1. Disorder in Public Worship
A Beautiful Mess
1 Corinthians 11:2-16
Disorder in Public Worship
Part 1 of 3

2. Chapters 11 to 14 Paul deals with 3 issues
A Beautiful Mess
Paul deals with 3 issues
Women covering their heads in worship,
The Lord’s Supper and
The use of Spiritual Gifts in the services.

3. Chapter 11:2-16 We are talking about the public services of the church
A Beautiful Mess
We are talking about the public services of the church
Chapters 1 – 4 Paul has been dealing with the issue of unity in the church,
Chapters 5-6 deal with sin in the church and how to keep it out,
Chapter 7 is about marriage and singleness,
Chapters 8 – 10 deal with the rights of a believer
“do all for the glory of God”.

4. Chapter 11:2-16
A Beautiful Mess

5. Chapter 11:2-16
A Beautiful Mess
Introducing the basic premise that everyone has a “head”.
Head = (1) prominence, (2) authority, or (3) source
But it does not imply superiority or inferiority
The head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

6. Principle of Headship God the Father God the Son Man Woman
A Beautiful Mess
God the Father
God the Son
Man
Woman

7. Applying the Principle
A Beautiful Mess
Verses 4-6
Women are free to use their spiritual gifts in public ministry.
It was an outward action of an inward heart

8. Chapter 11:2-16 The story of creation to support his instruction
A Beautiful Mess
The story of creation to support his instruction
Verses 7-12
The principle of headship has been true since God created the world and before the Fall
Glory = to bring honour or respect

9. Verse 10 Most mysterious and difficult
A Beautiful Mess
Most mysterious and difficult
“Authority over her own head” means to “having the freedom or right to choose.”
“Because of the angels” is a mystery to all interpreters.

10. Verses 11-12
A Beautiful Mess
Wonderfully strong emphasis on the equality of men and women in the church
This mutual dependence of men and women speaks of full equality in personhood.
We cannot get along without each other.
We are mutually dependent on each other.
We complement one another.
All things are from God.

11. Chapter 11:2-16 Nature to support his instruction Verses 13-15
A Beautiful Mess
Nature to support his instruction
Verses 13-15
Nature = the ways things are and also includes custom or culture.

12. Chapter 11:2-16 Honour your head because it is Apostolic teaching
A Beautiful Mess
Honour your head because it is Apostolic teaching
Verses 16
The issue is obedience to what Paul has said from beginning to end.

13. Chapter 11:2-16
A Beautiful Mess
Must a Christian woman cover her head in church meetings today?
The head covering is merely cultural, while honour and submission is the normative principle.
Submission to God’s ordained order is not demeaning.
We are never asked to stoop any lower than Jesus.