Objective:
To challenge the misconception that God does not call women to leadership, exploring biblical examples and principles that show God's use of women in significant roles throughout Scripture.
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we come before You with open hearts, seeking to understand Your Word and Your will more fully. We ask for Your guidance and wisdom as we explore Your Word together. Help us to see the truth of Your plan for all people, regardless of gender, and to grow in our understanding of how You call each of us to serve You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Key Scripture Passages:
- Genesis 1:26-27“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”
- Key Point: From the beginning, both men and women are created in God’s image and both are called to have dominion over the earth. Leadership is not restricted by gender, as both are equally made in God's likeness.
- Thought: If both men and women are made in God's image, is it possible that God's plan for leadership includes both men and women, even if the Bible highlights specific instances where men lead?
- Deborah – Judges 4:4-9“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah… The Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided.”
- Key Point: Deborah was a prophetess and a judge, meaning she had the authority to lead Israel during a time of crisis. She was a leader because God appointed her, and her role was not dependent on cultural norms, but on God's calling.
- Thought: God used Deborah, a woman, to lead and deliver Israel in a time of need. Does this mean that God is not bound by societal norms when it comes to leadership?
- Priscilla – Acts 18:24-26“Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.”
- Key Point: Priscilla, alongside her husband, played an integral role in teaching and correcting Apollos, a well-educated man, in the ways of God. This indicates that women were not only active in supporting ministry, but in leadership and teaching as well.
- Thought: If God did not want women to teach or lead in the church, why would He use Priscilla to help teach and correct a man who was a respected preacher of the time?
- Esther – Esther 4:13-14“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
- Key Point: Esther was in a position of influence and used her leadership to save the Jewish people. She was called to take action at a critical time.
- Thought: God placed Esther in a leadership role for a specific purpose. Is it possible that God, in His sovereignty, calls women to leadership for such times as these?
- Galatians 3:28“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
- Key Point: Paul affirms that in Christ, there is no distinction in value or worth between men and women. God calls all believers to serve Him equally, regardless of gender.
- Thought: This passage speaks to the equality of all believers in Christ. If God values both men and women equally in His Kingdom, does that not include calling women to leadership roles?
Discussion Questions:
Genesis 1:26-27 tells us that both men and women are created in God’s image. How does this verse challenge the idea that women are less capable or not called to leadership roles?
Deborah was a judge and prophetess. What does this tell us about God’s willingness to use women in positions of leadership? Do you think God would place a woman in leadership if it were against His will?
Priscilla and Aquila helped teach Apollos, and Priscilla is mentioned first. What does this tell us about God’s plan for women in ministry and leadership roles in the early church?
Esther’s role in saving her people is a powerful example of leadership. How can her example apply to women today who feel called to influence or lead?
In Galatians 3:28, Paul says there is neither male nor female in Christ. What does this mean for women in leadership roles within the body of Christ? Is gender a barrier to service and leadership in God's Kingdom?
Application:
- Reflect on the Examples of Leadership in Scripture:Consider the examples of Deborah, Priscilla, Esther, and others. How does their leadership challenge traditional views on gender and authority? What can you learn from their willingness to step into roles of leadership despite societal norms?
- Reevaluate Cultural Norms:It's important to understand that biblical leadership is not always about conforming to cultural expectations, but about fulfilling God's calling. How might we be limiting God's work by holding onto man-made traditions that exclude women from leadership roles?
- Encourage Women in Leadership:Consider how you can support and encourage the women around you who are stepping into leadership roles. Whether in your church, workplace, or community, women are called to serve and lead for God's purposes. How can you be a voice that affirms and empowers them?
Closing Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the examples in Scripture that show us Your heart for all people, regardless of gender. Help us to understand Your design for leadership and to recognize that You call both men and women to serve in Your Kingdom. Open our hearts to see Your will more clearly, and give us the courage to support each other, regardless of gender, as we seek to fulfill the calling You have placed on our lives. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Additional Resources:
Books:
- "Women in the Bible: A History of Women’s Roles in Scripture" by Philip Graham Ryken
- "The Biblical Role of Women in Ministry" by Andrew T. Walker
Articles/Podcasts:
- “Women in Leadership: Biblical Evidence for Their Roles” – Christianity Today
- Podcast: “Women in Ministry: What Does the Bible Say?” – The Bible Project
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