Can women teach? Can women be leaders in the Church? These questions are heavily debated in the Church.
And since I'm a female and I'm teaching the Bible, this issue was bound to come up. Some people out there may be interested in the stance that I take and why I take it.
In today's podcast, I share my experience, my views, and how I believe God has called me to do what I'm doing. I also share an exhortation to all women out there!
I hope you consider my viewpoint and the testimony I share in this podcast.
ABOUT THE BOOK OF REVELATION STUDY
We'll return to our previous study of the book of Revelation next week. I felt like God wanted me to share on the above subject this week.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. How do you view the Church in this current day in regards to women? How about your church? Does your church leadership champion you to be all that you can be as a woman called by God? Or do you feel limited and restricted from expressing the things that God has put within you?
2. Have you bumped up against any man-made cultural and traditional barriers? What are they? What have you done in response? What will you do in the future?
3. Deborah in the book of Judges sets a precedence for women leaders. In law, a legal precedent sets a standard by which a case can be established and advanced. Since it's been done before, it can be done again. In other words, I can use God appointing Deborah to make a case that women can have boundary-breaking roles in the Church.
In your own words, in light of what was shared in the podcast, why is Deborah an important role model for women in the Church?
4. Each woman has a call of God on her life that only she knows. Why is it important to focus on and nurture God's inner voice and leading of the Spirit in our individual calling?
5. How can we lovingly challenge man-made boundaries and traditions in a balanced, godly way? In the meantime, how can we be faithful to God's calling on our life, despite opposition and a lack of validation?
6. How can we separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to rightly championing women and the teachings of feminism in both the world and the Church? We want one without falling prey to the other.
ACTION STEPS
1. Review the main points of this podcast.
2. Read/study the story of Deborah in Judges chapters 4 and 5.
3. Read Ephesians 4, especially verses 7-13. Why is it important that the Holy Spirit didn't lead Paul to use gender distinctions in this passage? What does that mean for God to call women to these five-fold ministry positions?
4. Women: What are the internal and external barriers that hold you back from becoming all God has called you to be? Do an inventory. What steps can you take to break free? How can you pray for change in your own life, your ministry, and/or your church?
5. Men: How can you champion the women of God in your life, ministry, and church? Your voice and advocacy is so needful.
6. Women: Make a commitment to follow God's call on your life, no matter what!
I think of all the women leaders, ministers, and missionaries that followed God's call, despite all the opposition and naysayers. Thank God they continued listening to God, despite the opposition! Thank God they dared to trust God to accomplish His will in their lives!
7. Watch movies/documentaries about godly women leaders and missionaries!
8. Watch East Side Sushi!
