1 Timothy 3: 11
Teaching
- Who are the women in 1 Tim 3:11?
- Immediate Context
- Biblical Context
- Historical Context
- So can women be deacons?
Reproof
- There is no office of pastor’s/elder’s wife
- Men failing to encourage women to exercise their gifts
- Women with an unbiblical desire to usurp authority in the church and neglecting the ministry of the home
Correction
- Jesus saves us through humble obedience
Training in Righteousness
- First, Receive Grace and then give grace to the other gender
- Second, actively look for ways to serve others
- Third, continue to pray for our future deacons
Reflection Questions:
- How do you resolve culturally controversial questions like women's roles in the church?
- What do you think about passages where even theologians and commentators disagree on its meaning?
- Who do you think are the women in 1 Timothy 3:11? Do you think women can be ordained deacons?
- What is the value of history in understanding scripture and, in particular, an issue like women deacons?
- What do you think is the role of Pastor/Elder's wives and Deacons' wives?
- In what ways are women discouraged from serving in the church? How can we encourage them?
- Do you agree that while women should do ministry, their primary ministry is in the home?
- How does Jesus bridge the gap between genders?
- What does it look like to wash one another's feet? (Jn 13:14; 1 Tim 5:10)
Feb. 23, 2020