Friday, March 9, 2012

Pearls, Church and Women ('Mentor' Series)

(Sunday night notes from Dr. Chris's sermon. This one is dicey!; you seldom hear it preached on...)

1 Timothy 2: 9-15
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.

11 A woman 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.

Paul's letter is written to Timothy, pastor of the believers in Ephesus, a wealthy, metro city at the time.

1. Real Beauty Comes From Inside Out
* Rich women dressed to impress, but prostitutes in the city did the same; Paul is telling us that beauty is on the inside. Real beauty is the fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5: 22-23; dress for God's favor

2. Men Are to Be the Spiritual Leaders (v. 11-14)
a. In the Home: God is talking about ORDER, not VALUE ...
Man is the leader, not the dictator; but as the leader, man is responsible, and that's hard (as it is for coaches, presidents, CEOs, etc.)
b. In the Church: in Jesus' day, women were property; Jesus elevated women in value, a radical view at the time...Paul is telling us ALL the be respectful in worship, and that again in terms of order, that a man is to be the elder/preacher.
(often the women in the church have to be the leaders because the men will not do it)

3. Women and All of Us Need to have the Right Focus ... v. 15
We find our greatest satisfaction by fulfilling the role God has called us to ... Being what God has called us to be is pleasing to God

Get squared up with what God's left us here for...Show your family HOW to follow by following the authority you are under ...

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