Romans 16:1-16, 21-23 | Friends in Ministry

SERMON TITLE: Friends in Ministry

‌SCRIPTURE: Romans 16:1-16, 21-23 (ESV)

SPEAKER: Josh Hanson

DATE: 11-9-25

TURN MIC ON / WELCOME

As always it’s a joy to be with all of you this weekend at Gateway Church. And there’s one thing I want you to know — and this is true if you’re worshiping with us for the first time — if you’re joining us at our North Main Campus or are with our friends in Bucyrus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.

SERIES INTRO

We’re continuing our series in Romans this weekend and we’re in the practical application section of Paul’s letter where — after eleven chapters of rich theological truths — Paul is now in the “so what” section of his letter. Meaning he’s now addressing how all of the theology — that’s found in the first eleven chapters — is to play itself out in how we live. Or at least how it should influence the way we live.

And we’re in the last chapter of Paul’s letter. And in these final words Paul is very personal in what he writes. I went back and forth of ending with this sermon or with next week’s — but decided to end how Paul ends his letter — even though this sermon is my favorite of the two. For in our text for today — Paul praises his friends in ministry. And today — like Paul — I’m going to praise many of you — my friends in ministry.

PAUL’S FRIENDS

But before we get to me — let’s turn to Paul. Here are his words beginning in Romans chapter sixteen — verse one.

Romans 16:1–16 ESV

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, 2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. 5 Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. 7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. 11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. 12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. 16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

And skipping to verse twenty-one — we read…

Romans 16:21–23 ESV

21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you; so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen. 22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord. 23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the city treasurer, and our brother Quartus, greet you.

One person has called this, “the least-preached-upon chapter of the most-preached-upon book int he New Testament.” These are the kinds of passages we long for in our devotional time, right? No! A list of a bunch of names that are hard to read — much less pronounce — thank you very much — what does this have to do with me? My hope is that after some reflection on these names you’ll have a greater appreciation anytime you come across a name in the Bible. And — like today — may the names you read remind you of names you know — saints among us — who are worthy of being praised and commended for their faithfulness to the Lord and their partnership in ministry.

Paul begins by commending a woman named Phoebe to the Christians in Rome. And Paul calls Phoebe a servant of the church. I bring this up to explain why we have women deacons here at Gateway. The Greek word — translated as servant — in verse one — is the same word translated as deacon in other places in the Bible. Now — it’s true that the word isn’t always translated as deacon — sometimes it’s translated as minister or servant — but in one sense all of the people Paul mentions are servants in the church — so why does he single Phoebe out in his commendation of her? Maybe it’s because she held a special leadership role in the church — like that of a deacon.

Moving on through the names — don’t miss the intimate details that Paul includes. Prisca and Aquila — who we find in the book of Acts — risked their necks for Paul’s life. We have no idea what situation Paul is referring to — but essentially he’s saying, “I’m alive and doing ministry today because of these friends of mine.”

We learn that Epaenetus was the first person to believe in Jesus in Asia. Paul praises the hard work of a woman named Mary. He mentions that two of his friends experienced imprisonment like Paul had.

There’s Rufus and his unnamed mother — Paul, why didn’t you give us her name? But what a sweet statement, “She was like a mother to me.” I wonder if she even had a name. “A name? Why wouldn’t she have a name?” Well — not all of the names we read were actual names.

For example…

Romans 16:22 ESV

22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.

Tertius is the man who’s been writing down Paul’s words. This was a common role in the Roman world in which they lived. Where one individual would dictate to another words to be written down. Sometimes the individual was a slave — we’re unsure if Tertius was a former slave or not.

But — Paul — after sending greetings on behalf of Timothy, Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater — I want you to imagine Paul looking at Tertius — the man writing down his words — and saying, “Tertius, go ahead. You greet them yourself.”

Now that may not seem like a big deal to you. But the reason why this is so moving is that the name Tertius isn’t actually a name — it’s a number. It means third or three. And — after his greeting — come the words, “Our brother Quartus, greets you.” Quartus means four or fourth.

According to one Bible scholar, “The distribution of personhood in the Roman Empire was profoundly unequal. Very few people were recognized as a persona — the Latin word from which we get person — which is a legal term in Latin — that means that someone has a full standing in law and society to be recognized as a full human being. Only the head of households was considered a full human being and everyone else lived in various degrees of personhood. From children who could aspire to inherit their father’s status to women who were always treated as property of the head of household and then the 20-25 percent of the Roman Empire who were slaves — not based on race but on commercial or military misfortune. The Romans were very practical people. And if you didn’t really have any prospect of becoming a person — they didn’t really bother with given you a name. So if you were a male — you were often just named by your birth order. Second, third, fourth, fifth. Or a child born to a slave woman would be named “useful” — in Greek — is the name Onesimus — see the book of Philemon.”

Now — think back to the names Paul mentions in our chapter. Heads of household are mentioned — to be expected. Some who were obviously firstborn sons due to the fact that they have names. But women are also mentioned — which is culturally stunning. As well as third and fourth — Tertius and Quartus.

We don’t know if Tertius and Quartus were brothers — men not given the dignity of being named by their families for — in the culture of the time — as we heard in the quote — only the firstborn son mattered. Yet look at what dignity the Christian faith gives to all — for the Christian faith says that all people are made in the image of God, have dignity, and are fully persons.

The Christian faith gives a name to the nameless. In fact — all who believe in Jesus — we’re told — are given a new family name — because the firstborn Son of God came to earth so that we — all of the seconds, and thirds, and fourths — for none of us are the firstborn Son of God, after all — but all of us receive a new name as we’re welcomed into God’s family.

MY FRIENDS

And now we turn to us — and what’s my favorite part of this sermon — and maybe of our entire time in Romans. A time for me to praise many of my faith family friends. Now — to no one’s surprise — time for a caveat — the “there’s not enough time for me to praise all of my friends here at Gateway.” In fact, I’ve contributed very few names to the list that I’m about to read. Instead, I did something much more fun. I got my faith family involved.

I sent out an email to around forty or so folks and asked them to send me names of people who they see faithfully following Jesus and I asked them to tell me why they sent me the individual’s name. I also asked them to keep their list to no more than five individuals. You see, I know that my knowledge of what goes on among us is limited and I love to hear stories of what you all are doing that I would never know about without others telling me.

And here’s the reply I got to my email. Here are some of the fully persons among us. Some women. Some men. Some young. Some not so young. So singles. Some married. Some people you may know. And others you may not. But all are family members and friends to you and to me — people for whom we are to be thankful to God for.

Randy MacDonald - He greets the kids of our County Road 9 Campus with a bag of candy and engages with them while their parents connect with others on Sunday morning.

Kristen Sharpe - She always makes others feel welcome and pours herself into serving our members.

Justin Stiles - He is consistently praying for the needs of others and thinking through ways that we can help or care for those in need. Even when he has plenty on his plate at home, he puts others first.

Lincoln Peters - He consistently seeks out and encourages our young kids at church.  I often see him with an arm around a young man asking about his week and engaging them on Sunday mornings.

Terry Jolliff - He is always spreading the gospel with those he interacts with at work, church or in the community.  I have had multiple people tell me that if wasn’t for Terry’s encouragement, they might not have came to church or known how Christ was working in their life.

Jessica Thomas and Ashlyn and Brody - who serve faithfully in the nursery.

Heidi and all of our worship team leaders. If you’re wondering why Heidi was named — her husband submitted her name. :)

Cory Hartman for keeping us safe every week.

Brinley and Bowen Fought for ushering regularly. You’re never too young to be faithful.

Chad Benedict for communion set up and management.

Ron Beach - He is an encourager and writes a devotional every week for anyone who wants one. 

Laura Moore - I don’t think people appreciate how much happens behind the scenes all because of Laura (and I probably don’t know the half of it). Her faithfulness and dedication to our church family is remarkable.

Matt and Amberly Heft - They are a pillar in our church—modeling faith in action and setting an example worth following. They don’t just talk the talk, they go, and they inspire others to go with them. Mat also genuinely cares about raising future leaders in our church family.

Michael and Lauren Shivers - He graciously leads our deacons with humility. They serve as life group leaders. Lauren serves in diverse needs ministry and both are actively involved in the VBS program. The Shivers are inviting and intentional about growing.

Michael and Annie Gill - They serve as life group leaders. Annie helps with Kidway and Michael serves with on the tech team on Sunday. Their family is missional in everything they do.

Damien and Amanda Barrientos - They serve in preschool classes and make Bible lessons engaging on Sunday mornings and serve on respite nights for our diverse needs families always welcoming the families of Gateway with a smile and a warm heart.

Jamie and Keri Harpst - They serve in the kid’s ministry, cafe, and women's Bible study. They always encourage others and they live out what it looks like to walk with Christ.

Emma McDougle - She serves faithfully with the preschoolers every Sunday as well as any event that requires childcare and does it with a smile, welcoming children into her care.

Krista Wachtman, CR9 campus, She serves faithfully with the preschoolers every Sunday as well as helping in our diverse needs room.

Cheryl Drake - she serves faithfully every Sunday with the first graders, as well as leads the diverse needs life group, her own life group, and teaches English on Saturday mornings to students in Bangladesh. I'm sure she does much more that I am missing. To which I — pastor Josh — will add — she’s been a great mentor to my daughter.

Christina Lishawa - She intentionally teaches and leads her Kidway class weekly, she cares for her life group deeply, she loves others with notes of encouragement, and is willing to go on mission trips to share the good news. While she and Randy had a college student living with them last year, she frequently opened her kitchen to his fiancee - not only inviting her to dinner, but teaching her how to cook the meals they enjoyed together.

Renee Criblez - She goes above and beyond teaching 1st graders Bible literacy skills on top of teaching the weekly lesson, quick to help out in Kidway with childcare or creating something to be used as a prop or tool, and is both humble and extremely knowledgeable.

Emily Weizer - She teaches large group monthly and is always thinking how to better communicate the Bible, she disciples her youth group girls well, has a heart for Go and missions, and is willing to help in whatever way she can.

Samantha Scherger - Sam is willing to Go, she leads a life group, is a greeter, and is a sub for Kidway and is always willing and ready to say yes to stepping into a classroom to help.

Nancy Cramer - She always fills in for the nursery whenever needed. She helps with Lifewise. She faithfully prays for the needs of others.

Kathy MacDonald - She schedules the greeters and has for years. Faithfully making sure those who enter our building feel welcomed.

Harlan Hoy - He schedules the parking crew. Takes on parking for VBS, making sure kids are safe as they enter and exit the building. He also has taken charge of parking for our outdoor services.

Jordan Harpst - He is engaged in each area of our discipleship process, worshiping weekly, leading a Life Group, serving on the security team and as an usher, and going overseas to the hard places like Lebanon.

Seth Butler - He is a devoted husband and father who faithfully guides and disciples his family in their walk with God together.

Hannah Otley - Her love for the Lord is very evident, whether helping lead worship on Sunday morning, sharing an encouraging word during Life Group meetings, or simply talking about Jesus with a supernatural kind of excitement. 

Michele Jewitt - - She is always praying and reaching out to our Life Group for prayers and how she can be praying for us and just genuinely checking in. 

Heather Routson - She’s always asking how people are doing and has an amazing ability to follow up on conversations with care.

Jenna Wilson - The most kind person I know. She cares deeply about how people are doing and how she can be praying for them

Joel & Adrienne Kozlesky - They serve in many areas faithfully including in Kidway, as Lifegroup leaders, at VBS, and have a passion for sharing the Good News to others both locally and abroad.

Joe McCool - He is a dedicated Christ follower who is always striving to deepen his relationship God. He shares his love of Christ by joyfully serving and teaching in Kidway.

Heagan Sparling - She has a heart for teaching children about Jesus. She serves in Kidway and many other areas.

Ted Criblez - He is a faithful greeter with a smile and a kind word. He is there early every Sunday to open the kidway doors, making all feel welcome.

Sherry Schults -  she has lead the women's Bible study for many years. She’s always an encourager. And she makes it possible for women to connect and feel at ease as they share.

Sandra Tietje and Annette Peverly - Both serve in the Sew Quilt Share ministry to provide materials and projects so women can use their sewing talents to bless others.

Etta Malone - A smiling face every Sunday as she gets around with her walker. She gives hugs to all making them feel loved and special. She is truly a blessing.

Chad Hermiller - he serves the youth as a life group leader.

Mike Norman - he’s willing to give guidance and help those who are looking to grow in their faith. Also gives a helping hand when asked.

Leslie Sawmiller - she will quietly sign up to bring a meal EVERY time a need is sent out for a family in our church.

Cori Benedict - Cori is such a servant for Christ! She strives to be a better mom everyday - she is never content with mediocrity when it comes to leading her family to the Lord.

Dan and Janet Blanchard - they have given their lives to fostering and caring for over 150 displaced children in our county over the years and now they faithfully care for the kids in our nursery each Sunday. 

Matt Sawmiller -  Matt has an evangelistic heart and has never met a stranger. He is faithful to meet every person with love, care, and kindness and he does a fantastic job of sharing the Gospel and his faith with others. 

Sara Tomlinson – she serves in multiple ways, she takes the initiative in stepping out, encouraging, and supporting our faith family.

Dan Harmon – he serves on Sundays, and is authentic and real in conversation.

Abe Sparling – he always shows up and he gets things done.

Mike McLaughlin – he recently moved here, jumped into the discipleship process, joined a Life Group and started serving — all pretty quickly.

Emily Hanson - Emily does more than required as a pastors wife by serving our youth and going above and beyond with VBX.

Lyn Loewen is a faithful usher and leads his volunteers well. No matter what's going on in his life or health, he makes everyone around him feel welcome and loved!

Peggy McBride has faithfully served as a deacon, preparing and serving communion. She also serves in other areas on Sunday, and no matter what she is doing, she makes you feel so cared for.

Jay & Coleen Kiesel serve in so many ways and are another couple who step up no matter the need. They bring a calm and quiet leadership to everything they do.

Hisako Tabogami and Elizabeth Jarrell - Both women are found serving our congregation as greeters or in the cafe. They extend the love of Christ through individually and compassionately recognizing the different people they serve.

Boden and Anna Fisher - Demonstrate their commitment to prayer by not only praying with individuals at the end of service, but also by regularly sharing their personal prayer requests so that others can pray for them. In addition, they answered the call and recently became Life Group leaders.

Sam Deeter - he faithfully serves and motivates elementary students during kidway with a smile and enthusiasm for the Word.

Samantha and Kevin Boose - they seem to eagerly volunteer and serve almost everywhere. They model how they follow Jesus as a family. On days when Kevin serves on tech, you can find the whole family gathered to do breakfast in between tech practice and the start of the first service. Sam’s also an amazing example of a Godly mother who tries her best (and is doing an amazing job) to raise her little disciples in a God honoring way while also being humble enough to ask for help when it's needed. 

Logan Rickle - He stood in the parking lot during pouring down rain and welcomed everyone with a smile and a wave.

Susan Kayser - She faithfully serves on the worship team and sets the proper tone with her piano playing during communion.

Lindsay Norman - She builds cohesive worship teams each week despite everyone's busy schedules. In her prayer requests she regularly asks that God would be her portion instead of praying for her circumstances to change. Her prayers and wisdom show a deep respect and reverence for the Lord.

Lana Fought - I'm regularly spurred on by her faithful service and her apparent love for the church. 

Ashley Peter - She puts her relationship with the Lord first in the way she evangelizes and serves those around her. 

Katie Kramer - Her heart for people, the Lord, and her reverence for the Word show her deep love and commitment to the Lord. 

Nicole Dishong - For the past couple months she has come in during the week to prep supplies for the Kidway lessons. 

John Lynch - He serves several of our homebound members by visiting them on a monthly basis.

Randy & Rita Casper - They faithfully check in with and pray for several members who are suffering from prolonged illnesses. 

Dick and Greta Schrock - Partners in ministry by mentoring, hospitality, missions and investing in people!

Paul and Ann Hadde - they serve in so many capacities at Gateway — the nursery, middle school life group, Sunday school, Christmas Tea, VBS. They are very generous with their time and resources to invest in not only Gateway families, but the community as well.

Carsten Weizer and Morgan Cooper - both spend a lot of time on Sunday mornings with their ministry responsibilities, but they are also willing to come and serve/invest in our youth on Sunday evenings.

Brady Reutz - a high school student who serves alongside adults (that he didn't already know before serving with them) to greet our members and guests on Sunday mornings.

Trevor and Nikki Gillig - they’re are always willing to set up or clean up our cafe....even during special services such as Christmas Eve.

Andrew Thomas - he goes above and beyond on so much in the church. He does his official job, but is always quick to jump in to other areas to use his gifts to be a blessing to others.

Tara McBride - she’s been helping with youth ministry for DECADES. She is so faithful with her girls and spends so much of her time investing in them

And — as of a personal privilege — to the elders, staff, and deacons — thank you for your faithfulness in serving this congregation. And — since someone else submitted my wife’s name — I’d like to thank that individual for my free get out of jail card — for Emily loves for me to talk about her in my sermons. But this time it wasn’t my idea — it was someone else’s.

CONCLUSION

I recently read a book titled The Power to Bless by a pastor friend of mine. At one point in the book, he addresses what many raise as a concern of speaking words of blessing over others. The concern that if we bless people — or publicly praise or thank people — that it’ll go to their heads. After all — he asks tongue in cheek — isn’t there too much self-love going on in our culture?

To which he responds, “The rampant self-absorption we see in society is not the fruit of self-love. It’s the consequence of self-hatred.” He refers to the parable of the prodigal son that Jesus tells. If you’re unfamiliar with the parable, a man has two sons. The younger — the prodigal — asks his dad for his part of the inheritance — which is another way of saying, “Dad, I wish you were dead” — goes off and squanders all of his money, destroys his life, and finds himself so hungry that he longs to eat the slop being fed to animals.

The younger son thought he was loving himself, fulfilling his dreams and desires — but it was all self-hatred. My pastor friend asks, “Would you ever, in your wildest imagination, on your worst day, do to the one you love what the younger brother did to himself?” No. Yet most of us are uncomfortable saying anything positive about ourselves in fear of sounding proud — which has bled over into it being uncomfortable to praise others for Christ-like faithfulness we see in them.

So — today — we’ve pushed back against such ideas. For praising others and being thankful for their faithfulness is a way we honor our God who’s faithfulness works in and through his people. So may we grow even more in our thankfulness to God for our friends in ministry. And — like Paul — let each other know that we’re thankful to God for how he is using them in our lives. Let’s pray.

PRAYER

A

BENEDICTION (Prayer teams available)

May you go savoring the blessing of being part of a beautiful faith family — a congregation full of friends. Amen.

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.