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women in ministry women pastors practical application

Despite being secondary, this issue has massive practical impact on women's ministry, marriage, church choice, and which teachers to follow.

Why this topic matters practically

complementarianism Alisa Childers women in online ministry

Women bloggers, podcasters, and YouTubers like Alisa Childers raise the same questions — she has more impact than most pastors.

Scope of practical questions raised by this debate

bypassing scripture experience-based theology false teachers

Life experience bypasses scripture on both sides: 'A woman pastor ministered to me' (egalitarian) or 'Women have frequently been false teachers' (complementarian).

Mistake #1: Life experience overriding scripture

Rebecca Merrill Groothuis Levites prophets

Groothuis's rebuttal that prophets had more authority than Levites is a red herring — Levites were the regular, widespread spiritual authorities throughout Israel.

Mistake #4: Levite analogy — responding to Groothuis's counter

submission cultural assumptions 1 Pet 5:5

Mistake #6: Thinking submission is inherently evil — submission was not a bad word in biblical culture, though it is in modern culture.

Mistake #6: Submission is inherently evil

hermeneutics scripture and culture Southern California

Three commitments: (1) Mike will not submit scripture to culture — neither progressive nor conservative cultural pressure.

Three things Mike will NOT do in this series

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Balance: all believers should be open to learning from one another, including across genders

Mike offers a balanced complementarian application.

women in ministry mutual edification informal teaching

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Women gifted for ministry hold back in complementarian churches due to fear

Mike describes a pastoral observation.

women in ministry complementarian overcorrection spiritual gifts

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-13

Craig Blomberg on early church deaconesses: common for centuries with pastoral care and baptism roles

Mike cites historical support for women deacons.

Two Views on Women in Ministry Craig Blomberg deaconess history

Discovering Biblical Equality Stanley Grenz priestly character of eldership

Some complementarians argue eldership is priestly in character, therefore reserved for men — Mike rejects this

Mike introduces and then rejects a complementarian argument that the pastoral office is priestly and therefore male-only.

headship universal priesthood of believers complementarian correction

Correction for complementarians: the husband is NOT the priest of his home

Mike disagrees with many complementarians, including pastors he has respected, on this point.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 3 Levitical priesthood eldership qualifications

Anticipated objection: if women could not be OT priests but are NT priests, why can't they hold the highest roles?

Mike addresses the challenge to his view: if women's exclusion from OT priesthood was about gender, and now they are priests, doesn't that prove they can have any role?

women teaching practical ministry application

Women gifted in teaching should use that gift — find ways that honor biblical limitations

Mike counsels pastors on how to handle gifted women in their churches.

Colossians 3:16 Colossians 3:16 teaching gift necessary but not sufficient

Not everyone who teaches is an elder — an elder must be able to teach, but ability to teach does not require eldership

Mike makes the logical distinction between necessary and sufficient conditions.

women in ministry eldership application

Overview of application questions this video will address

Mike introduces the video as the culmination of his 2+ year Women in Ministry project, listing specific questions about women's roles.

egalitarian denominations scholarly influence liberal theology

How egalitarian ideas spread through churches: scholars to pastors to congregations

Mike describes the pipeline of egalitarian influence.

Ephesians 4:11 pastor title church role confusion Ephesians 4:11

Confusion of 'pastor' title across churches — example of 8 different pastor titles

Mike shows how the word 'pastor' has become muddied in modern church usage.

Ephesians 4:11 1 Peter 2:25 Hebrews 13:20 Ephesians 4:11 1 Peter 2:25 Hebrews 13:20

Definition of pastor: a shepherding/caretaking leadership term synonymous with elder

Mike defines how he uses the word 'pastor' based on scripture.

seminary education Calvary Costa Mesa School of Ministry

Women in seminary classes — depends on the seminary's purpose

Mike addresses whether women should attend seminary.

elder-like function conference speaking practical advice

Advice to women conference/college speakers: take steps to ensure it doesn't become elder-like

Mike gives practical advice to women in teaching roles.

women ministry leaders authority over male workers organic role expansion

Women leading children's/women's ministries with men under them: probably okay but requires wisdom

Mike addresses women overseeing ministries that include male workers.

2 Kings 22-23 women pastors Philip Payne King Josiah

Encouragement to women pastors who have changed their minds

Mike directly addresses women currently in pastoral roles who now agree with his conclusions.

Mike Winger idea 2023-11-22

Conclusion 10: The forbidden teaching is not false teaching but authoritative teaching

Mike clarifies what kind of teaching is restricted.

1 Timothy 2:12 1 Timothy 2:12 didasko authoritative teaching

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

When should a pastor call out another pastor as a heretic?

Q&A on the pastoral responsibility to call out heretical teaching from other pastors.

false teaching heresy Rob Bell

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

1 Timothy 3 qualifications for overseers (bishops/pastors/elders — synonymous terms) flow directly from 2:11-12 and use masculine language.

Mike shows the literary connection between 1 Timothy 2 and 3.

1 Timothy 3:1-7 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Complementarianism Overseer

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

The problem with having a negative or contemptuous attitude toward a generation you are trying to reach with the gospel

Mike reflects on the pattern of older generations despising younger ones

evangelism gospel Millennials

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Gen Z fact-checks in real time — credibility and truth-telling are now more important than ever for teachers and pastors

McDowell describes speaking at Berkeley and observing real-time fact-checking

apologetics fact-checking trust

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

Q&A: Is it wrong to approach a pastor who taught something theologically unsound?

Viewer question about church accountability.

Christian living Church accountability Pastoral correction

Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Four target audiences for BibleThinker ministry

Winger articulates the specific audiences he aims to reach through his online ministry.

discipleship apologetics biblical worldview

Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Pastors held to higher accountability — James 3:1

Viewer asks why saved pastors who lead people astray face greater judgment.

James 3:1 divine judgment James 3:1 pastoral accountability

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

The Passion Translation is irresponsible and problematic; a pastor using it is a warning sign but not automatically disqualifying

Response to Chantal asking whether to reconsider joining a church whose pastor quotes the Passion Translation more and more.

discernment church selection Bible translation

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

The Malachi tithe rebuke also includes offerings (firstborn animals), which modern tithe-preachers ignore — revealing selective application

Expanding the argument that the Malachi tithe command is being applied inconsistently

Malachi 3:8 hermeneutics tithing Malachi 3:8

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

In the Old Testament law the tithe went to Levites and priests, not to local pastors — so enforcing a 10% tithe should logically send money to Jewish Levites

Continuing the argument against applying the Malachi tithe to modern churches

hermeneutics tithing Levites

1 Timothy Titus 1 Timothy elder qualifications Titus

Pastoral preparation — character and godliness are the primary qualifications

Question from Jared Garrity about preparing for pastoral ministry

Bible study pastoral ministry teaching

Laziness is a major detriment to teaching ministry — pastors need to study deeply

Further advice on pastoral preparation

Bethel Church discernment false doctrine

Approaching a pastor using feel-good theology — gracious challenge, define the terms

Practical advice for Ben on speaking to a feel-good theology pastor