Week 5: Gender Roles & Authority
-
Luke 10:38-42 - 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Dialogue // Subversive Story // Text
Dialogue - a discussion between two or more people or groups, especially one directed toward exploration of a particular subject or resolution of a problem.
Patriarchy
Complementarianism
Egalitarianism
Harmony
Complementarity w/out Hierarchy
Subversive Story
Genesis 1:26-28 - 26 Then God said, “Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
27 So God created humanity in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
Genesis 2:18 - 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
A Suitable Helper / Ezer Kenegdo
Luke 10:40 - “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Lule 10:41 - 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Text
1 Timothy 2:11-15- 11 A woman (wife) should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
Women Have a Voice
1 Timothy 1:8-10 - 8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
Kevin Giles - When men pray, they should do so in the absence of contention or anger; when women pray, they should dress modestly.
This is a specific restriction
1 Timothy 2:11 - A woman is to learn quietly with full submission.
1 Timothy 2:1-2 - “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:12 -I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man (her husband); she must be quiet.
authentein - to domineer
-
Each Sunday we come together we offer an open invitation into the way of Jesus. An invitation to enter into sacred rhythms - to draw near to God through singing, giving, learning, and praying.
As a community that desires renewal in Des Moines as it is in Heaven, we recognize that we cannot offer what we ourselves do not have. We cannot lead where we ourselves have not been led; in turn, these questions aim at reflection. Reflecting on God’s word and making space for his leadership.
After watching or listening consider the following discussion questions as a large group or in groups of three to four:
What stood out from the teaching?
Why might the inclusion of women into the leadership of the local church present challenges?
What are the stories about women that Jesus confronts within his ministry? And how might Jesus’ presence help envision another way forward in the church?
What work needs to be done to receive women as warriors? And how does this mesh with or conflict with our culture?
