"A WOMAN'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOCAL CONGREGATION"


INTRODUCTION

1. Attention is often given to the limitations placed on women in the
   assemblies of the church...
   a. Because of what is said in 1Co 14:34-37
   b. Because of what is written in 1Ti 2:11-12
   -- Such limitations notwithstanding, the early church benefited
      greatly by the contributions of many women

2. In just the church at Rome, we read of...
   a. The service of Phoebe, a helper of Paul and many others - Ro 16:
      1-2
   b. The help of Priscilla, even risking her life for Paul - Ro 16:3-4
   c. One named Mary, who bestowed "much labor" - Ro 16:6
   d. Twin sisters, Tryphena and Tryphosa - Ro 16:12
   e. The beloved Persis - Ro 16:12
   -- Even today, the growth of many churches is the result of "much
      labor" by women

3. How can that be, if women are limited in what they can do in the
   public assemblies?
   a. Public assemblies are actually a small part of the overall work
      of a congregation
   b. There is much work outside the assembly that must be done, if a
      church is to grow
   -- Women are often in a position to provide much of this needed
      work!

[What can a woman do?  How can she contribute to the growth and success
of a local church?  Let's answer such questions as we review the work
of a local church...]

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            There are some today who insist on observing the Sabbath, the 7th day of the week, rather than the Lord's Day, the 1st day of the week.

The Bible Teaches...

           1. The observance of the Sabbath was associated with the observance of meats, drinks, and feast days (Numbers 28:3-15; especially note verses 9 and 10. Also read 1 Chronicles 23:31; 2 Chronicles 2:4; Ezekiel 45:17).

           2. The Sabbath of the Old Law was only a shadow, and the shadow is resolved in the substance (Hebrews 10:1; Hebrews 4:1-11; Galatians 4:10-11).

           3. The Sabbath required strict observance by an individual, or that person would suffer some sort of punishment (even death some cases; Exodus 31:14-17). This text emphasizes that the Sabbath "is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations ... Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations for a perpetual covenant" (Exodus 31:13,16). The Sabbath was ordained for Israel to observe, and was to last throughout their generations—i.e., throughout the dispensation of the law of Moses, until the law of Christ should come, under which there would be neither Jew nor Greek (Galatians 3:23-29). The Law of Moses, which required observance of the Sabbath, was for the Jews only, and obligated only those under the law. Referring to the law of Moses, Paul concluded, "Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law" (Romans 3:19).

           4. "The old law was blotted out, taken out of the way, removed (Hosea 2:11; Colossians 2:14-17).

           5. The apostles of Christ taught observance of the Lord's Day, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1-2). Those who attempt to keep the Old Law have fallen from grace. "You who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4).

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We in the Lord’s church are losing 75% of our children who fall away from the Lord and become lost when they leave home.  This is a tragedy!  The main reason we are losing our children to the world is a lack of teaching of God’s word at home by the parents.  Parents are commanded to teach their children the word of God.  "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4).  Can we as parents be pleasing to God if we fail to teach our children the word of God?  The lack of Bible knowledge will cause our children to go off into atheism, agnosticism, denominationalism, and unfaithfulness, which will cause them to be eternally lost.

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 What religion today practices the pagan rites of the moon-god?  Islam.  Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world today.  Many times it has been a violent religion in which one has one of two choices: either convert or die.  The religion of Islam has as its focus of worship a deity by the name of "Allah."  Allah was a pagan moon-god in Arabia during pre-Islamic times.

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   The miracle of Jesus turning the water into wine is found in John 2:1-11.  Some people try to justify the drinking of alcohol by saying that Jesus made alcoholic wine.  But was the wine Jesus created alcoholic?  When they ran out of wine at the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus had them fill six water pots to the brim, each of which held about 20 gallons.  This would make a total of about 120 gallons.  When it was taken to the master of the wedding feast to taste, he was surprised and said, "Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now" (John 2:10).  The good wine in those days was grape juice that had not yet fermented.

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