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If you have ever had dinner at a house full of single men you would never question why women are key to community. Of the five senses, all are improved by the presence of women in a Community Group. This, however, is not what makes you, the women, key to community. That is found in your identity as image bearers of God. The question of why women are key to community is, in a sense, irrelevant; The basic premise of being a community is that everyone is key. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that every member of the community contributes to the health of the group. It also tells us that when one member suffers, the whole body suffers.

"Our desire is for the women of Mars Hill to express their spiritual gifts as they have been called by God."

It's true that at Mars Hill, we are zealous in our calling men to accountability and leadership, but we need  the women in our communities to step forward and exercise their spiritual gifts, too. When this doesn't happen, the body is deprived of the blessing that these women bring to the community. As image-bearers of Christ, women have been created to contribute to community in unique and profound ways. It is imperative for the health of the church that the call to men to rise up does not inadvertently ask women to shrink back. On the contrary, our desire is for the women of Mars Hill to express their spiritual gifts as they have been called by God, and maintain a high standard to which those men should rise. Key to addressing this within your community group is to realize that we are disciples and disciple-makers. The "one another" scriptures are not gender specific. We are all called to love, encourage, rebuke, teach one another as we live out the gospel in community.

"Women have helped me to become a better husband, father, and pastor."

While women are encouraged to express those gifts within the whole body, they are uniquely qualified to disciple other women as well as provide a female perspective to the group. My life has been impacted greatly by the wisdom that I have received from women in my Community Group over the years. They have helped me to become a better husband, father, and pastor. Their willingness to speak gospel truth into my life, my marriage and my ministry has been invaluable. As a leader, there have been countless times when other women in the group have been able to identify when someone in the group was struggling with something to which I was oblivious. They are uniquely equipped to identify distortions in the gospel another woman might be believing, which I could not see. This is not threatening to a male leader. It is a much needed lifeline. It would be tragic if such gifts were covered up and neglected. Scripture makes it clear that women have always played a significant role in community: Lydia was the first Christian convert in Asia. Priscilla was a gifted evangelist who spread the gospel with her husband. Phoebe was a deacon of the church and considered by Paul to be a great help to the gospel. To the women of the church, I encourage you to find confidence in your identity as daughters of God and exercise your gifts within the body for the fame of Jesus. Without you, the whole body suffers. You are key. Brad House is the pastor of community groups at the Ballard campus.