What comes to your mind when I say the word servant?
Some think of the word slave. Some may think, “I never want to be someone’s slave! That’s terrible!”
Some may think that they would rather be in a place of power, than in a place of servitude. After all, a lot of the people that our culture celebrates are those who give off an impression of strength and power.
Others, when they hear the word servant may think of Jesus.
This morning, we are concluding our series called “Women of the Bible” by looking at one more woman; her name is Phoebe.
The most prominent way that Phoebe is described is as a servant.
Listen to what Romans 16:1-2 says of Phoebe: I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.
Join me in prayer as we prepare to hear what God has to say to us in this sermon.
(prayer)
So, who is Phoebe and what can we learn from this woman of the Bible?
First of all Phoebe means “bright” or “radiant.” Well, that’s a nice name.
We see that Phoebe was from Cenchreae, which was one of the seaports of Corinth. It’s very likely that the church Phoebe was a part of came out of the church of Corinth. By the way, the church of Corinth was planted by the apostle Paul, so Phoebe’s church was probably a sort of grandchild church birthed out of the missionary efforts of Paul.
Speaking of Paul, we see that Paul commends Phoebe to the Roman church as a sister, a servant, and a benefactor.
So, Phoebe meant a lot to Paul; he highly valued her as an asset to the ministry of the early church.
When he says she is a sister, he means that she belongs to the family of God. She is an adopted child of God, as is Paul, as are those who belong to the church in Rome, and as are we today.
He also says she is a benefactor. So, Phoebe probably helped a lot of the early Christians, not only Paul but others as well. She may have helped in various ways, probably including financial assistance.
Also, Paul refers to Phoebe as a servant. Now, I’d like to park here for just a moment.
We’ve studied this before in our sermon series in Romans, but it’s worth reviewing again. The Greek word that Paul uses for servant is diakonos. Does that sound familiar?
Diakonos is transliterated into English as deacon. However, it is translated as the word servant. So, to be a diakonos is to be a servant. Also, to be a deacon is to be a servant.
So, some have naturally asked, well was Phoebe a woman deacon or a deaconess? Well, obviously, yes she was. Paul calls her a diakonos.
The more specific question then is whether or not Phoebe was a servant in a general sense, or a deacon in terms of the formal office of deacon that we see in the early church. We cannot answer this question definitively, but there is something to the fact that Paul says she is a diakonos of the church in Cenchreae. That sounds like a possible official title to me.
Nevertheless, here’s the heart of the matter: what it means to be a deacon is to be a servant. So, in a general sense, can women be servants of the church? Absolutely yes! I don’t want fewer women serving the church, I want more women serving the church (and more men for that matter).
Can women be in the official role of deacon, in terms of position in the organization of the church? Well, that’s a question that many churches are still trying to figure out.
Part of the problem with the issue is that many churches have confused the role of deacon, and that is closely related to the fact that they have confused the role of pastor. Often, deacons are doing what pastors should do, and pastors are doing what administrators should do, and it creates a big confusing mess.
Thank God that we have the Bible to help us with these matters! So, as a church, may we continue to pursue the Bible and the leading of the Spirit of God, and have biblical deacons and biblical pastors.
In the meantime, know this: Any Christian can serve the church, and every Christian should serve the church!
So, let us hold up Phoebe as an example of faithfulness to Jesus and faithfulness to the church.
In fact, let’s aspire to be like Phoebe. As we do so, let’s discover three characteristics of what it looks like to be like Phoebe.
First, . . .
I. When you are like Phoebe, you are humble.
To serve someone means that we put their needs ahead of our own. It means that we are not thinking of ourselves first, we are thinking of others first.
To be humble does not mean to think less of ourselves, it means to think of ourselves less.
Listen to how the Bible speaks of the attitude that we should adopt:
Philippians 2:3-8 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.
Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross.
To be like Phoebe means that we are to be humble.
We are to do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit.
We are to consider others as more important than ourselves.
We should look out for the interest of others.
We are to adopt the same attitude as Jesus.
Phoebe was a humble servant. So, also, every follower of Jesus Christ should be a humble servant.
When you are like Phoebe, you are humble.
Second, . . .
II. When you are like Phoebe, you are willing.
Look again at the passage from Romans 16:
Romans 16:1-2 – I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchreae. So, you should welcome her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints and assist her in whatever matter she may require your help. For indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.
It’s commonly believed that Phoebe delivered the letter that we know as the book of Romans. It’s thought that’s why Paul says, “welcome her in the Lord,” because she brought the letter from Paul to the church in Rome.
Phoebe was willing to serve the cause of Christ and to serve Paul as she aided in the distribution of perhaps the most profound piece of Christian writing in human history, the book of Romans.
Not only was Phoebe willing to serve in this regard, but she was also willing to serve others.
Remember, Paul said of Phoebe, “indeed she has been a benefactor of many—and of me also.”
Phoebe was able to help others for their benefit, not her own.
I am so grateful for those who are willing to be servants.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to take care of our babies and little ones.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to serve our youth and children.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to keep up our property and facilities.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to spend time preparing to teach the Word of God to others.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to visit the sick and dying in our church family.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to send repeated prayers to our Lord God on behalf of our church family.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to serve others in our community.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to answer the call to take the gospel of Jesus to the far reaches of the world.
I’m grateful for those who are willing to serve.
You know, all of us should be willing to serve.
1 Peter 4:10 tells us, “Just as each one has received a gift, use it to serve others, as good stewards of the varied grace of God.”
May we all be willing to serve, as Phoebe was willing to serve.
When you are like Phoebe, you are willing.
Finally, . . .
III. When you are like Phoebe, you are like Jesus.
We’ve already mentioned Philippians 2, which instructs us to adopt the mind of Christ, who was a humble servant. So, we’ve already established that to be a humble servant is to be like Jesus.
So, we understand that when Phoebe was serving others, she was modeling the love and life of Jesus. When she was a benefactor to others, she was modeling the love and life of Jesus.
So, also, when we serve others, as Phoebe did, we are like Jesus.
Listen to the words of Jesus Himself in Mark 10:43-45: “ . . . whoever wants to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you will be a slave to all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
If you want to be great, become a servant of others. If you want to be like Jesus, become a servant of others.
Don’t seek to be powerful. Don’t seek to be the most popular or the strongest. If you want to be like the greatest person to ever walk this earth, Jesus Christ, then learn how to serve others. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.”
Be like Jesus, in part by being like Phoebe, this wonderful woman of the Bible.
Let this bottom line summarize what God is teaching us today:
Bottom Line: To be a Christian is to be a servant.
You cannot separate the two. To be a Christian is to be like Christ. To be like Christ, in part, is to be a servant.
So, as you reflect upon Phoebe, this servant of the church and of others, be encouraged to be a servant of the church and others. Love God, love the church, and love others.
Challenge yourself this week in the following ways:
Weekly Challenge #1 – Identify what the Bible says about servanthood.
Spend some time digging into the Word of God about what it means to be a servant. I’ve said some things here in this passage, but the Bible goes far beyond what I’ve said today.
So, spend some time identifying what the Bible says about servanthood.
Weekly Challenge #2 – Choose to be a servant.
Many people throughout history were forced to be servants against their will. This is not the kind of servanthood we’re talking about here.
A follower of Jesus chooses to be a servant to Jesus, and His church, and to others.
Choose this week to be a servant.
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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