Feminine Power

Feminine Power
by Betty Blake Churchill - May 13, 2007

1. Today Betty Blake talked about the core “power” of women: our beauty. Betty Blake started by noting how often the beauty equation comes down to a “beauty contest”. So what about that? Do you agree or disagree? Do women inevitably compare themselves to other women based on physical beauty? Do men use the same yardstick for women too? Spend a few minutes to share ideas and personal experiences about this – and be sure to discuss the “whys” of your opinions. (10 minutes)

2. Expanding on Betty Blake’s theme that we are all drawn to beauty (as she said, beauty is the power of attraction), try to spend some time thinking about beauty in general. What makes us think of something as beautiful? What are the different types of beauty – both physical and intangible? Do you have any ideas about why we are drawn to beauty? As a group, make a list of the different ways something can be beautiful. (10 minutes)

3. In the message, Betty Blake quoted Genesis which says that when God created humans He built His “nature” into both men and women as one, but in different ways separately “in His image, He created them, both male and female He created them….” Genesis 1:27 – emphasis mine). She went on to note some of the ways that women that demonstrate God’s nature. What do you think? Stop for a minute and think about some qualities that we tend to think as largely “feminine” (and for sure I don’t want to condone stereotyping… everyone is an individual – and some things are surely culturally specific… but still, there are tendencies… so, let’s focus there). Write down a few “tendencies” in women’s qualities and then brainstorm in the group to identify as many as you can. Now, take a look at the group’s list and talk about which of those seem most descriptive of God’s character. (15 minutes)

4. While Betty Blake focused on women, it could be interesting to think about the nature of men as well. Try the same exercise as above – but apply it to male tendencies. Finish up this part by reviewing all the “God’s nature” traits seen across either men or women. Does anything strike you about these properties when taken together? (15 minutes)

5. Let’s end with some personal application – for ourselves or for others. Betty Blake noted that one of our tasks in this world as Christ-followers is to demonstrate God’s character. Naturally, none of us can to that as a whole – but we all have a part to play. Since our main theme this week is the part of women – lets keep the focus there for this application. Look through the list of ways women can show what God is like. If you are a women, think about whether there any of those traits that seems like a characteristic that God has built into you – that He might be wanting you to demonstrate to those around you (“offering freely” to use Betty Blake’s words). And if you are a man, think about a woman close to you, (family, friends, or co-workers) and try to identify any Godly nature-traits you sense in that person. Now for both men and women, think about what you might do to draw out that character more. Write down any ideas you have and then commit to taking it before God alone some time this week to see what He might tell you about what you can do. (5 – 10 minutes).


Bible verses from this week’s message:

“No beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him.”
Isaiah 53:2

“In His image He created them, both male and female he created them”
Genesis 1:27

“I’ve done or said these things so that you will know me--know I am God.” God promises if we seek him with all of our heart we will find him
Jeremiah 29:13

“If we draw near to Him he will draw near to us.”
James 4:8

“The greatest command of all is that we would love him with all of our heart, soul, and mind.”
Mark 12:29-30

“Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.”
1 Peter 3:3-4 (the Message Bible)


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• Prior Sunday message on date (audio available at Gateway's Sunday Message Archive)