, though, to the leadership of the local church, which we continue. And I've over multiple message share that are the male eldership is that order in God's church. And so in this passage, there has been a serious debate. And I get it. At the end of the day, I get it right. Some will look at this passage and they would just plainly say, hey, this passage just restricts women from teaching or pastoring, period. Others will read this passage and they'll say this was purely cultural, has no relevance for today's church. Then you have this third category, which I kind of loosely fall into, which is no, we would. I'll give you the third category and then I'll give you my adjustment for me." [51:50] (57 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Women being invited to the learner's table should not resort in using knowledge as a tool to try and teach over or and usurp authority from. Male headship. Right. That is that is what this passage means. This is how and I'm going to tell you how I get to my conclusion. Right. Essentially, what I'm saying is that when Paul says I am disallowing, here's the interesting thing about disallowing something to disallow is the opposite of to allow, which means that some of you guys that have been in leadership here with me, there may be moments when I say we're going to do this and y'all start moving. And then I come back and I say, hey, we're not. Doing that no more. And it's like, oh, but we used to do it. Great. But we're not doing it no more. Right. This is this idea of disallowing. Something was cool. Something was normative." [54:22] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "And so if that is truly what Paul is doing here, then it means that this disallowing is something that is different from what he has previously allowed. It is not simply a prohibition against women teaching. It is a prohibition about an attitude and a posture and something that is taking place in this teaching, right? And so what I see, I see no prohibition in the text that doesn't allow women to serve in the way so long as they aren't elders or serving in the seat of headship. Examples for this would be Priscilla and Aquila, right?" [56:18] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "And so Paul uses this word because he is not talking about a positive authority here. He's talking about a negative authority here. An authority that is not normal. An authority that is not the way that it's supposed to be. And so if that is true. And they know this. Now, they break. They actually. It's so funny how they deal with these words because they don't. But so. So if this authority is negative, agreeing with the rule of grammatical construction, then that means the teaching has to be negative. And why would the teaching be negative? Because it's happening in a way that is trying to operate in a negative authority. So that's how I come to grammatically that this is a usurpation. Of authority that he's dealing with a teaching that is a violation of authority, not one that is within authority." [01:11:27] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "And so deception is not based upon gender. Deception is based upon you need some discipleship. It's based upon do you know the word of God. It's based upon is your spirit submitted to Christ. And so when people say that, I'm like, come on, that's horrible. Like now we just got women out here like they just. So what we do with all the men running around here lost. They not deceived? Yes, they is. Because we all sin deceives us all. So the whole situation in the garden happened. This is his point. His point is not to say who is the worse or and who was the better. His point is to say that the whole situation in the garden happened because God's order was broken. And whenever God's order is broken, we are vulnerable to the enemy's attack." [01:26:22] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "And I'm praying that for some of y'all. Wreck it. Thinking about Hosea. Hosea. Chapter 5. I had to end. I think around 11, 12. He says I'm gonna be like a young lion and a roaring lion to you. He said I'm gonna shred you to pieces and I'm gonna go back to my lair and wait for you to come back to me. In other words, he said I'm gonna keep wrecking your life until you come back. And you can get mad at him. Or you can ignore him. Acknowledge he's wooing me. He loves me so much that he will not leave me out there." [01:33:08] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "And here's the thing. God always encourages. To false gods and belief systems. That he got them. If you remember in Deuteronomy 7. He said the same thing. He says hey I want you to forsake all of these gods. And I want you to turn away from all of these gods. And if you remember all of these gods were connected to something. Fertility, economics, crops, animals. All of this stuff. And he says turn from all of those things. But then he says but here's the thing. But if you turn from those things. You feel like you might lose all of that stuff." [01:40:23] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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