Biblical manhood and womanhood The Church Family

1 Timothy 2:11-14, 3, 5 1 Peter 5:1-3 Acts 14:23 Titus 2 Key Texts 1 Timothy 2:11-14, 3, 5 1 Peter 5:1-3 Acts 14:23 Titus 2 Gen. 1-3 (AS ALWAYS!)

Authority and Power Can be scary We’ve simply seen too many people with power abuse it, and therefore we are slow to trust those in authority and quick to balk at it. But, we must remember that God created authority for our good. God created authority for our joy. And when we leave it as if it is something outdated and abusive, we also leave behind the joy God has for us.

The Infamous verses Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.-1 Timothy 2:11-13

Titus 2:3-5 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

To Teach or not to teach, that is the Question Teach? I thought you just said they should be quiet? I thought you said they shouldn’t teach! But, let’s remember all the word’s that Paul said. He said to teach or have authority over a man. This quietness does not actually mean pure silence. It doesn’t mean you can’t ask questions in Sunday School or offer thoughts that the whole group can learn from…Paul is simply showing a principle of spiritual leadership.

Teaching and authority=Eldership Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self- controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach. (1 Timothy 3:2) Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17)

Three things to notice: Elder Distinctives An elder must be able to teach. An elder must “rule” well or in other words have authority. An elder must be a male. (We’ll cover this more later) It does not say women’s opinions are not helpful. Every wise man knows women’s opinions are helpful! It does not say women should not teach at all, in fact Paul tells them to in Titus 2! It simply says, women are to be submissive to the spiritual leadership of the men.

Roles from creation:1 Timothy 2:13-14 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Paul is referring not to culture or to ability but to creation, notice the FOR. It gives the foundation for what precedes it.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. So, right away we know man and woman are BOTH created in the image of God. There’s no distinction in worth. Men and women are equally valuable and worthy and important because they are equally made in the image of God

Genesis 2:7,15 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. (V.7) So, man is formed and there is no woman yet. Then read verse 15, this is important. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and to keep it.

WORK IT = PROVIDE KEEP IT = PROTECT To work it and to keep it The man is to be the one that works this garden. His goal is provision. Make things happen, keep things going. Take care of it. That’s the work, that the provision. The man is to protect this garden. Nothing impure gets in. This is God’s place and he is to protect it God’s way.

Genesis 2:18 Still, no woman on the scene at this point. Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a helper fit for him.” Now, this shows us two things. First, this guy needs help. And second, whoever God is going to give him is going to have the main job of helping this guy. They are going to be his support. It’s still his primary responsibility, but the guy needs help!

Man’s Primary Leadership Responsibility Pre-Fall Seen in Naming the woman and woman being taken out of man. (Gen. 2:21-23) Woman is happy and satisfied in role as helper and being named by man.

Post-Fall Reinforcement of Roles Eve sins and Adam joins in with her. The Bible says that Adam was “with” her. (Gen. 3:7) God confronts man first, not woman about the sin. (Gen. 3:9) Roles reversed and instead of providing and protecting, man passively watches sin and then aggressively blames the woman and God. (Gen. 3:7, 12) Woman has turned from helper to hindrance.

Biblical manhood and womanhood Therefore, these principles of providing and protecting for men and helping for women are not simply built into men and women who are in marriages. Rather, these are built into the very core of who males are made to be and who females are made to be. God builds this into the core of our beings and thus Paul appeals to it when it comes to church leadership in 1 Timothy 2:11-14.

Provide and protect=Sacrificial leadership In the core of man is built in a need to provide and protect. This applies holistically. A man is called to provide and protect physically, emotionally, and spiritually for the women in his life, especially in his family. This is what headship is. Taking the authoritative leadership role. This translates to leadership in the church family, through the office of elder, as the ones called to “teach” and have “authority.”

Elder Qualifications: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

Elder qualifications: weighty and simple On the one hand, no man measures up to any of these qualifications perfectly, which is why an elder also must be one who leads in quick repentance and keeping short accounts. The point of these is not perfect, but general life direction. In a very real sense, this is basic, mature Christianity for a man. We want all are men to meet the character criteria. However, there is one gifting that is necessary for the clear communication of God’s word: teaching.

Pattern of Interaction Power Protection 4 P’s of eldership Plurality Pattern of Interaction Power Protection

Plurality of elders: wisdom in multitude No church rises or falls on one man. This is the Lord’s Church. Balances power, covers weaknesses. Many different texts list that there is a plurality of elders called to rule among the people: 1 Peter 5:1, Acts 14:23, Acts 15:2, Acts 20:17, Titus 1:5, James 5:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14) By wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory. (Proverbs 24:6)

Pattern of elders interaction with flock Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. (1 Peter 5:2-3)

Power of elders 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. (Hebrews 13:17) Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. (1 Timothy 5:17) Elders are called to have spiritual authority in the church. This is a weighty burden to give an account for souls.

Protection of Elders Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. (Acts 20:28-30) Elders are called to pay attention and protect the flock from false teaching and care for the church of God.

Summary Points Men are called to provide, protect, and lead. Women are called to help and submit. In the church this role is given to a qualified, plurality of men in the office of elder. Both men and women in the church are called to submit to the elders of the church as God’s ordained leaders. The elders are called to sacrificially use their authority to serve sacrificially and protect the flock. This is a burden of accountability, not a bullying authority.

So what in the World can everyone else do? And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-13) Answer: MINISTRY, ALL MINISTRY

Saints doing the work of ministry Goal: Maturity in Christ Teachers: Equip the saints Saints: Ministry This church needs every person’s spiritual gift.

1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

The possibilities are endless…but here are a few Worship Leading – Singing, Instrument, etc. Nursery Caregiver Children’s Sunday School Teacher Prayer Ministry Visiting the sick and downcast

The possibilities are endless..but here are a few Cleaning supplies, Visitor gifts, SS snacks Life Events – Birth/Surgery/Suffering/Funeral Special Events – Pot Bless Providence, Koinonia, Christmas Decorating, Christmas Party, Winter Party, etc. Hospitality – Visitor Gifts, Treats before service And WE WANT YOU TO DREAM!

Remember this mark of biblical masculinity in a church "In general we can measure the faithfulness of men by the flourishing of women... If you want to see whether biblical masculinity is present in a congregation, look to the women and children. Are they thriving? Are  they cared for? Are they holy and happy and hopeful?" -Joe Rigney