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WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

(Illustrating Titus 2:3-5)

Lesson Seven

Abigail: I Samuel 25:2-42
Sapphira: Acts 5:1-11

        Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips, nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may train the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored. (Titus 2:3-5, NAS/NIV)


Pre-study question:

  1. Tell what it means to "be subject" to your own husband.


ABIGAIL:

Read I Samuel 25:2-42

  1. Use the words from v. 3 to describe Abigail and Nabal.


  2. What was King David prepared to do against Nabal? Why?


  3. Why didn't Abagail just talk the problem over with her husband?


  4. How did Abigail protect her husband's interests?


  5. What course of action COULD Abigail have taken that would have shown a disregard for her marriage?


  6. After her husband's death, King David remembered Abigail's wisdom and diplomacy. In becoming David's wife, how did she express her "subjection" to him?


  7. How can we respect a position, even when we cannot respect the person in the position? (Examples: husbands, political leaders, etc.)


SAPPHIRA

Read Acts 5:1-11

  1. What did Ananias and Sapphira agree to do?


  2. How did each act upon their prior agreement? (vv. 3-6 & 7-10)


  3. Abigail could not talk to Nabal. What gives the impression that perhaps Sapphira could have influenced Ananias?


  4.  
    1. Was Sapphira bound to Ananias' will?


    2. What could Sapphira have done differently to avoid the final outcome?


    3. Does being in subjection to your husband take away from your personal responsibility to the Lord?


REFLECTIONS: Choose at least one of the following to discuss in relation to being in subjection to your own husband.

  1. On the surface, it may seem that Abigail was NOT in subjection, but that Sapphira was. In the eyes of the outside world, which of the two marriages in today's lesson would have seemed the better? Why?


  2. Discuss positive ways older women can assist younger women in learning appropriate subjection.


  3. Tell how you think King David would have reacted if he had considered Abigail's actions to be rebellion against her husband. Would he have wanted her for a wife?


  4. Look up secular definitions of subjection and Biblical definitions. What are some advantages of being "in subjection"?


  5. Read Proverbs 31:10-31, highlighting the aspects of subjection.


  6. Read Ephesians 5:21-32, Philippians 2:1-11, and I Peter 3:1-6 for further understanding of the topic of wives being subject to their own husbands.



Women IN God's Service

Women in the Bible - lesson 7
Ladies Bible Class Lesson, 9 May 2000
West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Copyright © 1999, 2002, West-Ark Church of Christ

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