2. 1 Corinthians 14:34
“The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.”

3. 1 Timothy 2:11-12
“A woman must quietly receive instruction with entire submissiveness. 12 But I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain quiet.”

5. Matthew 28:1-10
“Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. …”

6. Matthew 28:1-10
“… 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. …”

7. Matthew 28:1-10
“… 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. …”

8. Matthew 28:1-10
“… 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. …”

9. Matthew 28:1-10
“… 9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."”

11. The Role of Women in the church
Matthew 28:1-10

13. ~ Service ~
Tabitha / Dorcas
Acts 9:36-43

14. Acts 9:36-43
“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which translated in Greek is called Dorcas); this woman was abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did. …”

15. Acts 9:36-43
“… 37 And it happened at that time that she fell sick and died; and when they had washed her body, they laid it in an upper room. 38 Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, having heard that Peter was there, sent two men to him, imploring him, "Do not delay in coming to us." …”

16. Acts 9:36-43
“… 39 So Peter arose and went with them. When he arrived, they brought him 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. …”

17. Acts 9:36-43
“… 40 But Peter sent them all out and knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive. …”

18. Acts 9:36-43
“… 42 It became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. 43 And Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a tanner named Simon.”

19. ~ Service ~ Tabitha / Dorcas - Acts 9:36-43
Tabitha was famous among the congregation in Joppa for great deeds of kindness and charity
“I have yet to find the passage where a church called an apostle to come raise their preacher from the dead” – Edwin Crozier

20. ~ Service ~ Tabitha / Dorcas - Acts 9:36-43
What a wonderful example of a role that women can serve in the local church.
Through acts of charity and kindness, the congregation was edified in the area of benevolence.

21. ~ Service ~
Lydia
In Acts 16:14-15 we are given the account of Lydia’s conversion

22. Acts 16:14-15
“A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. …”

23. Acts 16:14-15
“… 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.”

24. ~ Service ~
Lydia
We are informed of the role of hospitality that Lydia quickly understood & fulfilled by extending her home to the apostle Paul and those with him.
Later we see that perhaps Lydia was the host of the budding congregation in Philippi.

25. Acts 16:40
“They went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia, and when they saw the brethren, they encouraged them and departed.”

26. ~ Service ~ Mary – mother of John Mark
Acts 12:12 “And when he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was also called Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.”

28. ~ Service ~ Mary – mother of John Mark
It is at this time that Mary steps up and prepares a prayer meeting on behalf of Peter.
This demonstrates the great amount of faith Mary had
Also note this wasn’t a small gathering, “many were gathered together”

29. ~ Service ~ Mary – mother of John Mark
Think for a moment of the great amount of work and planning involved.
Preparing her home for the multitude in attendance
Procuring someone to lead the service.

30. ~ Service ~ Mary – mother of John Mark
What a wonderful work this woman did at a time that could have discouraged many.
What a magnificent example of the important role of service women can play in the local church.

31. ~ Service ~
Phoebe – Romans 16:1-2

32. Romans 16:1-2
“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.”

33. ~ Service ~ Phoebe – Romans 16:1-2
Paul bestows great praise on this sister in Christ.
He charges the congregation in Rome to help her in whatever way she needs.
He speaks of the great service she has been to many and also the great helper she had been to him.

34. ~ Service ~
Nympha – Colossians 4:15

35. Colossians 4:15
“Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.”

36. ~ Service ~ Nympha – Colossians 4:15
Imagine the great amount of work involved in preparing every week.
Think of the disruption of her daily life each week that was faithfully accepted.
The great encouragement this had to be to the local congregation to have this service provided.

37. ~ Service ~
Prisca / Priscilla
1 Corinthians 16:19

38. 1 Corinthians 16:19
“The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Prisca greet you heartily in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.”

39. ~ Service ~ Prisca / Priscilla
With her husband she provided a meeting place for the local congregation in Ephesus.
Any woman present today will know that much of the preparations probably fell upon Priscilla.

41. Evangelism ~ Teaching
Priscilla
Acts 18:1-3, 18-19, 24-28

42. Acts 18:1-3
“After these things he left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, having recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. …”

43. Acts 18:1-3
“…He came to them, 3 and because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and they were working, for by trade they were tent-makers.”

44. Acts 18:18-19
“Paul, having remained many days longer, took leave of the brethren and put out to sea for Syria, and with him were Priscilla and Aquila. In Cenchrea he had his hair cut, for he was keeping a vow. 19 They came to Ephesus, and he left them there.”

45. Acts 18:24-28
“Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures. 25 This man had been instructed in the way of the Lord; ...”

46. Acts 18:24-28
“…and being fervent in spirit, he was speaking and teaching accurately the things concerning Jesus, being acquainted only with the baptism of John; 26 and he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. …”

47. Acts 18:24-28
“…But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to go across to Achaia, the brethren encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him; …”

48. Acts 18:24-28
“… and when he had arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace, 28 for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, demonstrating by the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ.”

49. Evangelism ~ Teaching Priscilla
Here we can see the great work women can do in aiding their husbands in preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ.
Apollos’ work would have been worthless, had Priscilla and Aquila not shown him “the way of God more accurately.”

50. Evangelism ~ Teaching Priscilla
Don’t ever underestimate your worth as a worker in the Kingdom of God
Note the praise given for Priscilla by Paul in the closing of his letter to the Christians in Rome.

51. Romans 16:3-4
“Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles;”

52. Evangelism ~ Teaching
Lois & Eunice
2 Timothy 1:5

53. 2 Timothy 1:5
“For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”

54. Evangelism ~ Teaching Lois & Eunice
Here is another example of a preacher who is what he is because of the strong guidance and teaching of a woman.

55. Evangelism ~ Teaching Lois & Eunice
The faith Timothy had did not come from the teachings of the apostle Paul, but from his mother and grandmother.
2 Timothy 3:15

56. 2 Timothy 3:15
“and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

57. Evangelism ~ Teaching
Older Women
Titus 2:3-5

58. Titus 2:3-5
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, …”

59. Titus 2:3-5
“… 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.”

60. Evangelism ~ Teaching Older Women
The need for older women to encourage the young women in these things is great today.
Divorce – “I just don’t love him”
Abortion – “My choice … My Body”

61. Evangelism ~ Teaching Older Women Where are the older women today?
Ladies Bible classes used to be prevalent in churches.
The older women used to be involved in the work of the local church, guiding the younger women.
Sadly, it appears to be in the decline

62. Evangelism ~ Teaching
Daughters of Philip
Acts 21:8-9

63. Acts 21:8-9
“On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.”

64. Evangelism ~ Teaching Daughters of Philip
In this last example we see a woman can have a gift and use it without usurping the authority given to men by God.
We can know that the church in Cesaerea benefited by the presence of these women.

66. Laborers ~ Workers
Romans 16:6-16

67. Romans 16:6-16
“Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. …”

68. Romans 16:6-16
“… 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. …”

69. Romans 16:6-16
“… 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. …”

70. Romans 16:6-16
“… 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.”

71. Laborers ~ Workers Romans 16:6-16
Mary had worked with the church in Rome
Tryphena and Tryphosa were workers in the Lord.
Persis a beloved sister who had worked hard for the church

72. Laborers ~ Workers Romans 16:6-16 Rufus’ Mother
Rufus’ mother had been as a mother to Paul
“Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.” (ESV)

73. Laborers ~ Workers Romans 16:6-16 Rufus’ Mother
This is possibly the wife of Simon of Cyrene who bore the cross of Christ – Mark 15:21

74. Mark 15:21
“They pressed into service a passer-by coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), to bear His cross.”

75. Laborers ~ Workers Romans 16:6-16 Rufus’ Mother
Julia and the sister of Nereus

76. Laborers ~ Workers
Euodia and Syntyche
Philippians 4:2-3

77. Philippians 4:2-3
“I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.”

78. Laborers ~ Workers Euodia and Syntyche
It is clear that Paul had benefited from their labors and their service would be useful in Philippi.
However, their service would not be full unless they learned to “live in harmony in the Lord.”

79. Laborers ~ Workers
Widows indeed
1 Timothy 5:10

80. 1 Timothy 5:10
“having a reputation for good works; and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work.”

81. Laborers ~ Workers Widows indeed
This illustrates even more of the service and work a woman can do that is beneficial to the local congregation.