Session 1

Meet, Greet, and Pray.

Key Scripture: Colossians 3:8-15
But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Goal of this session: Start building a cohesive group.

Session 2

The Blessing

God has given us three gifts to know him and his will for our lives:

1. The Holy Spirit

2. The Holy Scriptures

3. The Holy Community

As we begin this study on women in the life, leadership, and ministry of our church, we will lean into these three powerful gifts to fully reflect the desire of God for our church.

Session 3

Created in God’s Image

Key Scripture: Genesis 1:26-27
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Goal of this Session: Explore what it means for both men and women to be image-bearers of God, that God’s image is fully present and evident in both men and women

Session 4

Building a Bridge

Key Scripture: 2 Peter 1:19-21
“We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

Goal of this Session: To explore the consistency of the message of Scripture and the important purpose of different applications.

Session 5

Interpreting Scripture within the Body of Christ

Key Scriptures:
Genesis 1:26-28; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-18; Romans 12:3-8; Romans 16; 1 Corinthians chapters 11-14; Galatians 3:24-28; Colossians 3:11; Philippians 3:12-20; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Timothy 2:8-15; 3:1-15

Goal of this Session: To help us imagine how a group of people in the twenty-first century could explore the Christian teachings from the first century regarding the participation of men and women in the life, leadership, and ministry of the body of Christ.

Session 6

Jesus Elevated Women

Key Scripture: John 4:27
Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, "What do you want?" or "Why are you talking with her?"

Goal of this Session: To explore how following Jesus means working to restore the value God bestowed on both men and women at creation.

Session 7

The Promise of the Father

Key Scripture: Joel 2:27-32
“Then you will know that I am in Israel, that I am the Lord your God, and that there is no other; never again will my people be shamed. And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls.”

Goal of this Session: To explore the meaning of Joel’s prophecy that came true on the Day of Pentecost, describing how the promised Holy Spirit would be evident in the life of the New Testament Church.

Session 8

Spiritual Gifts and Conduct Pt. 1

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 9:22b-23
“I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”

Goal of this Session: To explore the difference between restricting the use of gifts versus restricting the manner in which those gifts are expressed. 

Bonus session - 8b

Brief Explanation of the word “Prophesy” and Gender inclusive Language

session 9

Spiritual Gifts and Conduct Pt. 2

Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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.

Goal of this Session: To explore a second example of how men and women in the church consider culture and the nature of their behavior when exercising their gifts and sharing the message of Christ in the world.

Session 10

All One in Christ

Key Scripture: Galatians 3:26-28
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Goal of this Session: To explore how the coming kingdom of God would bring an end to domination and subjugation and would renew the mutuality and oneness of creation.

Session 11

Customs, Traditions, Opinion, and Freedom in Christ

Key Scriptures:
Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible (1 Corinthians 9:19). “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. No one should seek their own good, but the good of others. (1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

Goal of This Session: To explore how Christians live with each other in unity when their customs, opinions and traditions are different. 

Session 12

Husbands and Wives Building Up the Body of Christ

Key Scripture: Ephesians 5:21
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Goal of This Session: To explore the meaning of mutual submission.

session 13

Women Who Served Jesus and the Church Pt. 1

Goal of this session: To explore the ways that women in the New Testament were engaged in the life, leadership and ministry of Jesus and the early church

Session 14

Women Who Served Jesus and the Church Pt. 2

Goal of this session: To continue exploring the ways that women in the New Testament were engaged in the life, leadership and ministry of Jesus and the early church.