Being Human - Adult SS - Lesson 4: Headship and Eldership

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.

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.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

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.

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

a

a

a

a

a

a

a

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

who

who

who

who

Thank you.