What Can Women Do?

Introduction

Good morning. I want to ask you to go ahead and get your Bible out this morning and make your way over to the book of 1 Timothy. Please go in your Bible to 1 Timothy chapter 2. 1 Timothy chapter 2. I’m going to be reading some verses out of 1 Timothy chapter 2 in just a moment. As you turn to 1 Timothy 2, I do want to just take a moment to remind the South Bumbay Church family of a few very important things. First, I want to remind you of what’s going to be taking place in a few weeks, next month, starting on the 13th.

We’re going to be having our gospel meeting from the 13th to the 16th and it’s going to be with a dear friend of mine, brother Roger Shouse. Wonderful gospel preacher, one of my favorite preachers. He’s going to be coming down from Indiana and he’s going to be teaching lessons that are tied to our theme this year, a family serving God. He’s going to be talking about things from the Bible designed to strengthen our families and he is very well qualified to talk about these kinds of things.

He also is going to be teaching day classes. So, in addition to preaching on Monday night, Tuesday night, and Wednesday night, he will be be here at the building from 9:00 or from 10:00 11:00 a.m. teaching classes here. And he did these classes for us when I was in Phoenix. He also did the same thing and they were very well attended and they were just well worth the time. So, if you’re able, I know some of you work and things, you have obligations during the day, but if you’re able to come to the day classes, it’ll be well worth your time.

Roger is a wonderful teacher and preacher. So, be ready for that, get that on your calendar. That’s going to go very very very well. I’m excited about that. And then I also want to remind you that it’s the fourth Sunday of the month. It is the fourth Sunday of the month, which means today at 2:30 we’re going to be studying here at the building another parable of Jesus. And these classes have been well attended this year. And today we’re going to be talking about one of the more controversial and and puzzling parables of Jesus.

And that is the parable of the unjust steward or the unrighteous manager. Lots of questions surrounding that parable, and so I’ll be teaching on that parable today at 2:30. And I hope you can join us for that. That’ll be a great opportunity to dig into the word of God. In fact, speaking of the word of God, I don’t want to begin by asking you as we transition to our lesson from the word of God. I want to begin by asking you what can women do? What can women do? What can women do in the church?

You ever been asked that question before? Our daughter Faith asked me that question a couple of years ago when we were living in Phoenix. A couple of years ago on a Saturday night after we had finished doing her Bible class lesson almost out of nowhere it seemed, she said to me, “Dad, what about the women? What about the women in the church?” She said, “If I become a Christian one day, what will I be able to do? How will I be able to serve? How will I be able to serve God in the church?

Dad, I know I can’t preach. I know I can’t be an elder or pastor in the church. I know I can’t lead singing or give a talk over the Lord’s supper or offer a public prayer or even make announcements, but can I do anything? Can I do anything as a girl in the church?” Our 8-year-old daughter at the time blindsided me with that question. She asked that question, and maybe there are some folks here this morning who have the same question. Maybe there are some young girls here who have the same question. Maybe there are some young girls here who wonder, “Well, why do only the guys get to do stuff?

Why do only the guys get to do stuff on Sunday? Why do only the men get to preside over the Lord’s table and offer public prayers and give scripture readings from the pulpit and preach and teach the auditorium Bible class? Why don’t the women get to do any of that stuff? I mean, here at South Bumby, are our women viewed as second-class citizens? Are women viewed as beneath and not as important as the men? I mean, besides sitting a pew and having a Bible open, can women do anything?

That’s a topic that we need to spend some time talking about because, number one, the Bible talks about it. The Bible actually talks about this subject a lot, and there are many misunderstandings about the role of women in the church. In fact, some of these misunderstandings have led to women often being viewed as undervalued, underutilized, and even confused about what exactly can they do. They ask questions like, “Can I ask a question and participate in a Bible class if men are present?

Is it Is it okay for me to have my expenses covered and be and to be paid if a church invites me to come out and lead in a series of classes for women? Is it okay for me to load slides into the computer on Sunday for the preacher? Or to be able to advance the slides during on the PowerPoint during the singing or even to be able to help a man who is not a Christian understand the gospel? Can I do that kind of stuff? These are real questions. That often that are often asked by good and well-meaning sisters and while we as individuals may have all kinds of thoughts and opinions about these things, at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is God.

1. What Women Are Not Allowed to Do

It’s what God says and what God allows. It’s what God authorizes and prescribes in his word. And so now that we have this month had lessons on elders and deacons in the church, let’s open up the Bible for a few minutes. And let’s dig and let’s study and let’s be honest and see exactly what God says women can do in the church. In fact, probably the best place to begin when it comes to answering this question is by first looking at what they can’t do.

What they are not allowed to do according to what God says in the Bible. And so you in 1 Timothy 2, look at verse 11. In 1 Timothy chapter 2, beginning verse 11, the Apostle Paul has some things to say to women in the church. And he says in verse 11, “A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissive. But I do not allow a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man but to remain quiet. For it was Adam who was first created and then Eve. And it was not Adam who was deceived but the woman being deceived fell into transgression but women will be preserved through the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint.

So, I want you to ponder on those verses for just a moment or two. These verses that we just read from are often viewed as some of the most controversial verses in all the Bible. They are especially viewed as some of the more controversial verses in the books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. They are controversial because in them women are prohibited from doing something that men can do in the church and that is preach. That is preach and teach in a mixed assembly.

By mixed assembly, we mean an assembly like this one we’re in this morning. We mean an assembly where both men and women are present. We mean an assembly where the church has come together. That’s what Paul’s talking about in the context. How do I know that? Well, drop down to chapter 3 and verse 15. Look at chapter 3 and verse 15. Remember, chapter breaks are not inspired by God. They were added later by men. The Bible’s inspired, chapter breaks are not.

And sometimes chapter breaks can do us a disservice. They can cause us to miss the context of certain passages. And so, here’s the context of what Paul is talking about here. In 1 Timothy chapter 3 and in verse 15, in 1 Timothy chapter 3 and verse 15, Paul says, “But in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the what? The church of the living God, which is the pillar and the support of the truth.

That’s what Paul is talking about in the context. In the context of these verses, Paul is talking about the church. He is talking about how Christians are to conduct themselves in the church. He’s talking about spiritual roles in the church and the relationships that are to exist between brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul says that when it comes to the church, in this case, when it comes to the assembly of the church, women are not allowed by God to teach over men.

They are not allowed by God to exercise authority over men. Instead of teaching over men or exercise authority over men, Paul says they are to remain quiet. What does that mean? What does Paul mean in verse 12? When he says that women in the church are to remain quiet. Well, listen very carefully. That word quiet that Paul uses there comes from a Greek word that points to demeanor. It points to her demeanor. It does not mean that she’s to be absolutely silent in the assembly.

It does not mean that she cannot utter a sound. It does not mean that she can’t sing or confess her sins or say amen at the end of a prayer or ask a question or make a comment in a Bible class. No, what this word quiet refers to is a woman, a Christian woman possessing a quiet demeanor. It is referring to her having a submissive demeanor. She’s not loud and rebellious and attempting to lead and take charge and be over men in the assembly. That’s what Paul means.

in that verse and that is why young people you will never see a woman here at South Bundy preach in a mix a mixed assembly from this pulpit. That is why young people women here at South Bundy don’t teach the auditorium Bible class. And that’s why they don’t lead singing. Or give public prayers or preside over the Lord’s table or give an invitation on a Wednesday night. The reason why women here don’t do those kinds of things is not because we don’t like women.

It’s not because here we believe they are second-class kingdom citizens. It’s not because the elders or the deacons or the preachers are just a bunch of male chauvinists. No, the reason why women don’t do those kinds of things in the assembly is because of the Bible. It’s because here we’re trying to follow the Bible. We’re trying to do what the Bible says. The Bible says that women are not to teach. Teach over or lead over men and that does not mean that a Christian woman can start, own, and run her own business with male employees.

That does not mean that a Christian woman can’t run for public office. Or that she can’t be a high school history class teacher or geometry teacher or a biology teacher at a public school. It does not mean that she can’t be the president of a PTA or an HOA. Paul’s not dealing with that kind of stuff in this text. He’s not dealing with occupational roles. Or political roles or government roles, or education roles, or community roles. No, in this text, Paul is dealing with spiritual roles.

2. Because of the Order of Creation

He’s dealing with a woman’s role in the church. He’s dealing with how a woman is to conduct herself in the church. Paul says in the church, God wants male leadership, and there’s a reason why. Go back to the text. Verse 13 again. 1 Timothy 2:13. After saying that a woman is not to exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet, in verse 13, he explains why. For, that’s an explanation of the previous verses. It was Adam who was first created and then Eve.

And it was not Adam who was deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into a transgression. But, women will be preserved in the bearing of children if they continue in faith and love and sanctity with self-restraint. You know, so often we hear people say, and maybe you’ve heard this, that these instructions that Paul gives here concerning women’s roles in the church are rooted in culture. You ever heard that before? They say during the time of the Apostle Paul, during the time of the first century, women were treated differently.

They were treated poorly, they were treated unfairly, but now times are different. Now, CULTURE IS DIFFERENT. SOCIETY is different. Now, the status of women has changed, and they can do everything that men can do in the church. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard that argument before, but notice that’s not the argument Paul makes. That’s not the reasoning that Paul gives there in that text. The reason why Paul says that women can’t do the things that men can do in the church has nothing to do with what was going on in the New Testament world.

It has nothing to do with what was going on in the culture of that time. Instead, the reasoning Paul gives here is because of the roles that God gave men and women in the beginning. It’s because of the order of creation. It’s because God made men to do certain things. And he made women to do certain things. God made men first, and he made them to lead. He made them to lead. And the two most important areas of life, he made them to lead in the family, as we’ve talked about this year, and he also has made them to lead in the church.

He’s made them to meet qualifications to be appointed to leadership in the church. God made men to lead. They were made to lead in the family. They were made to lead in the church. And in verse 15, he says that he made women to do something that men can’t do, and that’s have babies. That’s bear children. That’s carry life in their body and bring life into this world. The last time I checked, men, we can’t do that. God made men and women different, Paul says.

He made them with different roles and responsibilities. And I know I know that it is not politically correct for me to say that from the pulpit. I know that. I know that that many could may consider this teaching to be old-fashioned and outdated and and misogynistic. I know that what Paul says here is not embraced by our culture and our society today for the most part. I understand that, but it needs to be embraced by us. It may not be embraced by our culture and society. It may be considered outdated and old-fashioned and misogynistic, but it needs to be embraced by people who claim to be followers of Jesus.

It needs to be embraced by the people of God. It doesn’t matter how our culture feels about this. It doesn’t matter how our country feels about this. We as Christians must always stand with God. We got to stand with the word of God. We must never compromise what God clearly prohibit prohibits women from doing in the church. We can’t ever compromise that. God made men and women with different roles and responsibilities both in the home and in the church.

3. God Values Women

And so, the question still remains, what exactly can they do? We’ve talked about what they can’t do, but what exactly can they do? Well, as we begin answering this question, I need to first point this out to you. God values women. He values women. He loves women just as much he love as he loves men. He does not view women as second-class kingdom citizens. In fact, God often commends the service of women throughout the New Testament. Have you ever noticed that before?

For example, in Romans chapter 16, as the Apostle Paul begins wrapping up this amazing epistle, if you remember, he wraps this letter up by sending greetings to numerous disciples and praising them for their work. He commends disciples all throughout that chapter for the wonderful work they were doing in the cause of Jesus Christ. In fact, the very interesting thing about that list of names that he gives in that chapter is many of those people are women.

They’re sisters in the church. Sisters like Phoebe, who is called a servant in the church of Cenchrea, according to verse one. And they are sisters like Priscilla, who are mentioned in verse three. And Mary, who’s mentioned in verse number six. And Junias, who’s mentioned in verse number seven. And Julia and Olympus, who are mentioned in verse number 15. Those are all the names of women. Paul is letting us know that in this church there were many faithful Christian women who were making a positive impact in the kingdom of God.

They were serving in the kingdom of God. They were doing so many wonderful things for the Lord. And then you add to that what we find in Luke chapter 8, the first three verses. We don’t have time to read that. But if you jot that down and go home and read that later, you’ll see that as Jesus went out into the world, went out into his community, preaching the gospel, talking about the kingdom of God, in addition to being accompanied by his 12 apostles, Jesus also had a lot of women with him.

He had a lot of women with him. He had a lot of women who were traveling with him and serving him. He had a lot of women who were going into their pockets personally and financially supporting his ministry. That’s what those verses say. Jesus had women with him. By his side while he went out preaching the gospel. And then you remember Dorcas. In Acts chapter 9 and verse 36, we read about this woman, this Christian woman named Dorcas, who who made such an impact on people through her kindness and acts of charity.

And then in Luke chapter 10, verses 38 through 42, we read about Martha and Mary who were the sisters of Lazarus, the man that Jesus raised from the dead, and they were always ministering to Jesus. They were always serving Jesus whenever he traveled through the village of Bethany. And then in Acts chapter 12 and verse 12, we read about a woman named Mary who was the mother of John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, and she was a very wealthy woman, and she opened up her home for hospitality and to give Christians a place to gather and pray to God when they were going through a time of persecution.

And then in Acts chapter 16, verses 14 and 15, we read about we read about Lydia in Philippi and how Lydia was among the first converts in that city, and she extended hospitality to the Apostle Paul and Silas while they were preaching the gospel in city. And then in Acts 18, 24 through 26, we read again about Priscilla. And how Priscilla served in so many different ways alongside her husband. In fact, in that context, the Bible tells us that both her and her husband, Priscilla and Aquila, helped Apollos.

They grounded him in the truth. They helped him become a better servant of God. They taught him together. And then in Philippians chapter 4, verses 2 and 3, Paul mentions two sisters in Philippi, Euodia and Syntyche, and he calls them fellow laborers in the kingdom. I could give you many more examples, but that makes the point. All of these examples show us the same thing. All of these examples show us that women in the first century played a huge role in advancing and promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

And the reason why they could do that is found back in Galatians 3. Go back to Galatians 3 again, please. Where Sherman Michael read from in Galatians chapter 3 and in verse 26. In Galatians chapter 3 and in verse 26. The Apostle Paul, as he in this context is talking about how we’re now justified by faith in Jesus and not by works of the old law. He says in verse number 26, “For you’re all sons of God, you all you’re all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

For all of you that’s male and female who were baptized into the Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There’s neither Jew nor Greek, there’s neither slave nor free man, there’s neither male nor female, for you’re all one.” You’re all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you’re Abraham’s descendants, heirs. You’re all heirs according to the promise. So, I want you to notice how the end of verse 28, Paul uses powerful language.

He says that it doesn’t matter if you are male or female, you’re all one in Christ Jesus. What does that mean? Well, that language that language one in Christ Jesus means that even though men and women have different roles in the family and in the church, they both get to enjoy the same blessings in Christ. They both get to enjoy the same spiritual inheritance. They both get to be heirs to Christ. They both are equally favored and viewed as important by God.

4. Teaching Our Kids and Teaching Us in Song

Translation, God values men and women. He values them equally. He loves them equally. But, the question remains, if they can’t do stuff from the pulpit on Sunday. If they can’t teach and preach men in the public assembly, if the Bible says they can’t be elders or lead singing in a mixed assembly, then what in the world can they do? What kingdom work can women do? Well, let’s begin here. By first talking about the important work they do of teaching our kids.

Can we start there? Teaching our kids. For many young people here, particularly for many young people here who are not Christians, from 9:30 to 10:20, if you were here, if your parents brought you to Bible class, then you were likely taught by a woman. You were likely taught by a woman during that time bracket. You were taught by a godly sister who invested her time and her energy to studying and praying and preparing to come here and teach you the word of God.

We have so many women here who invest themselves in teaching our kids. In fact, some of the best teachers we have in this church are women. They are women who are doing the very important work of planting the word of God in the hearts of young people and help train and develop future disciples of Jesus Christ. God bless them. So many women here teach our kids the word of God. And not only do they teach our kids, you know who else they teach? They also teach all of us.

That’s right. I said that. They teach all of us, not in authoritative kind of way, but in the way Paul describes in Ephesians chapter 5. Look at Ephesians chapter 5. In Ephesians chapter 5, this is what the Bible says. In Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 19. In Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 19, Paul says, “Speaking” This is talking about things going on in the worship assembly. “Speaking to one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”

Notice how all Christians here are commanded to sing. Do you see that? We’re all commanded to sing in the worship assembly. And when we sing these spiritual songs, when we sing in our worship to God, we teach each other. We teach each other spiritual truths. We teach each other the will of God. You know what that means practically, brothers? That means practically today when brother Jim led us in singing, when brother Shawn led us in singing we’re being we’re also being taught by women.

5. Encouraging, Serving Families, Evangelizing, Teaching Younger Women

Yes, we were. We were being taught by women in the assembly through their singing with a submissive spirit. That’s what the scripture says. Women teach us through their singing. And they also exercise the gift of encouragement. In Acts chapter 9 and verse number 39. You remember that lady Dorcas I told you about earlier? Listen to what the scripture says about her. I love reading this. In Acts chapter 9 and in verse number 39 she passes away. And Peter is called to come out to these grieving Christians, the Apostle Peter.

And it says in Acts 9 and verse 39, “So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived they brought him into the into the upper room and all the widows stood beside him weeping and showing all the tunics and garments that Dorcas used to make while she was with them.” Do you see how when this woman died her impact was felt? Sometimes there are some Christians in a local church that when they die you can feel right away the impact of that loss. And you see that with Dorcas here.

She made an impact by giving, by serving, by encouraging so many Christians in that area. And we have women here in this church who do the same thing. Whenever someone loses a loved one many of the sisters here are often among the first ones to contact those grieving people and see if they need some food. Whenever someone is in the hospital sick many of our sisters are among the first ones here to step up and visit and minister to those people. Whenever someone needs a ride to the doctor’s office or maybe there’s a shut-in here who needs someone to come and clean their home and just sit with them and give them company for a few minutes, many of the sisters here say I will do it.

They step up and minister to those needs. So many sisters here are involved in the work, the valuable work of encouraging God’s people. And then let’s not forget about the most important work God has given them and it goes all the way back to the beginning and that’s the work of serving their families. That cannot be undervalued. The work of serving their families the work of being godly wives and godly mothers, the work of teaching their children when they’re very young the Bible and teaching them how to pray and wrestling with them in the pew and teaching them how to behave and worship God with with reverence.

That’s important work, brothers and sisters. It’s very, very important work. It’s important to the future of the church. It is important to helping young people develop hearts that will be receptive to the gospel one day. In fact, if you’re like me, then it’s very likely that because of that work, because of that work of a godly woman, you’re even here today. You love the Lord today. You’re trying to serve the Lord today. You’re zealous and you’re excited about serving Jesus because of the work of a godly mother or grandmother so long ago.

Godly women serve their families. And I need to add to the list how they’re also like men are commanded to evangelize. They’re commanded to evangelize and try to win the lost. And I need to add to the list that they’re commanded to shine their lights. To be a positive example in the lives of people, in the lives of those in their community, on their jobs, all around them. And they’re also required, older women are required to teach the younger women. That’s Titus chapter 2. That’s an important work.

Older Christian women teaching younger Christian women how to be godly, how to love the Lord, how to be a godly mother, how to be a godly wife. The Bible gives that responsibility to older women in the church. And then, what about the work of prayer? And how we have sisters here who are praying all the time, praying for the work, praying for the sick, praying for evangelistic efforts. We need those prayers. Thank you, sisters, if you’re doing prayers every single day and then go in your Bible now to Mark chapter 14, please.

6. She Has Done What She Could

Look at Mark chapter 14. Because in Mark chapter 14, we read about what happened at the home of Simon the leper and Jesus is there with Mary and Martha and Lazarus and we know it’s them because of what John tells us in his account. But Mary here is going to take some very expensive perfume if you’re familiar with the story and she’s going to break it open and she’s going to anoint Jesus’ body. She’s going to try to honor him with something expensive and valuable and the apostles, especially Judas, doesn’t like that.

He’s like, “W- W- This is a waste. We could We could have sold this perfume and given the money to the poor.” He really wanted to steal. And Jesus says in Mark 14 and verse 6, as this woman is being persecuted by the apostles. In Mark 14 and verse 6, Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you bother her? She’s done a good deed to me. For you always have the poor with you and whenever you wish, you can do good to them, but you do not always have me. She has done what she could.

She’s anointed my body beforehand for burial.” This woman is being persecuted for her service and Jesus stands for her. He stands up for her. He stands with her. He says, “Leave her alone. She has done what she could.” She has done what she is suited for in that moment to honor him and to bring glory to his name. She used a very expensive bottle of perfume to anoint his body. She did what she could and for our sisters here today doing what they can.

May involve sending a card to encourage people when they’re grieving or to help help them celebrate a birthday or anniversary. It may involve making and delivering food to a sick disciple. Or sending weekly texts to our elders and to our deacons to encourage them, or using their home to extend hospitality and allow Christians into their home and spend time together, or decorating classrooms, or copying Bible class materials, or getting here early on the Lord’s day to greet guests, or advancing the slides on the PowerPoint during the singing, or leading a ladies Bible class, or inviting many lost people as they can to come here during our gospel meeting and hear the word of God.

Conclusion

There just so many important works for good, godly sisters in the church. And brothers and sisters, hear me carefully. That reality challenges us. It challenges me. It challenges both men and women. For men, for brothers, it challenges us to be careful. We need to be careful. We need to be very, very careful. We need to avoid standing in the way of things that God authorizes women to do. It challenges us to avoid minimizing the things women do. And avoid thinking we’re so special because we get to preach.

Oh, we get to teach the auditorium Bible class, or we get to be church leaders, or preside over the Lord’s table, or lead singing, or give a talk on a Wednesday night. While those are important leadership works in the kingdom, I don’t deny that. At the same time, we got to understand that the stuff we do publicly is not the sum total of Christianity. What I do behind this pulpit is not the sum total of Christianity. They’re not the sum total of all the works that need to be done in the kingdom of God.

They are not more important than the works that God has given women to do. We need to understand that. This challenges us as men. And it also challenges women. It challenges sisters. It challenges every sister to not be bitter because you were not made to do the same things that men do in the church. It challenges women not to be bitter because God didn’t make you to lead in the church. Don’t be bitter because God didn’t make you to be a shepherd or a preacher or to serve in the office of a deacon.

Don’t be bitter about those things. Instead, embrace and enjoyfully do what you can. Do what God made you to do. See all the ways that you can serve. And involve yourself and bring glory to God according to his word. Always remember, we’re all on the same team. We’re part of the same family. We’re not competition. We’re serving the same king. We’re all trying to get to the same place. God has given men and women important works in the kingdom. But maybe you sit there and you realize that none of this even applies to you this morning because you’re not even in the kingdom.

Maybe you sit there and realize that you’re on the outside looking in and you want to be part of the work of God here in this place. If so, then we want to we want to help you with that this morning. If you need to respond to the gospel for the first time through faith and repentance and baptism for remission of sins, we certainly will help you with that. We’ll baptize you this morning. You can be added to the family of God. Or if you are a Christian that’s wandered away and you want to come back to your father through repentance, we’ll be more than happy to pray with you and pray for you.

There’s anyone here this morning who needs to respond to the gospel either for the first time or to come back to him again. This song is for you. Come to the front. Let’s stand. Let’s sing together.