(#480) Romans 16 - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

Class Outline:

---

Where would we be without the influence of real women?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To 

BARAH MINISTRIES

a Christian Church

Rory Clark

Pastor-Teacher

 

Good Morning!

 

Welcome to Barah Ministries… a small, intimate, and local Christian Church with worldwide impact.  My name is Pastor Rory Clark.  At Barah Ministries, our God is the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is God, and at Barah Ministries we make a difference by teaching God’s Word from His perspective, and not from man’s perspective. How our God sees things is very different from how we see things.  So instead of trusting what man says, God says, you do well to go directly to what God says through the study of His Word.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

 

LESSON INTRO

 

Women make a difference!  Behind every great man, there is a great woman!

In fact, in Paul's life, in Barah Ministries, and in this Pastor's life there are a group of great women who understand how to have a man's back!

 

As we begin our transition into the final chapter of the apostle Paul's letter to the church in first-century Rome…Romans, Chapter 16…we'll hear the apostle thank the people that have been instrumental in helping him communicate God's Word.  Among them, a group of amazing women!

 

God's enemy, Satan, is famous for inciting gender wars…making women feel as if they are inferior to me.  They are not! In this lesson, we'll see the significance of women in church history and we'll begin to acknowledge their tremendous impact.

 

 

ABOUT GOD

 

In the opening of every lesson at Barah Ministries, we learn something about God.  Today, we look at how God handles things at the end of the world!

 

The Lord Jesus Christ spoke to people in parables.  A parable is a story about a simple subject that illustrates a valuable spiritual lesson.  The word "parable" means the placement of things side-by-side for comparison.

 

Parables place a great story alongside God’s wisdom.  Jesus had the wisdom to simplify the profound spiritual truths He shared with human beings by telling them stories that are easy to understand, easy to remember, and easy to relate to because of their easy connection to everyday life. 

Here’s the parable of the TARES Among the WHEAT from Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 24 to 30…

 

MATTHEW 13:24 Jesus presented another parable to the crowds of people, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field.”

 

MATTHEW 13:25  “But while his men who tend the field were sleeping, the man’s enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away.”

 

Tares are poisonous weeds.

 

MATTHEW 13:26  “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares also became evident.”

 

MATTHEW 13:27  “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?  How then does it have tares?’” 

 

MATTHEW 13:28  “And the landowner said to the slaves, ‘An enemy of mine has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather the tares up (out of the field)?’” 

 

MATTHEW 13:29  “But the landowner said, ‘No…for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them.’”

 

MATTHEW 13:30  “‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest…and in the time of the

harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up…but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

 

The Lord Jesus Christ explains the parable in Matthew, Chapter 13, Verses 36 to 43…

 

MATTHEW 13:36 Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.”

 

MATTHEW 13:37  And Jesus said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man (a title for Jesus Christ)…”

 

MATTHEW 13:38  “…and the field is the world (Satan’s kingdom)…and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom (believers in Christ)…and the tares are the sons of the evil one (unbelievers)…”

 

MATTHEW 13:39  “…and the enemy who sowed the tares is the devil (Satan)…and the harvest is the end of the age…and the reapers are elect angels.”

 

MATTHEW 13:40  “So just as the tares are gathered up and burned with fire…so shall it be at the end of the age.”

 

MATTHEW 13:41  “The Son of Man will send forth His elect angels…and they will gather out

of His kingdom all stumbling blocks (unbelievers)…and all those who commit lawlessness (unbelievers)…”

 

MATTHEW 13:42  “…and will throw them into the furnace of fire…and in that place (the Lake of Fire) there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (eternal agony).”

 

MATTHEW 13:43  “Then the righteous (believers in Christ) will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears…let him hear.”

 

Parables are simple, and they rarely need explanation.  Welcome to a place where you can get to know the Lord Jesus Christ…the Savior of all…the Sovereign God of the Universe…through the simplicity and purity of the study of His Word.

 

SONG INTRO

 

When you go through various trails, sometimes the kingdom of death and darkness leads you to believe that God has forgotten you.  Isaiah, Chapter 41, Verse 10 says it isn’t so…

 

ISAIAH 41:10 “Do not fear, for I (the Lord) am with you…do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you…surely I will help you…surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

 

No matter what you are going through, the Lord will be with you…as Micah Taylor tells us in his song EVEN THEN.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

EVEN THEN

Micah Taylor

 

OPENING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…

 

Father, thank you for this whole journey You have taken us on to learn the foundational doctrines of biblical Christianity in the book of Romans…help us to recall the things that we have learned at the critical times when we need your truth the most…and increase our insight as we move forward into the study of the apostle Paul’s work with the Corinthian church…

 

…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s

name...Amen.

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

 

Let’s take a look at and give a listen to Romans, Chapter 16…the final chapter in Paul’s letter to the Romans…

 

ROMANS 16:1 I (Paul) commend to you our sister Phoebe who is a servant of the church (a diakonos…the gender is feminine…meaning deaconess) which is at Cenchrea…

 

ROMANS 16:2  …that you receive her, this woman who is in union with the Lord (a believer), in a manner worthy of the saints…and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you…for she has also been a helper (a protectress) of many…and (a protectress) of myself as well.

 

ROMANS 16:3  Greet (the tentmakers) Prisca and Aquila (her husband) … my fellow workers (in my otherprofession…tent making…who are also) in union with Christ Jesus…

 

ROMANS 16:4  …who, to save my life risked their own necks…to them do I give thanks…not only to them, but also I (Paul) give thanks to all the churches of the Gentiles…

 

ROMANS 16:5  …also greet the church that is in Prisca and Aquila’s house.  Greet Epaenetus, my beloved…who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

 

ROMANS 16:6  Greet Mary…who has worked hard for you.

 

ROMANS 16:7  Greet Andronicus and Junias…my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners (for Christ)…who are outstanding among the apostles…who also were in union with Christ before me.

 

ROMANS 16:8  Greet Ampliatus…my beloved in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:9  Greet Urbanus…our fellow worker in Christ…and Stachys my beloved.

 

ROMANS 16:10  Greet Apelles, the (tested and) approved (one) in union with Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

 

ROMANS 16:11  Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in union with the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:12  Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord.  Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:13  Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also greet his mother and mine.

 

ROMANS 16:14  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.

 

ROMANS 16:15  Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

 

ROMANS 16:16  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

 

ROMANS 16:17  Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.

 

ROMANS 16:18  For such men are slaves…not slaves of our Lord Christ but slaves of their own appetites…and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting.

 

ROMANS 16:19  For the report of your obedience has reached all…therefore I am rejoicing over you, but I want you to be wise (guilty) in what is good, and I want you to be innocent in what is evil.

 

ROMANS 16:20  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.  The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

 

ROMANS 16:21  Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

 

ROMANS 16:22  I, Tertius, who write this letter, greet you in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:23  Gaius, host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer greets you, and Quartus, the brother.

 

ROMANS 16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

ROMANS 16:25  Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past…

 

ROMANS 16:26  …but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith…

 

ROMANS 16:27  …to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be the glory forever. Amen.

 

The distance between Corinth, Greece and Rome, Italy is nearly 5000 miles. By airplane, that’s a little more than a two-hour flight.  I’m sure you know that in Paul’s day, there was no air travel, so his letter to the Romans had to be delivered by other means.  

 

Phoebe, a prominent businesswoman of the day, had a business in Rome.  Corinth is a seaport, and Phoebe likely delivered the letter by boat as she went on business trips.

 

As Paul winds down his letter to the church in first-century Rome, his heart is filled with gratitude toward all the people who made this letter a reality. It's almost equivalent to the gratitude a writer feels after completing his first book.  I, too, feel a tremendous amount of gratitude toward all of you who have stuck with Barah Ministries through thick and thick.

 

When we return from our five-minute break, we’ll take the offering and then we’ll look at the final passage in Romans, Chapter 16.

 

FIVE MINUTE BREAK

Unconditional Love

Donna Summers

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

 

Giving is a mindset that reflects your attitude toward the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  What does your mindset reflect?  Are you a hoarder of the money the Lord Has given you?  Have you let Satan, the enemy of God, prejudice you about giving to a church or to others?  Do you have a scarcity mentality toward giving, the thought that your money is going to run out?  My thought is every time you have an opportunity to give, it would be wise to do so. The amount is always up to you, but the giving…every time…is to be a reflection of what the Lord would do.  Be imitators of the Savior.  Let’s welcome Deacon Denny Goodall with today’s offering message.

 

THE OFFERING

Deacon Denny Goodall

 

OFFERING VERSE

 

FIRST PETER 3:17 For it is better, if God should will it so, and of course He does, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

 

OFFERING SONG

THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU

David Bauer, Instrumental

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

 

SONG INTRO

 

Romans Chapter 5, Verses 3 to 5 is a reminder about God’s preparation of His believers…

 

ROMANS 5:3 …(as believers in Christ)…we also exult in our tribulations…knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance…

 

ROMANS 5:4  …and perseverance brings about proven character…and proven character brings about hope…

 

ROMANS 5:5 …and hope does not disappoint…because the unconditional love of God the Father has been poured out within our hearts through God the Holy Spirit who was given to us (believers in Christ as a pledge of our inheritance).

 

Danny Gokey encourages us to keep on keeping on in his song…HOPE IN FRONT OF ME.

 

MUSIC AND REFLECTION

Be Occupied with the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

Enjoy the Singing of His Praises

 

HOPE IN FRONT OF ME

Danny Gokey

 

TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON - Women are Critical in the Building of a Church

 

Welcome back!

 

Let’s take a look behind the words at what Paul has to say Romans, Chapter 16, the conclusion of his letter to the Romans…

 

ROMANS 16:1 I (Paul) commend to you our sister Phoebe who is a servant of the church (the word servant is diakonos…the gender is feminine…meaning deaconess) which is at Cenchrea…

 

ROMANS 16:2  …that you receive her, this woman who is in union with the Lord (a believer in Christ), in a manner worthy of the saints…and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you…for she has also been a helper (a protectress) of many…and (a protectress) of myself as well.

 

Behind every great man, there is a great woman.  Behind the great man, Paul was a great woman…Phoebe.  Paul's letter to the Romans is more important in biblical history than the Ten Commandments…and Paul entrusted Phoebe to deliver this important letter first-century Rome to the church at first-century Rome as she conducted her business in the commerce center of the universe at the time….

Phoebe held an office in Paul's church…the office of deaconess. This office is not a spiritual gift…it is simply the acknowledgment that Phoebe, in Paul's mind, is central to what is going on in his church.  Women have always made a difference in churches.  In Barah Ministries there is a core of women who get things done behind the scenes…women who know how to keep their mouths shut as the bible recommends…in First Peter, Chapter 3, Verses 1 to 4, God tells women, through the apostle Paul, how to change things, especially men…

 

FIRST PETER 3:1 In the same way, you wives, keep on being in submission to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the Word, THEY MAY BE WON WITHOUT A WORD BY THE BEHAVIOR OF THEIR WIVES…

 

FIRST PETER 3:2  …as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.

 

FIRST PETER 3:3  Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding your hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses…

 

FIRST PETER 3:4  …but let your adornment be in the hidden person of the heart, adorned with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.

 

Keeping your mouth shut, ladies, does not mean not talking.  It means respecting authority. And no man worth his salt who is in a position of authority would be dumb enough to not listen to women, and especially in a church.  There is a core of faithful women in Barah Ministries…women who know how to have a man’s back…Monica Miller…Denise Jones…Pat Collins…Tracy Bixby…June Murphy…Deanna Perkosky…Kara Leonard… Cindy Christensen…Mary Isaacs… Emilie Goodall…these are a few women who come to mind…some of them you know about…some of them you don’t…but they are there… behind the scenes…always available…always helping out.  They are critical to the building of this church.  From a grateful Pastor, I say thank you to these women because without them we wouldn't even have a church. 

These women are not rulers in the church…the rulers in the church are

male…First Timothy, Chapter 5, Verse 17 says…

 

FIRST TIMOTHY 5:17 The elders (presbuteroi) who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor…especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.

 

The word for rulers is…

 

PRESBUTEROI

Nominative, Masculine, and Plural

 

…a clear message from God that rulers are to be male.  Yet, does the gender of these amazing women…in Paul’s life and within in Barah Ministries… make them lesser in importance? May it never be!

 

Satan would have you believe women are lesser in importance.  Satan is always perpetrating EVIL against women. For example…

 

SATAN’S EVIL AGAINST WOMEN

 

The suppression of women’s voices within a church.

 

SATAN’S EVIL AGAINST WOMEN

 

Encouragement of women who have an earnest desire to serve the Lord to form independent women’s organizations not controlled by the elders of a church to “study the bible.”

 

SATAN’S EVIL AGAINST WOMEN

 

Where men are timid, especially in faith, the bold pushing of individual women to the front of a church, both in leadership and in government, even as “Pastors” of churches—as leaders of “movements” —resulting in harm to women and to untrained souls.

 

Paul goes on, starting in Verse 3, to thank the many people who have helped him, and many of them are women.

 

ROMANS 16:3  Greet Prisca and Aquila (the tentmakers) … my fellow workers (in my otherprofession…tent making…who are also) in union with Christ Jesus…

 

ROMANS 16:4  …who, to save my life, risked their own necks…to them do I give thanks… not only to them, but also I (Paul) give thanks to all the churches of the Gentiles…

 

ROMANS 16:5  …also greet the church that is in Prisca and Aquila’s house.  Greet Epaenetus, my beloved…who is the first convert to Christ from Asia.

 

ROMANS 16:6  Greet Mary…who has worked hard for you.

 

ROMANS 16:7  Greet Andronicus and Junias…my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners (for Christ)…who are outstanding among the apostles…who also were in union with Christ before me.

 

ROMANS 16:8  Greet Ampliatus…my beloved in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:9  Greet Urbanus…our fellow worker in Christ…and Stachys my beloved.

 

ROMANS 16:10  Greet Apelles, the (tested and) approved (one) in union with Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

 

ROMANS 16:11  Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in union with the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:12  Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord.  Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord.

 

ROMANS 16:13  Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also greet his mother and mine.

 

ROMANS 16:14  Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them.

 

ROMANS 16:15  Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.

 

ROMANS 16:16  Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

 

Women are critical in the building of a church!  Women are amazing prayer warriors!  Churches need more women to step up for the growth of the church. What churches don't need is little girls in women's bodies who are "catty" with each other…who secretly (or not so secretly) want to rule things…and who sew discord among the brethren.  Thank God for the women of the first-century church at Rome…both resident and non-resident. Thank God for the women of Barah Ministries.

 

GOD WANTS YOU!

Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life

 

The closing moments of our study are for the benefit of anyone who does not have a personal relationship with the Sovereign God of the Universe, the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  We want you to know that GOD WANTS YOU. 

 

What do you believe about God?

 

Many people have beliefs about God.  A belief is an opinion or a conviction or a confidence in the existence of something that does not seem provable.  Satan, the enemy of God, prefers we have beliefs because there is a big difference between beliefs and truth.  Only when your beliefs and the truth are the same are your beliefs significant.  Satan hates the truth.  Why? He can’t handle the truth!

 

Many people believe they can impress God so much that He’ll let them into heaven because of their good deeds.  So, they give money to beggars…they give food to the homeless…they are actively involved in community projects…they generously donate their time, talent, and treasure to charitable organizations…they “give back.”  You’ve heard the term “give back” used countless times. People who “give back” usually are convinced they are good people, impressive to God becausethey “give back.”  Many think they are so good, that after they die God will reward them by letting them into heaven for their good deeds.

 

The bible tells a completely different story.  Titus, Chapter 3, Verse 5 says…

 

TITUS 3:5 The Lord Jesus Christ saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in self-righteousness, but according to His mercy…by the washing of regeneration and through renewing by God the Holy Spirit…

 

Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…

 

EPHESIANS 2:8 For by God’s grace you have been saved through faith (in Christ for salvation)…and that grace and that faith and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is the gift of God….

 

EPHESIANS 2:9  …so being saved is not as a result of your works (deeds you have done in self-righteousness)…so that no one may boast (about saving himself).

One thing you would never want is to do is to put the burden of your salvation on your own back.  So, what is the truth about how you get God to let you into heaven if you can’t get in from doing good deeds?  The one way…the ONLY way to get to heaven is through the Lord Jesus Christ… John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…

 

JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “I am the way (to salvation), and I am the truth (through the Word of God), and I am the resurrection life…and no one comes to God the Father (in heaven) but through believing in Me.”

 

The apostle Paul describes this amazing Messiah…the Christ…in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4… 

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3 For I (Paul) delivered to you as of first importance what I also received… that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures…

 

FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4  …and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Scriptures…

 

It’s wise to let God save you, because once God does something, He never changes His mind.  So, heed the warning in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…

 

JOHN 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life right at that moment… but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”

 

When we choose to believe that Jesus Christ is God, it is much more than a belief…it is the absolute truth!  When we choose to believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, it’s more than a belief…it’s the absolute truth!  

So how can you get to heaven when you close your eyes in this life? Romans, Chapter 10, Verses 9 and 10…

 

ROMANS 10:9 …if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (that He is God)…and if you believe in your heart that God the Father raised Him from the dead… you will be saved…

 

ROMANS 10:10  …for with the heart a person believes…resulting in the imputation of absolute righteousness by God (your admission ticket to heaven)…and with the mouth a person confesses (admitting faith in Christ alone)…resulting in salvation.

 

Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31…

 

ACTS 16:31  “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and everyone in your household who also believes.”

 

John, Chapter 3, Verse 17…

 

JOHN 3:17 For God the Father did not send God the Son (the Lord…who took on human form as Jesus Christ) into the world to judge the world…but God the Father sent God the Son into the world that the world might be saved through Him.

 

Take the free gift of eternal life right now!  There’s no time to waste!  God wants you.  Why bother working for your salvation with good deeds when it’s a free gift.  Let the Lord Jesus Christ’s work at the Cross “give back” to you!

 

SONG INTRO

 

James, Chapter 1, Verses 2 to 4 say this…

 

JAMES 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brethren (James is talking to Jewish believers in Christ…and to all believers in Christ since) … as you face trials of many kinds…

 

God wants you to be happy when you’re under fire…not becauseof the trials…He wants you to be happy while you’re IN the trials.  God doesn’t want you to be happy just when you escape the trials.  Why be happy in trials?

 

JAMES 1:3 …because you know through experience that the testing of your faith (trials) produces endurance.

 

Endurance is “staying power.”  It helps us not to quit under pressure.

 

JAMES 1:3 And let endurance keep on having its perfect result…so that you may be spiritually mature and complete (fully developed mentally) … therefore lacking in nothing.

 

Here is June Murphy to put James’ compassionate sentiments to music with her song COUNT IT ALL JOY!

 

CLOSING SONG

COUNT IT ALL JOY

June Murphy

 

CLOSING PRAYER

Let us pray...

 

Thanks for coming!

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for listening!

www.barahministries.com