T-Life Group Discussion Questions

Before You Go Series, Week 2: Women in Leadership

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Message Review       

In Week 2 of our “Before You Go” series, we addressed the tension some people have felt around women leading and teaching in the church. We learned that faithful followers of Jesus have interpreted some passages differently, but at Relevant, we believe women were leaders and teachers in the first-century church, so they are in our church as well.

Main Point | Women were leaders and teachers in the first-century church, so they are in our church as well.

Focus Passages |  1 Timothy 2:8-15

Discussion Questions:

  • What were your initial thoughts or takeaways from the sermon, and why?

  • Do you believe women can lead and teach in the church? Why or why not?

  • When an individual or a church disagrees with your view, does that create tension in you? Why?

  • Ronnie said, “God-glorifying churches aren’t built on agreement; they’re built on unity.” Why is that important to remember when we talk about an issue like women in leadership?

  • Why does context matter to correctly interpret Scripture?

  • Timothy was a letter written by the Apostle Paul to Timothy. 

    • Who was Timothy? 

    • Why did Paul write this letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:3-4)? 

    • What was the spiritual climate of Ephesus (where Timothy was) in the 1st century?

  • Read 1 Timothy 2:8-15:

    • What main point(s) was Paul trying to communicate in this passage, and why?

    • What instructions does Paul give to the Ephesian women in verses 9-12? Why do you think he was giving this instruction? 

    • Do you think 1 Timothy 2:11-12 is prescriptive (for every church, for all time) or descriptive (for that specific church, at that specific time, in the specific place for a specific reason)? Why?

  • Read Romans 16:1-7:

    • What words or phrases stand out to you in this passage, and why? 

    • How should Phoebe, Priscilla, and Junia being leaders and teachers in the 1st century church impact our interpretation of 1 Timothy 2:11-12?

  • Ronnie said, “Women were leaders and teachers in the first-century church, so they are in our church as well.”  Does that create any tension within you? Why or why not?

  • At Relevant, (1) We commission both men and women as Pastors, (2) We only commission qualified men as Elders (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9), and (3) As one of the Elders, the Lead Pastor must be a qualified man. Does where Relevant has biblically landed create any tension within you? Why or why not?

  • If you disagree with where Relevant has biblically landed, do you believe this is an essential issue to leave or be divided over? Why or why not?

  • Imagine Relevant without the women who lead and teach as Directors, Ministry Leads, Team Leads, teachers, worship leaders, Next Gen Communicators, Small Group Leaders and T-Life Group Leaders.

  • Is having women lead and teach in our church making us more or less healthy, transformational, and God-glorifying? Why?

  • As a church, how do we stay committed to unity over agreement when we interpret Scripture differently?

    To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.