Issue 21 Changing MindsBlog | Encouraging the preaching ministry of women
Encouraging the preaching ministry of women
Author: Andy PeckPost Date: 09.12.19
'Hearing God', said Dallas Willard, 'is a dangerous and even presumptuous idea.'
Yet, Willard asks, what if we are made for it and that the human system couldn’t function properly without it? ‘Isn’t it more presumptuous and dangerous, in fact, to undertake human existence without hearing God?’ Discerning the voice of the Lord is a subtle art for most of us. While God comes to his people through the Bible and the natural world, listening for His still small voice requires an almost musical ear. Was that Him? Did I hear that right?
We maximise our chances of receiving His word if we take soundings from more than one perspective. Whether it’s the leadership team of the local church, the committee of a local charity, or from the platform of a Christian conference or festival, a range of opinions usually helps. I’m especially thinking about the valuable ministry of women in my own journey of discipleship and formation, and I’m keen to harness their wisdom and life experience as I listen for the Lord in the busyness of life. It’s not a matter of political correctness or of being ‘on trend’ or cool. I simply want to maximise my chances of catching what the Lord has for me, whether I like what I hear or not.
