Sunday Service

Hey, if nothing else this morning, we're being reminded. We are our worship really belongs and and that's important and worthwhile for every single day of Our Lives. So well, I hope we we take that message to Heart.

I want to begin this morning buy it by asking you to take at 1 I'm going to describe is it and apply the Bible quiz? I'm going to read 10 biblical commands all of which happened to come from Leviticus chapter 19. And as you hear each command, I want you to figure out it is that a command that we must obey or is it a command that we we don't really need to obey. I'll be fairly simple. Right must obey don't really need to obey we're not going to take a lot of time on any one of these so just mentally take note and then let's give it a try. A command number one. You must be holy because I the Lord your God am Holy. Command number to you must always observe my Sabbath days of rest. Seems pretty important right number 3 don't plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Command number for don't spread slanderous gossip among your people. Command number for I don't wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. I'm afraid I'm probably guilty this morning, but we'll get back to that later. Command number 6. Don't trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beard Jim Phillips. Where you

Command / 7 don't steal and don't deceive or cheap one another. Amanda Bray don't Mark your skin with tattoos. Where Teresa got Nails chipped in the Foreigner residing among. You must be treated as your native-born. I am finally command number 10. You must be careful to keep all of my decrees and regulations by putting them in the practice. I am the Lord your God. Okay, so so let's see how we did did anybody say that we don't need to obey any of those command. I see some head-shaking. What won't you know, I really do hope nobody said that mean after all there are some pretty significant decrees on that list not the least of which rrb, holy and and don't gossip and don't steal. Hey, if we don't have to keep commands like that, then it's kind of hard to see how the Bible gives us any guidance and how to live our lives. It is so what about the opposite extreme extreme? Did anybody say that we are obligated to keep all of those commands?

What you did might be a little bit surprised. I mean after all in spite of this last command that tells us to keep all of God's decrees and regulations a few of those laws don't really seem to apply all that much in our day and age. Planning your filled with two different kinds of seed wearing clothing with two different kinds of a trimming your beard or having a tattoo and there might have been times when forbidding those things made a lot of sense, but but that doesn't really seem to be the case anymore. And then of course, there are some commands quiz about which we might have a few questions. How we know we should keep the Sabbath for example, but like we said a couple of weeks ago back in Bible times the Sabbath began on Friday night, and it ended on Saturday night. Are we obligated to keep it like that? Or is it another example, we might acknowledge that we have some obligation to the foreigners residing among us but treating them as are native born. Does that mean that they should get government benefits and be able to vote and have other rights that normally belong to citizens? I honestly don't know. But what I do know is that if we want to get God's truth out of the Bible and into our lives, which is what we've been talking about this month. Then we're going to have to figure out how to interpret and apply the Bible will have to decide what's relevant for all times and places and what's only intended for some times and places and then of course, how do we tell the difference? And it's a help or a little quiz reminds us that that's not always easy. I almost inevitably we will pick and choose and surprisingly that's exactly as it should be. I mean after all this we said in the first sermon of this series of the Bible is an ancient book that was written in a culture very different from ours. It's it's in a certain way and ambiguous book and that it doesn't always give us easy answers and on top of that. It's a diverse book that contains different kinds of literature written by different people for different purposes and yet as we said last week, it's also god-breathed and is useful for teaching rebuking correcting and training in righteousness. So that the servant of God can be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And that's why I'm suggested that we need to pay attention to how we read the Bible. Play the last couple weeks we talked about how important it is for us to know the story and to listen relationally and today. I want us to try to put all of that together as we discern with Jesus. How do we utilize the scriptures and tradition in the ongoing guidance of the spirit so that we can be obedient and faithful to what God wants to say to us through the Bible today? And answer that question. I thought that we might do a little case study of sorts about women in Ministry and what Paul has to say about that topic in 1st Timothy Chapter 2. Now before we take a look at the passage, I do want to make two quick comments to provide a little bit of context for our discussion. At first. I don't want to pretend that this is an easy issue and there's a whole lot more to say about it that we can possibly cover in a few minutes on Sunday morning. And so we're going to restrict ourselves to this passage and to the model of discernment that we've been talking about in the last couple weeks. I want to say a quick word about why I would pick a topic like women in Ministry in the first place and after all a lot of Baptist disagree about this issue, But it's not really an inspirational is talking about salvation in the promise of heaven or is practical is talking about evangelism and serving others. But ironically those are actually some of the reasons that I chose this particular issue. And after all if we going to practice Discerning with Jesus, we might as well look at an issue about which we have some genuine disagreement. But at the same time it feels safer to me to examine those differences by studying an issue that I don't think at least is one of the fundamentals of our faith. I mean, I don't know anybody who believes that we're going to be saved based on what our opinion is about women in Ministry. And so this feels to me at least at like an issue about which a quote that's often attributed to st. Augustine seems to apply in Essentials unity in nonessentials Liberty in all things charity. I want you to know that it that although I think it's going to be pretty clear where I come down on this issue today. It's not my goal to get you to agree with me. But it is my goal to offer us an example of how we can search the scriptures and discern with Jesus as we try to get God's truth out of the Bible and into our lives. And so with all that out of the way Paul makes a statement and 1st Timothy Chapter 2, which on the surface at least would kind of seem to settle the issue of women in Ministry women should learn quietly. He says and submissively. I don't let women teach men or have authority over them. Let them listen quietly. And it's some people would probably tell you this is one of those cases in which the Bible says it we oughta believe it and that ought to settle it. but then again before we consider it to be completely settled. I think it would be appropriate to point out that the rest of our passage offer some guidance that's every bit as clear-cut about which you won't find many people who think that it applies today. Amber say for example. Paul says that in every place of worship. I want men to pray with holy hands lifted up to God. And even though I usually close my eyes when we pray I'd be willing to bet that very few of the men in our church lift up their hands when we do. Hey in a similar way in in verse 9. Paul says that I want women to be modest in their appearance and they shouldn't draw attention to themselves. By the way, they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls were expensive clothes. And while I be the first to say that I think all of you ladies are beautiful in that I think you're dressed quite appropriately for Sunday morning. I wouldn't be surprised based on this passage. At least give at least some of you are sitting right now by wearing gold or or other pieces of questionable jewelry. And so maybe we need to do a little Discerning with Jesus. Even when it comes to the issue of women in Ministry and to do that. The first thing that we need to do is to know the story. Horse, especially when it comes to this issue Scott McKnight whose book on the Bible kind of inspired this series at points out and that we must say something not often admitted by Bible reading God loving Christians. He who writes the story controls the glory. The Bible was written by man pee explains and it tells stories from the angle of man. And the culture of the biblical world was one in which the male view of women was often negative and where the roles of women were usually limited and what's kind of remarkable is we're going to see it is how often the Bible transcends that male-dominated is story. And yet we do need to acknowledge that our Bible was shaped by a male perspective the cause God in his wisdom chose to speak in those ways in those days. And our challenge is to figure out in what ways God is speaking in these days. And I think that the overarching story of the Bible can give us some guidance. So if you were here a couple weeks ago, you might recall that the story of the Bible begins with creation pan. According to Genesis chapter 1 when God created Humanity he created us both male and female in His image. And in fact, a lot of Scholars will tell you that doesn't just mean that men and women individually bear the image of God, but that we together bear the image of God. It's the relationship of mutuality between men and women and God that defines that image just like it's the relationship between Father Son and Holy Spirit that defines the image of God. Unfortunately, of course that mutuality gets disrupted by the crisis in the story of the Bible. When sin enters the picture Humanity experiences the consequences of sin one of which can be found When God says to the woman that you will desire to control your husband then a lady's here want that but you did apparently but he will rule over you And let's be clear that's the result of sin and not what God intended. And in fact, if we look ahead to the consummation of the Bible story ever told that there will come a day when a lot of the distinctions that are often used to rank people over and under each other no longer matter. So in Christ, Jesus Paul says you are all children of God through faith. There is neither Jew nor Gentile slave nor free nor is there male and female for you are all one in Christ Jesus. going to be Farrah a lot of folks who feel like the Bible teaches that women shouldn't be in certain roles of leadership in Ministry would probably agree with everything that I have just said, they believe that both men and women are created in the image of God. They believe that sin disrupts the relationship between men and women and they believe it when we all get to heaven. There's not going to be a hierarchy that puts men over women in Subway. However, I think a lot of them would still say that until we get to heaven it. It's not that men are over women. It's just that men and women have different roles. And the cause of what we read and passages like the one that we're looking at today at women's roles cannot include teaching and preaching in leading in dentistry. That's in the scripture so I can respect that way of looking at things. But the challenge without interpretation, I think it is that it takes today's passage and it tries to squeeze the rest of the Bible into it instead of allowing the rest of the Bible to determine how we should interpret today's passage. And when you studied the Covenant Community that's part of the story of the Bible. What you find is that there are many women who are called and equipped by God to lead and teach and have positions of authority. I know sadly. I can't give you an exhaustive list this morning, but just to hit a few highlight in the Old Testament that you've got Marion who along with Moses? And Aaron is one of the leaders of God's people during the time of The Exodus and then you got Debra both a prophet and a judge over Israel. And there's a little less well-known but still intriguing example, you've got a prophet named holder and when King Josiah wants to launch a Revival in the land. He doesn't see if you advise of Jeremiah or Zephaniah of or habakkuk all of which wrote books of the Bible at know he seeks out Hulda because she has a reputation as being exceptional among the prophets. And then in the New Testament, there's a woman named Julia who Paul says is one of his Partners in Ministry and who is outstanding among the apostles? There's Priscilla who along with her husband a Killa is often named as Paul's co-worker in Christ Jesus and do most Scholars agree with the more influential of the pair because usually her name is listed first. And then there's Phoebe to according to the Paul's letter to the Romans is a deacon of the church. Despite what he says about deacons being the husband of one wife and one of his other letter. And so is dr. McKnight suggest. Why should we take our passage for today and let it determine what women should and shouldn't do it instead of letting the Bible tells us. What women did do And what they did it again in a culture that wasn't exactly female-friendly which to hold positions of teaching and Leadership and Authority. Add more important than any of that however is what happens because of the Christ chapter in the Bible story. Has Paul tells us in 2nd Corinthians if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. I even if sin distorts the relationship between men and women in a way that excludes women from a position of tree mutuality. The Redemption that we have in Christ is intended to heal and undo those distortions so that the original purpose of God in creation can finally be fulfilled. And so what I'm suggesting is a bottom line is that if we if we know the story of the Bible and when we read our passage for today in light of that story. Make it becomes a little bit challenging to imagine that Paul intended what he said in first Timothy to apply in all times and all places because it doesn't apply in the other parts of the scriptures. And what's more that the art of The Story begins and ends with men and women together reflecting the image of God?

Hotel even if you follow me that far at we still need to figure out if and how our passage for today applies to us. And for that let me remind you what we said last week about how we not need to listen relationally. Panama other things I said when we do that at we need to Value the wisdom of others. First one of the most important sources about wisdom as I said it is the tradition of the church. As you probably know for most of the church's history the role of women has been significantly restricted and for what it's worth. That's still the tradition in an awful lot of Baptist Churches today. And so we really shouldn't dismiss that tradition by by failing to take it seriously. And yeah, we should also acknowledge that sometimes tradition gets it wrong. That is so along with valuing the wisdom of our tradition. We should also value the wisdom of those who introduced us to Faith and those who mentored us in. Now, I don't know about you, but the but there's been a lot of women who played a role in in my face Journey. Tell Brianna they mostly have not been pastors or or Deacons. But I've known plenty of women who taught Sunday school and end who are just as knowledgeable and just as devoted to the Bible as any of the male teachers were. And then on top of that in most of the churches that I've been apart of almost nothing would ever happen if it weren't for the leadership that women provide. and then two in my queso one of the best teachers that I ever had was the woman who taught my fiala G Class when I was a student at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Assault a the truth for me at least when I listen to the wisdom of others. I'm inclined to believe that women can fill all kinds of rules. What does the wisdom of others say to you and your experience? Then to what we also said last week that to listen relationally at we need to Value the power of the spirit. And let me remind you that when the spirit was given to the church at Pentecost the Apostle Peter interpreted what was happening by quoted by quoting at this passage from one of the prophets in the last days. God says I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy even on my servants both men and women. I will pour out my spirit in those days. If you ask me that sounds an awful lot like God intends to give both men and women the spiritual gifts. They're necessary to serve in a proclaiming Ministry. And last but not least we said last week that to listen. Relationally. We need to Value the process of transformation and the goal of the Bible. We need to keep in mind that all scripture is useful for teaching rebuking correcting and training in righteousness. And that's the process so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And that is the goal. And it seems to me that women as much as men are meant to benefit from that process and to move toward that goal so that all of us can be equipped for the work of the Kingdom. And so with all of that is input it falls to each of us individually and to all of us together to discern with Jesus. We have both the opportunity and the obligation to figure out what God is saying to us in our time and in our circumstances. And if we really do that carefully, I think we discover that our circumstances are very different from those of the Apostle Paul. The one thing women in our culture aren't viewed as property or a second-class Citizens as they were back in Bible times and today women candy and are every bit as educated even in the Bible and theology is any of our mail preachers and teachers are How much more a little research will reveal that what Paul Road and 1st Timothy, I was probably shaped by some unique circumstances that were present in the Roman Empire at the time that he wrote it. According to many scholars there were Dynamics at work and Roman cities and it made it reasonable to put some limits on the role of women in order to protect the church's reputation. I bet those limits were intended it would seem to address that place in time and not necessarily every place in time. Which is why even in some of his other letters Paul affirms women who both prophesy and Lead. But perhaps more than any of that the process of discerning with Jesus invites us to ask. What would Jesus do? Or maybe even better. What did Jesus do? And three others that Jesus didn't include women among his 12 disciples, which would have been unheard of a back among the first century Jewish culture. But he did include women among his followers. Eddie did relate to women in a way that was much more welcoming and affirming than was typical of other Jewish. Rabbis back in the first century. And you know, what if we take the Bible seriously, then the first evangelist to let others to believe in Jesus was the woman at the well. About him the Gospel of John says many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman's testimony. And the first preachers who share the good news of Jesus resurrection were the women who went to is too early on that first Easter morning and who then ran to tell others. We have seen the Lord.

So after all about it, is it possible that we might discern that Jesus can call women to preach and teach and use their gifts and leadership in our place and time. I mean after all isn't there the work of the Kingdom big enough and important enough that it asked all of us including women to use the gifts that God has given so that his body that can grow and build itself up in love as each part. Does its work?

Well in my mind, of course the Lord wants to use women in those ways. When in fact it's kind of been the position of our church that God wants to use women in those ways. That's why we've got women who teach in and even women who teach men. And that's why our church has agreed that women can be deacons. Although as far as I'm concerned. There are too few women who get nominated as vegans and and too few women who are willing to serve as deacons once they get nominated. Then again, let me remind you that none of what I've said this morning should be understood as an effort on my part to try to force more women into leadership roles here at Calvary. And part that's because it's up to all of you women in our church to discern the gifts that God has given to you and then for you to figure out how God wants you to use them. But even more that's because it's up to all of us to discern the scriptures and interpret them together.

But listen, that's just one example. Of the many ways that we need to get God's truth out of the Bible and into our lives. Because I don't know about you, but but I believe in the power of the scriptures. For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword and if we let it if we read it and study it and live it. It will change us. And through us change the world.

Show me we be a people who are committed to the words of God. So that they can lead us to the word of God. He loves us and gave himself for us. Can you call sash to follow him today? Let's pray together.

Heavenly father I do believe. In Holiness and the truth in the Perfection of your word. And I believe you you gave it to us through all those teachers and preachers and Riders long ago so that it would still guide your people today. Abba Father, right. I acknowledge that that's not always easy because our world is a different place than it was and and you are doing new things in our world a things that enhance the growth of your kingdom as people come to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. And so I do pray Lord that you'll give us a commitment to the scripture. So I pray that we will want to study them and know them and and search them together and I pray that throughout we will discern with Jesus not just what you said long ago, but what you're still saying today? Because I believe that your spirit is still speaking to us and we'll continue to guide and use us for the sake of your glory and for that we give you all the thanks and praise in Jesus, man.