Saturday, September 22, 2007

fruit and veg night

Two weeks ago, Mike preached a sermon from Titus 1 in which he really challenged the guys at FOCUS to "stand up and step up". While the girls were encouraged by this and were challenged themselves to look for such characteristics in their future husbands, they still felt a wee little bit jipped. "What about us?"

But just as Mike finished his sermon and someone prayed, I jumped up and promptly invited the women to come around to our place in a week's time and we'd have a chat amongst ourselves about what God desires for women.

A few men scoffed that women could possibly have fun together minus the presence of chocolate ... but tonight we proved them wrong.

As the girls from FOCUS arrived (bringing news of the fire in Hobart), we chopped veggies and juiced fruit and got to know one another better.

Later, in the evening we read through 1 Peter 2:13-3:12.

We discussed that a godly woman

1. hopes in God (not in self, or husbands, or looks), which leads to
2. fearlessness, which leads to
3. an inner tranquility (gentle and quiet spirit), which leads to being able to
4. humbly submit to one's husband's leadership ...

for the glory of God and the sake of the Gospel.

John Piper defines submission as "the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband's leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts" in his sermon The Beautiful Faith of Fearless Submission.

Next month we're going Op-shopping (thrift store shopping)!

7 comments:

kath said...

thanks for your hospitality, christine. i had a great time and would definitely like to make this a more frequent thing!

gina said...

sounds cozy, fun, encouraging, uplifting, and healthy in more ways than one.

Bron said...

Sounds good! - and a great way to complement Mike's ministry. I had a listen to that sermon - it was very helpful, thank you.

I particularly liked how he pointed out how you can't just try to go straight to submission, or you'll end up in disaster, that you've got to have those roots of godliness first.

I think that in the first few years of being a Christian that was what I was trying to do (and of course coming unstuck!) I wish someone had told me that then :)

A-Hawk said...

Hey, love the insight as always. BTW I know this has nothing to do with this post, but I noticed "Sexual Intimacy in Marriage" in your wishlist. I have two copies (one is the second edition, there are three total). If you email me your address, I will send it :)

Erica said...

Thanks for hosting it! I had a fantastic night :)

Astrid said...

hey Christine thank you for a a lovely night I really liked the juices. And it was good to hear a biblical view on submission. It's been a real blessing having you involved in focus as a women mature in you faith willing to encourage others. I think it really adds something to focus

Sherrin said...

It is great that you did this! Keep it up if you can! It is fun that you thought of something different to do.