Men Sitting Under Women Preaching

Valuing Women without Compromising Convictions

Men Sitting Under Women Preaching

I remember a moment a few years ago when a sweet older lady sat next to me at an event I was at with my friend and ministry mentor Lysa TerKeurst. The woman leaned over to me and commented how refreshing it was for her to see a man lean in and listen to a woman teaching the Bible.

I had a dual response. First, that was so kind of her to say that. Second, it was so sad that she had to say that.

I responded by saying one of the best and most meaningful aspects of my biblical, theological, and spiritual formation has come because I've sat under godly women who faithfully and fearlessly teach the Bible.

I'm really sad to say that in my academic experience, I've not had any professors in my theological institutions who were women. And I personally think this is so sad and I've lost something as a result.

Friends, we miss something very important when we do not hear the theological reflections and teachings of godly women. It is a blessing to us, because we get to see a side and consider a perspective that would be sorely missed if not for sitting under women in our spiritual formation. God has wired and created women in a unique way to come to text with insight that is a blessing to the church, and this should be valued, sought after, and elevated.

The Unnecessary Divide

I realize there are many nuances to this that are framed by one's position as a complementarian or egalitarian—but I don't think it has to be that overly complicated.

The theological debate between complementarian and egalitarian views has often created unnecessary division within the church.¹ This division has sometimes prevented believers from receiving the full richness of God's word through diverse voices. While these theological frameworks help us understand gender roles in ministry, they shouldn't become barriers that limit our spiritual growth or create unnecessary boundaries in the body of Christ.

Throughout church history, women have played vital roles in advancing the kingdom—from Priscilla who taught Apollos, to Phoebe the deaconess who delivered Paul’s most important letter to the church in Rome, and Junia who was well known among the apostles (the greek grammar suggests she was one among apostles, not simply known to the apostles) to modern-day Bible teachers who illuminate Scripture with depth and wisdom. Their contributions have been essential, not peripheral, to the church's mission and understanding of God's word.

Finding Middle Ground

It is absolutely possible to be a "complementarian" and still sit under the teaching of women unpacking Scripture and be blessed and grow by it. These positions need not be mutually exclusive:

• I am a complementarian.

• I believe the LORD desires for men to lead with love and courage and wisdom in their families and churches.

• I believe men should sit under the teaching of godly women who unpack the Scriptures and teach the Bible.

• I believe churches should cultivate and foster environments for women for to develop these skills and giftings in their local contexts as is reflective of their theological and ecclesiological positions.

• I believe women should be honored, respected, and we should show gratitude to them for being obedient to the call of God on their lives.

• I believe we shouldn't make things harder for our sisters, aunties, mothers, and grandmothers in the faith. We should run alongside them and cheer them on as they run toward Jesus.

A Personal Reflection

When I reflect on my own journey, some of the most transformative moments in my faith have come through the teaching ministry of women. I think of my grandmother, a missionary in India who has served faithfully alongside her husband (my grandfather), teaching and preaching for the last fifty years. I think of my first boss Robin, a strong woman business owner who hired me in Sacramento, Ca as I worked with adults with developmental disabilities. Robin taught me so much about leadership. And I can’t even begin to talk about the influence of women I’ve served alongside or have just benefitted from like Lysa TerKeurst, Lisa Harper, Beth Moore, Elyse Fitzpatrick, Jackie Hill Perry, Christine Caine, Priscilla Shirer, Ann Voskamp, Jennie Allen, Ruth Chou Simmons, Annie F. Downes, and countless others. Their unique perspectives have challenged me to see Scripture through different lenses, helping me understand the fullness of God's character in ways I might have missed otherwise.

I often wonder how much richer my theological education might have been had I been exposed to female professors and scholars. How many insights and nuances of Scripture might I have better grasped? What depth might have been added to my understanding of God's word through their distinctive voices? Today I’m grateful for the scholarship of women like Lynn Cohick, Cynthia Westfall, Amy Peeler, Sandra Glahn, Carmen Imes, Katherine Sonderegger, and so many others.

Moving Forward Together

The body of Christ functions best when all members are empowered to use their God-given gifts. When we limit who can speak into our lives based on gender alone, we potentially close ourselves off from hearing God's voice through vessels He has chosen and equipped.

This doesn't mean abandoning theological convictions or compromising on what we believe Scripture teaches about church leadership. Rather, it means creating space for godly women to exercise their teaching gifts while respecting the governance structures we believe are biblically faithful.

I believe the only way to experience and achieve these ambitions is through passionate pursuit of meekness, kindness, compassion, a contrite heart and a mind of humility that submits to the Word of God. Humble theology, friends—it's the way forward to achieve unity in diversity.

When we approach this issue with humility rather than defensiveness, with openness rather than rigid barriers, we create an environment where both men and women can flourish in their callings. And in doing so, the entire church benefits from the full spectrum of gifts that God has distributed throughout His body.

Let us be people who champion the voices of godly women teachers, not despite our theological convictions, but because our ultimate conviction is that God speaks through His people—all of His people—for the edification of the church and the advancement of His kingdom.

P.S - I know there are many theologically oriented questions that will stem prom this essay. How do we deal with the passages in Corinthians and Timothy that seem to indicate women should not teach and must remain silent? I have another post coming out next week that will begin to explore these passages. Don’t forget to subscribe so you get that essay when it drops next week.

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I co-authored a Bible study with Lysa called 30 Days with Jesus which works through Jesus in both the Old Testament and New Testament.

For more teaching videos check out the Humble Theology YouTube Channel

You can pick up my book The Hidden Peace which is discounted on Amazon now!

1. The two major positions that Christians will fall into in regard to women in ministry are the complementarian position and the egalitarian position. A very brief summary. Complementarians will hold to the dignity and worth of both women and men. However, they view a distinction between church offices. Most notably, the position of Elder and Pastor. Additionally, there is much debate on the nature of women preaching and teaching. Especially on a Sunday morning. The egalitarian position holds to the value and worth of both men and women. However, they find to reason to restrict any office or role in the church from women. Dr. Nijay Gupta is doing some excellent scholarship in this area for the egaliterian position. Dr. Tom Schreiner has some excellent content for the complementarian position.