A BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK OF MINISTRY

Women’s ministry is one aspect of the broader and more general ministry of church. Therefore, the Biblical framework for women’s ministry is the same framework that defines and shapes all ministry- including ministry to men, children and families.

Biblical Ministry will be shaped by God’s central plan for the world:

Ephesians 1:9-10 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

Ephesians 5:25 The church is God’s people, formed and gathered in Christ for communion with him. The church itself is precious to Christ and central to God’s eternal purposes and glory. Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.

One of the central functions of ministry is to equip people for works of service so that the body of Christ will be built up and mature in Christ:

Ephesians 4:11-15 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

The church has a role in evangelism, discipleship, training and pastoral care. The Word of God is key to this purpose.