2009-05-10
Mother's Day Message: God's Design for Women
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction
First three chapters... now action
God's glorious grace -- destiny and purpose: joy!
Walk worthy -- humility, meekness, and hospitality

Family life is magnificent, because it protrays something magnificent.
Women are magnificent, because they are made in the image of God.

Singleness, or not having children does not make one less feminine or masculine.

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.
Remember: principles, not just a set of behaviors.
Mature masculinity senses a responsibility to lead, provide for and protect women.
If outside responsibilities or personal pursuits are interfering...

A "disposition to yield to the husband's authority and an inclination to follow his leadership."

C. Mature Femininity
At the heart of mature femininity is a freeing disposition to affirm, receive and nurture strength and leadership from worthy men in ways appropriate to a woman's different relationships.
~Piper

What is the response of a mature femininity to the strength and leadership of worthy men?
Affirm, receive and nurture.

There are God-appointed ways for women to influence men.
Prayer exerts far more power than our emotions give credit.
1 Peter 3: 1 - 2 A Christ-like life, rivers of living water.
1 Samuel 25: 23 Another example: Abigale and David

Personal directives, or coming on strongly will eventually have disastrous results.
Passive silence, or active anger.
Endorsement of his unique duty to feel responsibility of strength, protection and leadership toward her as a woman.

D. Ministry

Not just so we can have a happy family -- mobilized for ministry.
Applying to Word, prayer and hospitality/relationship for your calling.