But what about Paul’s instruction to Timothy? What about women being silent and learning from their husbands? How do we read these prohibition passages and still think it’s ok for women to speak or teach in church? Today we finish the season having a conversation to address these verses of the Bible that often keep women out of leadership spaces in churches and how we understand and interpret scripture when it seems to be contradictory.

Resources: 

Tell Her Story by Nijay K. Gupta

https://a.co/d/eWEb8Qh

Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel (1853 Sermon from Rev. Luther Lee)

https://archive.org/details/womansrighttopre00leel/mode/2up

From Pentecost to the final chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, ministry through women in the early church carried the message of Jesus throughout the Greko-Roman world. Women like Phoebe, Junia, Lydia, Priscilla, and more were considered disciples, apostles, co-laborers, deacons, and ministers. These women are not footnotes of the movement, but leaders - alongside men - who accepted the mission of Jesus to go make disciples of all nations.

Mary Magdalene was not “just another Mary,” but was an essential part of the ministry of Jesus, both before and after his resurrection. Healed by Jesus from seven demons, this woman commits her life as a disciple of Jesus. This conversation takes place mostly in John 20, so open your Bible and let’s get started.

As we open the New Testament, we are invited to pay attention to the significance of women in the life of Jesus. Two of the more prominent women in his life and ministry are Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene. Let’s open our Bibles to the gospels to see what we can learn about and from these women and the way Jesus interacts with them both.

Can women lead God’s people from the front? Is there any precedent for women holding authority over men? Let’s open our Bibles to the times of the judges, kings, and exile to look at three remarkable leaders: Deborah, Huldah, and Esther who lead the nation of Israel to times of victory and peace.

Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses are notably (and rightfully) at the forefront of the covenants between God and humankind. In this episode, we look at the women who contributed to the faithfulness of God’s people to the covenant with Yahweh. From Sarah to Zipporah, Rachel to Miriam, our conversation points to God’s blessing when men and women work together to follow the leading of the LORD their God.

Today we get into the infamy of Genesis 3, often referred to as the Fall of Man. Adam and Eve had it, literally, made in the shade. Everything they needed to fill and rule the earth and help it to thrive was provided by God. And even still, the insidious suggestive nature of sin drew them to disobey the one prohibition in the garden. We are still reeling from the consequences of their actions.

Later in scripture, Solomon writes about another woman present at creation: Lady Wisdom. She makes her appearance most notably in Proverbs 8 and gives us insight into how God’s wisdom always leads us to Life, much like the tree in Eve’s first home.

S. 2 | Ep. 1

On any journey, it’s always best to start at the beginning. Genesis is where we see God’s intended design for people who are made in his image. In Genesis we encounter the narrative of woman alongside man, their origins and their charge from God. For us to understand any other person or narrative arc of scripture, we need to begin to grasp God’s design and desire for the first people he created.

We’ve got a new season of Well Versed coming for you! Most sermons, books, and thoughts around our faith center on male leaders in the Bible. And while these fathers of the faith should most certainly be studied and emulated, scripture speaks to the presence and influence of women on the shaping of the nation of Israel and the early church. In this season of Well Versed, we open our Bibles to the accounts of these women who led, prophesied, funded, and ministered in their nations, communities, and churches.

This entire first season was given to listening to Jesus tell us who he is. Let’s end by responding to a question that Jesus posed to his disciples then and still today: Who do you say that I am?