Coming & Going

Bible Passage: Romans 15:22–33

I. Intro:

This past week, as I was studying this passage, I kept thinking about an old gospel song by B.B. Winans called I Don’t Know What You Come to Do. It goes something like this: I don’t know what you came to do, but I came to clap my hands. I don’t know what you came to do, but I came to stomp my feet. I don’t know what you came to do, but I came to praise the Lord.

If you know, you know.

The funny thing about that song is that it is all about why we came. It got me thinking about the church. When we look around this room, everyone comes for different reasons. Some come for community. Some come to worship God. Some come because they want to feel accepted. Others come hoping for blessings or believing that simply attending church will keep them in God’s good graces. Some

are here because their parents brought them. Others are seeking answers to life’s pain, searching for spiritual depth, or wrestling with questions about eternity.

We all come for different reasons.

But if I were to share my heart and what I believe is at the heart of God’s Word, it is this: the primary mission of the church is to behold Jesus—to pursue the One who saved us and join Him in His mission and kingdom. To pursue Christ means viewing every part of life through the lens of Jesus: our relationships, our work, our families, our decisions, and our future. Everything becomes tethered to Him.

The truth is, we all get off-kilter at times. I know I do. Often, it is because I have not beheld Jesus as I should.

As we close the book of Romans, Paul talks about coming and going, where he desires to travel, and what he hopes to accomplish. Yet beneath all of it is one driving reality: everything Paul does is anchored in Christ. His plans, mission, and relationships flow from his devotion to Jesus. If Paul were singing that song today, he would say, “I came to behold the Lord. I came to preach the gospel.”

II. Exposition: We’ve come on mission

a. Romans 15:22–24

Romans 15:22–24 NRSV

This is the reason that I have so often been hindered from coming to you. But now, with no further place for me in these regions, I desire, as I have for many years, to come to you when I go to Spain. For I do hope to see you on my journey and to be sent on by you, once I have enjoyed your company for a little while.

b. Explanation:

i. There are a couple of things Paul is trying to express. He tells them that he was hindered from seeing them, that he has a strong desire to be among them, and that he has a confident hope of being sent by them.

It would be a mistake to assume that when Paul says he was hindered, it was something negative. We have instances where hindrance is negative. In Galatians 5:7, the hindrance is false teachers. In 1 Thessalonians 2:18, the hindrance is Satan. However, in Acts 16:6, it is the Holy Spirit who prevents Paul from speaking in Asia. In Romans, the next verse shows that the obstacle is no longer there because his current mission has “no further place” for him. The issue was not negative but opportunity.

Ephesians 4:27 ESV

and give no opportunity (make room or place) to the devil.

What prevented Paul was not something evil, but God Himself and the divine mission He had given him.

ii. The next thing we see is Paul’s long-standing desire to visit them, a desire he mentions at the beginning of the letter: Romans 1:10-11

Romans 1:10–11 NRSV

asking that by God’s will I may somehow at last succeed in coming to you. For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

Paul wanted to encourage, serve, love, and refresh them, while also being refreshed himself. His motivation is God and his divine mission.

Finally, Paul hoped Rome would become the launching point for mission work in Spain. Like 1 & 2 Corinthians and Titus, “sending” meant their support—whether financial, lodging, encouragement, or all of the above—his motivation remains God and his divine mission.

All of this ties back to Romans 15:20

Romans 15:20 NRSV

Thus I make it my ambition to proclaim the good news, not where Christ has already been named, so that I do not build on someone else’s foundation,

iii. Paul's Godly ambition. If you’re interested in this topic, check out James 3. Godly ambition is rooted in people remembering Jesus; worldly ambition, also called demonic ambition, is rooted in people remembering you.

iv. Paul’s relationship with Christ and godly ambition drove his plans. It delayed his arrival, fueled his desire for Rome, and cast his vision beyond it. Going back to earlier, when Paul says he has “no more opportunities,” he means enough churches were started for the gospel to keep advancing. Today, we call this church planting. In vs 19, when Paul says “I have fully preached the gospel,” his goal was not merely evangelism but the establishment of churches that would continue making disciples. What does that mean for us?

c. Application

i. We Have Come to Be Church Planters

Paul is saying that, as disciples of Jesus, we are to be engaged in supporting church planting. That support can look like praying for the lost, sharing the gospel with those around us, financially supporting missionaries or church plants, or even helping start an evangelism team in your church

Paul told Timothy 2 Timothy 4:5

2 Timothy 4:5 NRSV

As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

We do not know Timothy’s exact role, whether pastor, apostle, or something else, but Paul still called him to evangelistic work. There is no ministry without gospel saturation. 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 NRSV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

2. We have come to push back darkness. If we behold Jesus, God has called us to impact the darkness around us. Research consistently shows that most evangelism, conversions, and baptisms happen through new churches.

a. In Erie County, 44% of people claim no religious affiliation—16% higher than the national average. When narrowed to those holding orthodox Christian beliefs, that number drops even further. Even conservatively, we are looking at roughly 40,000 people in our backyard who do not know Christ crucified. So what have we come to do?

3. Sometimes we think life is too complicated to focus on our neighbors. We tell ourselves we’ll go on mission after we get everything else figured out. But I have seen in Scripture and in my own life that mission & peace flow from worship. If we don’t have capacity for people, we don’t have a time problem; we have a worship problem.

In Luke 10, when Jesus visits Mary & Martha. Mary is at his feet, and Martha is busy, and Jesus tells Martha, “You are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing.”

When I’m at the feet of Jesus, I find peace and make room for people. Worship shapes the heart, and from that place, we are sent. In Mark 3:14, it says, “he appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to proclaim the message.” As one theologian puts it, “Discipleship is relationship before it is a task.” It starts at His feet.III. Exposition: We’ve come to give

III. Exposition: We’ve come to give

Romans 15:25–27 NRSV

At present, however, I am going to Jerusalem in a ministry to the saints; for Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to share their resources with the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. They were pleased to do this, and indeed they owe it to them; for if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material things.

i. Next on the itinerary, before coming to Rome, Paul has one more stop to make: Jerusalem. A famine had struck Judea, modern-day Palestine, which was prophesied by Agabus in Acts 11

Acts 11:29–30 NRSV

The disciples determined that according to their ability, each would send relief to the believers living in Judea; this they did, sending it to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

In response, churches in Macedonia and Achaia gathered support for struggling believers. Paul discusses this collection in 1 Corinthians 16 and 2 Corinthians 8–9. While we often hear 2 Corinthians 9:7-8 applied to individual giving, the context is a church generously supporting another church in need.

ii. Paul’s statement that they “owe it to them” can sound like an obligation, but that is not his point. In 2 Corinthians 9:7-8,

2 Corinthians 9:7–8 NRSV

Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

Paul explicitly says not to give under compulsion. Paul uses debt language often to speak to the new desire we display toward others because of Gospel transformation. Under this new Gospel Transformation, believers are joined together as one family and one mission. Their generosity flows from that relationship.

ii. What Paul highlights most is their heart posture. They were “pleased” to give. The word carries the idea of satisfaction and joy. These churches did not give out of duty alone but out of genuine delight in helping fellow believers. What does that mean for you and me?

What does that mean for you and me?

b. Application: We happily give to the church

i. Talking about money is touchy, but most churches aren't crooks. The average church has 70 members, and in churches with fewer than 100 members, pastors and leaders are often bi-vocational or volunteers. So, we talk about giving because it's biblical. Here are a few principles on honoring God in our giving.

1. We honor God by giving

We honor and obey God by giving to the church. (Locally and to outside missions) 1 Corinthians 16:2

1 Corinthians 16:2 NRSV

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.

Acts 4:34–35 NRSV

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

It’s also to note that the church was supplying the needs of the entire church, however they took what they raised and gave it to the church leaders to distribute. This shows maturity and faithfullness.

2. We honor God with stewardship

a. We are managers, not owners. Stewardship goes far beyond money; stewardship is testifying through our obedience that God is in control

Psalm 24:1 NRSV

The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;

b. Biblical stewardship is the belief that your money, time, gifts, and relationships ultimately belong to God

3. Giving is an act of love

a. Paul doesn’t give a reason for the church’s poverty or tell a sad story. He says they have a need we supply. Echoing Acts 2:42, we give out of radical generosity, responding directly to God’s compassion.

Romans 12:1 -2

Romans 12:1 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.

i. Mercy is an extension of God’s love. 1 John 4:8 says God is love. Another word for mercy is compassion. In response to his compassion, we offer our lives unto him. In response to his love we give compassion to others. Our finances are seen through the lens of God’s mercy. We give out of viewing how gracious God has been to us. In this next verse, “grace” is where we get the word “charity” from.

2 Corinthians 8:8–9 NCV

I am not commanding you to give. But I want to see if your love is true by comparing you with others that really want to help. You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know that Christ was rich, but for you he became poor so that by his becoming poor you might become rich.

He connects our love to our understanding of God’s sacrifice for us. It’s giving in love, because he first loved us.

Paul connects our finances to our understanding of Christ's sacrifice: We give because he gave to us. We love because he first loved us.

IV Exposition: We came to refresh

Romans 15:28–29 NRSV

So, when I have completed this, and have delivered to them what has been collected, I will set out by way of you to Spain; and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

Romans 15:32

Romans 15:32 NRSV

so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company.

i. After all the detours, Paul really does want to come to Rome. We have already seen that he hopes Rome will become a launching point for Spain, but he also wants the church to know that he cares for them. The key phrases are that he will come “in the fullness of the blessing of Christ” and be “refreshed” in their company. This brings us back to Romans 1: 11-12

Romans 1:11–12 NRSV

For I am longing to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— or rather so that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

1. Paul is confident that he will be a blessing and that they will be a blessing to him. The context points to a mutual sharing of spiritual gifts and encouragement.

a. Application

i. We have come to be refreshing to those who labor in the gospel.

I remember running a 10K where there were very few water stations. By the time I finally reached one, that small cup of water felt like a water park. It was refreshing because I desperately needed it.

Ministry is much the same. Serving others comes at a cost. That is why encouragement, appreciation, and support can feel like an Oasis of water to a weary soul. Look for ways to refresh those who labor beside you and those serving far away for the sake of the gospel.

V. Exposition: We have come to pray

Romans 15:30–33 NRSV

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in earnest prayer to God on my behalf, that I may be rescued from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my ministry to Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. The God of peace be with all of you. Amen.

i. Paul makes a formal appeal—not merely a request. Yet he does not appeal on the basis of his authority, but on Christ and the love of the Spirit. He asks the church in Rome to labor with him in prayer, to “fight” or “wrestle” in prayer on his behalf. What was his prayers

First, he asks to be rescued from unbelievers in Judea Acts 20:22-23

Acts 20:22–23 NRSV

And now, as a captive to the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and persecutions are waiting for me.

a. Paul had been warned repeatedly that suffering awaited him, yet he was convinced this was God’s will.

2. Second, he asks that his ministry in Jerusalem be accepted. The offering was not just about money; it was a symbol of unity between Jewish and Gentile believers.

3. Third, he asks that he might come to Rome with joy and be refreshed by them.

ii. Were Paul’s prayers answered? Yes and no—and yes, but not how he expected.

a. According to Acts 21:17-20

Acts 21:17–20 NRSV

When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard it, they praised God. Then they said to him, “You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the law.

Acts 21:27 NRSV

When the seven days were almost completed, the Jews from Asia, who had seen him in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd. They seized him,

1. The church received him warmly. He was not spared arrest, but he was spared death. He eventually reached Rome, though by shipwreck, trials, and chains. In 27, it says that after Paul arrived in Rome, brothers and sisters from Rome heard he was coming, met him, and encouraged him. He was refreshed, not on his way to Spain, but in chains awaiting a verdict. His prayer was answered—just not the way he imagined.

b. Application: What Does That Mean for Us? We Came to Pray

i. To understand who we are to be in prayer as believers, here are a few things we learn from this passage.

We pray because of our submission to Jesus and the love He has given us through the Holy Spirit.

Luke 18:1

Luke 18:1 NRSV

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.

b. In the parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, Jesus instructs us to pray. He taught, modeled, and admonished His disciples to pray.

c. We pray out of love for others . In Romans 5:5

Romans 5:5 NRSV

and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

a. The love God places in our hearts enables us to love others. In Romans he says Romans 12:10-12

Romans 12:10–12 NRSV

love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.

ii. Our love for one another and prayer are tied together. Throughout Acts, when the church is unified in love, prayer is present

2. We must learn the labor of prayer.

a. In James says Elijah prayed “earnestly,” meaning he prayed with prayer. He doubled down in prayer. Prayer is not about bending God to our will. It is about drawing near to Him, aligning our will, and glorifying His name.

3. God answers prayer, but not always with a yes. 1 John 5:14

1 John 5:14 NRSV

And this is the boldness we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

i. Saying, “If it is Your will, Lord,” is not a lack of faith; it is humility. We make our requests known and trust His will. Paul prayed three times for his thorn to be removed, yet God answered, “My grace is sufficient.” Paul was persistent and hopeful in prayer until he got an answer. His answer just so happened to be no. So, pray consistently, trust God’s wisdom, and give Him glory regardless of the answer.

Our Application or Take home will be our Life on Life and if you want to conitnue in this awesome.

Pray for one another, whether it is a struggle, a desire, or a goal where you want to see God’s hand at work.

Pray that God would provide for Sandusky Life Church so we can carry out the gospel ministry He has called us to.

Pray for the lost in Sandusky and Erie County. Be specific and pray for one or more people you know who do not know the Lord.