This sermon was preached at the baptism of my daughter on Pentecost Sunday, June 8, 2025. It will be handwritten, sealed in an envelope, and given to her as she grows up. The text of the sermon is followed by a hymn (“Child of Blessing, Child of Promise”) that was sung immediately after her baptism.
Dear Lorelai,
Today, you were washed with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. You were washed as a pledge of God, that through the blood of his dear Son, he will cleanse you and keep you clean as you come to him in faith. You were washed as a sign that even now, through Christ the Second Adam, you are a daughter of God and heir of his kingdom.
You were made for God. You were made to be happy in him, and nothing else can make you happy forever. You were made to know, love, and enjoy the only true God, and his Son Jesus Christ, in the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. You were made to serve the King of kings and Lord of lords. You were made for a purpose. You were made for greatness—not as the world counts greatness, but as God counts greatness. You were made to be a godly woman.
You have been baptized this day into a long line of godly women, going all the way back to Eve, the mother of all living, who despite her grave sin, gave glory to God at the birth of Seth, and looked by faith for a child from God who would crush the serpent’s head.
Godly women strive to be Proverbs 31 women—to be trustworthy (31:11), to do their husbands good and not harm (31:12), to work hard (31:13), to help the needy (31:20), to teach with wisdom and kindness (31:26), and above all else, to fear the Lord (31:30).
But never think that there is one size, one shape, one kind of woman that you must be. You must be what God has called you to be. He may put you to doing; he may put you to suffering. He may employ you; he may lay you aside. He may exalt you; he may bring you low. He may let you be full; he may let you be empty. He may let you have all things; he may let you have nothing. What matters is that you freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to God’s pleasure and disposal (Wesley’s Covenant Prayer). If God wills it, then you can do anything. There is no end to what godly women can do.
There is no end to what godly women can do.
Godly women can change lives by good deeds—like Dorcas, who was mourned by the widows for whom she made tunics; or like Mary Slessor, who learned African languages so that she could leave home and minister to those suffering from smallpox, develop economic opportunities for women, and adopt abandoned children.
Godly women can risk their lives for the sake of others—like Shiphrah and Puah, the midwives who feared God more than Pharoah, and saved the Hebrew male children; or like Pandita Ramabai, who forsook Hinduism and devoted her life to rescuing subjugated women in the name of Christ.
Godly women can catechize others in the way of the Lord more perfectly—like Priscilla, who instructed the mighty preacher Apollos; or like Macrina, a theologian in her own right, who worked miracles, and was hailed as “the Teacher” by her brothers, the great Cappadocian fathers; or like Teresa of Ávila, who produced such a large and profound library of writings on spirituality and theology that she was named the first female “Doctor” of the church.
Godly women can rule with righteous courage—like mighty Deborah, who judged Israel and led Barak into battle; or like Jane Grey, who corresponded with reformation theologians as a teenager, then took the throne of England at 17 to promote good doctrine, knowing that it would likely lead to her death, as it did 9 days later, when she was beheaded for the sake of God’s Word.
Godly women can defeat armies—like Jael, who drove a tent peg through the head of Sisera, the commander of the enemies of God’s people, and was hailed as most blessed among women; or like Joan of Arc, who was grieved at the injustice against her countrymen, put on armor at 16 years old, and led the armies of France on a white horse to victory against their oppressors, only to be burned at the stake as a martyr.
Godly women can pull down strongholds by their prayers—like Hannah, who pleaded with God for a son, and birthed a great prophet; or like Monica, who had a cheating husband and a prodigal son, but prayed and never gave up until Augustine was converted from his wicked ways and became a Doctor of the Church.
Godly women can bend kings to their will—like Esther, who risked her life to stop a genocide, and was raised up, like you, for such a time as this; or like Catherine of Siena, who wrote letters to kings, queens, and bishops, spoke out against corruption in the clergy, put an end to insurrectionist political movements, and called for aid for Christians suffering in the Middle East.
Godly women can raise up the next generation—like Lois and Eunice, who instilled a sincere faith in Timothy, that great helper of the apostle; or like Non, who was assaulted and impregnated by a pagan king, forced into hiding when men tried to kill her baby, and still chose to raise her child for the Lord—a child who grew up to become a bishop and help Christianize the Welsh people in the sixth century.
Godly women can deliver God’s people—like Miriam the prophetess, who helped Moses and Aaron to lead the exodus, and sang of God’s glorious triumph at the Red Sea; or like the blessed virgin herself, Mary, the Mother of God, through whom our Lord sent a greater Moses to lead the world in a new exodus.
Godly women can show Christ in their marriage—like Sarah, who despite her flaws, called Abraham lord, and did not fear anything frightening; or like Katharina von Bora, who married Martin Luther, stood by him through the worst of times, and became the mother of the Reformation.
Godly women can be great evangelists—like the Samaritan woman at the well (“Photini”), who made a great mess of her life, but was redeemed by an even greater Savior, and proclaimed him to her people; or like Kateri Tekakwitha, who saw the love of missionaries, forsook the ways of the Mohawk Indians, and devoted the rest of her life to constant prayer and fasting for the salvation of her people.
Godly women can exceed all in love, the greatest gift—like Mary of Bethany, who poured out her costliest ointment on Christ, and was proclaimed in all nations; or like Julian of Norwich, who pursued God with her whole heart and had visions of divine love so great that she was sought by many for her counsel and wisdom.
Time would fail me to tell of Leah, Huldah, Ruth, Anna, Elizabeth, Lydia, and Junia, Perpetua, Blandina, Mary of Egypt, Hildegarde of Bingen, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Lottie Moon, Mary Sumner, and Evelyn Underhill. There’s no end to what godly women can do.
Lorelai, be a godly woman. Be a Proverbs 31 woman. But also be an Exodus 15 woman, or a Judges 4 woman, or a 1 Samuel 1 woman, or a Luke 1 woman, or a Mark 14 woman, or an Acts 18 woman. Be the woman that God has called you to be.
Be yourself in Christ, whether that’s a healthcare administrator like your mother, or a homeschool mom like your aunt Lyssa, or a missionary, or a childcare worker, or a Bible translator, or an airline pilot, or a theologian, or the next Supreme Court Justice. As Catherine of Sienna said, “Be who God created you to be and you will set the world on fire.”
“Be who God created you to be and you will set the world on fire.” (Catherine of Sienna)
You were made for greatness as God counts greatness. So don’t be shallow, or flighty, or enslaved to the opinions of others. Be serious, but don’t take yourself too seriously. Enjoy God, enjoy life, enjoy others. Fail, and get back up. Don’t try to prove yourself to mortal men who die, return to dust, and are forgotten forever (Ecclesiastes 3:18–21; 9:5–6). Fight the fight of faith. Strive for an imperishable wreath. “Go forward bravely. Fear nothing. Trust in God” (Joan of Arc). Be a godly woman.
1. Child of blessing, child of promise,
Baptized with the Spirit’s sign:
With this water God has sealed you
Unto love and grace divine.
2. Child of love, our love’s expression,
Love’s creation, loved indeed!
Fresh from God, refresh our spirits,
Into joy and laughter lead.
3. Child of joy, our greatest treasure,
God’s you are, from God you came;
Back to God we humbly give you,
Live as one who bears Christ’s name.
4. Child of God, your loving Parent,
Learn to know whose child you are.
Grow to laugh and sing and worship,
Trust and love God more than all.
Some of the content for this sermon was adapted from the biographies by Our Church Speaks.
