Sermon Tone Analysis

Well today we find ourselves in one of those segments of scripture that many would find controversial.

We will be looking at 1 Tim 2:8-15.

Go ahead and open your Bibles now to 1 Tim 2:8-15.

Let's Pray.

Read 1 Tim 2:8-15

Before we begin, let me first say, I thank God that we are Calvary Chapel where we teach the Bible Chapter by Chapter and Verse by Verse.

If we did not exposite God's word in a chapter and verse style, we would certainly skip these verses...especially verses 11-12.

Many a Preacher today will not dare venture into these waters, but today we will brave the deep.

Just as Paul declared to the Ephesian Elders, "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God," today we will look at these verses because they exist in the Bible, and we will not skip them just because they seem unpopular to our culture today.

A.W. Tozer had a lot to say about the church and culture, here's just one of his quotes near to this subject...

* "To be right with God has often meant to be in trouble with men."

* "Modern Christians hope to save the world by being like it.

But it will never work.

The church's power over the world springs out of her unlikeness to it.

Never from her integration into it."

* "Not wanting to appear judgmental, we mistakenly try to make biblical truth fit the culture around us."

* "Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more that the Christ within us."

Let me say something about the Bible and culture.

Let me ask you a question...

* Which is more constant?...which is more consistent?...more steadfast?

Our culture or the word of God?

* Culture is a bad litmus test to the Bible's relevance.

* What's not relevant is today's culture, and what I mean by that is today's culture is not relevant because today's culture will change in 10 years...culture is fluid...think about how different our culture was from the 50's to the 60's to the 70's to the 80's all the way to today.

* People are relevant, but what's popular in the culture today is not so relevant, but what's popular will change like the blowing of the wind.

* And, culture is greatly influenced by Satan...

* Whoa, that's harsh...

* No, that's biblically consistent...

* Eph 2:1-3: "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."

* In contrast to our culture that is inconsistent and influenced by the Devil, here's a couple verses on the Bible...

* Ps 19:7-8 "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;..."

* 2 Tim 3:16-17 "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

* So, in this church, you can expect us to not be influenced by popular culture.

What is popular to me is what does God say?...what does God approve of?...what does God's word teach?

* Line upon line, precept upon precept...we will teach the word of God chapter-by-chapter verse-by-verse...the whole counsel of God.

So, let's get into it...

Verse 1

As Paul continues to instruct Timothy on Church Conduct, he will now discuss Men and Women in During Public Church Assembly, which is a good outline title for verses 8-15.

* It is helpful for your interpretation of Chapter 2 and 3 to keep in mind that we are discussing Church Conduct, and instructions we find in these chapters pertain to when the church gathers.

If you apply these verses to all situations in life, like the work place for example, you will get an inaccurate interpretation of these chapters.

* Last week, when Paul said to pray for all men, he used the word anthrōpos (human, mankind).

* In today's segment of scripture, verses 8-15, everytime you see the word man or men it is...

* anēr; a man or husband and

* And, every time you see women or woman it is...gunē; a woman:-bride or wife

* So, today Paul is being very gender specific, there is a gender distinction here which is controversial in our culture today.

Many people today do not want there to be gender differences, but there are.

The Bible clearly teaches there are role expectations for the man, and role expectations for the woman.

They are different, and one is not superior than the other, but they are different.

Paul begins addressing an expectation on the men in the church.

* And, this is a strong expectation...Paul begins saying "I desire" or in the KJV "I will therefore..." which is a strong emphasis by the power of Paul's apostolic authority...and this strong language will apply to everything Paul discusses in this entire segment...for men and women.

* We have a tendency to focus on what controversial segments of scripture says about women, but notice this segment begins with an expectation on the men.

* Men are to pray everywhere- There is an expectation upon men to pray .

* Men should be able to lead the church in prayer in all locations where people gather together as a congregation.

* Men are to consistently lead the church in seeking the Lord in prayer.

This is an expectation upon men.

* I do not think this verse is forbidding women to pray in public gatherings, for Paul even speaks about women praying and prophesying in the church in 1 Cor 11:5.

* So, in this verse of 1 Tim 2:8, I don't see where Paul forbids women to pray, but what I do see is he has a clear expectation that men are to pray.

The emphasis of this verse in on the men.

* And, there is an expectation that all men, not just leaders or elders, are to be leaders of prayer in the church, so if you are a man and you are not praying it's time to start.

Paul adds 3 qualifications to prayer...

* 1. Reflects of the man's personal life: Lifting up holy hands was a posture of prayer for the Jews, just like how we today bow our hands and hold our hands.

However, the emphasis is not on the posture of prayer, but moreso on the word Holy.

* We have the freedom to pray with hands raised, hands folded, on your knees, standing up, eyes open or shut...just no eyes shut while praying and driving..or if you are praying for someone hostile, you may want to keep your eyes open as well...I heard a story of a Pastor who got punched in the face while praying for someone who was hostile, and now he prays with his eyes open.

* The physical posture of prayer does not matter so much, but the posture of the heart does matter.

* James said, "The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much" (Jas 5:16b) or, as paraphrased: "The prayer of a man whose heart is right with God works wonders."

* The man who was leading in prayer was to lift Holy hands (hosious, "devout, undefiled").

His inward life should be clean.

He should have a pure conscience before God and fellow mankind.

You don't want someone coming up to lead public prayer who is living in rebellion against God and not living a clean and pure life.

And, you shouldn't expect prays to be answered readily from someone living in hypocrisy.

* 2. Reflects of the man's interpersonal life: Without wrath- this man is not subject to outbursts of anger where he is creating tension with relationship around him.

* 3. Reflects the man's relationship with God: without doubting- or praying without faith.

This man pray in faith that God will hear the prayer and has the power and willingness to answer prayers.

* One scholar summed this up by, "a man should exhibit holiness and purity selfward, love and peace manward, and unquestioning faith Godward."

-William MacDonald

continue to verse 9

Verse 9

Paul now shifts the focus to how women are to conduct themselves in public church gatherings...

* "...in like manner also..." refers back to how men should conduct themselves in church gatherings, and now centers this same idea on the women.

* Keep in mind, Paul put strong emphasis on these instructions...in verse 8 he said, "I desire" or in KJV "I will therefore..." His apostolic authority card is being played not just for the men, but also for the women too.

Women are to adorn themselves (lit.

"to put in order or arrange") the idea is how they "dress themselves"...

* I don't think this verse is that difficult.

And, I don't think most people would disagree with it, because most people have good sense of what is appropriate dress.

* Modest Apparel: modest meant "decent and orderly".

Women (and this easily could apply to men as well), are to dress properly or appropriately.

* Propriety and Moderation help us to understand what is modest.

* With Propriety: Propriety means "modesty, the avoidance of extremes; having a sense of shame or decency."

Does what I am wearing draw inappropriate attention to myself?

This is a "middle of the road" idea when it comes to dress- not too fancy, and not too frumpy.

* And Moderation: Moderation is also translated as sobriety, and means "having a sound mind and good sense."

This encourages a person to have inner self-control and to know what is good and proper.

* Not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing: the Greek word here is "bling bling."

Actually, it's not, but it carries the same idea.

Wikipedia, and you know I'm getting scholarly now, defines bling as "flashy, ostentatious, or elaborate jewelry"...

* From a cultural context of Paul's day, in Ephesus, the flashy dress, hair and a lot of jewelry was associated with local temple prostitutes, also

* Ephesus was a wealthy city and "some women competed against each other for attention and popularity" (Wiersbe) ...kind of a "keeping up with the Jones' mentality.

There was also a growing trend for wealthy and influential women to dress in a Graeco-Roman style which flaunted physicality and thus the women of the Ephesian church may have been tempted to follow suit with the latest fashion trends.

* Today, for the most part, braided hair, gold, and pearls is not a distraction in the church, but it was an issue for the church of Paul's day.

Women, today, are fine to wear jewelry, makeup, look nice, dress nice, if they are appropriate.

A key is just use good sense.