Romans 16:1-16
Notes
Transcript
This morning we come to Chapter 16 of the Book of Romans
This is the last chapter of the letter Paul has written to the Church in Rome
By itself you are left with sort of pushing it aside not thinking much of it
We don’t like names because we don’t know much about these people
We really don’t like names because we can pronounce them
But in the grand scheme of things we push this aside and chalk it up to not much for me to get out of a list of names
And church we would be wrong
There is so much to get out of and if we are not careful we will miss it
There is nothing secret about what Paul is writing I am not saying that you need to be hyper spiritual to get what I am talking about this morning
I am saying that you need to take your entire Bible as a whole and understand that all parts of good for teaching and rebuking and correcting, dare I say it church but don’t skip over the names
Names are important
Rahab is a name in the Old Testament
She is the protistute who saves the spies that Joshua sent into the promise land
When God redeemed her she is also named in the lineage of Jesus in Matthew 1.
David is a mighty name, all though you may struggle with the pronouncing of his brothers and his kids
But David was said to have a heart after God
Paul seems relatively simple name we get
But before Paul was Paul he was Saul it was only an encountering with the living God that Saul died and became Paul
Paul doesn’t become Paul without encountering the living God
So Paul in Romans 16. gives us a list of names
The church in Rome may have not known them all personally but what Paul is illustrating is that you are not meant to be a lone ranger
Paul is not a lone ranger
Paul is not successful without the amazing work of these men and women
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; 2 that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life risked their own necks, to whom not only do I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles; 5 also greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first convert to Christ from Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved. 10 Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. 11 Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. 12 Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, workers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord, also his mother and mine. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brethren with them. 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.
Just a fact
I count 29 people mentioned
10 of them are women
Please hear me this is not a women are the best and run the church
But rather Paul is showing that we are a body made up of different parts and some of those parts are women
When you read that you are left with the attitude ok thats a cool list of names
But Paul is sharing with the church in Rome the people who have been a part of his own growth in Christ
We like to think Paul is the bomb dot com or that Paul didn’t need being discipled that He is just that awesome
What Paul is sharing with the church in Rome and even with us is that it takes a community to plant churches it takes a community to evangelize
That it takes people pouring into your life to help you grow in your own walk with Christ
So in prepping for this sermon I started to think about the same sort of list in my own life
For me it would be my parents, Brian and BJ
Jason, TMAC, Mike, Leon and Jeri, Randi, Tim, Aaron and Katie
Rustin, Omar and Jana, Gary and Jeanie, Ray and Ann, Doyal and Vonda, Eric and Deidra, Erick, Lydia, Joy
Lexi, Dawson, Gracie, Elijah, Jacob, Nathan, Kevin
Church these are just a few people who I have poured into and some who have poured into me
So church I wanted to give you some homework
Create your own list
Look back on your own life and see who has helped you grow along the way
Strive to be that person in someones life
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