Thursday, April 16, 2026

Opening Scripture

Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, you are holy and exalted! May your kingdom come and your will be done in my life, home, and community just as it is in Heaven. Help me to trust you today to meet all of my needs. Help me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Help me to resist temptation and overcome the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Acts 2:14-28

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, 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 glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

“‘I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.’”

Reflection  

Once again, Peter steps up and takes charge, this time in the role of preacher. As a Jew speaking to Jews, his message appropriately focused on Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. By His miracles, wonders, signs, and resurrection, Jesus proved that He was the promised Messiah.

Peter doesn’t say what’s happening here is like what the prophet Joel talked about. He says this is the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy! Peter briefly summarizes the events of Holy Week and reminds them of King David’s prophetic words about the Messiah in Psalm 16. It was all unfolding before them.

Flourishing Habit

Flourishing Congregation

The fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy with the establishment of the Church by the pouring out of God’s Spirit at Pentecost is part of the basis for our understanding of the role of women in ministry.

We believe in the authority of the Bible. We believe that Scripture must be properly studied and interpreted. We believe that Scripture should be understood in the entirety of its context, with “easier” passages providing insight into “difficult” passages. We believe that discussions about the interpretation of Scripture should be humble and God-honoring. We believe the full testimony of Scripture should inform our theology and ecclesiology.

God created man and woman in His image and gave them responsibility for exercising dominion over all creation. In the Old Testament, several women served as prophets. Women served at the Tent of Meeting in Shiloh and at the Temple in Jerusalem. Women supported Jesus in his earthly ministry. Women housed the early Church. Priscilla and Aquila were both co-workers with Paul (and informed Apollos’ theology). Philip had four daughters who were prophets. Phoebe was a deacon in Cenchrea. Paul addressed the practice of both men and women praying and prophesying in the Church.

There are two New Testament passages that are often referred to when considering the topic of women in ministry: 1 Corinthians 14 and 1 Timothy 2.

In 1 Corinthians 14:34-36, Paul has already offered instructions for women who are praying and prophesying in the church (chapter 11). As we noted last week, the Corinthian Christians struggled with heresy, false doctrine, immorality, worldliness, immaturity, and divisiveness (hence, Paul’s four letters to them). There was a great deal of confusion in that congregation regarding appropriate worship, including the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and the length of hair. As such, Paul’s instruction on “voluntary silence” during the services seems to be about maintaining order, avoiding disruption, and paying careful attention to what was being shared.

In 1 Timothy 2:8-15, the fact that Paul said women should learn was a radical concept in that first century society. Again, the words Paul uses – “learn in quietness and full submission” – denote a voluntary silence that promotes receptive attentiveness. That was true for everyone present.

The city of Ephesus, where Timothy was serving, was similar to Corinth in terms of its rampant immorality. Corinth had the temple to Aphrodite. Ephesus had the temple to Diana. Each was famous for its women “priests” and prostitutes. Not surprisingly, these ladies dressed provocatively and behaved seductively, with a heavy emphasis on elaborate make-up and physical attributes.

Paul appropriately challenged the believers in both communities to avoid the appearance of evil. Those coming to faith in Jesus out of cultic practices needed to distinguish themselves from their former lifestyle. That included very basic and somewhat legalistic instructions from Paul on a variety of issues, like eating meat offered to idols. His directions about women in the church seem to fall under that general tone for this congregation.

This is not an exhaustive rationale for our position on women in ministry. It does, hopefully, hint at the seriousness with which we approach this topic. Since 1991, we have ordained women to serve in the Deacon Ministry. That position was arrived at after years of careful study, conversation, and an overwhelming vote of the church. Women teach, preach, lead, and serve here as we follow The Jesus Way together.

In 1986, then Pastor Charles Wade wrote, “It is difficult to make the prohibitions (against women speaking and teaching in the church) absolute in the light of the obvious participation of Priscilla in teaching Apollos (Acts 18:26), Phoebe’s service as a deacon (Romans 16:1-2), Phillip’s four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:9), and women who were allowed to pray with veils (1 Corinthians 11:5). Baptist churches are free to determine their own individual use of men and women in ministry under the authority of Jesus Christ.”

In 2021, our pastor, Dennis Wiles, wrote, “After hours of study, prayer, and consultation, I have arrived at a position that allows the freedom for women and men to serve the church according to their giftedness. I do not think the text prohibits women from serving in ministry leadership roles in the church. In fact, I think the text admonishes all of us to learn, grow, and serve.”

Regardless of your conviction about this or any other issue, we encourage you to study the Bible for yourself. Read it. Reflect on it. Listen to godly teaching about it. Learn from those who have devoted themselves to it. We believe that the Spirit of God will use the Word of God to guide you on The Jesus Way, transforming your heart and mind to be more like Him. May it be so!

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:12-13).

What is God saying to you today?

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!