Grace Lutheran Church

+ In Nomine Jesu +
Rev. Evan Gaertner
Septemeber 23, 2007
1    Timothy    2:1-15
“Women in the Church have a voice”

We are gathered by the Word of God to this appointed time to be fed and nourished in good news of Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ we are a scattered people. Worship is not about our power or position but that which we receive from our Lord.

In our OT lesson from Amos we find Amos struggling with people that looked to the Sabbath as a distraction from their efforts to deceive and defraud their neighbor. God has given us his word to deliver us from our unrighteousness. But when we use our power and positions to work contrary to the purposes of God we tarnish this time together.

We have two of the letters that Paul wrote to Timothy and in his first letter Paul demonstrates a concern for community.

We cautions the men are to lift their holy hands in prayer without anger or motives. He also has words of caution for the women. It is these words about the women that we will talk about today.

This weekend is the LWML Retreat at Camp Pioneer. I am the Junior Counselor and was there for much of the weekend. Pastor Art Litke, from Pittsburgh, is the Senior Counselor. I was talking to him about the Sunday worship service because I was curious what he was going to do for the readings. He told me that he was going to go for the appointed readings. Now I found that interesting considering that 1 Timothy 2:1-15 is the appointed Epistle Reading.

It is the nature of having appointed readings that occassionally readings will come up that I would have maybe avoided. But we are called to respect the whole counsel of God. This morning after the Epistle reading our Lector said, “This is the Word of the Lord.” We all responded, “Thanks be to God.”

Now I know that some would like to bypass or avoid Paul’s words to Timothy. Today I want to present to you a couple of questions that may come up and give you some answers.

1. Why don’t we just disagree with Paul and know that he was writing when men dominated everything and we live now in a time when we are able to recognized the way the spirit works through not only men but also women?

Paul’s words as are all the words of Scripture inspired by God. 2 Peter 1:16,21 (read aloud during the sermon) reminds me that living with God is not about getting him to surrender to my will but surrendering to his will for me.

Paul also points to the very creation of God to demonstrate that he writes about God’s design and not his own opinion.

2. But I have found some women to be so gifted with caring and teaching and sharing. Are they supposed to deny these gifts?

No, but like all o fus we are all called to use our gifts in accordance to God’s command and by his authority to his glory.

There is one God and one mediator between God and people, Christ Jesus. We live under Christ by his command and serve by his authority. We may have the power and ability to do a lot of different things, but we do not always have the authority of God. I have the power to run through red lights driving on Niagara Falls Blvd, but I do not have the authority. To be honest I think that I would be able to get away with it for a while but eventually I would get stopped and ticketed.

3. So what do women do in Paul’s world and in today’s world do with the gifts that they have been given?

Here we are going to look at several other pieces of scripture to see the power that God has given women and the authority to make a difference in the lives of others. We all have a voice in this world as we bring the word of God to our world in need.

2 Timothy 1:4-7 - Los and Eunice were instrumental in Timothy coming to faith in Jesus

Acts 1:12-14 - Women and men were together devoting themselves to prayer.

Acts 16:14 - Lydia listen to the gopsel and prevailed upon Paul to visit her home.

Acts 18:24-28 - Apollos was corrected by Priscilla and Aquilla. They took him and explained to him the way of God.

John 4:27-30 - The Samaritan woman at the well went back to the town and told them about Jesus.

1 Cor. 7:12-16 - A wife married to an unbeliving husband is called first to Christ and not to his contray commands.

Live as you were called using the powers and abilities that you have been given in accordance with the authority of Christ.

1 Peter 2:9 - All of us proclaim the wonders of being called out of darkness into his marvelous light.

We are gathered by the Word of God, apart from Christ we are a scattered people. Let’s not bring our own powers into worship but trust in the way God has promised to work.

Soli Deo Gloria