1 Timothy 2:8-15

What’s with the hands and hair and prayer?

Men first

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

Next the women

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

Questions for the Community

Personal Reflection  

1. Did any biases or defensiveness come to the surface as we talked about men and women in the church? Were they obvious or did they bubble up as the morning went on?

Group Discussion

2. Re-read the text from Sunday and your notes from the sermon. What stood out most and why?
3. Men are to stand up and speak up as leaders (both in the church and in the home). When have you seen this done well? …when poorly? What are the results or fruit from men fulfilling or not fulfilling their role and responsibility?
4. Women are to pay special attention to their dress and attitude in public worship. They are to pursue good works. Again, what has been the results (good or bad) from this being the focus or not?
5. How does Paul move from external to internal concerns in the passage? What are the implications for you? 

Plan of Action

7. Has your thinking and actions changed because of this passage? Should it? Name the parts that were enlightening AND name the pain points…those times you said “wait, what about…”. The best thing you can do to come to a right understanding on this is to worship Jesus. Celebrate the trustworthiness of God the creator, stare at Jesus the son to see how he lived as a man and treated women and keep in step (or in tune) with God the Spirit each day.