When women consider the scope of ministry God has laid out for us, it should both overwhelm and inspire us. Though some tend to emphasize what women may not do, this merely distracts us from the many things we not only may do but must do to fulfill our calling and ministry in the church.

We live in a time when women are encouraged to whine about the role God has assigned to them and complain that they cannot share the responsibilities men have been given. This only illustrates the lack of biblical understanding of God's directions to the church regarding men and women.

A thorough study and comprehension, followed by the obedient embracing of our calling, frees us to enjoy the work God has given us to do without comparing our work to someone else's. "But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load" (Gal. 6:4-5). On the other hand, when women misunderstand what they should be doing in the church, when they lack direction or do not see the implications of their work, they become vulnerable to those described in 2 Timothy 3:2-6, who "creep into households and make captives of gullible women."

Consider 1 Timothy 2:11: "Let a woman learn in silence with all submission." Yes, clearly this is a verse that substantiates male leadership in the church. But at the same time, it also is saying something very positive and important about women that we often overlook: women are to be learners. "Let a woman learn." Women are to be serious students of God's Word.

Paul, in his letter to Titus, lays out instructions to the older women regarding their lesson plans for teaching the younger women. They are to "admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed" (2:4-5). This is a tall order indeed. In order for the church community to be healthy and stable, young women must be learners of good things. They must learn to be godly wives and mothers!

Women underestimate the tremendous impact they have on the church when they are loving their own husbands and children, and running their households with wisdom and discretion. When a church is full of families that are well-governed, the church likewise will be well-governed. And when a church is full of undisciplined families, the church will be undisciplined. Women must understand the necessity and importance of their God-given role in the church in respecting their husbands, disciplining their children, and making their homes. This is their ministry! When they fail in their primary calling, Paul says the Word of God is blasphemed. This is a very serious consequence of disobedience.

Our culture trivializes the hard work and commitment required in making a home. But God has called women to this as a means of serving Him in the church. "The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands" (Prov. 14:1). Building a house, making a home, is a way we as creatures can imitate our Creator. He has made the world; we are to make homes. This takes wisdom. Disrespecting husbands, failing to love our children, lacking discretion in sharing too much, or being unchaste and disobedient are all ways women can tear down their homes with their own hands. And when one home is torn down, the whole church suffers, and God's Word is blasphemed.

This calling for women is underscored in 1 Timothy 5:9-10, where instructions are laid out for determining which widows are worthy to be supported by the church. Notice that she must be a certain age, the wife of one man (not unchaste), and "well reported for good works." What are these good works that are obvious to the community? The first one listed is bringing up children! This is followed by references to hospitality, service to the saints, and helping those in trouble. All of the good works that qualify her for church support are home-centered or home-related.

Women, have you ever stopped to think that the most important thing you do for the church is loving your husband and bringing up your children in godliness? Because we tend to think of ourselves as individuals and not as part of a church community, we think our obedience or disobedience affects our family only. But this is a mistaken notion. The way we treat our husbands and children, the way we keep our house, the way we treat visitors and guests are all part of our contribution to the health and growth of the church. The church is not simply a collection of individuals who meet together on Sunday. It is a community, a body that is to be "knit together in love" (Col. 2:2).

When women are fulfilling their ministry, men are equipped by their wives' submission, respect, and love to fulfill their own ministries. But if the women are disobedient and the Word of God is blasphemed in the community, their husbands are not qualified for church leadership, and the whole church suffers. (Note: This is not to deny the husbands' headship and responsibility for their homes, but this further demonstrates the consequences of unbelief in this area.)

But what about women whose children are grown or those who never marry?

When their own children are grown, older women may add to their ministry that of teaching the younger women. This keeps them involved in the life of the church, equipping the young women to carry the torch. It allows them to participate in the lives of others in the church community and provides accountability for the younger women. "Bringing up children" can include babysitting grandchildren, teaching children in the church, or entertaining college students in your home. Those women who never marry can still be "well reported for good works." They can help in many ways those women who have their hands full with small children. And they can be hospitable and helpful in many ways that married women cannot. But even though they are not married, their ministry should be home-centered, knitting women and children to their homes.

When women begin to learn, meditate on, and embrace the tremendous calling they have received to minister in the church, they can only be blessed. Obedience always results in the blessing of God, and God's blessing on the church today is greatly needed. When our homes are flourishing as the result of our obedience by His grace, the church can only prosper.