Joining a Bible study

[jsr1221]

Kinda hesitant to ask this because I know how quickly things can get off topic and escalate. My church is starting a new class that talks about how to witness to others. I really want to get more involved and know more about Christ, and I feel this would be a great opportunity as they're going to study the book of Acts. The class is taught by a female. I don't know if that's supposed to make a difference or not. I've seen a thread on here asking about women as pastors. I know leading a class is different than being a pastor. The class is coed I was told. I just wanted some input whether or not it's okay to take this class, and if it goes against Scripture. I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

 

[oldhermit]

I would not take that class.

 

[MadParrotWoman]

Kinda hesitant to ask this because I know how quickly things can get off topic and escalate. My church is starting a new class that talks about how to witness to others. I really want to get more involved and know more about Christ, and I feel this would be a great opportunity as they're going to study the book of Acts. The class is taught by a female. I don't know if that's supposed to make a difference or not. I've seen a thread on here asking about women as pastors. I know leading a class is different than being a pastor. The class is coed I was told. I just wanted some input whether or not it's okay to take this class, and if it goes against Scripture. I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

Sounds like a great idea for getting you back on track - go for it. Of course the legalists will hate the fact that a woman is taking the class. Do what your heart tells you is right - or better still pray about it.

 

[Jon4TheCross]

Pray about it is a good idea.

If your goal is to witness to all...I personally believe a city set on a hill is a good idea, and that would mean your target of witnessing would be the church groups first...then the lost will flock to the Light.

Here is a good example that you can suggest to your bible study teacher as a witnessing example to church groups. It is more or less simple body language that does the witnessing

What do you suppose would happen if 1,2, or 3 people attended a church service, went to the front when invited to be prayed for...and then continued praying on their knees, head bowed, and eyes closed. Do you suppose eventually someone would tap them on the shoulder and say...excuse me...the service has ended...the doors are going to be closed now...for security reasons you must leave? Sadly...I think maybe I would be asked to stop praying if I did that. Anyone want to start that kind of witnessing to the churches with me? I do believe it would be harder for them to tell 3 to leave...and such an example might spark some revivals of church groups.


2 Chronicles 7:13-15King James Version (KJV)

13*If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14*If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15*Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

 

[tourist]

I don't see what difference it makes on whether a man or a woman is the instructor. It does not matter one bit what others may think one way or the other but only what God has pressed upon your heart. This may be an opportunity for spiritual healing for you and get you back on the right track. My advice is to go for it.

 

[oldhermit]

Kinda hesitant to ask this because I know how quickly things can get off topic and escalate. My church is starting a new class that talks about how to witness to others. I really want to get more involved and know more about Christ, and I feel this would be a great opportunity as they're going to study the book of Acts. The class is taught by a female. I don't know if that's supposed to make a difference or not. I've seen a thread on here asking about women as pastors. I know leading a class is different than being a pastor. The class is coed I was told. I just wanted some input whether or not it's okay to take this class, and if it goes against Scripture. I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

No one can make this decision for you. All I can do is tell you what scripture says on the matter and you will have to judge for yourself between what the text says and what others say about it.

 

[santuzza]

Personally, I wouldn't take the class, but I'm one of those "legalists" who doesn't believe women should be teaching men in the church.

Your church doesn't offer a Bible study headed up by a man?

 

[Angela53510]

Well, Priscilla taught Apollo, and other women were certainly in leadership positions in the Bible.

26 When Priscilla and Aquila heard him preaching boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside and explained the way of God even more accurately." Acts 18:26

"There is an interesting observation to be made from that short verse, however. Priscilla’s name appears before Aquila’s. In fact, her name is first in four out of the six biblical references to them. And that is unusual! Most references to husbands and wives in the Bible place the man first. Why the switch? Several explanations have been suggested, but the most reasonable one seems to be that Priscilla was the more gifted of the two and often took the more prominent role. Yet it appears that that never affected their love for one another, their understanding of each other, nor their ability to work together."

https://bible.org/seriespage/13-side-side-story-aquila-and-priscilla

Now, if you live in Corinth in the first century AD, maybe a women shouldn't be teaching a class. They had some big issues there and in Ephesus.

As a woman pastor, I have taught men many times, and good has come out of it. People have grown in Christ, and we have all learned more about how to follow Jesus and to share the gospel.

If this class is going to equip you to be a witness, why would you not take it? Because of some legalism and bad exegesis of two Scriptures?

You need to read the word of God for yourself, realizing that Paul is writing these letters to first century Christians, where the women were very uneducated, in fact, many never had the opportunity to leave their own home without an escort. Or, conversely, some of these women were saved out of the Greek pagan faiths, and had a lot to learn about how to behave in a gathering of Christian believers.

If a woman is qualified, by virtue of the leadership asking her to teach, then I think the Bible sufficiently covers you going and learning about witnessing, which is so important in our walk with Christ. I have a friend who has the gift of evangelism, and she leads people to the Lord almost every day. I think any man would learn so much from her, not only about how to share the gospel, but about her marriage and wonderful relationship with her unsaved husband. She trusts God for his salvation in God's time, and does the work of an evangelist, which God has called her to do.

"18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:18-20

 

[SoulWeaver]

Wondering if this woman is married, and her husband is also teaching? If so then they are like Priscilla and Aquilla from the Bible, who were a married couple and teachers, they teach together in one accord so in that case it definitely is Biblical to learn of her, as it was for Apollos in the Bible. She will be teaching you the same that her husband would teach you, as his helper. In the same way the Bride-Church teaches all she has learned from her Bridegroom-Christ as His helper in the harvest.

What does the Holy Spirit tell you inside? If it is go, then go, if not, then dont. Discern things by the fruit and pray on it, and you will be led out of confusion much better than asking here... Bible Discussion forum is usually a sure way to multiply confusions. God is not the author of confusion nor doubt. I am sure if you pray to God that He will give guidance for this specific case.

 

[jsr1221]

Personally, I wouldn't take the class, but I'm one of those "legalists" who doesn't believe women should be teaching men in the church.

Your church doesn't offer a Bible study headed up by a man?

There are. Sunday mornings. Also Monday nights and Thursday nights. I'm not getting anything out of the Thursday night one. Monday night just started, and it's gender specific. The ones during service are also taught by men, except they were coed. Aside from the women's only study, this is the only one that's taught by a women. And I've attended the ones taught during the two services hours, and have felt like a fish out of water. I would think God wants us to be comfortable if the person leading the class is leading us to serve Him and others.

 

[JesusLives]

Wondering if this woman is married, and her husband is also teaching? If so then they are like Priscilla and Aquilla from the Bible, who were a married couple and teachers, they teach together in one accord so in that case it definitely is Biblical to learn of her, as it was for Apollos in the Bible. She will be teaching you the same that her husband would teach you, as his helper. In the same way the Bride-Church teaches all she has learned from her Bridegroom-Christ as His helper in the harvest.

What does the Holy Spirit tell you inside? If it is go, then go, if not, then dont. Discern things by the fruit and pray on it, and you will be led out of confusion much better than asking here... Bible Discussion forum is usually a sure way to multiply confusions. God is not the author of confusion nor doubt. I am sure if you pray to God that He will give guidance for this specific case.

Good response ......this is what Blond always says to herself..... God is not the author of confusion....I live by that and if I am confused move on and follow Jesus as He does not confuse but make the path plain to follow.

 

[jsr1221]

Wondering if this woman is married, and her husband is also teaching? If so then they are like Priscilla and Aquilla from the Bible, who were a married couple and teachers, they teach together in one accord so in that case it definitely is Biblical to learn of her, as it was for Apollos in the Bible. She will be teaching you the same that her husband would teach you, as his helper. In the same way the Bride-Church teaches all she has learned from her Bridegroom-Christ as His helper in the harvest.

What does the Holy Spirit tell you inside? If it is go, then go, if not, then dont. Discern things by the fruit and pray on it, and you will be led out of confusion much better than asking here... Bible Discussion forum is usually a sure way to multiply confusions. God is not the author of confusion nor doubt. I am sure if you pray to God that He will give guidance for this specific case.

I honestly don't know. This is just a new class starting this week. It's kinda ironic though in that today's sermon was about being a man. Our pastor said some of us may be feeling that we've made bad decision after bad decision after bad decision most (if not all) our lives. That was basically me he was describing. I don't want to make bad decisions anymore, and I don't want something like joining a study on how to minister to others determine whether or not I make another bad decision that God will judge me for. Hence the original post where I said I just want to get back to Christ. And stop feeling so broken and scared inside.

 

[oldhermit]

I honestly don't know. This is just a new class starting this week. It's kinda ironic though in that today's sermon was about being a man. Our pastor said some of us may be feeling that we've made bad decision after bad decision after bad decision most (if not all) our lives. That was basically me he was describing. I don't want to make bad decisions anymore, and I don't want something like joining a study on how to minister to others determine whether or not I make another bad decision that God will judge me for. Hence the original post where I said I just want to get back to Christ. And stop feeling so broken and scared inside.

Sounds to me like your needs go a lot deeper than just deciding which class to attend.

 

[posthuman]

I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

sounds to me like training in how to evangelize and witness to other people isn't really what you are looking for.
looking at Acts, they would probably not be talking about Christ as much as they would Peter and Paul and Barnabas. i think given what you've said you would be better off looking at the gospels, and at Romans. aside from the issue of a woman teaching - i'm not basing this advice on that at all and not saying i would think it would be sin to attend - i just don't think this group's focus will be relevant to where you are and what you need.

PS:
fret not, broken down and humble is the right way to be before the King

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(Psalm 51:17)

Go into the Lord's house
Go in a mile
The world will bow
The knees will be broken for those who don't know how
He delights not in the strength of horses
He takes no pleasure in the cleverness of men
(D.E.E. "Chest of Drawers")

 

[jsr1221]

sounds to me like training in how to evangelize and witness to other people isn't really what you are looking for.
looking at Acts, they would probably not be talking about Christ as much as they would Peter and Paul and Barnabas. i think given what you've said you would be better off looking at the gospels, and at Romans. aside from the issue of a woman teaching - i'm not basing this advice on that at all and not saying i would think it would be sin to attend - i just don't think this group's focus will be relevant to where you are and what you need.

PS:
fret not, broken down and humble is the right way to be before the King

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
(Psalm 51:17)

Go into the Lord's house
Go in a mile
The world will bow
The knees will be broken for those who don't know how
He delights not in the strength of horses
He takes no pleasure in the cleverness of men
(D.E.E. "Chest of Drawers")

Yeah. As much as I just want to dive in and evangelize, my self esteem is just shot. With a new ministry that started two Mondays ago, I'm trying to rebuild it. It's gender specific and for anyone with any addictions or hurts or hangups. Maybe it's a good idea to just focus on that for now. You can't help anyone unless you help yourself first, right?

 

[4enlightment]

Kinda hesitant to ask this because I know how quickly things can get off topic and escalate. My church is starting a new class that talks about how to witness to others. I really want to get more involved and know more about Christ, and I feel this would be a great opportunity as they're going to study the book of Acts. The class is taught by a female. I don't know if that's supposed to make a difference or not. I've seen a thread on here asking about women as pastors. I know leading a class is different than being a pastor. The class is coed I was told. I just wanted some input whether or not it's okay to take this class, and if it goes against Scripture. I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

[video=youtube_share;8ctTqmLu-rk]http://youtu.be/8ctTqmLu-rk[/video]

 

[MarcR]

Kinda hesitant to ask this because I know how quickly things can get off topic and escalate. My church is starting a new class that talks about how to witness to others. I really want to get more involved and know more about Christ, and I feel this would be a great opportunity as they're going to study the book of Acts. The class is taught by a female. I don't know if that's supposed to make a difference or not. I've seen a thread on here asking about women as pastors. I know leading a class is different than being a pastor. The class is coed I was told. I just wanted some input whether or not it's okay to take this class, and if it goes against Scripture. I'm to the point now where I'm just broken down and I'm crawling back to Christ, and I'm hoping a class like this would be good. Any insight would be nice.

As I understand Scripture on this issue, It is not God's plan for women to preach or teach in the assembly of the Church.

If the class is intended to be a curchwide event, it should be taught by a man. If it is a small group event and you believe the woman is competent to lead it I don't see an issue. I would not be comfortable with a woman teaching men doctrinal issues; but a competent evangelist should be permitted to teach evangelism.

 

[Jason0047]

I honestly don't know. This is just a new class starting this week. It's kinda ironic though in that today's sermon was about being a man. Our pastor said some of us may be feeling that we've made bad decision after bad decision after bad decision most (if not all) our lives. That was basically me he was describing. I don't want to make bad decisions anymore, and I don't want something like joining a study on how to minister to others determine whether or not I make another bad decision that God will judge me for. Hence the original post where I said I just want to get back to Christ. And stop feeling so broken and scared inside.

If you feel you have done wrong, sin, or evil against the Lord, then you must know that you can get cleansed by Him at any time. He is there for you. All you have to do is call out to Jesus and confess your sin to Him. For the apostle John essentially says in 1 John 2:1, that we as believers are not to sin; But if we do sin, we have an advocate that we can go to named Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:9 then says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." For if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse us from all our sin (1 John 1:7).

So... Come to the Lord Jesus Christ, my friend. Let Him cleanse you. He loves you and merely wants to forgive you (If you feel there is any sin standing between you and Him). Renew yourself in the Lord and then study God's Word every day on your own. Then make it your commitment and mission that you will be a speaker for God (And He will guide you into all truth).

Anyways, love, peace, and blessings be unto you and your family in the Lord.
And I hope what I have said here (with the Scriptures) was helpful to you.

With loving kindness to you in Christ,

Sincerely,

~Jason.


...

 

[Billyd]

The three best teachers of God and His word that I have ever known were my mother, my Grandmother and and my youth Sunday School teacher. I sought their counsel as long as they lived.

Should the OP attend a witnessing class lead by a woman? I have reservations about witnessing classes. I have attended several and I'm not impressed with the canned methods that they taught. As far as being lead by a woman, unless she is telling men how they must live, I see no problem with. How many of you men here on CC were lead to Christ by a woman?

 

[tourist]

The three best teachers of God and His word that I have ever known were my mother, my Grandmother and and my youth Sunday School teacher. I sought their counsel as long as they lived.

Should the OP attend a witnessing class lead by a woman? I have reservations about witnessing classes. I have attended several and I'm not impressed with the canned methods that they taught. As far as being lead by a woman, unless she is telling men how they must live, I see no problem with. How many of you men here on CC were lead to Christ by a woman?

At the age of 14 I found a bible tract on the ground that explained the plan of salvation in a way that I understood. On that day I became born again.