Creation and Gender

Slow

Nathan and Caitlyn

At a marriage seminar, a man jokingly claimed women take forever to get ready because they are always telling themselves, 'I need to be the best version of myself!' His wife shot back, 'And you’re still figuring out that version!' This light-hearted banter illustrates the comedic differences in perspectives and expectations, highlighting that love often thrives on understanding these quirks.

The current challenge to gender

Men’s and women’s crises

Transgender

Families continue to go downhill

Sin’s blame game

Big Idea: If we get back to God’s purposes for gender, we get back to the joy and unity He was providing.

The image of God is equally shared between male and female.

equally in the image of God

equally ruling to bless

Galatians 3:28–29 ESV

28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

not “patriarchy”

not victim mentality

The responsibilities are different roles. The man is the head and the woman is the helper.

Biological differences

not lists

Headship is the responsibility in God’s world to do good and obey God’s word especially for those in your care.

Helper is the responsibility in God’s world to help those who need it.

You can’t define it concretely (and you don’t find it defined in the Bible) because being in the image of God is bigger than you can define.

“I just want to be myself.” - Who defines you or who created you?

“I wish I could be different.” - There are so many opportunities as you pursue God.

“I can’t change how I feel.” - Intellectual/emotional fate

“I wish everyone was more like me.”

Why did God make different roles?

God did not make us to be at war with one another. There should be mutual respect and delight. There is necessity in working together.

This is clearly modeled on God Himself in the Trinity.

John 14:31 ESV

31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

John 14:26 ESV

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

There is profound joy in operating like the Trinity.

Let us… = Doing good together not modern sensibilities

Genesis 2:23 ESV

23 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.”

Seek to know, understand, love, and relate

Married couples - can you define the good you are doing together so it’s bigger than just yourselves or just retiring and living together?

Men looking to be married - Can you define the good you want to do in life big enough that you need another person to do it?

Women looking to be married - Can you develop skills in life that help you help a man do good in the world?

Singles not looking to be married - Can you see the freedom you have to do good with God?

Young people - Develop skills to do good in God’s world

Will you pursue joy not victimization?

Community Group questions

What challenges are there for men in this culture?

What challenges are there for women in this culture?

How does focusing on our own responsibilities before God help the challenges?

In Titus Paul challenges older women and older men to train younger women and younger men to fulfill their God-given responsibilities with good character. How can/do we encourage that in our community group and in our church?

What joys have you found in doing what God has designed you to do as a man or a woman? What joys have you found in working with different men or women?