Saints on the Road

Intro

The gospel advances. The last chapter of Acts sees an apostle Paul particularly joyful because of the brothers who meet him while he heads towards Rome.

The gospel continued to advance with great strides, reaching the capital of the Roman empire and this progress could only please a servant like Paul.

Who are they? This passage specifically indicates the different locations and cities that Paul passes through on his journey to Rome, while it is generic regarding the identity of the brothers who meet him on the road.

We can probably find some names of these brothers in chapter 16 of Romans: Rufus, Aquila and Priscilla...

Sermon's Outline. Let us now consider the topic of preaching by analyzing:

The Saints who desire fellowship;

The Saints prepared for fellowship;

The Saints delighted by fellowship.

N. 1 - The Saints who desire felloswhip

A great desire. The saints we find on the road to Rome have a desire to have fellowship. We have 2 group of believers:

The first beg Paul to stay at their house for 7 days, the second reach Paolo 80 km away: this is called desire.

Paul desires the believers (v. 14), the believers of Pozzuoli host Paul for 7 days and the believers of Rome go to meet Paul.

How necessary it is to rediscover the joy of fellowship.

Don't run away from services.

Don't miss meetings.

Seek every opportunity like Paul, open the house like the believers of Portici, go out to meet them like the believers of Rome.

N. 2 - The Saints prepared for felloshwip

A dignitary. The term "met" (v. 15) is a Greek word used to describe the custom of a delegation from a city going out to meet a dignitary and then escorting him into the city with celebrations.

In other words these believers left their homes prepared, ready to travel another 80 km to escort the apostle Paul to Rome.

The same term is used in Matthew 25:1, 6: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’.

Read 1 Thessalonians 4:17: After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

Prepare yourself for all the needs that fraternal communion requires: time, energy, offerings, etc...

N. 3 - The Saints delighted by fellowship

2 types of delights. Here are 2 treats we can receive through fellowship:

First, Paul "takes courage" (v. 15). There are many in the world who want to take away the courage of God's servants. Be the one who inspires courage, strength, zeal, and vigor to those who serve the Lord.

Second, Paul "gave thanks to God" (v. 15). True fraternal communion, the one produced by the Holy Spirit, leads those who fall to glorify God, to give to God.

Where man is exalted and God forgotten, that is not a blessed gathering of saints.

At the end of every meeting, we want to give glory to God.

Conclusion

Fellowship is what makes us stronger.