Women in Worship: Embracing Their Unique and Vital Roles in God's Grand Design

In the ancient city of Ravenna, Italy, there are breathtaking mosaics that have been admired for centuries. These intricate artworks, found in the Basilica of San Vitale, are composed of thousands of tiny, colorful tiles, meticulously arranged to form stunning images of biblical scenes and figures.

Behind me you will see some of these images from this Basilica played on our screen.

Imagine standing before one of these mosaics. Up close, you see each individual tile, some bright gold, others deep blue, each one essential to the overall picture. If even a single tile were missing or out of place, the image would lose its perfection and completeness.

In the church, women are like those individual tiles. Each one brings her unique color and shape—her distinct gifts and roles—contributing to the grand design of worship. If we fail to embrace and honor these contributions, the church's mosaic is incomplete.

Just as the artisans of Ravenna carefully placed each tile to create a masterpiece, Paul recognized the worth and value that women played in God’s design for his ministry.

One such woman that he commended in this text is the woman Phoebe.

Romans 16:1–2 ESV

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

In this text, Paul notes some important truths about the woman Phoebe that we must not gloss over.

Phoebe was a Servant Leader

It’s clear that Phoebe was a servant leader in the church of Cenchraea. The Greek word used is diakonon from which we get our word Deacon. It’s clear that Phoebe served in the role of deaconess in the early church.

At this early date it’s regularly accepted that the formal office of Deacon that we have in the church today hadn’t been formalized so this probably isn’t a direct correlation to what we would call a deacon as an official office today, but it is clear that Phoebe served the role of the deaconess to the church.

So what did that entail? She ministered to the needs of others. Those roles would have been to care for fellow believers who were sick, for the poor, for strangers passing through, and for the imprisoned. Women would have been responsible for helping baptize and disciple new women converts and to instruct children and other women in the church.

1 Timothy 3:11 ESV

Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

“Some argue that he is referring to wives of deacons, rather than to an office of women deacons. But it makes no sense that high standards would be specified for the wives of deacons but not for wives of overseers (or bishops, who are also called elders, see Titus 1:5), whose qualifications he has just given in verses 1–7. In this context (3:1–10, 12–13), the office of deaconess is clearly implied. The “likewise” in verse 11 ties the qualifications of these women to those already given for the offices of overseer and deacon. Paul did not refer to those women as deaconesses because diakonos has no feminine form.” John MacArthur

Thus, whether it was a formal role with a title, or just a characterization of who Phoebe is, Phoebe was a deaconess in her actions towards other women. She was a vital part of Paul’s ministry.

Phoebe was an Evangelist

Another key to this passage is that the church at Rome is asked to “receive” Phoebe. Why? Because Phoebe surely is the one who brought this letter to the Romans. She was a courier bringing the letter to them so that the people of Rome could receive the preaching of Paul and be prepared to be a launching point for the gospel even further into the Western part of the Roman Empire. Phoebe, while helping because she had an evangelistic heart.

Phoebe was a Patron.

The word patron has a deep meaning in Roman culture. In our day, we have many social and political programs to help support the financial needs of another, particularly those in ministry in the life of the church.

Phoebe had the spiritual gift of generosity, and she willingly gave to see the kingdom expand. This is further clear because Phoebe as the courier of this letter surely delivered it at great expense to herself as this trip would have been self-funded.

She gave so that people in Rome would hear the gospel, and that those beyond in Spain would hear the good news.

Now note what Paul is not saying, though it has been asserted by some pushing their own theological agenda and adding to the text. This is not the same as being a elder/pastor, and her roles would have been different. If we let scripture interpret scripture, then we see clearly that Phoebe and other women served faithfully, but also served in order.

At Truitt, we are solidly Complementarian in our view of Gender roles especially in the operation of the church.

Complementarians believe that God created male and female as complementary expressions of the image of God—-male and female are counterparts in reflecting his glory. Having two sexes expands the view. Though both sexes bear God’s image fully on their own, each does so in a unique and distinct way. Male and female in relationship reflects truths about Jesus that aren’t reflected by male alone or female alone.

Mary Cassian notes that, "Complementarians believe that males were designed to shine the spotlight on Christ’s relationship to the church (and the LORD God’s relationship to Christ) in a way that females cannot, and that females were designed to shine the spotlight on the church’s relationship to Christ (and Christ’s relationship to the LORD God) in a way that males cannot."

Complementarians believe that God made them male and female (Genesis 1:26-27) and that that actually means something that relates to reality. Male is something more than how I feel when I wake up, it's an expression of the reality of who God is.

And thus, in church, in marriage, and in the world at large, there are differences that are wonderful, beautiful and God revealing that we should embrace. Thus the differences between the sexes isn't about one sex being "better than" another, but about human flourishing in God's world. God created us to need one another and to support one another in unique ways that reveal the nature of God.

This applies to leadership in the church. In the church, men and women are to serve in distinct ways that reflect God and Christ. Thus, men are to lead. We cannot back down from this truth.

1 Corinthians 14:33–34 ESV

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.

This does not mean that women are to be silent in every church setting or even every church service. Earlier in 1 Corinthians Paul notes:

1 Corinthians 11:4–5 ESV

Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.

Notice that he gives instructions on how to pray and prophesy to both men and women. Paul takes it for granted that at least some women will pray and prophesy in public (11:4–5).

Instead, the Apostle has in view women speaking as ordained teachers in the church.

1 Timothy 2:11–15 ESV

Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

Here Paul gives a similar injunction for women to learn in submission and in silence and not “to teach or to exercise authority over a man.” Thus, women are not to be ordained ministers of the Gospel. But we do see clearly that women play a role, and even exercise leadership in the church, though in submission to the elders of their local body.

We see this in our text where Paul speaks of Phoebe, a servant, literally a diakonon. It’s clear that Phoebe is more than just a member of the church in the port city of Corinth. It’s clear she’s a leader, though under the authority of Paul, and presumably under the authority of the Elders of the Church at Cenchreae.

But as a church we must

The Church Must Embrace Women's Vital Roles in God's Grand Design for the Church

It’s essential that in holding to biblical gender roles that we do not abuse or neglect the beautiful mosaic of God’s Grand design at Truitt. So…

What are the biblical roles that women can and should fill in the church, and what are the roles women joyfully and faithfully fill at Truitt?

Teaching Other Women and Children:

Women are encouraged to teach and mentor other women. Titus 2:3-5. In fact, I would say that both sexes are encouraged to mentor and teach others of their same sex under the authority of the local church.

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." (ESV)

Teaching children in Small Groups or in VBS, teaching other women or leading small groups with their spouses are ways that women can and should and do serve faithfully. In doing so they bring honor to God and glory to His kingdom.

Serving in Various Ministries:

Like Phoebe, women are called to serve. Phoebe was first and foremost a servant who wanted to see the gospel proclaimed in the world and worked hard to support and serve her pastors.

Women can and should serve in a wide range of ministries. At Truitt women serve in almost every ministry. There is not a committee or a ministry where women are not joyfully and faithfully serving. Ministries such as hospitality, prayer ministry, administration, music, finance, and much more are blessed by the women who give of their time and talents to our church. Let us never underestimate the power of faithful women committed to the cause of Christ and their leadership in the church.

Deaconess Roles:

Though its debatable whether or not the early church had the formal role of deaconesses, without the title we have many women who serve in practical and supportive roles within the church.

One of the greatest ways our women can serve is by loving the other women in our church. In fact, I see our women's ministry as fulfilling the role of deaconess ministry at Truitt. These ladies serve, support, teach, encourage and love the other women in our church. And we can do more!

Counseling and Discipleship:

We live in a hyper sexualized culture. At the same time, we live in a world where the boundaries between men and women are being destroyed, and I think to the detriment of both men and women.

One of the ways that we can help serve the men and women in our church faithfully is by encouraging women to disciple women and men to disciple other men. In scripture, as we have seen, women are encouraged to engage in counseling and discipleship, providing spiritual guidance and support to other women. This is vital for personal and spiritual growth within the church.

Unfortunately we are too quick to run to doctors and psychiatrist for medical intervention when what we often need is the steady and faithful counsel of a godly man or woman in the church.

Supporting Leadership and Missions:

Finally like Phoebe, are to support church leadership and missions. Phoebe was commended for not only her financial support, but her willingness to go.

I will say this: If it wasn’t for the women of this church I couldn’t do what I do. God has blessed us with many supportive, faithful, godly women who are willing to go above and beyond for the kingdom at Truitt. Women who love our youth and children. Women who do our bulletins and slide shows. Who edit videos, and run the sound and projection. Without these women, we would be in trouble.

And you can serve the leadership and mission of our church too. This might include administrative support, participating in mission trips, and contributing to various outreach programs.

We are about to relaunch our Sunday outreach this summer, hoping to reach people with the good news. We need you to GO and love others.

Women, are a vital part of the work and worship of Truitt. We should, as Paul did thank and embrace the good and faithful witness and work of the women of Truitt Baptist Church. When we do, our worship becomes a more beautiful and complete reflection of God's glory. Just like the Mosaics of Ravenna

Let's ensure that every "tile" in our church is valued, every woman's role embraced, so our collective worship forms a masterpiece that glorifies God, just like the timeless mosaics of Ravenna.

Maybe today, you’re a woman who has not served because you didn’t know how you could serve. Let me encourage you. We need teachers and leaders in every space in our church. Maybe you should embrace who God has made you and joyfully serve.

Maybe today there’s a woman in this church whose faithful service has impacted you that you never have said thank you to. Maybe you should praise God by “commending your sister” in Christ “in a way worthy of the saints”.