Transcript WELS Women’s Ministry

What do you see?
Ground Rules for discussion!
•
I Corinthians 10:23-24:
“Everything is permissible”—but
not everything is beneficial.
“Everything is permissible”—but
not everything is constructive.
Nobody should seek his own
good, but the good of others.
• Purpose of this workshop is to
constructively evaluate what
roles women have in our
congregations.
• Are women’s spiritual gifts being
fully used to God’s glory?
What do you see?
WELS Women’s Ministry
March 3, 2012
Women’s Spiritual Gifts
Just as each of us has one body with many
members, and these members do not all have the
same function, so in Christ we who are many
form one body, and each member belongs to all the
others.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given
us.
Romans 12:4-6
Traditional Roles
1. Traditionally in what areas have the women
of our congregations been urged to serve?
2. What typically do women do today?
3. Have there been changes? In what areas?
4. Why?
5. How do these areas of involvement compare
to or differ from what women do with their
talents outside the church?
How have women’s talents been displayed
in their activities outside the church
(employment, hobbies, volunteer
opportunities)?
What are some challenges that arise when
we talk about having women serve in gospel
ministry?
1. What about the practice we have
been following for all these years?
2. Do shifts in cultural mindsets affect
how we approach the practice?
3. In a confessional Christian church
we seek to determine whether we
are respecting and honoring God’s
will in these matters by studying
his Word and praying for his
wisdom.
Getting into the Word
Genesis 2:18, 23
The Lord God said, “It is not good for
man to be alone. I will make a helper
suitable for him.” The man said,
“This is now bone of my bones and
flesh of my flesh.”
I Corinthians 11:11-12
In the Lord, however, woman is not
independent of man, nor is man
independent of woman. For as
woman came from man, so also man
is born of woman.
Evaluate what aspect of the
relationship of men and women is
expressed here. How should that
impact how we approach the subject
of women’s spiritual gifts?
Romans 12:3-6a: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not
think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself
with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given
you. Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many
form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us.
1.
2.
3.
Identify some of the main
elements listed in the verses
from Romans that help
determine how people are to
serve the Lord.
Discuss the similarities in the
workings of the human body
and the body of Christ.
With what attitude should
God’s people approach the
subject of their own spiritual
gifts within the body of Christ?
4.
5.
6.
What percentage of people with
spiritual gifts in your
congregation are women?
How many of the women in
your congregation are part of
the universal priesthood of all
believers to whom God has
entrusted gospel ministry?
Explain the challenge then
when it comes to women and
congregational ministry.
I Corinthians 11:3: Now I want you to realize that the
head of every man is Christ, and the head of every
woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.
1.
Who is ultimately the
head of our gospel
ministry and of the
relationship of men and
women? Indicate how
that impacts this
discussion.
2. What part of the
Corinthian passage further
impacts how we use the
spiritual gifts of men and
women in gospel ministry?
4. List areas of
responsibilities women
have traditionally NOT
been involved in the
church.
5. In what ways could you
begin to have the women
with appropriate gifts
carry out some of these?
Models in the New Testatment
Romans 16:12
Greet Tryphena and
Tryphosa, those women
who work hard in the
Lord. Greet my dear friend
Persis, another woman
who has worked very hard
in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 16:19
The churches in the
province of Asia send you
greetings. Aquila and
Priscilla greet you warmly
in the Lord, and so does
the church that meets at
their house.
I Corinthians 10:23-24: “Everything is permissible”—
but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is
permissible”—but not everything is constructive.
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of
others.
Read the passage.
Apply it to our discussion
of using women’s spiritual
gifts in our congregations.
I Corinthians 10:31: So whether you
eat or drink or whatever you do, do it
all for the glory of God.
• What is one of our main
goals?
• What may could our
congregation gain by
using women’s gifts in
ways determined to be
appropriate according
to Scripture?
• What beneficial
attitudes will make a
difference as
congregations approach
this difficult subject?
I Corinthians 10:31: So whether you eat or
drink or whatever you do, do it all for the
glory of God.
So what have you learned?
Challenge
• Is respect for women evident in the way we do
things? Do we express appreciation for the impact
women have on the stability and mission of the
congregation?
• Do we provide plenty of opportunities for women to
be “suitable helpers” in our decision-making
process? Do we encourage women to see how they
can use spiritual gifts most fully—not only in the
congregation, but also in the family and community?
More Challenges
• Is our organization structure unnecessarily
holding women from contributing to the
mission of the congregation in a meaningful
way? Are there ways that leadership could be
restructured to involve women in a way that
impacts the gospel ministry?
• Is this a difficult issue for us? Is further patient
study and listening needed on the relationship
of men and women?
PRAYER
THANK YOU!