“Must manage his own household well” (1 Timothy 3:4-5)
I was recently asked if 1 Timothy 3:4a (“managing his own household well”) is a command that shows men, and not women, are to rule or lead their households. Here’s my response.
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Tag: Church Leadership
Were there women elders in New Testament churches? (Part 2)
In this article I look at the NT verse which mentions women elders and compare it with other verses. I also look at elders, men and women, in early Judaism. My claim is that the “older women” in 1 Timothy 5:2 may well have been more than just “older women.”
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Were there women elders in New Testament churches?
Three times this past week I’ve been in online conversations where a person has stated that women were not leaders or elders in early churches. Was this really the case?
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Fluid leadership vs rigid gender roles
Some Christians have a faulty notion of gender roles that is based on an equally faulty notion of leadership. In this tiny post, I share two quotes on the nature of leadership.
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Is John Piper using emotional blackmail?
In this post I express my concerns about John Piper’s lack of propriety and wisdom in a quote newly posted (yet again) on The Gospel Coalition’s website.
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(4) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea
In part 4 I look at the deacons in the Philippian church, and at the development of church offices in the apostolic and post-apostolic church.
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(1) Phoebe: Deacon of the Church in Cenchrea
This is part 1 of an in depth look at Phoebe of Cenchrea who is mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:1-2. Here I look at Paul’s introduction of Phoebe to the church at Rome. I also look at the ministry of certain women in the Gospels, and Tabitha’s ministry in Acts, and compare them with Phoebe’s ministry.
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The First Century Church & the Ministry of Women
It is helpful to have some insight into the values and customs of the first Christians, and some appreciation of how they organised their meetings and ministries, if we are to have a better understanding of the setting, context, and meaning of the New Testament letters. In this article I provide a brief overview of church life in the first century, and I highlight the ministry contributions of women.
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What was the ‘job description’ of Jesus’ apostles?
One subject that I keep mulling over is what it means to be a leader and have authority in the church. Did Jesus commission his first disciples to be church leaders? What was their job description?
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Apostles in the New Testament Church
In this article I look at the men and women who were apostles in the New Testament church, and at their qualifications. I also look at what they did as apostles.
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Jesus’ Teaching on Leadership & Community in Matthew’s Gospel
Jesus’ teaching on leadership and community, in several passages of Matthew’s gospel, shows that Jesus promoted the social values of humility and equality. In Jesus’ kingdom the humble are exalted, the lowly are the greatest, and the last are first.
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A shepherd who only feeds the male sheep in his flock?
Matt Chandler states unequivocally, “I teach to men . . . I go after the men.” Matt focuses his ministry on men because, he says, this is how he understands the scriptures. So what happens to the lost sheep who are female? And how does Matt’s focus affect the thousands of women in his flock?
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