For many people—especially those new to faith or rebuilding their faith—questions about women in the church feel confusing. Some grew up hearing that women should stay quiet. Others watched women pray, teach, preach without the title, organize everything behind the scenes, and hold the church together with grace and strength. Many women of color know this story well. They have led faithfully, even when no one called them “leader.”
So what does the Bible actually say?
When we look at Scripture with fresh eyes, we see that God has always called, gifted, and empowered women. This is a constant theme across the Bible, and it shows up again and again in the ministry of Jesus and the early church. As Dr. Erika Santiago teaches at Mosaic Church and in her Bible studies on the Sermon on the Mount and Women in the New Testament, the Bible tells a bigger, more beautiful story than many of us were taught. This devotional invites you to see that story with clarity and hope.
God’s Vision: Equal Worth and Shared Calling (Galatians 3:28)
Paul says, “There is no longer male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” This verse does not erase gender. Instead, it tells us that in God’s family, worth and calling are not divided by gender. God does not give spiritual gifts to men only. The Holy Spirit does not choose leaders based on gender. Every believer—male and female—stands before God with equal dignity and equal access to His Spirit. This breaks down old ideas that say men lead and women follow. Instead, Scripture shows God calling all His children to serve.
Women Who Led in the Early Church (Romans 16:1–7)
When Paul ends his letter to the Romans, he greets the leaders of the early church. And some of those leaders are women. He speaks of Phoebe, a deacon who carried his letter to Rome and likely explained it to the church there. He also celebrates Junia, a woman known as an outstanding apostle. These women were not hidden. They were respected leaders. The early church did not fear women in ministry; it welcomed them. Their stories remind us that women helped build the church from the beginning.
The Spirit Falls on Sons and Daughters (Acts 2:17–18)
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter said, “Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.” In Scripture, prophecy is a public ministry of speaking God’s truth. God made it clear that His Spirit would empower both men and women. No one is left out of the work of the kingdom. The early church understood that the Spirit gives gifts to all believers—without restriction.
Deborah: A Leader in a Difficult Time (Judges 4:4–9)
Deborah served as a prophet and judge over Israel. People came to her for wisdom. She led the nation. She guided its army. She spoke God’s word. Her leadership was not an accident. It was God’s choice. Deborah shows us that God does not wait for perfect cultural conditions to call women. He calls whom He wills, and He equips them with courage and strength.
Women Who Followed Jesus (Luke 8:1–3)
Jesus welcomed women as disciples—something unusual in His culture. Women traveled with Him, learned from Him, and supported His ministry with their own resources. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and others played a vital role in Jesus’ work. When the disciples ran from the cross, the women stayed. And when Jesus rose from the dead, women were the first witnesses of His resurrection. Jesus did not silence women. He trusted them with the greatest news in history.
When Culture Speaks, but God Still Moves
Some verses in Paul’s letters seem to restrict women, but context matters. In Corinth and Ephesus, the church faced confusion, false teaching, and cultural challenges. Education for women was limited, and new believers were learning how to worship in an orderly way. Paul’s instructions addressed specific issues in specific churches, not all women for all time. In other places, Paul encourages women to pray and prophesy in public worship. Scripture must be read in context—something Dr. Erika teaches often at Mosaic Church, and in her books and podcast. Culture shaped those moments, but culture never limits God.
Leadership in the Kingdom Is About Service
Jesus taught that true leadership is not about power—it is about serving others with humility. Many women lead this way already. They teach, preach, care, organize, encourage, and build community. The real question is not, “Can women lead?” but “How is the Spirit calling women to lead today?” Authority in God’s kingdom comes from the Spirit, not from gender.
Women as Models of Faithfulness
Throughout Scripture, women show us what faith looks like:
Miriam singing after the Red Sea.
Huldah guiding a king to repentance.
Ruth choosing loyalty.
Esther protecting her people.
Mary saying yes to God’s call.
Priscilla teaching with wisdom.
Lydia opening her home for the church.
These women remind us that God’s call is not small. It is bold. It is life-changing. And it is for all of us.
A Call to See Women the Way God Does
If you grew up hearing women could not preach or lead, this may feel new. But reconstruction often begins with honesty and a desire to learn. Scripture gives us a clear picture: God calls women. Jesus affirms women. The Spirit empowers women. The church grows when all of God’s children walk in their gifts.
Living This Out Today
The church needs leaders who reflect God’s heart—women and men serving together. The world needs leaders who look like the communities they serve, including women of color whose voices carry wisdom and strength. If God is calling you, that calling is real. Step into it with courage. Pray over it. Trust that God will guide you.
A Closing Prayer
God, thank You for calling all Your children—women and men—to serve in Your kingdom. Give us eyes to see Your gifts in one another. Break down old ideas that keep people silent or unseen. Raise up leaders who serve with love, humility, and joy. Make Your church a place where every believer can walk boldly in their calling. Amen.
Reflection Question
Where have I limited what God can do through women—either in my life or in my church—and how can I honor the gifts God gives His daughters this week?
Where have I limited myself? How can I honor the gifts God has given me this week?