LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE 

Wednesday Night, October 29 , 2003  

 

 

Allow everyone in the group to tell of a woman who has been an important positive influence in your life. What has made her special?   

 

 

 

What are some of the battles that our secular society fights on the behalf of women? What values are being promoted in these battles? What purposes are being served?  

Chuck referenced in his sermon Sunday Night the four important areas where the New Testament teachings show a greater appreciation for women than did the Graeco-Roman culture:  

􏰀 Infanticide of girl children. 

􏰀 Male-only inheritance, both from parents and deceased husbands (new husband received control of inheritance) 

􏰀 Sexual double standard – Only men could file for divorce and only women were expected to be faithful before and during marriage 

􏰀 Callous treatment of widows   

The ancient Roman practice of favoring healthy male babies over females and deformed males has a clear 21st century parallel. The “one child family” mandated by law and strictly enforced in the Republic of China has led hundreds of thousands of Chinese families to kill or abandon female or deformed male babies. In China, it is very important socially and economically to have a son. The first generation of Chinese children to grow up without any siblings will soon reach young adulthood. Sociologists have speculated what the impact will be, since only children develop different attitudes and values than those with siblings. In the United States, more and more families elect to have only one or two children and the fertility rate is decreasing.  

 

What impact will these phenomena have on this and later generations?  

A popular misconception in American culture is that Christian teachings allow the exploitation and mistreatment of women.  

 

How might we counter this belief? Why is it important that we be able to articulate the roles for women in the church and in the family and how they are distinct from those prescribed for men?   

Have the group make a list of ways in which you see women making a significant contribution in the life of this church.  

 

 

 

What has been the most important change in your beliefs this week about the importance of women in the Body of Christ? What will you do the rest of the week to emphasize that change and integrate it more into your daily walk of faith?  

 

 

 

Mention the empty chair. Be fishing!  

As each person in the group shares in the prayer time this evening, encourage everyone to include in their prayer a word of thanksgiving for that woman in their life who has had a profound impact on who they are today.