welcome
What would you like to have written on your gravestone?
worship
Read Mary’s Song together (the Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56), and let it form the basis for your worship.
word
read
In just two verses, Paul outlines the three characteristics of the woman whose name was Phoebe:
- Sister of the Apostle
- Servant of the church
- Succourer (helper) of many
Cenchrea was the eastern harbour area of Corinth (NB Acts 18:18). In choosing Phoebe to carry his epistle to the Romans, Paul conferred a great honour upon her. She was surely a woman of influence, position and wealth.
1. Our Sister
Paul has been maligned as having a problem with women. This is a term of affection and speaks of a depth of relationship and respect. Phoebe and Paul were friends. He trusted her – she was his true sister in Christ Jesus.
discuss
Consider together your experience of friendship within the Body of Christ.
groupwork
In smaller groups discuss the following questions, and be really honest about your friendships.
questions
- Do you experience deep, trusting brother/sister relationships?
- If the church is essentially men, women and God, do we need to work at deepening our appreciation and respect for one another until we live and work as family?
- How can this happen in your situation?
2. A Servant of the Church
The word comes from the Greek, diakonos, from which our word deacon/ess is derived. In the early church much was made of service and little of office. It was more of an honour to be referred to as a servant than as a deaconess. By the opening phrase of v.1, Paul commends her to the church at Rome, and officially endorses her ministry. Phoebe was imitating her master – “I am among you as the one who serves” (Luke 22:27).
discuss
Can that be said of us? Where and how might God be asking us to serve his church?
3. Succourer of Many
Note the ever-increasing three-fold circle of Phoebe’s life:
- Ministry to an inner circle
- Ministry to believers
- Helper of many
In the port city of Corinth, ‘the many’ had to include derelicts and undesirables, may be escaped prisoners and drunken sailors. Hence, a polite phrase, but suggesting she reached out to the unprotected and despised. Paul adds: “she helped me also”. Paul was no longer young, his eyes troubled him, his travel schedule must have tired him.
Being single provides the opportunity for a breadth of friendship, caring and service as exemplified by Phoebe.
application
Consider again these three different areas of ministry together and pray for any challenges that have come out of your look at the example of Phoebe.
witness
Feedback together how things have gone over the last few weeks evangelistically. Is there any good news to share, or any disappointments?
Thank God for the good news and pray together for any needs that have arisen.
further reading
James & Michal Ann Goll, A Call to Courage, Broadstreet Publishing 2016
Gladys Hunt, Women of the Old Testament, IVP 2002
Katara Washington Patton, Successful Women of the Bible, FaithWords 2016
