Acts 29 – EASTER SUNDAY
ACTS 29 – Jersualem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth.
Acts 1: 8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.Continue Reading
In keeping with His commandment to reach the ends of the earth with the gospel, NLF HSR stepped out on the streets on the eve of Easter and Easter Sunday. The team went out in two’s just the way Jesus sent his disciples out. The conversation took a lead like this.
NLF : Good evening Mam/Sir
Mam/Sir: (Silence and a little stunned)
NLF: We are from a local church.
Mam/ Sir : (No smile maybe even a frown)
NLF: As you know its Easter and so we are walking up and down the streets of HSR wishing everyone a Happy Easter. (stretches out hand to shake) Happy Easter!
Mam/ Sir: (Smiles) Happy Easter to you too.
NLF: We would also like give you a free gift. It is the bible which talks about the greatest love story between God and you.
Some took the bibles. Some refused. And some questioned. It was indeed an exciting time. The group from NLF HSR included about 25 members. Everyone was bubbling and overflowing with excitement. Clearly the Holy Spirit was working within each person. If there was nervousness the Holy Spirit poured out the Spirit of confidence. If there was fear the Holy Spirit brought in the courage from a source unknown. There was grace and peace and joy!
Why did NLF HSR do this?
The love for the HSR community! The love for the people of HSR! Giving away the word of God as a gift was a token of love for the people of HSR. NLF HSR believe that this great love story is for the people of HSR.
When the team met back at the church hall, there were numerous testimonies. In all that was accomplished this Easter Sunday there was Glory given to the one and true living God – Jesus Christ
He is risen!
WOMEN IN MINISTRY
NOTE: The passages have been narrowed down to Pauline passages alone
Four human perspective on women n ministry
1. Egalitarian view – women r equal
2. Traditional view – not equal
3. Leadership view – woman can be leaders
4. Differences in ministry view – woman can be in specific ministries only
Let’s search the Bible to see what God says about it in His Word.
History of early churches
– no building
– House churches
– Household members played key role in leadership
– Spirit played major role
– Widows were honoured
– Hierarchy of leadership in those days 1. Apostles 2. Co workers of Paul 3. Local leaders
WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
OT – Miriam, Deborah (Judges 4,5), Huldah (2 Chronicles 34:22, 2 King 22:14), Isaiah’s wife (Isaiah 8:2)
NT – Anna (Luke 2:33), 4 woman (Acts 21:9), 1Cor 11:4-5 (And every woman who prays or prophesies)
Joel 2:28-29 ““And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your SONS and DAUGHTERS will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both MEN and WOMEN, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”
Romans 16: 7 “Greet Andronicus and JUNIA, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.”
Junia – Roman female name was outstanding among apostles
Philippians 4:2-3
“I plead with EUODIA and I plead with SYNTYCHE to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have LABOURED SIDE BY SIDE in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Above two women had the ministry of Evangelism who worked with Paul (laboured means fighting like a war for spreading the gospel)
Romans 16:3-4
“Greet PRISCILLA and Aquila, my (PAUL) CO-WORKER in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.”
Above couple were a missionary couple, had ministry of hospitality, church planting, preaching and teaching (1 Cor 16:19, Acts 18)
Romans 16:1-2
“I commend to you our sister PHOEBE, a DEACON of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the BENEFACTOR of many people, including me.”
Servant/Deacon(in Greek) word is often used for Jesus n fellow workers of Paul n Paul himself. Deacons are responsible for sound doctrines (1 Timothy 3:8-10)
Benefactor/Patron means sponsors, helping others n even teaching
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.”
Romans 16:6
“Greet MARY, who worked very hard for you.”
Work hard – ministry of evangelism n disciple making
(1 Cor 15:10, Gal 4:11, Phil 2:16, Col 1:29)
CONTROVERSIAL PASSAGES
1 Cor 14: 34-35
1 Tim 2: 8-15
Following points to be keep in mind before you try to understand or interpret the passage
– Cultural specific context
– Language specific context
– Figures of speech in Paul’s day
– Local specific context (situation specific only for the local churches
– Contemporary application too
FIRST PASSAGE 1 COR 14: 34-35
– Here in this passage the context of church, culture n Corinthian community has to be kept in mind
– Here Paul’s discussion is on the dishonour happening during worship
– In the same chapter 3 times the word silent is used ( 1. 14:28 -speaking in tongues to be silenced in the absence of an interpreter 2. 14: 29-32 silence of the prophets 3. 14: 34 silence of women ). All the above three silence are related which clearly reveals that the silence and submission here is with respect to maintaining the order of worship n decorum of the service.
– 1 Cor 11:5 Paul instructs women to pray and prophesy just as he instructs men in verse 4
– If he meant women to keep silent without context of the specific situation of the local church in chapter 14 then Paul is contradicting his own words mentioned in Chapter 11:5
– Now why he says its shameful? It is due to the culture (learned people were allowed to raise questions n not novices/new learners) here in this Church, women were not the learned folk hence in that culture it was shameful for women as well as anybody who is a novice or unlearned (irrespective of age n gender) to raise question. In the context of this church it is women coz they never had the privilege of even primary schooling n in today’s contemporary context it applies to anybody who is not well educated.
SECOND PASSAGE 1 Timothy 2:8-15
Here also Paul addresses 3 major issues
1. Anger/dispute among men v8
2. Women trying to draw attention through sexual appeal n outward appearance v9-10
3. trying to teach rather learn v9
Now verse 9 starts with the word Likewise/in the same manner which shows continuity from the previous verses revealing the church’ local specific problem
Those times false teachers were trying to influence the less learned women who in turn were trying to teach false doctrines in the church. This led to women trying to teach these wrong teachings in the church rather than learn the truth when the leaders were trying to teach in the church. This was affecting the decorum of the meeting hence they wrote to Paul regarding this issue which Paul was trying to address in this specific local church. The women were – “Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.”
1 Timothy 5:13 NIV
Hence here in this passage the meaning of silence in the original text (Greek) is the respectful, u divided attention to be maintained specially by women so that they can learn the right doctrine than to get influenced by the false teachings.
Titus 2: 3-5 (elder women instructed to teach the younger ones)
2 Tim 1:5 n 3:14,15 (two women who influenced the life of Timothy)
CONCLUSION
Of all people Jesus chose Mary Magdalene (a women) to go and announce the resurrection (the most crucial part of the gospel/great commission) of the Lord to the disciples. (Mark 16:7)
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.”
God created both Man and Women in HIS IMAGE, hence both are equal.