Brothers, Your Sisters Need You

Brothers, you play a vital role in your sisters’ lives. We are saved into a family full of both  women and men. Together, we are members of the household of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ. In the context of our local church, we embody this beautiful reality as we live out the biblical mandate to love one another in these relationships and do good to all those in the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).

However, we often fail to foster familial relationships with the opposite gender. Instead, in a desire to flee sin, we withhold good from whom it is due (Proverbs 3:27). While believers must exercise wisdom when engaging with one another as brothers and sisters, we must not go so far as to neglect one another.

Brothers, as a joyful complementarian, I would like to lovingly exhort you not to withhold good from your sisters in Christ. I can testify that this has been beautifully lived out within our local body. I have received encouragement from my brothers, who empowered me to see the unique ways the Lord has gifted me. Brothers, specifically, do not withhold encouragement, opportunities, and theological education.

Encourage Your Sisters

We all need encouragement. Supporting your sisters this way will make an immense difference, especially if you point out gifts the women do not see in themselves. The Lord can use your exhortation to enable them to step out in faith and serve the body of Christ in a way they may have been too timid to do otherwise. While we can all struggle with various forms of discouragement, speaking into a sister’s life is a valuable way to help them to feel seen. Perhaps the Lord has given a sister keen insight into Scripture or a way to articulate truth. Share this with her and encourage her to flourish in her giftings. This could occur in a small-group setting, where a brother may encourage his sister after they’ve discussed Scripture together.

After I spoke on a panel on one occasion, a dear brother encouraged me to write and use my voice to build up the church. I didn’t see a particular gift in myself, but my brother’s timely words imparted grace and spurred me on to use my gifts to strengthen the body.

Give opportunities for women to use their gifts.

God has given spiritual gifts to sisters in Christ. While much has been said about the roles of men and women in the complementarian church, women need ways to use their gifts in their local churches. For example, sisters in your church may have the gift of teaching and need opportunities to use this gift to serve and edify the congregation. Perhaps you can help them teach an expositional Bible study to other women or encourage discipleship relationships among women. Create space and give many opportunities for them to use their giftings within the church.

Pastors at our church encouraged a group of ladies to lead a women’s ministry rooted in discipleship and Bible study, where many women were able to use their giftings to flourish in our local body. Multiple pastors walked with us and helped to equip us to teach and disciple women. They were available to meet with us and were our biggest encouragers. Our lead pastor even led a group of women through a workshop that taught us how he creates his weekly sermon outline. Now we use these tools to prepare to teach expositional women’s Bible studies.

Additionally, celebrate how women in your churches disciple and nurture children in the Lord. This may be their children or the children of others within their church family. Women need to hear our brothers say that time spent training children is not second-class but sacred work. Remind them that, though this labor can involve sacrifice and often feel thankless, the Lord sees. Their work is not in vain. It is a gift to the church.

Foster Theological Study Among Women in Your Churches

Theological study is not for men only. Women should be encouraged to love the Lord their God with their hearts, souls, minds, and strength.

Pricilla, alongside her husband Aquila, taught Apollos the way of God more accurately. Together, they ministered to Apollos and impacted his growth in gospel ministry. We can conclude that both Priscilla and Aquila had a firm grasp on doctrine. Their doctrine was foundational as they discipled others and offered generous hospitality (Acts 18:25-26).

We read in Paul’s letter to Titus that both men and women are to teach what accords with sound doctrine. Women specifically are to teach one another what is good and train up the younger women (Titus 2:3–5). In order to do so, women need to be firmly rooted in sound doctrine. When women live this out, the gospel is adorned, and the Word of God is not reviled (Titus 2:8, 10). It all begins with teaching what accords with sound doctrine.

Pastors in our local church have encouraged our women to love the Lord with their hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Observing my hunger for theological study, they encouraged me to attend seminary, and then they went so far as to fully fund my coursework. Also, a dear brother at my church who is pursuing his doctorate often sends me his papers. When my husband and I talk with him and his wife, he engages me in theological discussion. He welcomes my questions, showing me respect and dignity as we discuss theology. In addition, the pastor emeritus at our church gives me theology books to read and checks in with me often. He has both equipped me and enabled me to feel supported and valued

Brothers, your sisters need you! Speak into their lives, give them space to use their gifts, and help to foster deep theological study among your sisters. We are made to complement one another in our God-given design; consider how your encouragement may be a timely word in your sisters’ lives! May we magnify the Lord together and exalt his name together.

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