1 Timothy 2

1 Timothy 2
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles.

Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.  I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission.  I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet.  For Adam was formed first, then Eve.  And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.  But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Praying for Political Leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-7)

1. What’s the purpose? “I thought the Bible was in opposition to politics?”
2. Why pray for politicians/leaders “I’m not really involved, does it matter if I pray?”
3. How to do that when you don’t agree with them politically “I’m sorry, I just can’t pray for…”

Men's Role in Worship (1 Timothy 2:8-15) 

1 Tim 2: 8
8 Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.

Men's Role in Worship (1 Timothy 2:9-10)



1 Tim 2:9-10
9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

Women Teaching (1 Tim 9: 11-15)

1 Timothy 9:11-15
11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15 But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Ephesians 4:11-13
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

”Complementarianism assesses that there is an essential equality between men and women," he said, "and yet within that framework God has established distinctive roles and assignments for men and for women, and we rejoice in that good gift of God.”

Women who led the people of God in the Bible:
There were tons of great women highlighted in the Bible as leaders:
-Phoebe was a deacon in Rome
-Debra was one of the judges in the OT—prophet and judge exercising complete religious, political, judicial and militaristic authority over the people of Israel!
-Priscilla served alongside her husband, Aquila (Pricilla is mentioned first in 4 of the 6 times the couple is mentioned). Acts 18
- Junia - Paul mentions her and her husband Andronicus as “outstanding among the apostles.” Romans 16
- Euodia and Syntyche - Philippians 4 Mentioned as evangelists and coworkers of Paul who, “contended at my side for the causeof the gospel.” Being that they were called evangelists at that time, they most likely taught crowds about Jesus.
- Lydia - Acts 16 One of the core leaders of the church at Philippi
- Nympha - Colossians 4 Lead a small group out of her house
-Miriam, Huldah, Noadiah, Isaiah’s wife Anna and the 4 daughters of Philip were all prophets in the OT. (Micah 6, 2 Kings 22
- Women who received prophetic visions: Rachel, Hannah, Abigail, Elisabeth, and Mary

NIV Commentary on 1 Timothy 2:
“Paul’s statement was directed to specific circumstances at Ephesus and in the Ephesian church, such as the prominence of women in pagan religion and the victimization of women in the church. It is wrong to apply it without adjustment to other circumstances. However a church interprets this passage for their context, no church should split over these issues. To incite dissension is to sink to the level of the false teachers whom the Pastoral Letters so strongly condemn. “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph 4:3)”

CONNECTION CARDS:
1) I will be intentional this week to pray for leaders in our country and in my life.
2) I will search my heart on how I approach worship (men: anger and disputing, women: propriety and humility)
3) This week I will read 1 Timothy 3 in preparation for next Sunday!

RESOURCES:

Public Servant’s Prayer: www.publicservantsprayer.org

Prayer for Political Leaders: (David Platt)

"Oh God, we praise You as the one universal king over all, You are our leader and our lord and we worship You. There is one God and one savior and it's You. Your name is Jesus and we exalt you, Jesus.

"And we know, we need Your mercy. We need Your grace, we need Your help, we need Your wisdom in our country. And so we stand right now, on behalf of our president, and we pray for Your grace, and Your mercy, and Your wisdom upon him.

"God, we pray that he would know how much You love him. So much that You sent Jesus to die for his sins, our sins, so we pray that he would look to You. That he would trust in You. That he would lean on You. That he would govern and make decisions in ways that are good for justice, and good for righteousness, and good for equity, every good path.

"Lord we pray, we pray that You would give him all the grace he needs to govern in ways we just saw in 1 Timothy, chapter 2, that will lead to peaceful and quiet lives, Godly and dignified in every way. God, we pray for your blessing, in that way, upon his family. We pray that you would give them strength, we pray that you give them clarity, wisdom. Wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Please, oh God, give him wisdom. And help him to lead our country, alongside other leaders.

"We pray today for leaders in Congress. We pray for leaders in courts. We pray for leaders at national and state levels. Please, oh God, help us to look to You. Help us to trust in Your word. Help us to seek Your wisdom and live in ways that reflect Your love and Your grace, Your righteousness and Your justice. We pray for Your blessings on our president toward that end. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."