In my Homoletics class the gentlemen recently were assigned to prepare a sermon on "The mulit-faceted role of a minister," or something similar. This time instead of me reading some great speech someone else wrote, I was charged with the assignment of "The Role of the Christian Woman in Ministry," Yeah. Now THAT is what I have been waiting for. A chance to explain myself, because a lot of people don't seem to think it makes sense to get a degree without expectation of paying employment in the future. I think I make their heads hurt. Anyhoo, today, for your reading pleasure (or not, your call) I'm adding my paper here and YOU can decide what you think. I can expound and pontificate on it endlessly. Seriously.
The Role of the Christian Woman in Christ’s Church
We’re going to talk about the role of the Christian woman in Christ’s church. I’m certain that a lot of people’s initial thought (especially those of the older generations) to this question is “sit there and be quiet.” Many of those who would never admit to that triggered thought, had it. Well, sometimes that’s exactly what many Christian women think, too. However, they are absolutely wrong and may be dampening their own spirituality and weakening their relationship with the Lord.
While stating from the onset that in no way should a woman “usurp the man’s authority,” (1 Timothy 2:11-13) There are many ways a woman can and SHOULD do her own ministry.
Being a preacher is not the only way that a man can do ministry work. Just because a man doesn’t feel that he has the ability or desire to preach the gospel to a congregation doesn’t mean he can kick back and make his scheduled appearances at church and be living a vital Christian life. Therefore, just because a woman can’t preach before a congregation, that doesn’t mean the only act of worship she can participate in is to show up in her dress clothes and pearls for services, and manage to sing the soprano bits of the hymns.
Man or woman, we should all work on our personal relationships with God. The Biblical ministry of an effective woman can abound for the church. When “minister” is used as a verb, it means to do a service or offer help to someone. God did not offer the great commission to just one man or to just men.
It is biblical and practical for a woman to minister to other women, especially to the younger generation. A young girl with questions is often more comfortable talking to a woman, rather than a man. When a child, youth, or another woman asks for our help with a spiritual or Biblical matter, would it be appropriate to tell them to “find a man to ask.”? Absolutely not!
There is more than enough work in the kingdom for every member of Christ’s body to stay busy from now until the moment they die. Woman can minister in many ways. We can do jail and prison ministries for the women who are incarcerated. Ladies can grade the Bible lessons by mail, do children’s, teen and women-only Bible study classes. We can volunteer at battered women’s shelters, soup kitchens, and pro-life groups, giving physical and spiritual help simultaneously. A woman who is kind and giving of herself and her time to neighbors, family, and strangers are ministering, whether they call it a ministry or not.
Each woman is just as responsible for her own soul and salvation as any man and I don’t think Heaven is going to be jam-packed with Christians who do the bare-minimum required of them. We should all be encouraged to study, learn all about God that we can and make Heaven our goal. And we should all try to grab as many people, as we can, to go with us.
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