 
Change Movement Sermons Series MEN AND WOMEN IN GOD'S PLAN FOR CHURCH AND HOME
I Tim. 2:12
Intro. With the rise of the Feminist Movement and its melding with modern Liberal thought, an endless series of attacks have been launched against the idea that God ordained male leadership for the home and church. God uses many different methods to teach his children the lessons they need to learn and follow. Consider how He has addressed this matter:
I. When He Created the Human Race:
A. God made Adam first, then Eve (Gen. 2:7; 2:21).
1. Adam is the prototype man and he was given a leadership role.
2. Paul tells us this was not by accident (I Tim. 2:13).
3. It was part of God's divine plan for the race (I Cor. 11:7-9).
B. When punishment was imposed because of their sin, God said to Eve:
1. "Thy desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee" (Gen. 3:16).
2. "For Adam was not beguiled, but the woman being beguiled hath fallen into transgression" (I Tim. 2:14).
II. Among God's People, the First-born Son was Given the Birthright of Family Headship, Spiritual Leadership and a Double Portion of the Estate.
A. "All the first-born of man among thy sons shalt thou redeem" (Ex. 13:12 & 13b).
1. Note that the first born daughters were not thus appointed.
B. In ancient times God always spoke to the "fathers" or patriarchs of each clan (Heb. 1:1).
III. When He Delivered the Hebrews From Egyptian Bondage, God Selected Moses and Aaron, not Miriam to Lead Them (Jos. 24:5).
A. When Miriam and Aaron were critical of Moses leadership, God smote Miriam with leprosy (Num. 12:1-10).
IV. When He Ordained the Worship of the Mosaic System, God Put Spiritual Leadership in the Hands of the Sons of Aaron (Ex. 28:1).
A. Doubtless there were godly women in Aaron's clan; doubtless some were competent to take public responsibility.
B. Yet they were not allowed to serve in the priesthood.
V. When God Chose to Reveal Himself to Humanity by Sending His Messiah, He Sent His Son
(John 3:16).
A. He could have sent a female but He did not do so.
1. Interestingly, more than one female in history has claimed to be the Messiah.
VI. When Christ Made Preparation for His Kingdom to be Established,
A. He chose 12 men to be his apostles (Matt. 10:2-4).
1. Although there were many devout women who faithfully followed him (Lk. 8:1-3), He chose none of them for that leadership office.
B. Peter and the other male apostles preached the inaugural sermon on Pentecost, the day the church was founded (Acts 2:37 KJV).
1. Paul instructed Timothy to commit the gospel to faithful men" who would serve as future preachers and teachers (II Tim. 2:2).
C. Christ ordained that men be chosen to serve as elders/bishops of his congregations
(I Tim. 3:1-3).
VII. When Ordering the Public Assemblies of His Church, the Holy Spirit Instructed:
A. That men pray in every place (I Tim. 2:8).
B. That women "keep silence" in the churches (I Cor. 14:33-34).
1. "In all the churches!"
C. That women are not allowed to teach or have authority over men (I Tim. 2:12).
VIII. When He Described How Christian Families Should Function, Christ Said:
A. The husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church (Eph. 5:23).
B. Wives are to be in subjection to their husbands (Eph. 5:22).
1. "In every thing" (Eph. 5:24).
IX. Woman's Submission Does Not:
A. Equal subjugation or slavery as some feminists argue.
B. It does not suggest inferiority, or a second class position in Christ.
C. Both male and female are God's special creation and bear His divine image in their souls (Gen. 1:27).
D. Both equally share in the gift of redemption.
E. Both can be God's children by faith and baptism into Christ (Gal. 3:26-28).
F. God does not prefer males over females,
1. Nor does He penalize females for their gender.
G. Both are of equal worth before God.
H. Both have a field of service in the church.
X. But God Has Assigned Different Spheres of Responsibility to Men and Women.
A. Those who love and honor Christ gladly accept those assignments (John 14:15).
XI. Our Challenge in a Day of Change and Compromise Regarding God's Teaching on Male and Female Roles:
A. We live in a society and age where many flatly reject God's decree.
1. Our post-Christian culture has decreed that women are entitled to equal, if not superior status with men; not only in business and government, but in the home and the church.
B. Faced with the above Scriptural teaching:
1. They attack the Bible as "gender biased."
a. Already "gender neutral" editions of the Bible are on the market and some denominations are revising their hymnals to be gender neutral.
b. Proud and presumptuous, they refuse to acknowledge God as Father, and dare to change his Word to fit their rebellious position.
2. They dismiss the Bible as obsolete with its "patriarchal" view of things.
3. They insist that the male scripture writers inserted such passages as I Cor. 14:34-34) to maintain their dominance over women.
4. They argue that the Bible really does not mean what it appears to say about the
role of women.
5. They say we need a new "hermeneutic" or way of interpreting Scriptures that will cancel these unacceptable teachings.
6. Tragically some of these rebellious souls have surfaced among some of our Christian schools and some of our churches. They tread on dangerous ground when they defy the living God (Num. 15:30; Deut. 18:20)..
Conclusion: We have seen God's message on the role of women in the church and home.
A. Modern man, filled with pride and rebellion does not wish to hear it.
B. Those who love God and want to please Him will gladly accept it and adjust their lives thereto.
C. Every faithful man of God will teach these truths, whether they be in season or out of season (II Tim. 4:2).
John Waddey
** The author is indebted to LaGard Smith and his book The Cultural Church, for the heart of this lesson |
