Theology | The Overflow

As I mentioned in my previous post, I’ve been studying the issue of women in the church for a number of weeks now. Below is part 1 of a presentation on women in the assembly dealing with a difficult text from 1 Corinthians 14:

1 Corinthians 14:33b-35
33b   As in all the congregations of the saints,
34     women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says.
35     If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
(NIV)

One of the things that complicates this passage is the fact that three chapters previous women were given Paul’s blessing to pray and prophesy in the assembly as long as it was done respectfully. Regardless, this scripture coupled with 1 Timothy 2 has for years been used as a proof-text to justify the nearly full ban of women participating in the worship assemblies of conservative churches.

How could Paul give a blessing to women praying and prophesying in the assembly, then turn around and tell them it’s not okay after all? Either Paul is fickle on this issue, or we’ve missed something in this letter. I propose the latter.

Here’s the lesson:

Audio Only: “Hot Talks: Women in the Assembly pt. 1 – 1 Corinthians 14”
PowerPoint: Click here to get the PowerPoint

Feedback is welcomed.

For more like this, visit westcoastwitness.com’s Sermon Archive.

Tagged 1 corinthians 14, 1 corinthians 14:33-35, silent, women in the assembly, women must remain silent in the churches

Mar 10 2011

21 Comments

Personal Growth, Theology

I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man …

Really?

1 Timothy 2:12-15
12     I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
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.
(NIV)

I have been studying this and related passages for a number of weeks now, and am preparing to present a lesson this Sunday at Lake Merced Church of Christ covering 1 Timothy 2:12-15.

Before me lies a stack of books on my desk that I have already read articulating various positions, and today will be spent wrapping up my reading of Piper & Grudem’s Recovering Biblical Manhood & Womanhood.

The 1 Timothy passage and related scriptures have presented me with the most challenging exegetical work I have engaged in thus far in my young career. After an honest and careful study, the answers emerging regarding: 1) the problem Paul is addressing in this text, 2) what the text actually says in the original language, and 3) proper present-day application of it are quite different from the answers I would have provided before seriously studying.

I’ll get into that more later, but would like to toss this out to you in the meantime:

How do you handle this text? Any idea what the problem is Paul is addressing? What’s the underlying, trans-cultural principle put forth? How do we apply it today?

Back to the books for me – more later.

Tagged 1 timothy 2:12-15

Mar 07 2011

2 Comments

Missional Living, Preaching, Resources, Sermons, Teaching, Theology

Finding Ourselves in the Story of Jonah: Love Your Enemies

I never knew the depth of brutality possessed by the Assyrian nation before digging in to Jonah chapter 1. As one historian states, the Assyrians were arguably the most violent, sadistic people ever to exist.

How would you feel if God called you to preach to a group of people known for ripping the flesh off their living victims in front of their families and loved ones (among many other horrible practices)?

Jonah had good reasons to run away, but doing so was contrary to the will of God. What lessons does God intend us to learn from the story of Jonah? How does this apply today?

I share a couple of thoughts in this lesson, but would love to hear more.

Audio Only: Finding Ourselves in the Story of Jonah (29:25)
PowerPoint: Click here to get the PowerPoint

Who are your Ninevites? What is your Tarshish? What was/is the “great fish” in your life? How has God helped you overcome your fears and taught you to love your enemies?

For more preaching like this, visit westcoastwitness.com’s Sermon Archive.

Tagged assyria, assyrian brutality, assyrians, finding ourselves in the story of jonah, i am jonah, jonah, jonah 1, nineveh, ninevites