Tonight we have the opportunity to begin our J term with a course that we have titled women in pastoral leadership. We're going to have the opportunity over the next five weeks to explore key passages of scripture together that specifically address women in ministry. But even more pointed than that, women in pastoral ministry. Now, let us all be honest as we endeavor on this task together tonight, that we are not somehow in five weeks together on Wednesday night, going to be able to solve an issue that the church has struggled with for 2000 years. So if you have come with an expectation that I'm going to offer a silver bullet that's going to fix it for the church for all time, let me go ahead and lower your expectation. Let me go ahead and set the course. For the next five weeks, we will be faithful to scripture. We will wrestle with the hard passages of scripture, and we will be honest with what scripture teaches us. This conversation is ongoing for the church, for us, and for the church historically at large. What makes this such a passionate conversation is what is at stake is the authority of scripture. The reason this is such a passionate conversation is because everyone involved, regardless of the conclusion you draw or the position that you hold, what is at stake in this conversation is the authority and the place of scripture within the life of the church. And that makes this a very significant and powerful conversation. None of us want to distort, none of us want to bend, none of us want to modify, none of us want to compromise. Rather, we all want to be faithful to the word of God and see the word of God reflected in our lives and within the church. And so that's what we are endeavoring to do, to affirm the position of scripture, to affirm its authority in the life of the believer and the church. And so we come to scripture with great confidence. We come to scripture with great hope. We believe that scripture is God breathes and that it holds all authority and that it is useful for teaching, rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness. And so we come to God's word with great hope, and we come to God's word with great confidence, seeking to hear from God. My prayer for our time together tonight and this course is really that collectively we would seek to hear from God, that we would seek to learn a deeper understanding of what scripture teaches us, and that we would not only be edified and matured in our faith, but we would also be united and strengthened. There is an opportunity for God to knit us closer together now than we have been. There's an opportunity to study scripture and to have conversation in a way that will strengthen our congregation and strengthen the body of believers. And that is my prayer and my intent as we navigate these conversations together. If you brought your Bible with you tonight, I hope you did. I want to invite you to turn with me to first Corinthians chapter one. If you have your phone, I would encourage you to look up first Corinthians with me tonight as well. Feel free to also lean over at your neighbor and read over their shoulder on their Bible. We're going to use the Bible as our textbook. I'm not going to come to you with a lot of historical quotes or references because what I want to do is come from a place of scripture and teach these key passages and allow scripture to clarify and define itself, of which I believe it can do. Certainly in this matter, we are going to be together in the book of First Corinthians starting in chapter one. And as we begin tonight, let me just remind you that when we think about the New Testament, it is important for us to remember that of the 27 books of the New Testament, 21 of them are letters. They are letters written to individuals and to specific churches. They are letters that are written to a person who lived in a particular time, who had a particular experience in a particular framework. They are to churches that are written to very specific congregations who are living and breathing much as we are. And they are written in a very specific and personal way. And so, as we begin in one Corinthians chapter one, we need to remember that we are reading a letter. And so by way of introduction, let's start in one Corinthians chapter one, in verse ten, and let's read a portion of this introduction. He writes, I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this, one of you say, I follow Paul. Another I follow apollos. Another I follow Cephas, still another I follow Christ. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius. So no one can say that you were baptized in my name? Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanus. Beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else. Can you see the letter for Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom and elegance least the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Ironically, Paul is responding in his letter, as he describes to us in verse eleven, that there is quarreling among the church. He says in verse eleven, some from Chloe's household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. Now, as we read about this report and Paul's writing and responding to, it's important that we recognize that this is not idle gossip. The members of Chloe's household who have reported unto Paul, they're not gossiping about the church or about members in the church. Rather, what they are doing is they are appealing to the apostle Paul and his apostolic authority to help the church. The church truly desires to be edified. The church truly desires for clarity to be brought. And it's interesting to me, as we begin this conversation, what the problem within the church is. Notice how he describes it in verse twelve. He says, what I mean by this, that is the quarreling. What I mean by this is one of you says, I follow Paul, another says, I follow apollos, another, I follow Cephas. And still another, I follow Christ. See, what's happening in the church in Corinth is that they're divided on spiritual leadership. They are divided on who they should follow, and in some ways, who they are even pledging allegiance to. They are saying amongst themselves, I follow Paul, I follow Apollos, I follow Cephas, which is Peter, and I follow Christ. They're segmenting themselves according to spiritual leadership, and they're doing so in a manner that really is unnecessary. Let me ask you, does that behavior sound familiar? You ever wondered why there's so many denominations among the christian faith? What had plagued the church in the first century at a very young age continues to plague the church. And unfortunately, the church has always been far too quick to isolate, far too quick to segregate, far too quick to divide. And so, look what Paul says to him in verse 13. Is Christ divided? It's a rhetorical question, but the answer is no. The church shouldn't be divided because Christ isn't divided. And so, from this introduction, what I want you to take away with me as we continue to progress through one corinthians, is that this is a letter that is in response to a verbal report from members of the church, as well as another written letter. There are going to be a couple occurrences in one corinthians where Paul will actually quote these visitors, as well as quotes the letter that he has received and so what you need to hold on to as we move is that this is a letter written by Paul, responding to a concern that the congregation has raised unto him. Now, there are many concerns that Paul is going to address here in the letter of one corinthians. But there is one of particular importance for us tonight in our conversation, and Paul is going to respond to a particular question about how the church should conduct worship in an orderly fashion. Paul begins to write about this in one corinthians, chapter eleven, and he begins to give the congregation instructions about how they should conduct themselves in worship. Most familiar to you will probably be one corinthians, chapter eleven, where we draw our instructions for the Lord's supper. If you've ever wondered why we have some guidance on not taking the Lord's supper in an unworthy manner, it comes from this moment in scripture, in one corinthians, chapter eleven. He starts with instructions for worship in chapter eleven, and he continues all the way through chapter 14, instructing the church about conduct in worship. So turn with me or scroll over in your bible to one Corinthians, chapter 14. And let's listen to some of this instruction that Paul is giving to the church about worship. He says in one corinthians, chapter 14, in verse 26, what then shall we say? Brothers and sisters, when you come together, each of you has a hymn or a word of instruction or a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at the most, three should speak one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop, for you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets, for God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the Lord's people. Stop right there with me for a moment. Right here. Paul is beginning to address one of the concerns that they specifically have raised. He started back in chapter eleven, and then he begins the conversation, or continues the conversation here in chapter 14, verse 26, he says, what shall we say, brothers and sisters? And you'll notice that it is a question. It's a question because he's continuing the conversation. It's linked to what he has been saying up to this point. And so he comes to this conclusion. When you come together, he's speaking about their worship, their worship gatherings, when they gather together as a congregation. And he says, here's the problem. Each of you has a hymn or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Now stop here with me for a moment, and I need you to imagine with me worship in the first century Church, because it is quite different from our experience as a congregation in worship today. When the first century church gathered together in worship, it was much more sporadic. There were many more people involved. In fact, we get that impression here in verse 26, he says, when you come together, each of you has a hymn. That is, that there's great participation, there's great desire. Each of you has a hymn. Each of you has a word of instruction. Each of you has a revelation. Each of you has a tongue or an interpretation. Recognize that everybody's coming to the church, and they're coming with their own word, their own hymn, their own prophecy, their own revelation. And as a result, within worship of the first century church, there's plenty of opportunity for chaos and interruption. It's chaotic. In fact, it's so chaotic that it is no longer beneficial, it's no longer productive. It's no longer edifying and strengthening the body. And perhaps it's even gotten to the point where it is no longer glorifying God. Paul is giving such level of instruction here. Notice the detail in verse 27. If anyone speaks in tongue, two or three at the most. Do you see what he's saying? He's saying if people are going to come and speak in tongues, maybe limit it to just two or three at the most. We don't need five or six people. And he has to even go as far to give them instructions to say one at a time. Think about what is happening in the life of the church. They're bringing so much to worship. So many people are involved. They're speaking over the top of one another. Nobody can hear each other. Nobody's being edified. And the likelihood is that it's become a point of struggle for the church, a point of a challenge. And so Paul begins to weed through and communicate a plan for orderly worship. In fact, he prioritizes worship to be done in an orderly manner, to be done in a way that edifies and glorifies God. He summarizes his intent here best, I think, in verse 31. And then in verse 33, he says, for you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. And then he summarizes his intent in verse 33. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord's people. What Paul desires is that the church would come together and conduct themselves in a productive and orderly fashion. That's why here at First Baptist every Monday, myself and the worship team meet. We have an order of service in front of us, and we prayerfully go through the order of service. I talk about the text, they bring worship songs. And by the end of our meeting, we have prayerfully discerned an orderly worship service that will edify the body and will glorify God. God desires that we conduct ourselves in a manner that is edifying and glorifying unto him, and that is, in fact, what he is asking of the church. He is asking them to work in a manner that is productive for them. Now, I wish I had a little more time to talk about tongues and prophecy, but I don't. We'll have to save that for another time. But there's obviously a great deal to think about here in chapter 14 around those two conversations. The key passage for us, if you'll pick back up in verse 34, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. Should I read it again? By the. Maybe it's. Maybe it's been a while since you've read that passage. We can all just take a deep breath for a moment. Historically, this passage has been taken to mean that women can have no audible proclamation in worship. Historically, this passage has been taken to mean that women cannot sing, women cannot pray, and they certainly can't exercise the other gifts. In the context of the church, we know historically that really, this was prominent in many churches up until about the year 1890. So if you think with me, this interpretation, a very strict one of this passage of scripture was really held close up until about 130 years ago. Taking this passage at face value, when we read it, it has a bit of an impact. And as you think about this passage, can you even imagine what the church would look like if women remained silent and were forbidden to speak in any context within the church? One thing is certain about this passage of scripture, and I will explain it in a moment, but let me clarify and give you the bottom line up front. One thing is certain is that this passage of scripture cannot, nor is it saying that women cannot speak in worship. One thing is abundantly clear, that Paul's intention and this point of instruction is not to tell women to be silent in worship. Now, let me explain why that is the case. If that interpretation were true that women should remain silent in worship, it would create a contradiction in scripture, not only in Paul's letter to one corinthians, but it would create a contradiction in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. And God is not a contradiction, nor does he ever contradict himself, nor does God ever lie. God always speaks truth. He never has to correct himself. He means what he says, and he says it. And so if that interpretation of verses 34 and 35 is correct, that women have no place to speak audibly or sing or pray in worship, then it creates a contradiction, and that is not acceptable. Let me show you where it would create a contradiction. Turn back in Paul's letter just to chapter eleven. This is where he's giving instructions for worship. Keep in mind, this is where the conversation started. And in one corinthians, chapter eleven. Let me read to you verse five. He says, but every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. It is the same as having her head shaved. Now, please do not get lost in the head covering and the head shaving. That tends to be where we focus. All right? We tend to focus on what he's trying to say in that portion. Let me just say very quickly that what Paul is talking about is modesty. And what Paul is talking about is cultural appropriateness in worship that deals with both men and women and how they come and attend worship. But what we must pay attention to, what we cannot overlook. Verse five. But every woman who prays or prophesies, did you catch it here among the instructions for how the body of believers are to conduct themselves in worship? He says, but every woman who prays or prophesies, notice that what he does not do is he does not rebuke them and say, stop. Notice that in this moment of scripture, he is giving them instructions rather for how they should pray and how they should prophesy. When you pray and when you prophesy, then he gives the order of instructions. Let me show you two other places in scripture that are important to not create a contradiction. Acts chapter two. This moment is following the anointing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And if you remember that moment when the Holy Spirit falls upon the believers, they begin to speak in tongues or in multiple languages. This conversation causes a stir amongst those who are watching. And so Peter begins to explain to the onlookers what is in fact taking place. I'd like to read to you acts chapter two, beginning in verse 14. Then Peter stood up to the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. Fellow Jews and all who you live in Jerusalem. Let me explain this to you. Listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk as you suppose. It is only nine in the morning. The Bible's full of humor, isn't it? Now, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel in the last days. God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. Every one of my servants, both men and women. I will pour out my spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. Who will prophesy? Both men and women. If you take verse 34 to mean an absolute prohibition on women speaking at all in worship, you create a contradiction. You create a contradiction in Paul's instructions in chapter eleven, you create a contradiction in what Peter affirms in acts chapter two and what the prophet Joel gave us in Joel chapter two, speaking about the anointing of the Holy Spirit, enabling both men and women to speak in a prophetic way to edify and strengthen the believers in the worship of God. God cannot be a contradiction, and nothing in his word disagrees with one another. Rather, there is great harmony. And so what is Paul saying in verses 34 and 35? Well, let me give you full disclosure. There is some vagueness. And if you go out and you begin to read on this passage of scripture, you will quickly find that there are about four different prominent views. But in totality, there are about seven ways that the church applies these two verses in the life of a congregation. But one thing is clear, and that is that it is not asking for absolute silence. Rather, what I believe and want to share with you tonight, it is quite a bit nuanced and very particular to this congregation. Let me explain. In chapter 14, there are three calls for silence. You probably missed it because we only really pay attention to one. But there are actually three calls for silence in chapter 14. Let's go through them together. The first call for silence is in chapter 14 in verse 29. Let me flip back there. Chapter 14 in verse 29, excuse me, verse 28, the first call for silence. Chapter 14, verse 28. He says, if there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. This is the first call for silence. And it's response to the gift of speaking in tongues or speaking in another language. Now remember, Paul's goal is that everything in worship is done to edify, strengthen the body and glorify God. If someone is speaking in tongues, without the ability to interpret, it does not edify the body. It is of no value. And so, he says, they should stop speaking. They should keep quiet and speak to himself and to God. And that makes perfect sense. The second call for silence comes in verse 30. He says, and if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. Here is the second call for silence. Multiple people might have a prophecy. Multiple people might have a revelation. And the word from Paul is, if you have already spoken, then you should sit down and be silent. Let someone else speak. For certainly there are other people who have something of value to contribute to the worship. And again, that makes sense, particularly when you think about personalities. Some people are more timid than others, but nonetheless, they have a valuable word from God. And so, Paul says, the speaker should stop. And then there is a third call for silence. And this is in verse 34. Women should remain silent in churches. They're not allowed to speak, but must be in full submission, as the law says. This is the third call for silence. And again, let me go ahead and give you a viewpoint, and then we will talk about its explanation. I believe what Paul is addressing and what Paul is speaking to us is very specific to a cultural limitation. It's very specific to a cultural reality that is real for the church. And as I will explain here in a moment, remains real for the church today. Now look back at verse 34. Women should remain silent in churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. Now, the reason I believe that this call for silence is culturally specific is because the very last phrase in which he says, as the law says now, most frequently in the New Testament, when we see a reference to the law, our mind immediately goes to the Old Testament. It goes to the teachings of Moses, and we think about God's covenant law that governed the people and governed their behavior. Now, here's the problem with that interpretation of this moment. If you study the Old Testament law and you review it word by word, phrase by phrase, there is not a single old Testament law that asks for women to be silent in worship. So he says, they're not allowed to speak, must be in submission, as the law says. The question arises, Paul, then what law? Because there's not a law in God's word. But where is there a law? There's a law in the city in which the church lives. Unfortunately, for reasons we won't go into, women did not have the same place in society that we do today. And there was specific laws that a woman was not to speak over her husband. And this is particularly seen in the marketplace and in public squares when families would barter or buy and sell property. It would be done as a family. But if a husband and wife were making a trade and the husband were conducting the deal, it would be inappropriate and it would be illegal for his wife to speak over her husband and interject into the negotiations. It was forbidden in law. And so Paul says women should remain silent in churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. He's referencing a cultural law that surrounded the church in which it lived. And think with me for a moment in a cultural context in which that law exists. It would make perfect sense for Paul to make such a request, because if Paul's intent is to maintain order in worship that edifies the body and glorifies God, it would be disruptive in this context for a woman to exercise the gifts, because some within the congregation would not be able to handle it. It would derail the entire worship service. People would begin to walk out of the room, and whatever progress they had made would be brought to a halt. Paul's goal was stated in verse 33, right before verse 34. For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. As in all the congregations of the Lord's people, if the goal is orderly worship, then this request absolutely makes sense. But what we must see is that on the basis of scripture's teaching, this is not a universal guidance that is to be applied to all. Now, I'm going to explain here in a moment that that does not discredit it or mean that we should ignore it, because it actually still has great value to our congregation. Today. There are some churches who can accept men and women exercising the gifts within the context of worship. Some of the cultural stipulations that surrounded the church in Corinth hang on today, and in those cultural contexts, it would be inappropriate because it would be disruptive. Let me give you an example of how I live this law in my life. When I came in view of a call here to First Baptist church, Joe Rijos is here. I'm going to reference him because I said this to Joe, and so he can verify my story if you want. I said to Joe, now, before you announce the vote, if the vote is anything than less than 80%, I want to talk, I said, so please don't go up and announce the vote if it's 51% in favor and 49 not, because I knew that in my coming, I did not want to do anything that would create disorder and be a disruption for worship. And if I came with a submajority as a senior pastor to a church, it would not be edifying or glorifying unto God. This principle still matters. We need to conduct ourselves in ways that always edify, that always glorify, that always facilitate the worship of God, and don't detract or distract. Let me give you another example, and I'm going to close with this because I know I'm out of time, but before I close, I want to pick up. I said I was going to close. I'm not going to close. I'm not going to close because I want to circle back. I don't want to leave the text unfinished. I don't want to leave the text unfinished. Go back to verse 36, and then I'll close. Let's finish it. Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are any of you the only people it has reached? If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. But if anyone ignores this, they themselves will be ignored. This is pretty weighty stuff. But look at verse 39. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophecy, prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly fashion. So notice how he concludes. He started with his purpose in verse 33. Then he brings up the text that we're stuck on. And then he concludes in verse 39. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager. Who, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy and do not forbid speaking in tongues. Well, speaking in tongues, for it to be beneficial is done in community. Prophecy is beneficial unto the body. So he circles back at the end and notice that he affirms, brothers and sisters, be eager. There can't be a contradiction. So let me close now with this illustration, and I've asked my wife for permission to share this. Let me show you how this verse is lived out in our congregation today. You live it out. But let me be very personal for a moment. This may shock you, but do you know when I preach that sometimes, as much as I want and as much as I try, I am not always clear in what I say? I know that's a shocker to you. Sometimes my own wife doesn't understand a point that I am making in a sermon, even though we have this great connection. And when those occur in my sermons, my wife does not stand up and say, excuse me, that makes no sense. You need to repeat yourself. Or would you please clarify? Rather, what she does is she takes a note, she continues to stay engaged, and then later she asks me, I did not understand this point, or I did not catch that quote in scripture, much like many of you do. You send me an email and say, would you remind me of this verse? Or could you point out this point, the third point in your sermon? That's how we're obeying this text. We're maintaining the order and worship in order to glorify and honor God, not in a disruptive manner. I love to hear my wife sing and worship. One of the greatest joys is I get to hold my youngest daughter. And the best part is I get to hear her sing. I can't imagine church with a silence of the other four members of my family. Certainly that is not what Paul meant, but rather what he meant is that God is not a God of disorder, but of peace, as in all the congregations of the Lord's people. And so let us behave in a way that maintains the peace and order in our worship. In our worship. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we are so thankful for your word. What a gift it is. And, Father, there are so many things that we do not know. And so, Father, I do pray that you would help us. Help us read your word in a way that brings clarity. Help us be diligent in our study of the word to bring clarity. Help us not just pull verses out and throw them around. But, Father, help us study the wholeness of your word so that we can be matured as a congregation. But Father, also so that we can be united. For as Paul said in the introduction to his letter, what you desire is that we would be of one accord. So, Father, help us at First Baptist Church be of one accord. Help us lean upon your word and help us live in such a way that strengthens and glorifies you. I ask all this in Christ Jesus' name we pray. Amen.