Hello!
Here is quote from gotquestions:
God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. This is not because men are necessarily better teachers or because women are inferior or less intelligent (which is not the case). It is simply the way God designed the church to function. Men are to set the example in spiritual leadership—in their lives and through their words. Women are to take a less authoritative role. Women are encouraged to teach other women (Titus 2:3–5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching or having spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors to men. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with God’s plan and His gifting of them.
So teaching children is okay because I've been too churches who do have women who lead the teaching curriculum it does not mean its taking over authority. As in schools most teachers are women any way!
But in the church when it comes to expositing the Word then its best left to men.
In a mixed home group if your doing bible study and each person has to do a study on it i don't see why us women need to be excluded.
I think the rule to follow is that if your not exercising spiritual authority over men such as in depth exposition of the Word then we are free to use our gifts with out restrictions!
If the home group has a particular session where the word is taught like a pastor then its given to the men to lead. But if it just casual study where everyone can be involved then it should be perfectly okay. If we are not training them to be spiritual leaders and careful expositors then its no problem leading the group!
I think we should not be too dogmatic on it either and get all fired up on it. As long as we women are not pastor or take a position of spiritual authority then it should be fine. I understand the reason why men need to take this spiritual authority and why we need to follow.
But again don't don't take it too far like the orthodox jews with their regulations!
Like as if it is a sin and you do anything of that kind well you will end in hell. We don't mentor men, we don't lead with spiritual authority over men concerning the preaching of God's Word. But we sure can have authority if we been abuse and we need to talk about that at church. Or raise as catholic and only brought out of it we sure can talk about this if the pastors wants to hear the story. I know one women who leads this on her blog because she has the experience of helping someone get out of this spiritual mess. It feels she has spiritual authority but its for things on religion not on preaching the Word.
Where its about raising spiritual men so they can lead! That is why its so important that men lead because they were created to lead and shepherd! Why has not anyone care to explain this? But only that women are to shut up and men can talk as much as they want? This is what can sometime be mistaken that us women are just inferior so shut up!
So as i said if we women are not training them in spiritual authority and training them to be leaders of Gods flock such as pastors or elders. Then what ever we do bless us and don't condemn us saying, you are leading you can't do that! Step down! Like some military dominant men camp! Its not about male dominance but that is what is happening especially when the world sees that women can't preach. Just male over control!
How do we know we are becoming authoritative?
Just listen to charles spurgeon and ask yourself are you talking like him? If yes then you are to step down because this is not our spiritual role. Listen to John macarthur or even with the men conferences? That is how men exercise spiritual authority!
And if your not doing anything like that then they should be no scolding from the men that we are doing something wrong because we are leading!
And even though this is not our role it does not mean we cannot lead in other areas because we all know that they are women who are leaders! Look at corrie ten boom? She went to church to church to talk about her experience and with authority, not authority on the Word & to led men but on her spiritual exp she went through!
And this from Matt Slick:
I do not see how assisting your husband in a Bible study is exercising any authority over people who might be present. So, I would think that you would be free to expound on Scripture the same as anyone else would be in a Bible study.
When I have taught Bible studies and my wife has been present, she has often added excellent insight into the Scriptures--as have other women. Her female perspective is often helpful, and I enjoy hearing what she has to say. But she is not exercising authority and/or teaching men (authoritatively) when explaining what she thinks a Scripture means. She is not acting as anelder or pastor.
Now, I believe that in 1 Tim. 2:12 when Paul says, "But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet," Paul is referring to the church context in the church office of elder. After all, 1 Tim. 3:15 says to Timothy, " . . . I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." Paul is teaching us how the church is to be run, and the teaching issue deals with the authority structure in the church. Therefore, I see them related as does Paul: teach or exercise authority.
Of course, if we were to take the phrase, "not allow a woman to teach or excise authority over a man," and remove it from the context of elder and pastor, we would then need to require that all women never even express an opinion about Scripture whenever men are present. This would be, of course, ridiculous.
