Paul Teaches On Gender Identity In Worship Series

Sermon Brief

Date Written: August 16, 2014

Date Preached: August 17, 2014

Where Preached: OPBC (AM)

Sermon Details:

Series Title: A Series in 1 Corinthians

Sermon Title: Paul’s Emphasis on Gender & Christian Worship

Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 [ESV] – read now

DIM THE CHOIR LIGHTS ON THE LIGHT BOARD!! IT IS MARKED!

Introduction

One of Paul’s most taught principles thru all of his letters is the freedom all believers have IN Christ. In our journey thru this letter to the church in Corinth we have seen over the past several chapters (ch8-10) how Paul taught the believers in Corinth to live out that freedom in Christ!

In chapter 8 he taught them how freedom in Christ is real and it is YOURS, but if and when YOUR freedom causes another to stumble, you should lay aside your freedom for the good of your brother… He used himself as an example!

In chapter 9 taught that HE was free in Christ and that he had all the credentials: He was free:

to demand their respect and

command a position of authority among them as well as

expect compensation for what He was doing in Christ.

However, instead of making demands about what was rightfully HIS, we find Paul teaching that it was ALL about his focus in Christ!

He placed his service to Christ OVER his freedoms IN Christ! In other words, Paul’s focus was on doing what was right instead of demanding his rights...

In chapter 10 Paul taught about believers understanding their responsibilities AS believers… once again he uses the illustration of meat sacficed to idols to make his point.

His point was that those who lived free in Christ… THEIR focus must be on Christ and NOT on their own agenda!

Finally in v1 of chapter 11, Paul stated that the believers in Corinth should imitate him, just as he had imitated Christ! In other words, Paul was saying that his focus and his vision were on Christ; not his own agenda.

So we find ourselves beginning chapter 11… which really begins a new section for this letter. Over the next 4 chapters (11-14)

Paul speaks about:

The roles of men and women in worship and how they present themselves…

(1 Cor 11:2-16)

The role/importance of the Lord’s Supper and how it must be observed…

(1 Cor 11:17-32)

The role of Spiritual gifts and how they must NOT be abused or perverted…

(1 Cor 12-14)

However this morning we are going to explore the 1st part of chapter 11 and the roles of men and women in worship AND how they should present themselves FOR worship!

Essence of the Text: Paul used these verses to give the church in Corinth direction & guidance on the roles of men & women in the church and how they were to present themselves…

Essence of the Sermon: These verses are also rich in direction for today’s church in directing and guiding both men & women in their role in the worship service, and how important it is to present yourself in a Christlike manner!

Main Question(s) of the Sermon: Do we understand what the Bible has to say about the roles of men and women in the worship setting?

Applicable Objective of the Sermon: You will hear:

WORD PROCLAIMED: Paul reveals the godly approach to worship…

WORD EXPLAINED: Paul details the roles of men & women within the worship setting…

WORD MADE PERSONAL: What are my views of godly worship? Am I setting MORE boundaries up for worship than Scripture calls for?

Now before I get started with this sermon… I want to warn every one sitting in this church this morning that what I am about to reveal and preach… it is NOT what you have heard all your lives regarding the gender roles of the church…OR should I say it is not what MOST churches have taught or what MOST preachers have preached.

Also before I get started I want you to know that I have done the research and I have studied the original language and I have read throroughly on this passage and I believe what I am presenting today… NO MATTER HOW RADICAL it may sound… it IS the Word of God and it should be practiced by all believers!

Now with that being said we have looked at what Paul has said in v2-16 and for most of us we believe it seems to be straightforward and ‘easy’ to understand. Well most of us who are MEN may say it is easy to understand… but before we jump to ANY conclusion let’s take a look at the Scripture to see what it is saying…

What we have always heard (traditional outlook on this psg)

I was raised in the pentecostal denomination… where women were usually looked upon to stay busy in the kitchen and have babies!