Redeemed Woman

Women’s ministry has always been a vital part in Christ’s church. The Apostle Paul exhorts young Pastor Titus to teach sound doctrine to the church at Crete (Titus 2:1). And in doing so, Pastor Titus was to shepherd his congregation to live and function according to that doctrine. It is here in Paul’s commissions to the different groups of people in the church that we find the template for Biblical women’s ministry.

When we think about women’s ministry, we need to be asking ourselves, “What is it about this ministry that makes it unique for Christian women?” This answer is so significant, for there is no other church ministry that can specifically disciple women to flourish in Christ by fulfilling their God-given roles as the women of the Church. We cannot allow women’s ministry within the church to become no more than a Christianized woman empowerment support group, or a social club. In this post, I want to share with you four marks of Biblical women’s ministry according this Scripture:

³ Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, ⁴ and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, ⁵ to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)

1. A biblical women’s ministry has Older, mature women in Christ leading discipleship.

Older women who are mature in faith are critical components to a Biblical women’s ministry. I believe that when Paul wrote “older women” he actually meant women who are advanced in age. Some Bible scholars have commentated that these women are probably sixty years or older thus free from primary household and child-rearing responsibilities. Nonetheless, these are women who have acquired wisdom and insight through living, and grown deep roots in their relationships with Christ. They are steadfast in faith through the trials of womanhood, child-rearing and/or marriage. Their faith passes the test of time. Though not yet achieving perfection in Christ, these women are sanctified enough to be “reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine”. In other words, they have been transformed in Christ to have control over their behaviors and their words, and are free from worldly addictions. The Word of God instructs such qualified women to disciple the younger women in the Lord. (Psalm 71:17-19)

2. A biblical women’s ministry has Younger women being discipled and growing in Christ.

Younger women need knowledge, wisdom and insight from the Lord as they navigate life. One way provided by God to gain such knowledge, wisdom, and insight is to glean them from older generations walking with the Lord. Younger women need the sanctified wisdom of older women who have walked the roads of life with Christ as Savior and Lord. Younger women need to know the Truth of Christ and how to apply that knowledge in every day living. Being discipled to live a Gospel-centered life is key to young women growing in their faith and love for Jesus in the midst of life’s craziness. Younger women who are serious about making Jesus the foundation of their lives must humbly seek to be discipled in the Lord. (Proverbs 19:20; Proverbs 24:3)

3. A biblical women’s ministry Teaches what is good, upholding the Word of God.

The Bible offers sufficient knowledge for salvation and godly living (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:3-4). In fact, Titus 2:3-5 gives us the mandates, if you will, for what must be taught specifically to Christian women. “…to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine…to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands…”

At first glance, this list may seem simple enough. But if we look closely at real life, it doesn’t take long for us to confess that many of us fail in many ways. “How do I love a husband who doesn’t love me? How do I love children who don’t respect me? How do I control my emotions? How do I overcome my addictions? How do I find fulfillment and joy doing house chores? How do I submit to a husband who shows no leadership? How do I fight against sexual temptations?” It is through these real life challenges that women ministering to other women will lift and encourage the women of the church to persevere the Christian life and uphold God’s Word.

Now, having said that, there is a plethora of women’s studies and devotionals that can be useful. Discernment is critical when sifting through resources out there. Questions to ask yourself when making a decision to use such resources are:

• Does it reference the Bible correctly as its main source? Meaning, the Bible is being expounded in its teaching, and it doesn’t take verses out of context. Consult your pastor.
• Is it Gospel-centered? In other words, does it point me to the whole Gospel?
• Does it uphold the mandates of Titus 2:3-5?

4. A biblical women’s ministry is “life on life” training for godly living.

According to google dictionary the word “train” is to “teach a particular skill or type of behavior through practice and instruction over a period of time“. This is “life on life” discipleship. Not only are women learning the doctrinal teachings of the Bible, but these teachings are lived out and practical in everyday life. The Gospel is, in a sense, “fleshed out” in women’s lives through godly, joyful, and obedient living. Older women and younger women living and sharing their personal, family, and home lives with each other and training to be godly women of God despite the challenges of marriage, raising children, dealing with in-laws, juggling work, bearing physical ailments, aging, etc. We become vulnerable to each other while trusting in the overflowing love that the Holy Spirit has poured into our hearts for one another (Romans 5:5). These are relationships covered in love, Gospel-truth, sincerity, grace, mercy, and prayer.

conclusion

At the end of the day, women need to know why we do what we do. It is not enough to simply say, for example, “love your husband because God said so”. Without the unadulterated Gospel, all these teachings will be at best good moralism and at worst a huge burden for women to bear. Fortunately, Paul finishes his Spirit-inspired instructions answering that “why” question in Titus 2:11-14,

“¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹² training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ¹³ waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Listen carefully please. The grace that saves us is the same grace that trains us to live for Christ, enduring all of life’s hardships as we fix our hope on seeing our Savior one day in glory (Colossians 2:6). This grace is the Gospel. Furthermore, God does not leave us sinners. He purifies us for His good works. Those good works become our passions, our zeal (Psalm 37:4). And, every woman’s good works start in her own home (Titus 2:3-5). Therefore, everything we do in women’s ministry must be saturated in the Gospel. This pure Gospel will fuel women’s love for God and for others (1 John 4:19).

Perhaps your women’s ministry lack qualified older women, or the younger women don’t seem to care for discipleship. Maybe women are unwilling to be vulnerable in sharing their personal lives with each other. Whatever the challenges may be, the beginning and the end of all Christian ministry is the Gospel. Faithfully teaching the full Gospel to our women is where we must start, and then pray that God the Holy Spirit will do His work in their hearts as they hear the words of Christ (Romans 10:17). Remember that the Gospel which saved us is the same Gospel that trains us for good works.

I pray, dear sister, that you who are in Christ will know that you belong to the body of Christ (Romans 12:5; Ephesians 4:4-6). You are not alone in this Christian life. God has called us to be sisters in Jesus’ Name not only for friendship and fellowship, but most importantly, for discipleship. Plug yourself into a Bible-teaching, Gospel-centered, discipling women’s ministry. This is God’s way (Titus 2:3-5).

LORD, please raise up godly women who will love the next generation of women enough to disciple them. And call women of all ages to Yourself. May we find our sisterhood in Christ to be a great blessing from You. Open our eyes to Your ways and lift our burdens!