WOMEN IN WORSHIP
1 Corinthians 11:1-16
Introduction
A. These women had found Christian freedom.
1. They seemed to think they had no obligation to observe any of the customs of their land.
2. They evidently knew the teachings of Paul that we find in Galatians 3:26-28.
3. These women seemed to be casting off the customs of modesty.
B. The Jewish and Greek religions were male dominated. This new found Christian freedom was being carried to extremes by the Christian women in Corinth.
I. The Question of Submission (vv. 3-8).
A. With the exception of the temple prostitutes, women had long hair and wore a covering in public.
1. In my study, I find scholars disagree on the type of covering and the hair style.
2. But it is clear, these women in the church discarded the accepted hair style and covering.
B. There is a definite order of headship in the kingdom of God (v. 3).
1. Christ is the head of man, man is the head of woman, and God is the head of Christ.
2. A man dishonors Christ if he worships with his head covered (v. 7).
3. A woman dishonors her husband if she worships with her head uncovered (vv. 5, 6).
II. The Testimony of Creation (vv. 9-12).
A. The woman was created for man (v. 9).
1. If someone rebels at submission, Paul would remind them that Christ was submissive (Philippians 2:5-9).
2. Yet, the idea of the inferiority of woman is not in the Scripture. It is a matter of souls. Man is to protect and defend her (vv. 11-12).
B. Why the mention of angels in verse 10?
1. This may be teaching that angels are present in public worship.
2. It may be teaching that we should conduct ourselves as if we are in the presence of heaven.
3. The word “angel” means “messenger. “ it may be that she is being told to enhance the message of the “messenger” by her obedience.
III. The Necessity of the Appropriate (vv. 13-16).
A. The “very nature of things” shows that there is to be a noticeable difference between men and women (vv. 13-14).
B. Other Christian congregations accepted these guidelines. Why did the Corinthians want to be different? (v. 16).
Conclusions
A. Men and women are equally important in Christ, but there must never be a reversal of roles.
B. There is to be modesty and submission.
C. The Christian lifestyle must have a good appearance to the culture around it.
D. The main lesson, I believe, is not to let Christian freedom become a stumbling block to either the church or the world.
