Is There a Phoebe in the House?

Text: Romans 16:1-2 (ESV)

Sermon in a Sentence

God uses women in places and positions of influence to advance the kingdom of God.

Introduction: Honoring an Unsung Hero of the Faith

Church family, every now and then, God gives us a gem in Scripture. And it might be short, but it's powerful. Today, we meet one of those hidden heroes—a woman named Phoebe. She doesn't have a long list of miracles. There's no detailed story of her life. But in just two verses, Paul paints a picture of a woman who was strong, faithful, and deeply invested in the work of the Lord.

Now, don’t miss this—Paul begins his final chapter of Romans with her name. That means something. That means before he greets anybody else, before he signs off, he honors a woman who’s been holding it down. That ought to make us sit up straight and lean in, because there’s something about Phoebe that still speaks to the church today. When you read the last chapter of Romans, Paul mentions several other woman:

Priscilla — early church leader that was mention six times in the New Testament

Mary — her home served as a meeting place for the church.

Junia — they supported Paul’s ministry

Tryphaena — church leader

Tryphosa — church leader

Persis — church leader

Rufus’ mother — surrogate mother for Paul

Julia — served as a meeting place for a house church

Women play a vital role in the advancement of the early church…women are more than just “Marthas” that work all the time and “Marys” that sit at the feet of Christ all the time. They are important to the universal church

I. Historical Context: Phoebe the Deacon of Cenchreae

Now let’s step into Phoebe’s world. She was from Cenchreae, a bustling port city just outside of Corinth. Think trade, think travel, think movement. This was no quiet village. It was a center of commerce and culture—and in the middle of that, the church was growing. And right there in that church was Phoebe.

Paul calls her a "deacon" of the church. Now we need to understand, this wasn’t just a helper role. Paul used that same word to describe himself. Diakonos means servant, but not just any servant. It means someone appointed to serve, someone with responsibility, someone carrying weight. That means Phoebe was a leader.

But Paul doesn’t stop there. He says she was also a "benefactor," a "prostatis" in the Greek. That word means patron, supporter, protector. Phoebe was a woman of means and influence, and she used her resources to bless the church and support the ministry. She wasn’t just serving—she was sustaining.

And let’s not skip this detail: most scholars agree that Phoebe carried the very letter of Romans to the church in Rome. She delivered it, possibly read it aloud, and explained it. That’s trust. That’s leadership. That’s legacy.

II. Character Traits of Phoebe

Let’s talk about what made Phoebe stand out.

1. Faithful

Phoebe was consistent. She wasn’t seeking the spotlight, but Paul saw her. Her work, her presence, her consistency stood out. She didn’t just serve when it was easy—she served when it counted. She was faithful in the little and in the much.

2. Generous

She was a benefactor. She gave. Not just money—she gave her energy, her time, her attention. She gave to Paul himself. That means she saw the mission of the church and said, “Count me in.” She didn’t hold back. She sowed into Kingdom work.

3. Courageous

Think about the journey she took. Traveling across Roman territory, carrying a sacred letter, possibly explaining its contents to people who may or may not have accepted her. That took boldness. That took courage. Phoebe wasn’t just saved; she was sent.

4. Servant-Hearted

She bore the title of "deacon" because she embodied what it means to serve. She didn’t demand a position—she fulfilled a purpose. She led from beneath. She followed the example of Christ who said, "I came not to be served, but to serve."

III. Application: Living Like Phoebe Today

So what does this mean for us, church? How do we walk like Phoebe?

1. We Must Celebrate and Support Women in Ministry

If Paul could honor a woman in leadership, we must too. The church is full of gifted, called, anointed women who are leading, teaching, and serving. And it's our job to support, celebrate, and make room for the Phoebes among us. This secular society spends so much time denigrating and dismissing women and their achievement.

Even in the church, women they are the majority are denigrated, dismissed and delegated to secondary status. The world and the church purports a patriarchal, mysogonistic culture that believe that men lead and women follow. Here, their ideas, thoughts and voices are ignored because of a “the men” are talking attitude. What would the church, specifically the Black church be without the “women?” The word commend here does not mean “good job,” the word here is (συνίστημι) synistēmi, meaning to indicate approval of a person or event, with the implication that others adopt the same attitude.

“When God approves someone, then, God expects us to have the same attitude toward those He is called and approved.”

Dr. Marc James

from the sermon Is There a Phoebe in the House

It is important that we be welcoming to those God sends to help us in ministry. The word welcoming here is prosechomai (προσδέχομαι), meaning to receive favorably or in friendly manner.

How you receive people determines if you will retain people?

Dr. Marc James

from the sermon Is There a Phoebe in the House

2. We Must Be Faithful in Our Assignment

You might not be famous. You might not get recognition. But faithfulness is noticed by God. Do what He called you to do. Carry what He gave you to carry. Whether you're up front or in the background, do it with excellence. The apostle Paul refers to Phoebe as a servant or diakonos, one who serves as a deacon, with responsibility to care for the needs of believer. She held a place of prominence in the local church. Deacons cared for the needy and provided financial oversight, and based on her socioeconomic status, she mostly like provided financial oversight. Some scholars believed the position Paul refers to in Rom. 16:1 is the same office of deaconess attested in third - and - fourth century church. The latter office was mainly responsible for caring for the sick, the poor, and other women…if this were the case, then Phoebe’s leadership and ministerial responsibilities would have been quite limited compared to her male counterparts. The term translated “deacon” in our text is no different from the titles given to men, so it would be illegitimate to assume that Phoebe filled a less prominent role than a male deacon simply because of her gender. Your assignment is more that just a nursery worker, fellowship hall attendant, Sunday school teacher, or just to over the women’s ministry, or other gender specific roles….God has given you an assignment and he has anointed you for that assignment…Joel 2:28-32

3. We Must Use Our Resources for Kingdom Impact

Don’t sit on what God gave you. Use your gifts. Use your voice. Use your influence. Use your story. Just like Phoebe, you can become a benefactor—someone who fuels the mission. Phoebe may not have been one of the twelve, but it is believed that she was wealthy…Are you a giver or a taker in the ministry? When God prospers you, who is a benefactor of your prosperity other than you? The reason God blessed Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 was because he knew other would benefit from his blessing. The reason God used the widow at Zarephath to feed Elijah because God trusted her with her last in 1 Kings 17:8-16, and she benefited when Elijah raised the widow’s son from the dead in 1 Kings 17:17-24…The reason why the wealthy woman received from Elisha was due to his benefitting from her wealth 2 Kings 4:8-37…There are so many other accounts where God prospered others and they gave of their prosperity for the kingdom…

“Don’t base your life solely on what you get. Base the quality of life on what you have to give away.”

Dr. Marc James

from the sermon “Is There a Phoebe in the House”

What God has given you is for His glory and for the benefit of the kingdom? Are you like the man with the one talent that buried it in the ground because he was afraid of what the master would do (Matthew 25:24-25). Are you like Ananias and Sapphira who sold their land and kept part back for themselves (Acts 5:1-11)? Women, don’t bury what you have out of fear of those who did not give you what you have. God wants to move you from just enough to more than enough so you can be a benefactor to others in the kingdom. What you have is enough for God to work with…do not think you are disqualified from serving because you have a past…Do not bury your talents because there are those who are determined to misunderstand what you have. Women, you have something offer the kingdom of God and this world…

4. We Must Be Courageous Carriers of the Gospel

Sometimes God will ask you to carry something heavy—a message, a calling, a ministry. Don’t shrink back. Step forward. Be bold. You are not alone. If He called you, He’ll equip you. What is interesting here, Paul entrusts Phoebe with his letter to the Romans that she not only delivers to them, but it is possible that she read it aloud, and explained it. He trusted her with the Word from the Lord for the Romans…he saw the same in the Mary that came to the tomb when the disciples cowered in the Upper Room…Rahab the harlot who saved the spies from certain death…Esther who saved a nation by taking a stand…Elizabeth who gave birth to John the Baptizer…Mary who gave birth to the Messiah…

Conclusion: A Legacy That Speaks Volumes

Phoebe didn’t write a book of the Bible. She didn’t perform a miracle. But she lived a life of impact. She reminds us that the church is built not just by preachers, but by patrons. Not just by apostles, but by servants.

So I close by asking: What are you carrying? Who are you helping? How are you serving?

May we walk like Phoebe. May we give like Phoebe. May we serve like Phoebe. And may we be remembered for our faithfulness like Phoebe.

In Jesus' name. Amen.