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Ministry & Services Of Church

"A WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL CONGREGATION"
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Attention is often given to the limitations placed on women in the
 assemblies of the church...
 a. Because of what is said in 1 Co 14:34-37
 b. Because of what is written in 1 Ti 2:11-12
 -- Such limitations notwithstanding
the early church benefited
 greatly by the contributions of many women
 
2. In just the church at Rome
we read of...
 a. The service of Phoebe
a helper of Paul and many others - Ro 16:
 1-2
 b. The help of Priscilla
even risking her life for Paul - Ro 16:3-4
 c. One named Mary
who bestowed "much labor" - Ro 16:6
 d. Twin sisters
Tryphena and Tryphosa - Ro 16:12
 e. The beloved Persis - Ro 16:12
 -- Even today
the growth of many churches is the result of "much 
 labor" by women
 
3. How can that be
if women are limited in what they can do in the
 public assemblies?
 a. Public assemblies are actually a small part of the overall work
 of a congregation
 b. There is much work outside the assembly that must be done
if a
 church is to grow
 -- Women are often in a position to provide much of this needed 
 work!
 
[What can a woman do? How can she contribute to the growth and success
of a local church? Let's answer such questions as we review the work
of a local church...]
 
I. A WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION IN BENEVOLENCE
 
 A. BENEVOLENCE IS AN IMPORTANT WORK...
 1. It is a mark of pure and undefiled religion - Ja 1:27
 2. Ministering to brethren who are sick
poor
imprisoned
etc.

 is a service rendered to the Lord Himself - Mt 25:34-40
 -- All Christians
women no less than men
are to be involved in
 this work - Ja 2:14-16; 1 Jn 3:17
 
 B. WOMEN ARE WELL-SUITED FOR BENEVOLENCE...
 1. They bring a grace and a beauty of which men are normally not
 capable
 a. The unique attributes of femininity lend themselves well to
 this work
 b. E.g.
mercy and compassion are almost second-nature to
 women
 c. And mercy is one of the gifts the Lord has given to His
 church - Ro 12:6-8
 2. They often possess skills through which benevolence can be
 rendered
 a. E.g.
making clothes
as Dorcas did for needy widows - Ac
 9:36-39
 b. E.g.
cooking
baby-sitting
ministering to the sick

 extending hospitality
etc.
 -- Indeed
women who might later be "taken into the number" were
 to be known or "well-reported" for the good works she had done
 in this area - 1 Ti 5:9-10
 
[Any work that a woman does in the area of benevolence is a powerful
contribution to the work and reputation of a local church! Now let's
consider...]
 
II. A WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION IN EDIFICATION
 
 A. EDIFICATION IS AN ESSENTIAL WORK...
 1. It involves building up the body of Christ
through the work
 of every member - Ep 4:15-16
 2. It entails following such instructions like:
 a. "Bear one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of
 Christ" - Ga 6:2
 b. "Comfort each other and edify one another" - 1 Th 5:11
 c. "Comfort the fainthearted
uphold the weak" - 1 Th 5:14
 -- Some men were known for their work in this area; e.g.

 Barnabas - Ac 4:36
 
 B. WOMEN CAN ALSO DO MUCH TO EDIFY THE CHURCH...
 1. Through formal teaching of others:
 a. Grandmothers and mothers can teach children
as Lois and 
 Eunice did Timothy - 2 Ti 1:5; 3:14-15
 b. Older women can and should teach younger women - Ti 2:3-5
 c. Especially where there are people who come into the church
  without the benefit of godly mothers and grandmothers
in
 which Christian women can be surrogates
 2. Through informal words of encouragement:
 a. It has been said that men are natural producers
women are
 natural nurturers
 b. With so many dysfunctional families and emotional problems
 today
the gift of encouragement and nurturing possessed by
 many women is essential
 c. Many teachers and preachers have been helped by godly women
 encouraging them in their work
 -- There is a special need for women to see themselves as 
 teachers of young people and other women
and as encouragers
 of men in their work of preaching the gospel
 
[Where women are involved in the work of edification
their
contribution to the work of the local church does not go unnoticed.
Finally
let's take a look at...]
 
III. A WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION IN EVANGELISM
 
 A. EVANGELISM IS AN IMPERATIVE WORK...
 1. It is the "Great Commission" given by the Lord to His church 
 - Mt 28:19-20
 2. The gospel is God's power to save
so it must be shared with
 everyone - Ro 1:16; Mk 16:15-16
 -- This is a work that can be done by everyone - cf. Ac 8:1
4
 
 B. WOMEN CAN DO MUCH IN THE AREA OF EVANGELISM...
 1. They can help support those who preach the gospel
 a. As did Mary Magdalene
Joanna
 and Susanna - Lk 8:1-3
 b. Providing much needed hospitality
as did Lydia - Ac 16:15
 2. They can tell others about Christ
 a. Consider the example of the Samaritan woman
who was 
 instrumental in converting many people to Christ - Jn 4:
 28-31
39-42
 b. Then there was Priscilla
who with her husband...
  1) Provided a place for Paul to stay during his ministry at
 Corinth - Ac 18:1-4
 2) Converted Apollos at Ephesus - Ac 18:24-26
 3) Hosted a church at Ephesus in their home - 1 Co 16:19
 4) Hosted a church at Rome in their home - Ro 16:3-5
 c. Even without a word
godly women can lead others to Christ

 including unbelieving husbands - cf. 1 Pe 3:1-2
 -- Many souls have been saved
and churches started
through the
 evangelistic efforts of godly women!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. There is certainly much that a woman can contribute to the work of
 the local church...
 a. The very act of praying
which is no small thing
 b. Beyond that
there is a wide range of activities women can engage
 in without going beyond the limitations placed on them in the 
 public assemblies
 
2. The true measure of a local church is not defined only by what 
 occurs in the assembly...
 a. It includes what the members do day by day
in the home
at work

 in the world
 b. It involves what benevolence
edification
and evangelism takes
 place on a daily
personal basis
 
3. When godly women are active in the service of the Lord
using the
 unique talents and opportunities given to them...
 a. Souls are saved
they are strengthened in the Lord
and cared for
 in times of need
 b. The Lord's church is made stronger
and the kingdom of God is 
 expanded in the world
 
May there always be a surplus of women in the Lord's church like Mary
Magdalene
Dorcas
Lydia
Priscilla
Lois
Eunice
and of course

Phoebe...
 
 "I commend to you Phoebe our sister
who is a servant of the 
 church in Cenchrea
that you may receive her in the Lord in a
 manner worthy of the saints
and assist her in whatever business
 she has need of you; for indeed she has been a helper of many
 and of myself also. (Ro 16:1-2)
 
May we never take for granted nor denigrate the valuable service
rendered by our sisters in Christ
but receive and encourage them in a
way worthy of the saints!

－－《Executable Outlines》