Women’s Role in the Church | Scriptural View

Nov 1

Women were an extremely valued part of the ministry of Christ and His apostles. So, are women's role in Christianity, especially their role in the church, so hotly debated? Today, we are going answer the question of what women’s role in Christianity is, especially in the church, by looking at five different ministries that we see women being involved with in the New Testament.

There is a long history of church tradition that has governed the role of women in ministry. There are also a lot of new insights into the meaning of Scripture with new doctrines to go along with them.

Are your traditions wrong, or are these new insights wrong? As always, we are too concerned about the opinions of others. The opinions of the Pope, your pastor, or even our great-grandmas don’t matter. We want to know what the Bible says about a woman’s role in the ministry of the church.

Did you know women played a huge role in the New Testament and the ministry of the church? There are 85 women or groups of women found in the New Testament alone. Of course, we don't have time to talk about each of them individually, but you can click here to get the complete list to study on your own.

#1 Being a Faithful Wife, Mother, and Homemaker

God considers marriage and raising children a wonderful thing.

“Women are to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:4–5 | ESV)
“So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.” (1 Timothy 5:14 | ESV)

Husbands can do so much more for God when they have a loving wife behind them, and the chances of our children growing up to be faithful Christians are much higher when mothers live out the Christian life within the home.

Also, if their husbands are not Christians, their wives can have a huge impact on them and help bring them to Christ.

“Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (1 Peter 3:1–2 | ESV)

If a woman is married, the way she lives as a faithful wife and mother is so important to God. Why? “…that the word of God may not be reviled” (Titus 2:4-6).

If the home is a woman’s primary domain, this next form of ministry may fit perfectly within her lifestyle.

#2 Showing Hospitality

We have many examples in Scripture of women serving the church by showing hospitality:

“When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” (Acts 12:12 | ESV)
“Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.” (Colossians 4:15 | ESV)
“And after she [Lydia] was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’ And she prevailed upon us.” (Acts 16:15 | ESV)

Some modern, practical ways to show hospitality might be:

Opening up your house to the Church by hosting game nights, movie nights, BBQs, etc.
Having Bible studies in your home.
Inviting Christian and non-Christian friends over for dinner.
If you are too busy or can’t afford to feed a lot of people, you could make it a potluck or simply provide the location!

#3 Helping the poor

Tabitha is an excellent example in Scripture of a woman who served others.

“Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.” (Acts 9:36 | ESV)

Here are a few modern ways to help the poor:

Volunteer at a food bank. You’re going to meet all kinds of people that you might be able to set up Bible studies with or have over for dinner.
Make blankets for newborns.
Donate clothes to troubled women. You could even assist with their hair and makeup and coach them for job interviews.

You might be surprised at how showing the love of Christ will open doors to share the Gospel with others.

#4 Teaching

“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2:3–5 | ESV)

God desires that older women teach younger women. And younger women should learn from the example of older women who have proven themselves.

Another way women can serve through teaching is shown in the example of Priscilla who, with her husband Aquila, helped a man named Apollos:

“He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.” (Acts 18:26 | ESV)

Why is this so important? The family is key to any society, and the role that women play in the home and ministry is vital to the functioning of the church. Remember, the church is only one generation from apostasy. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and that is what we should be doing as well.

#5 Supporting the Ministry

We see examples of women in the New Testament who used their means to directly support the work of Jesus during His earthly ministry:

“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.” (Luke 8:1–3 | ESV)

The church is Christ’s body, and we should be continuing His ministry. We still need people who can contribute to the physical needs of ministries today. As Paul said,

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’” (Romans 10:14–15 | ESV)

Preachers, teachers, and missionaries need funds to travel, eat, print books and Bibles, pay for web hosting, video editors, and much more. And these needs can be met by men and women alike.

A great list of ministries that women can be involved in is found in 1 Timothy 5:9–10. This passage is about widows, but it’s about works that they were involved in before they became widows:

“Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.” (1 Timothy 5:9–10 | ESV)

You might have noticed I didn’t list being a preacher or a pastor as a ministry that women should be involved in. Check out this article next to find out why.

What are some other ways that women can serve God and the church? Write them down in the comments below!