2009-06-21
God's Design for Men
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction

Put off the old man. Put on the new.
Genesis 2: 18 - 24
Proverbs 5: 15 - 19
Proverbs 31: 10 - 31
Mark 10: 2 - 12
Ephesians 5: 21 - 33
Colossians 3: 18 - 19
1 Peter 3: 1 - 7

B. Men and Women are Different

Equality: equal value and dignity.
God intends men and women to complement each other -- weaknesses and strengths.

Different roles for men and women as described in the bible are never traced back to the fall, but rather creation.
1 Corinthians 11: 3 - 16
Ephesians 5: 21 - 33
1 Timothy 2: 11 - 14

From Genesis, man was given a leadership role in the family and later in the church.

C. What is Leadership? (Ephesians 5:22-6:4)

A biblically masculine leadership:
Does not demand to be served, but in strength is willing to serve and sacrifice.
Does not assume the authority of Christ over a woman.
Does not presume superiority, but mobilizes the strengths of others
Does not have to initiate every action, but feels the responsibility to provide a pattern of initiative.
Accepts the burden of the final say, but does not use it in every instance.
Takes the initiative in discipling the children when both parents are present.
(The woman also has full authority concerning the discipline of children. She does not have to wait until Daddy comes home.)
Takes the lead in humility, in repentance and acknowledging wrong.

D. Lead Where?

The family has a mission identical to the church.
Our leadership should have the effect of streamlining the home and lives for mission.

If your wife is overloaded and stressed, you will not be having ministry at home.

What is the atmosphere of your home? You may not be the cause of it, but you need to solve it.

We will soon enter a new phase. It will take us, and this is specifically a call to men, to be willing to accept and initiate ministry.
Ephesians 4: 12
Psalm 27 is a must.

This is God's design for you.