Agora Church

WOMAN - What does the Bible story have to say?

This is the third and final on our exploration of whether women can be in the senior leadership roles of Elder, Teacher and Pastor in the local church today? Throughout the bible narrative, both Old and New Testament, we have accounts of men and women in leadership. On Sunday we are asking how does this narrative in the Bible Story apply to the role of women in the church.

The is one of 3 messages that are part of CBC's review on what the Bible teaches about appointing women to the position of Elders, Pastors and Teachers in the local church.

WOMAN - Submission and Headship, what's that all about?

Ephesians 5:21-33 gives instruction to husbands and wives about ‘the way of love’ in their relationships. The language of submission and headship are used here in the family. This language is also used concerning the role of men and women in the church in 1 Corinthians 11:1-16, and in 1 Timothy 2:11-15. This week we will look at these two ideas, and how they could be interpreted and applied to the church today

The is one of 3 messages that are part of CBC's review on what the Bible teaches about appointing women to the position of Elders, Pastors and Teachers in the local church.

WOMAN - Created Order or Created Equal

Both Genesis 1-2 and Galatians 3, speak of the equality of men and women at creation, and as new creations in Christ. This does not mean that man and woman are identical or the same, but of equal value and standing with each other, and with God. Does this mean they equally share the same roles or functions in the church, or are any of these unique to gender? This week began to explore the two main views on this discussion and consider whether the diversity of roles of men and women was part of God’s creative design or a result of The Fall.

The is one of 3 messages that are part of CBC's review on what the Bible teaches about appointing women to the position of Elders, Pastors and Teachers in the local church.

EPHESIANS | You Look Familiar

So what does all this ‘way of love’ actually look like at home and in the workplace? And hey what does this word ‘submit’ have to do with loving? Sounds like slavery and abuse to me. Yes, but let’s not forget that there is one who became a servant and was abused for us … his name is Jesus!

EPHESIANS: Heads,Hands and Hearts - Choose to Love

Jesus said that loving your neighbour is like loving God with all your heart, soul and mind.  So what does this loving others with your 'whole-self' look like? How can we love each other with our heads, hearts and hands?

EPHESIANS | The Way of Love - Just Shut Your Mouth!

When it comes to putting on and putting off, Paul has a few words to say about 'words'. But words are not only spoken, they are also heard. Is it possible that there is more to 'walking in the way of love' with our words than, 'don't tell lies', 'stop swearing' and 'say good things'? How do we love one another with both what we say and how we listen?  This week we were reading from Ephesians 4-6.

EPHESIANS | The Way of Love - Just Stop It!

As Paul details what 'walking in love' looks like we bump into a lot of 'putting off' and 'putting on'.  Things to stop and things to start.  But to be honest 'stopping' some stuff is much more difficult to do than read about, at times even impossible.  Within the community of people who are 'walking in the way of love' our 'putting on' can make the impossible, possible ... let's consider the 'way' of Ephesians 4-5 from a new perspective.  

EPHESIANS | Would you please do something useful with your life?

"Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.”  Ephesians 4:28 

There are so many useful and good things we need to do.  And so many useless and destructive stuff we need to stop.  In Ephesians 4-5 the list is long, it is not exhaustive but it can be exhausting.  But what is the ONE thing that Jesus wants from us above all this?  Read Ephesians 4:1-5:2 and consider what “living a life worthy of your calling” and “walk in the way of love” might mean for you personally and for us as a community at CBC.

EPHESIANS | The Way of Love - I Heard You The First Time

"I heard you the first time!"  Yes, you did and probably many more times over.  But we need not only constant reminders of God's love, we also need a stronger grasp and deeper experience of his love. To walk in the way of love includes loving others, but always begins with being loved, and not just somewhere in the past but living in a relationship of love in the present.  So please be patient and hear God's words once again "I choose you, because I love you!"

EPHESIANS | The Way of Love

When the way of truth and the way of love are combined into ONE they become a unique, life-altering and world-impacting way!   Over the next 8 weeks, we will continue considering Jesus' call to “love ONE another” by spending time in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus.  Here we find a beautiful and insightful blend of truth and love.  Paul describes this as a ‘way’, a path to be walked on, a lifestyle to be lived.  On this first week, we begin in Ephesians 1-2 where Paul declares this great truth concerning God’s love for us: 'I choose you!’.