Summary: Like CJ Mahaney, I speak because the glory of God is at stake in the way women dress.

Text: 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Title: Say Yes To The Dress, Date/Place: WHBC, 3.25.18, AM

A. Opening illustration: Simplicity and complexity of the gospel/bible: deep enough to baffle, confound, and drown the greatest theologians, yet simple and shallow enough for a child to understand

B. Background to passage: Remind them of the situation in general. Ephesus is a major metropolitan city. People were getting saved from all backgrounds. Apparel was an issue that needed to be dealt with. Acknowledge the uneasiness of this topic. Affirm biblical authority, like it or not. Acknowledge this is a problem of design, the fall, and our culture. Make sure to include men and their clothing choices, just know that this passage directly deals with women because of the confusion and unrest of gender roles in the church. Emphasize that clothing is only the manifestation of problem of lack of modesty. The main problem is the heart.

C. Adorn in themselves in respectable means to arrange or put in order or to make ready in an honorable way, but it deals holistically, including the whole demeanor of a woman’s presentation. Doesn’t mean drab clothing without place for nice and beautiful clothing, nor indifferent toward hair and appearance. In fact, ladies are encouraged in places in scripture to order themselves to glorify God and men appropriately. 1 Pet 3:3-4 may elaborate in a more specific manner as to the interpretation and application of this text.

D. Main thought: Like CJ Mahaney, I speak because the glory of God is at stake in the way women dress. Read his quote about pastoral concern from p. 125 of Worldliness. A. Three Distractions (v. 9-10)

1. The Ephesian culture, just like ours, is full of the offended. These offended were ignited in part by the dress of the women. First the men, elephant in the room. The descriptions of these women could lend themselves to two personas, that of a prostitute or an upper-class, wealthy, extravagant dressing woman. Obviously, the prostitute would have dressed in a way as to entice men. Paul said this is a problem because it distracts men.

2. The poorer women in the church could have clothing that was between 500-700 denarii, so maybe 2-3 dresses in a lifetime. Some of the social elite had dresses that were between 7000-9000 denarii. If one of the ladies came in wearing a dress like that, 1 of 10 that she owned at that time, the envy or shame of the poorer women would have been stirred.

3. The last of the distractions would be from the intent of the gathering of the body: worship. If a woman came into the church dressed in a fashion different from those encouraged by 1 Tim and 1 Pet, the focus of attention might become her. This is just as important as the two groups previously mentioned.

4. Argumentation

5. Illustration: Sound system in-ear monitors, Richard Baxter, the great Puritan preacher, said to women, “And you must not lay a stumbling block in their way, nor blow up the fire of their lust, nor make your ornaments snares but you must walk among sinful persons as you would do with a candle among straw or gunpowder, or else you may see the flame which you would not foresee, when it is too late to quench it.” The young man who was disappointed that the church was not a refuge for his weary eyes and mind.

6. Should men fight the battleground of lust in their minds, and be held accountable when they fail? Yes. Ladies, please realize that it is a battle that is far worse than you think. Again, men, this is not only applicable to ladies. Help your brothers and sisters avoid temptation.

7. We all develop feelings for others that are based on perception or ill-will. These things are a great distraction to others. People may know of two women who do not like each other because of such issues, or any issues. This is divisive and inhibiting.

8. This kind of distraction would apply to all sorts of things that happen in a worship gathering; some legitimate and some illegitimate, some able to be fixed/avoided and some not able to be fixed/avoided. Videos or slides, backgrounds, music, instruments, clothing, temperature, mobile phones/devices, bathroom runs, lighting issues, and so on. We should take all these things into consideration because they detract and distract from the worship of King Jesus. This doesn’t mean that we pander to every desire and preference like referees or spiritual disc jockeys. It also doesn’t mean that we develop a big list of rules applied legalistically to our congregation. We want to worship God in power and purity so that he is pleased, and others experience Him. “Do you approach God to pray with broidered hair and ornaments of gold? Are you come to a ball? to a marriage feast? to a carnival? There such costly things might have been seasonable: here not one of them is wanted. You are come to pray, to ask pardon for your sins, to plead for your offences, beseeching the Lord, and hoping to render him propitious to you. Away with such hypocrisy!” -John Chrysostom, 4th century preacher with a golden tongue,

B. Three Attitudes (v. 9-10)

1. There are attitudes that accompany those who know Christ and are walking close to Him. Humility, describes the attitude that motivates your choice of clothing. Pride says, I am all that, look at me. Humility says, I am blessed, you need not look at me. Humility understands a position or role. Christ understood his role of sacrifice and death, we all imitate his servanthood in receiving joyfully less that we think, notice think, we deserve.

2. Godliness is the desire to seek, look, and know Christ as a priority. It means that in our walk with Christ, living like him, being conformed into his image is the number one goal.

3. Self-control is the mindset that some liberties that we have, we ought not exercise. It is a mindset that says I don’t have to have everything I want. It means that I will restrain myself, keeping my body and mind and their appetites in subjection. It is refusing to be controlled by desire.

4. Phil 2:3-4 - 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

5. Illustration: If you arrive at church dressed in such a way that you have spent more time and effort preparing your clothing, hair and make-up than you have preparing your heart for corporate worship of the one true and living God, there is a problem. -Mary Mohler, “We live in an identity-addicted society. We strive to put our tastes and acquisitions on display so that everyone knows who we are. We’re told to accentuate our best features, get what we want out of life, stand up for and express ourselves. Social media is often the megaphone we use to herald our personal identity and covertly brag about our smarts, body, sexuality, culture, politics, sports, relationships, family, insecurities, experiences, and possessions.” -Maggie Cotonethal, “The virtue of modesty, in dress and holistically, is much more offensive, pride-shattering, and worthwhile than any “thou shalt not’s” issued by the religious department of the fashion police.”

6. All three attitudes allow us to consider others in our faith family more than our own wants and needs. When we focus on Christ, we will look for ways we can help others grow in their faith. We will look for hindrances in our lives and do our best to limit them. If these attitudes don’t express themselves in your life, the servant heart of Christ is not revealed in you. Do you call attention to yourself with your clothes? Are you willing not to wear something that you like to serve others? Are you able to control your mind and body to restrain from clothing that you know accentuates parts of your body that cause others to stumble? There are many reasons to be modest, the highest of which is not to help men in their battle against lust, but if it were the only one, would you be willing to serve them and the Lord in this way?