“The Modesty Sermon”*

1 Tim 2.9-10

Big Picture: Christian women ought to be known by how they live, not by how they dress.

1 Timothy 2:9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10 but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.

1 Peter 3:3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

1. Ladies, for the sake of the gospel, adorn yourselves...

a. in respectable clothes (the Greek word itself speaks of “winning the approval and high regard of others”).

b. with a modest heart (your heart is characterized by respect - other people are the priority).

c. with self-control (calculated and deliberate restraint)

2. Ladies, for the sake of the gospel, don’t adorn yourselves...

a. in sensuality

b. with the world’s values

3. Ladies, for the sake of the world, let them see God...

a. in your values

b. in your good deeds

John Piper: “Until God has become your treasure; until your own sin has become the thing you hate most; until the word of God is your supreme authority; until the gospel of Christ’s death in your place is the most precious news in the world to you; until you have learned to deny yourself short-term pleasures for the sake of long-term joy and holiness; until you love the Holy Spirit and long for his fruit more than man’s praise; until you count everything as loss for the sake of the supreme value of knowing Christ . . .your attitude toward your clothing and your appearance will be controlled by forces that don’t honour Christ.”

* I listened to Pastor Julian Freeman of Grace Fellowship Don Mills preach this text about 6 years ago and was immensely blessed. I want New City to experience that same blessing, so this is a “revised version” of that same sermon. All the good stuff is Julian’s!