Silence, Disorder, and Good News
The Case for Women in Ministry
Part of Spiritual Gifts—First Corinthians 12-14
November 26, 2023

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1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (New International Version)

26 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 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.

36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 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. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

Message Notes
• If we find that what we are doing in the name of the spirit is creating disorder and not peace, we should question whether it is

who is leading us or .
• The focus of 1 Corinthians 14:34-40 is addressing , not , , , or .
• The phrase “ ” does not mean to stop talking altogether but rather to cease talking and .
• First century churches primarily met in homes but were modeled after the .
• Women in the Roman world were given almost no access to and when they did it was only the .
• When we read scripture one of the questions we need to ask is: Is the author being or ?
• The most importance evidence for Paul being about female teachers and leaders in the church comes in his at the end of his letters.
• Jesus entrusted the of his to women.