So please do ask if you need one. So let's jump in and just read Genesis 2, okay? Just Genesis 2. We'll skip a few verses, I'll tell you when. But Genesis 2. So open up your Bibles there. It's on page 2.
Genesis 2. Let's start from verse 5.
When no bush of the field was yet in the land, and no small plant of the field had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground, then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
And the man became a living creature. And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden in the east, and there he put man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.
The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
And then verse 15.
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying,
You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.
Then the Lord God said,
It is not good that the man should be alone.
I will make him a helper fit for him.
Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them.
And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.
The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field.
But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him.
So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man.
And while he slept, took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.
And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man, he made into a woman and brought her to the man.
Then the man said,
This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.
She shall be called woman because she was taken out of man.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh.
And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
This is the word of God.
Did you see, did you notice in what we just read, there was a wedding in that passage.
So verse 22.
God brings the woman to the man.
The man delights in the woman.
He says a poem.
At last, bone of my bones.
Then verse 24.
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife and they shall become one flesh.
Do you recognize those words?
We use those words at weddings, don't we?
Paul Levy in the last wedding that was here.
He said those words.
And that's because what we have in front of us is a wedding.
Jesus even quotes these words in Matthew 19 to talk about marriage.
Okay.
Jesus looks back at Genesis 2 and says, yeah, this is the wedding.
This is the first wedding.
Here in Genesis 2 in the garden was Adam and Eve's actual wedding day.
If you want a soundtrack for this, you can put wedding bells over these last few verses.
And so marriage, let's be clear on this.
Marriage is not something we invented as society.
No, marriage was there from the beginning.
And this, like all we've been seeing, this is the blueprint for marriage.
And it's tied to our calling as male and female.
Man is to form and women is to fill in all of life.
And they're to do this together.
And this is most clearly seen in marriage.
It's all of life, as we saw last week.
But actually, it's most clearly seen in marriage.
And so I want us to look at this marriage blueprint today.
And I want us to see what marriage is all about.
What it really means to be husband and wife.
And our culture is confused about this, isn't it?
Confused about men and women and the idea of marriage.
And are there any roles in marriage?
And so we need to look at this blueprint.
And when we do, we see another difference and complementing between men and women.
Between Adam and Eve, there was a difference in responsibility, in leadership, and in authority.
And so I just want us to unpack those things.
So let's just look at this blueprint.
And the first thing we see is this.
Adam had responsibility for Eve.
This is sub-point A.
Adam had responsibility for Eve.
So, as we saw last week, Adam, and only Adam, was told to work and keep the garden, wasn't he?
Look at verse 15.
It was just told to Adam.
That's his domain.
That's his task.
And the word keep there, it means protect and guard.
So whatever is in the garden, he's the one to protect it, including Eve.
Eve's in the garden, right?
Eve was not called to protect, strictly speaking.
Explicitly that that is Adam's calling.
And that's what we see in the way Eve was made.
She was taken from Adam's side.
So I quoted Matthew Henry last week.
He kind of sums up the imagery well.
Eve was not taken out of Adam's head to top him, neither out of his feet to be trampled on by him,
but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected by him,
and near his heart to be loved by him.
And all this is related to man being made first.
Remember, Adam was made first, then Eve.
He's there first to form and protect.
And then Eve arrives, and then she is protected by Adam,
and she's allowed to flourish and fill the garden.
And this is the blueprint.
God has designed man to have responsibility for woman,
to protect her, to shield her.
And that especially goes for marriage.
A husband is to protect and sacrifice and physically guard, spiritually guard his wife.
So if a burglar came into the garden, what should Adam do?
He should go get his baseball bat, right?
Or if Satan came into the garden, what should Adam do?
Well, let's think about that next week, because Satan did come into the garden.
But for now, just see that there is a special responsibility given to man.
Adam had responsibility for Eve.
That's the dynamic in the blueprint.
But within this blueprint, there's another difference.
It's point B.
Adam had leadership over Eve.
Now, I want you to look up some of these verses in your little discussion box.
Answer these questions.
And for now, we're just gathering data.
Just answer these questions.
It shouldn't take too long.
I'll give you a minute or two.
So break out into groups and answer these questions.
Thank you.
God gave a command.
Who did he give it to?
Zuko?
Adam.
Adam, right?
It was just Adam formed.
Adam got the command.
All right.
Who broke this command by eating?
I don't know.
Eve.
Yeah.
Was Eve the only one that ate?
And then she gave some to Adam.
Say again?
Who was standing right there the whole time.
Exactly.
So both ate.
Both broke this commandment.
Okay?
When the command was broken, who did God look for?
Marius.
Adam, right.
Where are you?
Adam.
He comes straight for Adam.
And now Romans 5.12.
Who does the Bible say is responsible for the fall?
Fernando.
Adam.
Right.
Through one man came sin and death.
Right?
And so as we see this, there's an interesting dynamic between men and women.
Yeah.
God gives the command to Adam.
He was the one responsible to lead his wife in godliness.
To obey this command.
And so Adam was given the command.
And of course, that means Adam would have had to teach it to Eve.
Right?
It would have been passed down onto her from him.
Because Eve knows of this command.
She quotes it to Satan.
But it was given to Adam directly.
And both broke the command, didn't they?
But both ate.
Eve ate first.
But when God comes down in judgment,
who does he look for?
He looks for Adam.
And he addresses Adam.
Adam is the one to go to.
And so, who does Romans 5 say is responsible?
It's Adam.
Sin came into the world through one man, not one woman.
And so, in this marriage dynamic,
Adam and Eve are not identical.
They're of the same worth and dignity.
Absolutely.
But there is a different function.
Adam is in a leadership role.
A representative role.
He represents her and his household.
And he has the responsibility and the leadership over the welfare of Eve.
And not the other way around.
Adam had leadership over Eve.
Which is to say, Adam had authority over Eve.
Adam had authority over Eve.
This is a sub-point C.
As with all leadership,
there is a difference of authority.
Now, we'll see this more as we open up the New Testament in a moment.
But something in Genesis suggests that there is a difference of authority.
Because, and this is key,
Adam names Eve.
Do you notice, in chapter 2, verse 19 and 20,
Adam names the animals, doesn't he?
And naming it is quite a significant act.
You can't name something you don't have authority over.
Well, Adam has authority over the animals,
and so he names them.
But also, he names Eve, doesn't he?
So look at verse 23.
What does Adam say?
She shall be called woman.
And at the end of chapter 3, in the fall,
he says,
the man called his wife's name Eve.
He names her.
In marriage,
Adam has been given a particular responsibility,
a particular leadership,
and therefore a particular authority.
He was to lead and protect
and sacrifice for and represent his wife.
And that does mean an authority.
Now, authority,
we don't like that word, do we?
We often associate it
with being domineering
or crushing
or even being abusive, don't we?
But remember,
that is bad use of authority.
This, this is the blueprint.
This is good authority.
Just like Adam's protection over Eve
is not a bad protection.
It's wise.
It's good.
It helps Eve flourish.
Well, this authority structure
and leadership
is designed to make Adam and Eve
thrive and flourish
and enjoy life even more.
And in fact,
the fall happened
when all this responsibility
and leadership and authority,
the fall happened
when all this was flipped.
So,
how did God design Adam and Eve
and creation?
what was that order?
So, in creation,
Adam was made first
and then he was to be
leader
over Eve.
Remember,
I'm not saying better,
I can say better,
but both images
have got both
of equal worth and dignity.
but there is an order
of leadership
and then both of them together,
they would have dominion
over creation.
Draw a little
slow there.
Right?
You see that?
So, Adam, Eve,
and then creation.
But,
but they're ruling
over creation together.
So,
so God has designed
an order
into creation
like this.
but look what happens
in the fall.
Let's just quickly scan
through chapter three
in the fall.
Who leads
this whole event
of the fall?
Who kind of triggers
it all?
Who's the voice
that is listened to
that kind of gives
all the commands?
It's,
it's the serpents,
isn't it?
He triggers it all.
Right?
And who does he address
in the marriage?
Who does all this
conversation happen with
that Satan,
the serpents,
speaks to?
Eve.
Right?
Who's leading the marriage?
It's Eve.
And who is there
watching the whole time
and just follows along?
It's Adam.
Adam.
God has designed
a leadership dynamic
in marriage
and the fall happens
when,
when it's broken,
when it's flipped.
And humanity
does not flourish
when this order
is flipped.
And we can,
we can summarize
this dynamic
as headship.
Headship.
So there's
sub point B,
D, sorry.
In marriage,
the husband
is head
over his wife.
The husband,
we can say,
has headship
over his wife.
And so headship,
however,
whatever your,
your views of it
or experience of it
at all,
headship
is not part
of the fall.
Bad headship
is part of the fall.
We'll see that next week.
But can we see
pre-fall,
while we're still
in the blueprint,
while things are still
very good,
pre-fall,
there is an order
and authority
built into creation
and marriage.
God has designed
the husband
to be
head of the wife.
It's there
in the blueprint.
And this is how
marriage
and humanity
flourishes.
But we get
most clarity
over this
when we enter
the New Testament
because the Apostle
Paul,
in Ephesians 5,
he shows us
there is an
even more
beautiful reason
behind this idea
of headship.
So let's turn
to Ephesians 5
and let's just
read this passage.
Ephesians 5,
22 to 33.
Ephesians 5.
It's on page
978.
So let's read
verses 22
to 33.
Ephesians 5.
Wives,
so I'll wait
for you to turn
there.
Ephesians 5,
starting verse 22.
It's on page 978.
Wives,
submit to your
own husbands
as to the Lord.
For the husband
is the head
of the wife,
even as Christ
is head of the church,
his body,
and is himself
its saviour.
Did you notice
the word head there?
Now as the church
submits to Christ,
so also wives
should submit
in everything
to their husbands.
Husbands,
love your wives
as Christ loved
the church
and gave himself
up for her.
That he might
sanctify her,
having cleansed her
by the washing
of water
with the word,
so that he might
present the church
to himself
in splendour,
without spot
or wrinkle
or any such thing
that she might be
holy and without
blemish.
In the same way,
husbands should
love their wives
as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife
loves himself.
For no one ever
hated his own flesh,
but nourishes
and cherishes it
just as Christ
does the church,
because we are
members of his body.
Therefore,
a man shall leave
his father and mother
and hold fast
to his wife,
and the two
shall become one flesh.
This mystery is profound,
and I'm saying
that it refers
to Christ
and the church.
However,
let each one of you
love his wife
as himself,
and let the wife
see that she
respects her husband.
So,
Genesis 2
that we've just seen,
that is our blueprint
for marriage.
That is the model,
but actually,
there is a deeper
and more ultimate model.
It's Christ
and the church.
Did you see that
in verse 31?
Therefore,
a man shall leave
his father and mother
and hold fast
to his wife,
and the two
shall become one flesh.
Recognize that verse.
Marriage.
marriage.
This mystery
of marriage
is profound,
and I am saying
that it refers
to Christ
and the church.
Do you see
what he's saying here?
The relationship
between Christ
and the church,
that is the
marriage blueprint
which all
other marriages
are based on.
So,
think of it like this.
So,
if you have Christ,
Christ is married
to the church,
to his bride.
So,
that is the
ultimate marriage,
right?
And from that,
from that,
all other marriages
are based on it.
Right?
There you go.
That's me and Bethany.
There you go.
And so,
if that's the model,
and that's what
all other marriages
flow from
and model
and are kind of
patterned after,
that means
there is
a profound
calling
and design
for the husband.
So,
so verse 25,
husbands,
love your wives
as Christ
loved the church.
And gave
himself up
for her.
Husbands
are to be
to their wives
like Christ
is
to the church.
And what
does Christ
do for his
church for us?
Well,
he leads us.
He represents
us.
He teaches
us.
He nourishes
us.
He protects
us.
He loves
us.
He sacrificed
himself for
us.
He bled
us.
So that
we would
live.
And a
husband's
leadership
is to
reflect that.
A husband's
leadership and
authority is
not about
getting his
way,
not about
domineering or
crushing his
wife or
demanding whatever
he wants.
No,
it is a
self-sacrificial,
loving
leadership.
And it's
with a
purpose.
Verse 27,
he does
all this so
that he
might present
the church
to himself
in splendor
without spot
or wrinkle
or any
such thing
that she
might be
holy and
without
blemish.
That is
Christ's
purpose in
all his
love for
us.
And that
is the
husband's
goal in
all his
leadership and
love for
his wife.
Husbands,
let me speak
to the
husbands in
the room,
our big
goal in
marriage is
to make
our wives
holy and
without
blemish.
That means
spiritually
beautiful.
We are to
take onto
our shoulders
the leadership
of the
marriage so
that our
wives will
love Jesus
more and
more.
Because that
is what
Jesus is
doing for
us.
And that
will mean,
let's think
practical things,
that will
mean praying
for her,
reading the
Bible with
her,
maybe doing
the dishes
so that
she can
spend time
reading,
doing all
that you
can to
make Sunday
a joy for
her,
whatever it
is.
And that
means also
a wife has
a special
calling too.
Verse 22,
wives,
submit to
your own
husbands as
to the
Lord.
This is
God's
beautiful
design and
purpose for
a wife
in marriage.
marriage.
It's to
follow the
leadership that
God has
given you.
It's to
submit,
it's to
be under
the love
of your
husband.
So just
like Adam
was to
protect
Eve at
his side,
well the
wife is
to willingly
stand by
her husband's
side and
be protected,
be led,
be made
beautiful.
And the
word
submission
makes us
flinch,
doesn't it?
Society
doesn't like
this word,
but we
need to
see the
beauty in
it.
It's when
husbands and
wives do
this,
not only
is this
where we
flourish in
our
creative
design,
not only
is this
where we
flourish in
our
creative
design,
but this
is where
we reflect
something
incomparably
glorious.
We
reflect
Christ and
the church
when we
do this.
And so
God didn't
think,
oh,
there's this
thing called
marriage down
there on
earth,
that kind
of looks
like the
gospel that
I've got
planned up
in my
head.
I tell you
what,
I'm going
to make
Christ and
the church
be modelled
after that
thing called
marriage down
there.
No,
God has
always planned
Christ and
his church.
And he
said,
I'm going
to model
marriage
after that.
I want
marriage on
earth to
reflect this
heavenly
marriage.
And so
all this
that Paul
is saying
here,
all this
isn't
cultural.
Paul
isn't saying
this because
this was
just the
old-fashioned
way of
thinking about
marriage and
we've moved
on from
that.
No,
this is
rooted in
two deep
things.
It's rooted
in creation
and it's
rooted in
the gospel.
And so
there is a
good headship
in marriage.
Now,
let's ask,
are we
doing for
time?
We're good
for time.
Let's just
ask,
is this
dynamic,
this headship,
is this
only in
marriage?
If this is
how men and
women design,
is this only
in marriage?
Well,
also we
could ask,
what about
unmarried men
and unmarried
women?
Well,
we must say,
let's just be
clear,
this command
Paul is
giving here
in Ephesians
5,
this command
for women
to submit
and men
to love,
this is
explicitly
between a
husband and
a wife,
isn't it?
all right?
He doesn't
say,
all women
submit to
all men.
So,
unmarried
women here,
if a random
guy comes up
to you and
says,
well,
I'm a man,
I'm the head
over you,
so do
whatever I
say,
here's what
you can say
to him,
you say,
no,
go away,
all right?
You can say
that.
Because this
command is
most clearly
seen in
marriage,
but,
how we
are made,
this order,
this design,
how we're
made,
it does
ripple out
beyond
marriage.
Adam had
his calling
even before
Eve was
made,
didn't he?
Men are
designed for
and called
to this
posture of
leading and
sacrificing and
caring and
protecting.
And you may
ask,
well,
I'm a single
guy,
or my
son is
single.
You might
think,
well,
I don't
have a
wife or
family to
protect.
Well,
actually,
God has
given you
a family.
Firstly,
you have a
church family,
and that
is a realm
where you
can exercise
your calling
as a man.
Sacrifice
yourself for
the people
in this
church.
Sacrifice
your time
and energy
to serve
the people
in this
church.
Go out
of your
way to
protect the
people in
this church,
especially
the women.
Now,
what would
that look
like?
This is
kind of the
starting point.
I want you
to think
about this,
be proactive
in how you
can be
this,
but it
could be
practically
thinking,
stacking
chairs,
repairing
the building,
helping at
Club 16,
leading a
reading group.
There are
lots of
ways you
can do
this.
The church
is your
family,
where you
are called
to be
a
man.
But also,
what is
a nation?
What does
the Bible
say about
a nation?
What is
a nation?
A nation
is a
family.
Nations
come from
families.
You can
see this
in the
Old
Testament.
Married
and unmarried
men and
women,
you can
fulfill
your design
and calling
in this
family of
this nation.
Sacrifice
yourself and
lead and
form and
protect in
your community.
And for
unmarried
women as
well,
let me
speak to
you.
You have
a family
here too.
You have
a family
here in
church and
in this
nation and
that is
your opportunity,
that is your
domain where
you can be
a woman and
you can give
life and
you can fill
it with
vibrancy and
colour and
community and
you can make
this world even
more worthwhile.
And so just
think, men or
women, if you
are not married,
that doesn't
mean you are
less of a
man or
woman or
you can't
fulfill this
calling.
No, no,
you have a
wonderful design.
And this
design in
Dunantmach,
it goes beyond
marriage in
the church and
in the nation,
but also it's
particularly seen
in church
eldership.
And this is
where I want
to spend
this next
little bit.
Yeah, I
reckon.
Let's do,
let's stop
there just for
two minutes of
questions and
then we'll
go into
church
eldership.
Yeah,
Blackis.
Is there
some of
any
implications
for the
workplace?
Good question.
Yeah.
So the
practical
outworking of
this, this is
why I didn't
want to give
too many
concrete.
I think that
there's just a
lot of wisdom
in this.
Yeah, each
situation will be
different.
And quite
frankly, there's
no law here
about it.
I said this
last week,
there's no
strict law
about what
forming and
filling looks
like.
And the
application in
this big and
complicated,
messy world,
it will look
different and
it takes
wisdom to
apply this.
But what I
would say is,
first of all,
at least think
about it.
Don't just,
yeah, don't go
into things
blindly.
Like, care about
how God has
ordered the
world.
And also,
let's not be
nervous about
where these
things lead
either.
If God has
designed this
well to form
and fill and
for there to
be kind of a
creation order,
to follow it,
to embrace
that, let's
not be nervous
about where
that might lead
because it's a
good design.
And so, I'm
going to dodge
your question
there.
But I want
all of this,
I want this to
be a starting
point, to at
least begin to
think about it
and just embrace
it's a posture
to lean into.
So, yeah, I
think I'll
leave it there.
Any more
controversial
questions?
Let's go on
to something
else.
Church
eldership.
We can chat
afterwards if
you've got more
questions.
So, this
created order,
it flows out
beyond marriage
and we
particularly see
this in church
eldership.
So, if
you've noticed
in IPCE
link, we
only have
men as
elders and
ministers in
this church,
don't we?
And I want
to show you
today why
we do this
and also,
just like
marriage, I
want you to
see why this
is a really
good thing.
So, look
at 1 Timothy
2, I've got
it printed out
there for you.
I'd love to
spend more
time in more
passages, but
let's just get
to the heart
of it.
1 Timothy
2, these
are Paul's
words to a
minister,
Timothy, and
this letter
is, Timothy,
this is how
you need to
order the
church, this
is how the
household of
the church
needs to
run.
So, there
are lots of
things, but
this, he
talks about,
well, let's
just dive in,
let's read it,
1 Timothy
2.
Let a
woman learn
quietly with
all submissiveness.
I do not
permit a
woman to
teach or to
exercise
authority over
a man,
rather she
is to
remain quiet.
For Adam
was formed
first, then
Eve, and
Eve was not
deceived, but
the woman was
deceived and
became a
transgressor.
So, the
first thing to
say about
this, and
let's just be
clear, what
Paul is saying
here is not
demeaning,
okay?
First of all,
this is God's
word, this is
good.
But in
fact, for
a woman to
be encouraged
to learn
at all in
this age, that
would have
been surprising
in those days,
Paul's saying
this.
So, Paul is
actually saying
something wonderful,
he wants women
to learn here,
and that was
very counter
cultural,
okay?
And what
does he say?
He says,
to do so
quietly and
with all
submissiveness.
Now, this
isn't saying
women should
be silent
always in
the church
whatever
occasion.
No, he's
not saying
that.
There are
other commands
in the New
Testament,
commands to
sing and
for women to
train the
younger women.
That's
commanding the
church.
That involves
talking.
So, he's
not talking
about utter
silence in
the church.
No.
But Paul's
focus here is
the teaching
ministry.
And the
quietness he's
talking about
here, it's
to do with
submissiveness,
right?
Can you see
those two
things that
they're next
to each
other?
So, just
like when a
wife submits
to her
husband, it
means being
led, being
willing to
follow, right?
Well, a
woman in
church is
to be a
follower and
a listener
when it
comes to
teaching.
And Paul
just states
this explicitly
in verse
12.
I do not
permit a
woman to
teach or
to exercise
authority over
a man, rather
she's to
remain quiet.
So, Paul is
highlighting a
dynamic between
men and
women in the
church here.
When it
comes to
ruling,
authority, and
teaching in
the church,
let's say
eldership,
right?
Church
eldership.
When it
comes to
church
eldership,
that position
and that
office, he's
saying, is
for men
alone.
Now, some
people may
not like to
hear that.
The culture
certainly wouldn't
like to hear
that.
But let's
first be
agreed, that
is what Paul
is saying,
right?
That is what
Paul is
saying.
But let's
ask, why
does Paul
say this?
a bit like
marriage?
Some people
want to
say, well,
this is just
Paul being
misogynistic.
He's just a
product of
his day.
But no,
Paul doesn't
give a
reason from
culture, but
creation.
So, look at
verse 13.
Why?
Why should
women not be
elders?
For, because,
because Adam
was formed
first, then
Eve, the
reason behind
male-only
eldership is
because Adam
was formed
first, and
then Eve.
He's referring
back to all
that we've just
been talking
about in
Genesis 2.
Man was
to have
responsibility
and leadership
and authority.
Adam had
that over
Eve, that's
the pattern
of creation.
And that
pattern, it's
to be in
the church
too.
It's good
for creation,
and so
it's good
for the
church
too.
And he
also gives
another reason,
verse 14.
Because,
why should
women not
be elders?
Because Adam
was not
deceived, but
the woman
was deceived
and became
a transgressor.
Again, I
could talk a
lot about
this, but
to get to
the heart
of it, he's
referring to
what happened
here in
the fall.
He's talking
about when
the creation
was flipped.
Eve was
deceived,
wasn't she,
by Satan,
and she
was acting
his head
over Adam.
And Paul
is saying
things go
wrong when
the order
is flipped.
And so
keep that
order within
the church.
And so
a woman
with teaching
authority over
a man,
that is
flipping the
creation
order.
better.
And it's
not because
men just
are better.
He's not
saying that.
It's not
because women
aren't good
at teaching.
There are
plenty of
gifted women
who are
incredible
teachers.
The reason
is far
deeper and
far better.
It's rooted
in the
order of
creation.
God has
designed
creation and
his church
with the
same pattern.
And that's
why in the
next chapter
of 1
Timothy, I
encourage you
to read
1 Timothy,
in the
next chapter
straight after
this, Paul
gives a list
of qualifications
for elders.
And he
says, two
qualifications
stand out.
He must be
the husband
of one
wife.
Another, the
actual phrase
is a one
woman man.
Okay?
And another
qualification, he
must manage
his own
household well.
The authority
in your
household needs
to match
the authority
in eldership.
Okay?
And all
these are
qualifications that
require elders
to be men.
But also, let
me just finish
with this.
Like Ephesians
5, male
eldership reflects
the gospel.
What is going
on in the
preaching of the
Bible?
Like this
morning, but
what's going
to happen in
the preaching
of the Bible?
Christ, the
groom, is
speaking to
his bride.
And we, the
bride, humbly
submit and
listen.
And we're
nourished and
protected and
given life by
Christ as he
speaks to us.
Well, the
minister, as he
preaches, he
is an ambassador
of Christ,
speaking on
Christ's behalf
with an
authority given
by Christ.
And he's
speaking to the
bride of Christ.
And so, who
that minister
is, that
matters.
It must
reflect what's
going on in the
deeper reality.
ministry.
That minister
must reflect the
maleness of
Christ speaking
to his bride.
It's a living
picture of the
gospel.
And so,
headship in
marriage and
male church
eldership, this
isn't something to
be ashamed of.
Although the
culture would
make us think
that.
No, this is
glorious.
Both are the
pattern of how
we are designed
and how we
flourish.
And both are a
reflection of the
gospel.
Let me end
there and we
can have one
minute for
questions.
Or you can
come to me
afterwards and
ask questions
either way.
Yep.
Have a go.
Sorry.
About how this
other imagery
points back
that I know
you've got a
little bit
here.
It is Christ
and his
church.
Shirley was
talking about
the living
Christ and
the church
which is
the living
part.
And then
he was
talking about
marriage which
is a sacrament
and his
church.
So then how
is the
pastor a
picture of
Christ and
his church.
And he is a
member of
the church.
Yep.
So he
both.
So yes,
absolutely.
Every
day minister
is a
part of
the
Christ.
But there's
a
who
speaks
of
people
!
so you are ultimately a sheep as well
but you should say
actually elders and churches are also under shepherds
under the ultimate
shepherd of the Lord's Christ
so it's both, is that what you're
yeah, I'd love to know that there's other references
that are away from you
sorry, I would love to go into this
and so, well, let me
reference all this
I mentioned this at the beginning, so
well actually, let's do this, Men and Women of the Church
by Kevin Young, this
basically goes into all the stuff I was
talking to Abigail about, like all the more details
if you're not quite sure about
all this and you want like, you know, give me
some more Bible passages
Kevin Young does that, I'm sorry, I just don't have the
time to do all that, but
I recommend go to Kevin Young, Men and Women of the Church
we might be ordering some more
I think that's on the way to the bookstall, if not
if you're eager, just order online
Men and Women of the Church, and this will talk about
kind of the design for
men and women as well, and just a
general one for all that we've been doing
on humanity, how many works
image of God, this is on the
books also, go have a look
sorry for keeping you, come
questions afterwards, let me pray
Lord God, we
thank you
for your wise
creation
your wonderful ways in this world, in our
lives, in salvation, in
creation and providence
and Lord would you
please help us to
comprehend these things
help us to
believe them, and to apply
them into our lives with great wisdom and care
and we ask all this
in the help of your
spirit and in the name of your son, amen
who
Thank you.