Women are Vital to the Life and Health of the Church

This past weekend I had the privilege of serving at our church's Women's Conference. It was two full days of Gospel and Bible encouragement. The weekend confirmed a truth that I have already believed; women are vital to the church's health and life. Even as I am writing, I am fighting the feeling that I am writing a hot take. This is no hot take for me, and for others, having read the headline will already agree with me. Then why write this article? I think the church has struggled to express how badly we need women in the life of the local church and create spaces in them for women to flourish and thrive.

So why are women vital to the life of the local church? What follows below are some of the reasons and not a comprehensive list of why we need women in the life of the local church.

Discipleship

Women play a vital role in the discipleship of the members of the church. One of the critical areas where this takes place is older women discipling younger women. Titus 2 says that the older women are to teach younger women. While this may look like older age women discipling younger age women, this isn't the only older to younger women relationship. Paul also has in mind older in the faith women discipling younger in the faith women.

This is vital to the health of the church for multiple reasons. First, as more and more women enter the workforce and climb corporate ladders, they will be equipped to engage the world around them. We need solid Christian women who are in the world, and as the Lord gives them more and more standing in their communities, those women are equipped to talk about what it means to be a genuinely committed Christian.

Second, for women who have kids, they have a responsibility to be a discipling agent in their kids' lives. It is important to note here that neither the working woman nor the stay-at-home mom is better than the other; their discipleship strategies look different. All parents have the responsibility to disciple their children, but stay-at-home moms will have more time to intentionally disciple their kids if they take advantage of this time.

Women will also have the opportunity to disciple the people around them as they share what the Bible teaches them personally. It may not look like intentional discipleship, but anytime in a small group or Sunday school class or even over a meal, the Bible is being discussed, discipleship is taking place.

Teaching

While the Bible is clear that the office of pastor and deacon is reserved for men, the teaching ministry of women is vital to the health of the local church. One of the essential teaching ministries that women participate in is teaching the Bible to kids.

The teaching ministries of women have forever shaped my life. I think of Kim Delveau, who taught faithfully for decades in the church's preschool ministry where I grew up. Her faithful commitment to teaching the Bible laid the foundation for my life and ministry, and she had no idea the impact she would have on my life. I think of Cindy Cordes, who picked me up,  my brother, my sister, and our neighbor's kids to go to another VBS week at the church she was attending. She taught all the combined kids during the VBS Bible storytime.

These are just two of the countless women who have taught me the Bible in the course of my life. When I am complimented for teaching in clear and simple ways that people can understand, I don't think of seminary professors who instilled that capability but the women who taught me the Bible growing up.

In addition to teaching the Bible to kids, women teach the Bible in all kinds of ministries that help the church grow. I think of those women in our church who teach our mom's groups or my good friend Beth, the Women's Ministry Director at our church. I have had the privilege of serving as the emcee for many of our church's women's events, and the Bible teaching that I hear is second to none. Our churches would be in trouble without the faithful teaching ministries of many women.

Theological Studies

One of the areas that seems to be overlooked in discussions about women in the local church is theological studies. The church at large is well-served when women commit to learning deeply about the Bible and Theology. Two quick illustrations will advance the point I am trying to make.

A few years ago, I preached through the book of 1 Peter on Wednesday nights in our college ministry. As I prepared each week, I was helped by a commentary on 1 Peter written by Karen Jobes. Her insight over the material in 1 Peter was not only instructive to my study but devotionally rich as well. Each week I was learning at the deep end of the pool and being encouraged as a Christian. Simply put, her work was magnificent. I praise her work specifically because she seems to be an anomaly in the world that I operate. I would have never have preached as well as I did without her help. I have tried to encourage as many women to take theological studies seriously so that they can write to help pastors and church members.

My second illustration comes from my time in Seminary getting a Master's Degree.  When I took the Systematic Theology courses and Apologetics course, I was blessed to attend them with several women. In particular, Kerrin Trotter and Kara Turner were great friends as I took those courses. As we read books simultaneously, sat through classes together, and had many group study sessions at the library or local restaurants, Kerrin and Kara pushed me and other brothers who would go on to be pastors and missionaries in our thinking and me. In many ways, I am a sharper theologian and pastor because of our discussions.

Beyond just general "helps," women who are engaged in theological studies serve in the life of the local church through counseling ministries, leading women's ministries, writing helpful books, and so much more. Our churches are better when the women in them are theologically informed and teaching within the boundaries that Scripture has set up.

Conclusion

In all seriousness, I know that I owe the women in my life a significant thank you for helping me serve my local church better. I would not be the pastor I am today without the foundation that my mom set by teaching me that even in difficult times, God is still sovereign. I would not be the theologian I am today without my wife pushing me to continue to study and helping me think about issues I was studying. I often tell people that what attracted me most to Jessica when we first met was her deep love of Christ, the Bible, and theology. I am a better theologian because of her. The church is better off with women because, as 1 Corinthians teaches us, every part of the body is necessary for its success (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).