Welcome everyone. Well done for making it. Hope you got through the traffic okay. I've been told the boiler is broken, so church can be a little bit chilly today. So if you want to keep your jackets on, that's absolutely fine. We've got I think a lot to get through today. So I'll pray and then we'll jump straight into it.
Lord God, we praise you that you are our creator. We are dependent on you for everything and you define who we are and you have made us fearfully and wonderfully and you have made us male and female.
And so, Lord, we ask that we as we dive into your word and we seek to understand who we are, how you've made us. Lord, would you please give us wisdom, enlighten our minds, soften our hearts.
And we pray that we would learn all of this for the sake of your glory in Jesus name. Amen.
So let's do a bit of a recap today. We are creatures. We are fundamentally made of dust. And so we are entirely dependent on God for life and breath and everything.
But also we've learned that we are more than just creatures, aren't we? We have a crown of creation. We're made in God's image in his likeness.
We reflect and represent God. We're rational creatures. We're moral creatures, relational creatures.
And we are vice regents. We're under kings. We've got dominion over this earth. God has placed us to rule over this earth.
And so we are unique and special creatures with inherent dignity. We are not just a bag of cells, are we?
No, human life is infinitely valuable. And last week we saw that we are covenantal creatures.
So every human exists in covenant with God. No one is not in covenant with God.
We're made of him, made to worship him, made to obey his law, love him, follow him, enjoy with him, enjoy him, dwell with him.
In some way we are made to worship God, which means we are religious creatures.
Everyone deep down knows God. But in sin we suppress that knowledge.
And so we redirect our worship and we start worshipping the creature or creation.
We start worshipping ourselves.
And so Christ has come to call us back to worship and to call us to be truly human again.
And now this week I want us to dive into the details of another specific aspect of being an image of God.
So God created man in his own image. In the image of God he created him.
Male and female he created them.
I want us to see today what it means to be male and female.
Now a couple of things to mention before we dive in.
First of all I do realise that good man was on last Friday and we, some of the guys here, have thought about this topic.
That is just a coincidence.
And I hope, well there will be overlap.
I hope there will be new things as well.
But when there is overlap, let's use that to kind of engage our minds even more on this topic.
The second thing to say is I know that this is a hot topic.
Particularly today.
And we will all be coming from different backgrounds and views on this.
And we exist in a world where our culture doesn't like to hear what the Bible has to say on this.
And without knowing it, we can take in what the culture thinks and respond to all this.
And so what I'd like to encourage us today to do is I really want us to just hear what the Bible has to say above all.
Okay.
I know it's hard to throw away the things already in our minds.
But let's try to really listen to what the Bible has to say.
Let God shape us through his word.
And that will take humility, won't it?
But in all of this, let's realise God's word is good, isn't it?
What he says about male and female, it's not only true, but it's good for us.
And so we're going to look at the blueprints of how we made male and female.
And so we're going to realise that this is how we flourish.
And the final thing to say is that I will only be able to lay out the principles today.
I can't address all the applications of this.
Inevitably, inevitably, as soon as you start talking about this and you lay out the principles,
inevitably, a million what about questions kind of pop into our minds, don't they?
You know, what about if men do this?
And what about women in this situation?
And these are really good questions.
We should ask them and maybe we'll try to address them at the questions at the end.
But my intention today is really to give you the tools to begin to try to answer this.
And so today we're going to look at just the general principles of how God has made us male and female.
And next week we're going to continue this a bit more.
We're going to look at male headship.
We're going to look at church eldership.
And we're going to look at the transgender issue.
But today we're kind of just looking at the creation of male and female.
So I don't want to discourage any questions.
If you do have questions, do ask them, please.
But let's jump in.
I want us to read Genesis 1.26 to the end of chapter 2.
I want us to read this all together.
So Genesis 1.26, this is the beginning of the creation of man.
And then we'll jump into also chapter 2.
So chapter 2, the creation of man happens the second half of day 6.
And then chapter 2, so day 6 ends.
Then chapter 2, we go back to day 6.
So don't think that this is like day 8 or anything like that.
Chapter 2, we go back to day 6 and we kind of get more details about how God created man.
So Genesis 1.26.
Then God said,
And God said,
And behold,
So now back to day 6.
And then God said,
And there he put the man whom he had formed.
And out of the ground,
And then God said,
And then just skip to verse 15.
And then God said,
And whatever the man said,
And then God said,
And hold fast,
And they shall become one of the man said,
And the man and his wife were both naked,
And were not ashamed.
And so that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who said that the man who
controversial questions right now is this what is a woman i'm sure you've heard that question
phrased it in this way what is a woman and by extension what is a man and some people don't
know how to answer this some some people are giving the wrong answer but if we want to answer
that we need to see how god answers that question because whether or not the culture likes that
answer that is the right answer and it's an answer that it's good for us and so let's answer it with
genesis with what we've just read and there's a lot to see here so i'm going to fire things at you
take notes and we'll we'll stop the questions at the end
um so first thing to see is male and female is tied to being the image of god
look what it means to be an image of god genesis 127 so god created man in his own image
in the image of god he created him male and female he created them
humanity is made up of male and female and both are the image of god so god didn't just create men or
just women and said yes yeah that's good enough to reflect me just just men or just women that's fine
no he made us male and female and it's both together that is how we best image and reflect god
which means second point point b male and female are equal in worth and dignity
so if both are the image of god one isn't better than the other one isn't worth more than the other
one isn't superior to the other that there isn't a quality of worth and dignity between male and female
so in all that we say from now on from today onwards right this must be clear male is not better than
female and vice versa female is not better than male okay but both are the image of god's
and so for humanity to be the image of god it it requires what does it require it requires both male and female
you cannot have humanity with one but not the other which means point c men and women are interdependent
they depend on each other interdependent so adam is created first isn't he he's created
then put in the garden and he's on his own at first isn't he but look at how god views man without woman
so genesis 2 18 then the lord god said it is not good that the man should be alone
i will make him a helper fit for him god has been calling his creation good every day so far hasn't
he he would finish the day and it was good finish today and it was good and it was good and it was good
but when it comes to man without woman what does he say he says this is not good
and so he makes woman to be a helper fit for him and then the day is how does he finish the day very good
but why is it not good why is it not good for man to be alone well this isn't about loneliness
because if the problem was that adam was just lonely he just needed company if that was the case then
then another man or a football team could have done right or god even brings him all the animals
and they don't get they're not good enough are they you know a dog a golden retriever could be great
company i had a golden retriever man's best friend really good company but but it's the problems
not about loneliness
so why is man without woman not good well think back to what god's purpose for humanity is
what did what commands did god give humanity in genesis 128
be fruitful and multiply man can't do that without woman and woman can't do this without man
in our big task of filling the earth and subduing it and ruling over it and reflecting imaging gods
in that filling and subduing we need each other to do that don't we and so male and female
are at heart made for each other and i don't just mean marriage which of course that is the case
i mean as humanity male and female all together we image god and together we make this world fruitful
we need each other to be fruitful and to multiply that is why god made male and female
so that we can be together and be fruitful and multiply so let's see something important here
man and woman are not made in competition with each other are they we're made to complement each other
and to work with each other in our own ways and it's then when we're doing that that's when we
flourish that's when we start fulfilling our purpose and our design it's then that the day becomes very good
for all of us men and women are fundamentally interdependent and so male and female are not identical
there are fundamental by design differences and distinctions
and differences and distinctions that are are designed to work with each other and complement each other
and it's when we look at this interdependence that's when we start to see the differences
the god designed good differences and so let's look at them we're on to point two
men and women are designed differently
are there any really pressing questions right now i think it might be better to wait till the end but
just any clarification
cool we'll move on men and women are designed differently
so what are these different differences what is a woman what is a man well let's look at the
specific intention god has when he first makes man and then woman and when we look at that intention
we see several important differences and the first is this man is a worker and keeper woman is a helper
so for adam look at god's intention 215
adam's specific task is to work and keep the garden and eventually the whole world right we thought about the covenant of works expanding to the whole world
adam is to bring order to the garden
to bring structure to form it with design and expand the garden into the whole world
he's to harness and cultivate god's creation to to take god's creation and make it even more fruitful than it is
so specifically what could that be is to farm and build and design and invent
and to protect it as well did you see that that that's what keep means
it's this idea of guarding and protecting
so if we fast forward into the old testament a bit more the priests in the old testament
they were given the same command to to work and keep the temple
and the keeping meant guarding but protecting it from being harmed and misused as well
well that is man's task that is the design for men to work and keep this world
but woman is key to this man is not good enough alone to do this and to be fruitful in the whole earth on his own
he can begin to create order and work and keep
but something is missing man can't fill the world with other humans on his own
he can't bring life to it
adam could have built a city
but that city would have been empty and lifeless
and so god has a specific intention in creating a woman
she is man's helper to do this
so woman is designed to take what man has ordered
and make it even more fruitful
and to fill it and nurture it and bring life to it
and to make it even better
and so the word helper is not a derogatory term here
i want to be clear about this that it's not a derogatory term
this is a wonderful and necessary task
in fact god is often called israel's helper
so i've got an example here psalm 115
oh israel trust in the lord
he is their help and their shield
and the word help there that's the exact same word as what eve is called
it's a etzer in hebrew
and so absolutely it is not a derogatory term
it's a wonderful term in fact
and also if you want to go down the line
i don't like the sound of that
well actually being a helper
that's actually more of a comment on adam's inability isn't it
it shows how important women are
that they are fundamentally necessary for humanity
and our image bearing task
woman has the unique task
to bring life to man's work
and to nurture it
and this doesn't just mean giving birth
it does mean giving birth
that is an important aspect of it
but this is wider than only childbirth
and so let me make a new point to spell this out
man forms
woman fills
man forms woman fills
i want us to spot something about god
how god has created
so cast your mind back to genesis 1
in the beginning of creation
what was the world like
before god said let there be light
creation was formless and void
there was no form to it
there's no order or system
to the world yet
but in days one to three
we see god
forms and orders creation
in those first three days
so day one
you can draw these in your boxes
if you turn the page
so day one
he forms
light and dark
he forms night and day
he orders time
these are time markers
right
he forms the light and the dark
he forms time
and then day two
he forms and orders
the above and the below
right
the heavens above
he forms
and then there's the waters below
and then day three
he forms the land
and separates it from the sea
he orders a system
and domain of land and water
and he forms that
so days one to three
are all about falling
okay
and then in days four to six
they're kind of paired
well they are pairs
with the day above them
can you see that
so day and night
in day four
day and night
it is filled
with stars
and planets
and moons
and then day five
the waters
are filled
with fish
and the heavens
are filled
with birds
and then day six
you've got the land
and the water
already formed
and then the land
is filled
with insects
and animals
and so do you see
the pairs
and the pattern
here
God
God creates
in pairs
and he first
forms
and then he
fills
and we see
this pattern
in man
and woman
man
is made
first
and then woman
is made
man
is made
first
and so he
is the one
given the task
to bring form
to this world
he's to bring
order
and formation
and a system
from the things
that are chaotic
and formless
and he's to maintain
it
to keep it
he's to work
and keep
and the woman
is made
to fill
what man
has formed
to bring life
and to bring
substance
and vibrancy
and colour
and to nurture
what has been
formed
man forms
and woman
fills
and this
does not only
mean fill
with children
it also means
so much more
it's filling
with all manner
of life
form
and order
on its own
is stale
isn't it
but women
bring colour
and vibrancy
and people
and community
and richness
to what man
has formed
as the
the IPC
Louisa's
studies
title
is very good
it's a very good
name for this
it's life givers
right
women are
life givers
and that isn't
just childbearing
that is
all life
to this world
it's nurturing
it
filling it
someone once
helpfully summed
this up
with this phrase
men build
bridges
women make
them worth
crossing
do you see
that
that's forming
and filling
and you can see
this in all
areas of life
first of all
this might be
a silly example
but it's a
clear example
university
picture a
boy's
student
house
you can all
picture that
can't you
now picture a
girl's
student house
which house
is worth
living in
more
no question
right
bit of a
silly example
but more of a
serious one
here
think about
communities
and relationships
women are
so good
at filling
this world
with community
in general
and I do
mean in
general
here
I know
there are
always
exceptions
and all
that we're
saying today
there's not a
clear cut
thing without
exceptions
but in
general
it's the
women
who naturally
meet up
don't they
it's the
women who
network
and are
great at
getting phone
numbers
and looking
out for
each other
and talking
to each
other
and I
find it
fascinating
to see
just women
women are
so gifted
and naturally
good at
so think
about healing
women fill
this place
with community
we can see
this in the
people in the
church
they nurture
this place
with life
and that's
because God
has naturally
designed women
to fill this
world with
life
and you can
even see
this where
Adam and
Eve were
created
where they
were created
so where
was Adam
created
2.15
and the
Lord God
took the
man and
put him
in the
garden of
Eden
to work
it and
keep it
so
flip this
where was
Adam created
he wasn't
created in
the garden
was he
he was
first created
out
and then
he was
first created
out in the
dust out
here
God formed
him out of
the garden
and then
God places
him in the
garden to
work it and
keep it
and so
so his
task is
go into
the garden
advance
into that
and order
and protect
and work
and keep
this garden
his domain
of life
his posture
his domain
is to
advance
forward
and form
the world
God
but where
is Eve
created
well
God made
her already
in the
garden
Adam was
already
when Adam
was in
the garden
God took
the rib
from Adam
from his
sides
and then
formed the
woman in
the garden
and so
her domain
is the
area
that man
has
already
formed
and ordered
and so
she is
to fill
that domain
with life
so where
is Eve
created
right here
and so
she's to
fill that
domain
her domain
with life
that's why
she's so
needed
and so
from her
comes all
this life
all this
colour
and vibrancy
and community
so let's
draw some
there
so what
do we
see here
men build
bridges
women make
them worth
crossing
and so
both
rule
can you see
this
both were
given the
task to
rule
humanity
them
let them
rule
let them
have dominion
so both
rule but
but they
rule in
different ways
don't they
each with
different
strengths
and domains
and callings
but there's
another difference
to see as
well
point c
man is
protector
woman is
protected
so man
is to keep
all that is
in the garden
including the
woman
so look
how woman
is made
genesis
2
21
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
and 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
what we
are made
out of
tells us
about what
it means
to be a
man or
a woman
so man
is made
from dust
and so he
will be a
worker and
protector of
the dust
of earth
that is where
he will
flourish
and woman
is made
from man
from his
side
and so she
is designed
to work
with him
and be
protected
by him
and that
is where
she will
flourish
Matthew
Henry
he's famous
for his
commentary
of the
whole
bible
he wrote
this
about
Eve's
creation
I've got
it there
for you
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
this is
the dynamic
between men
and women
man is
protector
woman is
protected
and this
of course
goes for
marriage
this is most
clearly seen
in marriage
husbands
are to
physically
and spiritually
protect
their wives
so when a
burglar
comes into
the home
the husband
is to get
the bat
when the
devil
comes into
the home
the husband
is to get
the bible
so of course
it's in
marriage
but we
see this
beyond
marriage
so think
about our
society
our laws
and our
outrage
against the
abuse of
women
that shows
our design
at work
our attitude
of women
and children
first
that is
our design
at work
our gut
reactions
especially men
when we hear
of what's
happened to
women
in news
stories
that gut
reaction
it all
shows
we know
women
must be
protected
and all
this
all that's
happening
in society
when that
happens
that is
the image
of God
playing out
at a
societal
scale
that is
not just
cultural
baggage
although
some
things
are
nurtured
and
cultural
in
some
ways
but
it's
not
just
cultural
baggage
we
naturally
do
this
because
it is
our
design
coming
through
you could
even
relate
some of
this
to
the
sense
of
divinity
that we
saw
last
week
this
is
our
design
pulsing
beating
out
of us
and just
for a
moment
let's
just think
about
our
bodies
our
bodies
are
related
to
all
of
this
!
our
bodies
are
tied
to
who
we
are
as
men
and
women
and
our
bodies
indicate
they
signal
they
correspond
to
this
design
for
men
and
women
it is
not
random
that
man
that
man
is
called
to
work
and
keep
and
he's
also
generally
physically
stronger
it's
not
random
that
woman
is
called
to
nurture
and
give
life
and
her
body
is
designed
exactly
for
that
men
and
it's
not
random
or
even
culturally
conditioned
that
men
and
women
generally
tend
to
want
to
do
jobs
related
to
this
design
of
forming
and
filling
ordering
and
nurturing
so
let me
just
apply
some
of
this
and
then
we'll
stop
for
questions
in a
moment
I'm
sure
we are
aware
that
there
is
a
higher
percentage
of
men
in
the
STEM
field
isn't
there
there's
always
that
statistic
floating
around
science
technology
engineering
and
maths
there's
often
a
higher
percentage
of
men
in
those
fields
men
often
gravitate
to
engineering
manufacturing
construction
computing
and
then
when we
think
about
the
percentage
of
women
in
other
fields
there's
a
high
percentage
of
women
in
care
work
for
example
so
child
care
or
nursing
or
elderly
care
and
also
the
arts
as
well
this
is
generally
the
case
the
statistics
show
this
and
there's
often
upset
about
this
and
people
may
say
well
this
difference
it's
inequality
right
or they
say
no this
shouldn't
be the
case
we
shouldn't
have
a
difference
at
all
and so
how can
we
explain
these
differences
I'm not
saying any
shoulds or
shouldn'ts
here
I'm just
saying how
can we
explain
these
differences
well
these
jobs
kind of
fall into
forming
and filling
don't
they
stem
generally
is to
do
with
forming
and
ordering
and
going
into
the
garden
and
working
it
and
jobs
involving
care
and
children
and
the
arts
that
is
in general
that's
filling
this
world
with
colour
and
life
and
nurturing
and
making
it a
worthwhile
place
to
live
now
this
does
not
mean
women
cannot
go
into
stem
and
men
cannot
go
into
care
work
I'm
not
saying
that
at
all
both
are
good
professions
to
go
in
and
there's
a lot
of
overlap
of
forming
and
filling
in
life
is
messy
there's
wisdom
about
this
and
I'm
not
saying
any
shoulds
or
shouldn'ts
at
this
point
I'm
not
saying
any
shoulds
or
shouldn'ts
all
I'm
trying
to
do
here
is
saying
that
we
can
explain
these
differences
because
of
our
design
these
statistics
are the
image
of God
coming
through
on a
societal
scale
our
design
and
calling
naturally
inclines
us
toward
these
things
now
not
always
of
course
there
are
exceptions
and
there's
always
a
mixture
of
nature
and
nurture
but
the
general
trend
it
does
have
an
explanation
we
are
naturally
inclined
to
form
and
fill
and
so
let
me
just
say
if
you
are
a
female
here
today
and
you
find
in
yourself
the
desire
to
care
and
nurture
and
you
just
really
enjoy
the
idea
of
that
or
your
dream
job
is
to
be
a
mum
but
you
find
society
telling
you
no
don't
do
that
or
you
find
society
saying
you
know
fight
against
that
desire
that's
been
wrongfully
ingrained
in
you
don't
be
one
of
those
statistics
what
can
I
just
say
if
actually
you
have
no
need
to
feel
ashamed
about
desiring
something
like
that
is
a
perfectly
good
thing
to
do
it's
a
wonderful
aspect
of
your
image
bearing
you're
giving
us
a
reason
to
cross
the
bridge
likewise
for
guys
if
you
want
to
build
and
form
and
order
you
don't
need
to
think
that
you're
a
stereotype
doing
that
is
part
of
your
design
that
is
something
to
embrace
and let
me finish
just by
saying
this
all of
this
the
working
and
helping
the
forming
and
filling
the
protecting
and
the
flourishing
all of
this
combined
is what
it means
to be a
man
and a
woman
it's
not
it's
not
just
a
single
thing
that
makes
a
man
or
a
woman
it's
the
whole
design
and you
can sum
it up
with
this
word
calling
okay
being a
man
or woman
it's
about
what
you
are
called
to
in
God's
design
for
you
and
so
it
isn't
a
checklist
as
if
you
have
that
trait
and
you
like
these
things
and
you
kind
of
look
this
way
well
then
you're
a
you
don't
have
those
traits
and
you
do
these
generally
those
type
of
things
well
then
you're
a
woman
no
that's
too
simplistic
it's
something
far
deeper
that
it's
not
necessarily
about
what
you
have
but
what
you're
called
to
you're
called
to
a
life
of
either
forming
or
filling
and
being
a
man
or
woman
!
It's
about
embracing
that
calling
and
when
men
and
women
follow
this
calling
this
is
when
we
flourish
this
is
when
we
become
fruitful
and
we
will
have
a
world
full
of
bridges
and
a
world
full
of
reasons
to
cross
them
and
so
let
me
finish
just
answering
these
two
controversial
questions
what is
a
man?
well
let's
just
try and
define
it
by
summing
up
what
we've
learned
a
man
is
a
human
being
made
in
the
image
of
God
who
is
called
to
rule
form
and
to
protect
women
and
to
make
this
world
fruitful
with
them
and
his
body
corresponds
to
his
calling
what
is
a
woman
a
woman
is
a
human
being
made
in
the
image
of
God
who
is
called
to
help
men
rule
this
world
by
filling
this
world
with
life
to
make
it
even
more
fruitful
in
all
domains
and
her
body
corresponds
to
her
calling
so
next
week
we're
going
to
look
at
marriage
and
headship
and
the
transgender
issue
so
if
you've
got
questions
related
to
that
we'll
try
and
cover
it
next
week
but
let
me
open
up
to
questions
I
can't
promise
that
I'll
answer
everything