the inclusion of men & women in worship
Throughout our long history, this Central church family has always affirmed the equal God-given value of both men and women. As a people, we have been blessed when we hear the hearts of our Christian sisters expressed in song, prayer, and in the reading of God’s Word. Now, as one body, we affirm that we should continue doing what we’ve been doing, and do it even more. We bless and encourage those with the giftedness and desire, regardless of gender, to participate fully in our corporate gatherings. This aligns with our belief that women and men are equally gifted by the Holy Spirit for the edification of the church and the glory of God.
We believe this honors our God and helps us better proclaim Jesus as Lord to the people of our city and to those around the world. May we all together continue to live out Central’s vision of “Becoming Like Christ for the sake of ________.”
“I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy…
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”
~Acts 2:17-18
Sermons
The Pentecost Priority
Something happened on the Day of Pentecost. Something changed. Prophesy was being fulfilled. The promised Kingdom of God was coming in real, inarguable, tangible ways. The sound of rushing wind, the tongues of fire, both men and women proclaiming the Gospel in foreign languages --- the apostles understood the spectacular events of that day as proof that the new Holy Spirit era was upon them. And upon us. “What you now see and hear…!” (Acts 2:32-33)
This is the watershed moment in which God poured out his Spirit equally on both sons and daughters, men and women. It had been promised that some day all people, both men and women, would enjoy and exercise these speaking gifts equally. And those gathered on that day were seeing it and hearing it!
Based on Acts 2, it’s no surprise that 1 Corinthians 11 describes women praying and prophesying during a public worship assembly. What’s surprising is that 1 Corinthians 14 appears to silence those same women in the same setting. So, what’s going on?
Please read Acts 2:1-21, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, and 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 as you consider the watershed moment and the Corinthian corrective.
May our ears and our hearts be attuned to listen to each other and to our God. May we follow his lead with the vision of Christ Jesus and the boldness of the Holy Spirit. And may humility be our guiding posture and grace lead us in thought and practice.
The Creation Order
With sin come consequences. Speeding gets you a ticket and an increased insurance rate. Stealing lands you in jail with a permanent record. Adultery adversely impacts several layers of relationships. Sin destroys what once was good and replaces it with something much less. The real trouble comes when too much sin and too much time result in a person believing the “something less” is the way it was always meant to be.
Genesis 1-2 tells us God created men and women equally. Genesis 3 tells us that sin messed that up. The consequences of sin have resulted in a fallen world in which men exercise authority over women. And it’s gone on so long that a lot of us believe that’s the way God always intended it to be.
Please read Genesis 1:26-31, 2:15-25, 3:14-19, 1 Corinthians 11:3-16, and 1 Timothy 2:1-15 as you consider God’s intent for his people at Creation, the many ways sin has distorted that divine order, and what God’s people today can do to “reverse the curse.”
May our ears and our hearts be attuned to listen to each other and to our God. May we follow his lead with the vision of Christ Jesus and the boldness of the Holy Spirit. And may humility be our guiding posture and grace lead us in thought and practice.