
At Trailhead, we believe that church is not just about growing in God’s Word but doing so in community. We have designed this study guide to help you follow along with Sunday’s message. Study the scriptures, take notes, and then reinforce what you learned by answering a few questions. Ask others to join you in discussion, whether it be with your family or your Trailhead study group. Let’s have church!
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Interactive Scriptures and Notes
This link is updated weekly, so we encourage you to select the “Email” button at the bottom to send your notes to yourself when you’re finished.
Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
2 Corinthians 5:15-17 (NLT)
15 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Galatians 3:24-29 (NLT)
24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian until Christ came; it protected us until we could be made right with God through faith. 25 And now that the way of faith has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian. 26 For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God’s promise to Abraham belongs to you.
Complementarian - Men and women are equal in value but have different roles (e.g., women should not be in roles such as pastor or elder where they would hold a leadership position over a man in the church).
Egalitarian - Men and women have complete equality in value and roles in the church (e.g., women can serve in pastoral and other church leadership roles).
Philippians 3:5-7 (NLT)
5 I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6 I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.
1 Corinthians 14:34-35 (NLT)
34 Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. 35 If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.
1 Corinthians 11:4-5 (NLT)
4 A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 5 But a woman dishonors her head if she prays or prophesies without a covering on her head, for this is the same as shaving her head.
1 Timothy 2:11-15 (ESV)
11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
Philippians 4:2-3 (NLT)
2 Now I appeal to Euodia and Syntyche. Please, because you belong to the Lord, settle your disagreement. 3 And I ask you, my true partner, to help these two women, for they worked hard with me in telling others the Good News. They worked along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are written in the Book of Life.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NLT)
19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Acts 2:17-18 (NLT)
17 ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. 18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy.
Other Notes
Discussion Questions
1) Read Galatians 3:24-29. Why is it important to look past worldly labels such as “Jew and Gentile, slave or free, male and female” for Christians?”
In Galatians 2, Paul talks about confronting Peter (some versions call him “Cephas”) in because he treated the Gentile Christians differently than the Jewish Christians. What does this tell us about how we should treat and view all Christians?
2) This Sunday, Pastor Josh spoke on the important issue of women in ministry, but he called it a “secondary issue.” How would you define a “secondary issue” when it comes to interpreting the Bible?
How much weight should we give these issues, and what are the dangers of putting too much emphasis on them?
3) Why is it so important to consider context when studying God’s Word? What are the benefits of doing so?