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  

        ¶ Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be    

        submissive, as the law also says.35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own           

        husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.36 ¶ Or did the word of God come

        originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or

        spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.

b. Because of what is written in 1 Ti 2:11-12 

         Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have

         authority over a man, but to be in silence.

-- Such limitations notwithstanding, the early church benefited greatly by the contributions of many women

a. The service of Phoebe, a helper of Paul and many others - Ro 16:1-2  

    ¶ I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea,2 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.

b. The help of Priscilla, even risking her life for Paul - Ro 16:3-4  

        Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,4 who risked their own necks for my life, to

        whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

c. One named Mary, who bestowed "much labor" -  Ro 16:6

d. Twin sisters, Tryphena and Tryphosa - Ro 16:12  

        Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, who have labored in the Lord.

e. The beloved Persis - also in Ro 16:12  

    Greet the beloved Persis, who labored much in the Lord.

-- 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...]

A. BENEVOLENCE IS AN IMPORTANT WORK...

1. It is a mark of pure and undefiled religion - Ja 1:27  

        Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their

        trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

2. Ministering to brethren who are sick, poor, imprisoned, etc., is a service rendered to the Lord Himself -  

        Mt 25:34-40

        "Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit

        ¶ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can       

         faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,16 and one of you says to

         them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed

         for the body, what does it profit?

        1 Jn 3:17  But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart

         from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

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  Having then gifts differing

         according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to

         our faith;7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts,

         in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with

        cheerfulness.

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   ¶ At Joppa there was a certain

         disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable

         deeds which she did. 37 But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had

        washed her, they laid her in an upper room. 38 And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had

        heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

         39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room.

         And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made

         while she was with them.

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 - as in  1 Ti 5:9-10

            Do not let a widow under sixty years old be taken into the number, and not unless she has been

            the wife of one man, 10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has

             lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has

             diligently followed every good work.

[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...]

    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  

            but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--

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" -

    c. "Comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak" -

-- Some men were known for their work in this area; e.g., Barnabas -  

    And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement),

    a Levite of the country of Cyprus,

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;  

                when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your       

                 grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. and in

        b. Older women can and should teach younger women - Ti 2:3-5  

            the older women likewise, that they be reverent  in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much

           wine, teachers of good things-- 4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to

           love their children, 5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that

          the word of God may not be blasphemed.

        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...]

A. EVANGELISM IS AN IMPERATIVE WORK...

1. It is the "Great Commission" given by the Lord to His church - Mt 28:19-20

            "Go therefore and make  disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of

             the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

             and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

2. The gospel is God's power to save, so it must be shared with everyone - Ro 1:16;

            ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone

             who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

-- This is a work that can be done by everyone -

            Ac 8:1,4 ¶ Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the

             church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and

             Samaria, except the apostles.4 ¶ Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching

             the word.

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  

                ¶ Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and

                 bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,2 and certain

                 women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities--Mary called Magdalene, out of whom

                 had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna,           

                and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

    b. Providing much needed hospitality, as did Lydia - Ac 16:15

             And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to

             be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us.

2. They can tell others about Christ

    a. Consider the example of the Samaritan woman, who was instrumental in converting many people to Christ

             eat." and in

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

            ¶ After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew

             named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla

    2) Converted Apollos at Ephesus - Ac 18:24-26 

            ¶ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man and mighty in the

             Scriptures, came to Ephesus.25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being      

             fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things of the Lord, though he knew only the

             baptism of John.26 So he began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Aquila and Priscilla heard

             him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

    3) Hosted a church at Ephesus in their home -

    4) Hosted a church at Rome in their home -

            Ro 16:3-5  Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their own necks

             for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. 5 Likewise

             greet the church that is in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia

             to Christ.

c. Even without a word, godly women can lead others to Christ, including unbelieving husbands - cf. 1 Pet  3:1-2

             ¶ Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word,

             they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste

             conduct accompanied by fear.

-- Many souls have been saved, and churches started, through the evangelistic efforts of godly women!

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.

    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!