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Jennifer Hayes Yates

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Women Who Serve in Ministry

April 7, 2021 By Jennifer H. Yates Leave a Comment

7 Apr
Women Who Serve in Ministry

You have a call on your life.

If you love Jesus and have decided to follow Him, then He has equipped you with both spiritual gifts and natural talents that are to be used to further the gospel and build the kingdom.

You are called to make disciples (Matthew 28:19), to teach (Matthew 28:20), and to preach the gospel (2 Timothy 4:2).

How you fulfill that calling can look differently for different women and in different seasons of life. For many years, I made little disciples in my home. As a teacher in Christian education, I also made disciples among my students.

I have taught and made disciples in my church, both working with children and youth.

Now, God is calling me to share the gospel, to make disciples, and to encourage others in their spiritual growth through writing and teaching other women.

As women who want to serve Jesus well, we can sometimes struggle with our place, especially when controversy surrounds the issue. My desire is not to tell you what to believe but to give you the bigger picture of how Scripture informs our beliefs.

I have spent this past year studying and writing about women in the Bible because this topic was of interest to me. Let me encourage you to dig into the Word as well and to study these passages for yourself.

I love these 50 words Paul shares in his letter to the Romans, because they shed light on his support for women in ministry.

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.”

Romans 16:1, NIV 84

First, Paul calls her “our sister.” Phoebe was a fellow believer and part of the family of God.

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:26-28

Second, Paul calls her “a servant of the church in Cenchrea.” The word translated servant is diakonos, which means servant or minister. This role probably referred to her ministry to other women, possibly through baptizing, teaching, and caring for the needs of widows and orphans.

“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them, Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.”

Matthew 20:25-26

Third, Paul calls her a helper, which from the original Greek, can be translated benefactor or patron. More than likely, Phoebe was a woman of financial means who helped support the spread of the gospel, as many women had supported Jesus.

“After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Luke 8:1-3

Just as Jesus had women disciples who followed Him and supported Him–unheard of in His culture–Paul also encouraged women in ministry.

Let’s not forget, Phoebe was chosen to deliver the epistle to the Romans. Paul entrusted her with this important letter that spells out the gospel: how to be saved, the relationship between Jew and Gentile in God’s plan of redemption, and what it means to walk in the righteousness of God.

Travel during those days was dangerous, and it was a good 700 miles by both sea and land to get from Cenchrea to Rome. We know from Paul’s other letters that he sent them in the hands of people he knew and trusted. Phoebe fell into that category.

Dear sister in Christ, I understand the controversy that surrounds our role in ministry, but I believe we each need to get into the Word and pray and seek the Lord to guide us in how we fulfill the Great Commission.

Yes, there are some difficult passages in the New Testament in which Paul seems to be saying that women should be quiet in the church. We must be sure to study these passages and understand them in the proper context.

Paul also commended women for their service as fellow workers (Romans 16, Philippians 4:2-3). He assumed women were praying and prophesying in church (1 Corinthians 11:5).

And in fact, when he says women should learn in quietness and submission (1 Timothy 2:11) and ask their husband at home if they have questions (1 Corinthians 14:33-35), he is actually going beyond the cultural norms of that time to say that women should be learning the Word at all!

Both the Old and New Testaments are full of references to women who served God with the talents and gifts God gave them. You can read about some of them here, here, and here.

Sound interpretation involves considering the whole counsel of Scripture, not just a few passages that speak to an issue.

And we have already covered in many posts this past year how Jesus elevated women to a status that was definitely counter-cultural in His time.

Bottom line, it’s our job to seek the Lord and His Word rather than just be informed by someone else’s idea of what is right and wrong. Let’s not get caught up in the emotionalism of the moment, but rather let’s be committed to prayer and Bible study so that we can serve God well.

There are many ways to fulfill the Great Commission as women. How we do that is secondary to the reason for it, and that is the gospel message, which is desperately needed in our world today.

So, I hope that I have given you a desire to seek the Lord, to study His Word, and to serve Him with your whole heart in a way that brings Him glory. Let’s allow God to use this struggle for His glory as we commit ourselves anew to serve Him well.

Want to learn more about women in the Bible? Get my book Just Like Us: 7 Ways Biblical Women Were Just Like Us (And Why It Matters).

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Filed Under: Bible Study, Uncategorized, Women Tagged With: Bible studies for Women, Biblical Women Just Like Us, Christian devotional for women, Jennifer H Yates, Jennifer Hayes Yates, Women and Jesus, women in the Bible, women of the Bible

« Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

About Jennifer H Yates

About Jennifer H Yates

Hey, friends! I'm Jen--wife, mama, and empty-nester. I love to write, read, and drink coffee, especially with friends.

I've found that many women struggle to find time and focus to grow their relationship with God through studying His Word. I encourage and challenge women with practical strategies and helpful resources for quality study in as little as fifteen minutes a day.

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We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click

We all have a place in the Kingdom. ⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an
"Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel--the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 1:1-4, NIV).
All of Scripture, all of history, all of time has been about Jesus Christ, Son of God. 
Do you know Him? You can. His life, death, and resurrection are historical fact. All so that you could know Him and have eternal life.
Jesus loves you! ❤

"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee fo
"The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment" (Luke 23:55-56).
Can you imagine the horror these women had witnessed? Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and many others had followed Jesus and helped support his ministry (Luke 8:3).
Now all their hopes had been crushed as they stood at a distance and witnessed Jesus' agonizing death on the cross (Luke 23:49). His own mother had to stand by helplessly as her son cried out, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
As we women often do, they looked for a way to still serve Him, even in His death, by preparing His body for burial. Sometimes, it's the little things.
When our hearts are breaking and we think we can't take another breath, sometimes we need something in our hands--a burial spice, a casserole, a text that says I'm here.
We can't make the hurt go away, but we can channel it into something useful, something hopeful, something comforting.
As they rested on the Sabbath, I'm sure they anticipated the opportunity to see Him one more time, to minister to Him once more with the spices and perfumes they had prepared.
Hearts crushed, hands open.
Grieved but grateful. Resting but ready.
Because if there was anything they knew for sure, it's that Jesus was no ordinary man. And when hearts are turned toward Him, anything can happen.

God never called us to “blind” faith. We may b
God never called us to “blind” faith. We may believe without seeing, but faith is being sure and certain of what we don’t see, not what we don’t know. ⁠
The Israelites had historical facts on which to base their faith. That’s why God constantly told them to remember what He had done and tell it to their children. Their faith was in what they knew to be true, even though they didn’t always see it with their own eyes. ⁠
We, too, have facts on which to base our faith. The Bible is historically accurate and verified. If ever we needed to know what we believe, it’s now.⁠
⁠
Click link in bio to read post.⁠
⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus

It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like mo
It’s something I have a hard time doing. Like most women, when I do get still, my mind is still going 90 mph. I’m so distracted by all the preparations for the day. Sounds a little like Martha, who, by the way, is the one who invited Jesus over in the first place. But like Martha, I have felt the Lord’s gentle rebuke. He wants me at His feet. And really, that’s where I want to be. It’s not about time and focus. It’s about heart and desire. The rest will come. ❤️ #growingyourfaith #jesusfirst #wordbeforeworld #seekhimfirst #javawithjesus #womenintheword

Do you really want to grow your faith? What we fee
Do you really want to grow your faith? What we feed the most is what grows the most. 🍽️⁠
⁠
What are you feeding?⁠
⁠
Click the link in my bio to read this week's post.⁠
#prayerwarrior #bedeeplyrooted #prayerispowerful #praywithoutceasing #christianpost #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #growingyourfaith #womenoftheworld #intheword #lampandlight #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus ⁠


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