1Timothy 2:8-3:15 & 5:3-16

The Service of Women in the Church.

1. Three major issues for understanding the service of women in the church.

   1. How we read the Bible.

• Summary: Westminster Confession of Faith, I.6.

  1. Principles that govern ministry in the church.

• Romans 12:6-8, 1Cor 12:4-6, 1Peter 4:8-11

  1. In Christ, men and women are equal in redemption.

• Galatians 3:28, Acts 2:38, 1Peter 2:9

• New Testament differences in men's and women's ministry.

  1. The wife is termed the weaker vessel by the apostle Peter.

• 1Peter 3:7

  1. The wife is given explicit responsibility in homemaking: Prov 31, Titus 2.

  2. In the church, the significant difference between the service of men and women is that a woman is not allowed to teach or exercise authority over a man.

• 1Timothy 2:12, 1Cor 11:7-10.

• Is ministry in the church different for men and for women?

  1. Older women and widows.

• Titus 2:3-5, 1Timothy 5.

• 1. What is women's ministry in the church for women who are not older women or widows?

  2. Women served in many ways in the church of the New Testament.

• Prophetesses, Luke 2:36, Luke 24:10, Acts 21:9.
• Aphia, the wife of Philemon; Priscilla the wife of Aquila, Rom 16:4.
• Heads of households, Chloe, 1Cor 1:11; Lydia, Acts 16:14.
• Phoebe the deaconess, Romans 16:1-2.
• Priscilla, Mary, Junias, Rufus' mother, Tryphaena and Tryphosa, Julia, Nereus' sister, Olympas, Romans 16, "workers in the Lord."
• Luke 8:2-3, Matthew 27:55-56, Luke 24:10, Mt. 28:7 & Mk 16:7.
• Philippians 4:3, "these women who have shared my struggle in the gospel."

• Consequences for us today.

  1. Women may not be called to the office of elder or pastor in the church.

• 1Tim 2:12, 1Corinthians 14:34-35.

  1. The office of deacon is open to women.

• 1Timothy 3:10 "women."

  1. Women's ministry in the church is rich and varied, and can be a matter of social convention.

  2. All Christians should be thankful for their rightful place in the church. To be in the church is the greatest privilege.

  3. Along with the place which God gives us in his church He is also evaluating our service.

• Mt 25:23

  1. Both women and men are to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

  2. The Bible always opposes the world, because the kingdom of Christ is not of this world.

• John 18:36, John 17:17, Mark 8:38.