Completing Not Competing

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Romans 16:1–5 NLT

1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. 2 Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me. 3 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in the ministry of Christ Jesus. 4 In fact, they once risked their lives for me. I am thankful to them, and so are all the Gentile churches. 5 Also give my greetings to the church that meets in their home. Greet my dear friend Epenetus. He was the first person from the province of Asia to become a follower of Christ.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Romans Greetings to People (16:3–16)

Greetings to People (16:3–16) There are twenty-six people at Rome Paul wants to greet as well as three house churches (five if we consider the households of vv. 10, 11 to be churches). This may well be everyone he can think of. His purpose may partly have been to enlist their help when he came (so Käsemann 1980; Moo 1996), but it was also to show that he had extensive knowledge of the Roman church and so wrote his epistle from a standpoint of personal involvement

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Romans 1. Those Identified in the Pauline Mission (16:3–7)

a. Priscilla (Greek Prisca) and Aquila (vv. 3–4) are called my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, with “coworker” possibly being a semitechnical term for early church leaders who deserve pay (1 Cor 9:14) as well as respect and obedience (1 Cor 16:16, 18; see Ellis 1993:183). These two are major figures from Paul’s mission, seen in the fact that they are named first in 16:3–16 (the order of names often indicates status). That Priscilla is named first (four of the six times the two are mentioned in the New Testament) may indicate she has higher social status or that she had a more significant ministry in the church. Paul met them in Corinth after they had been expelled from Rome by the emperor Claudius in A.D. 49 over the riots between Jews and Christians. They were fellow Jews and were also tentmakers/leatherworkers. Since they were probably wealthy (in virtually every city they have a home large enough for a house church), Paul stayed with them and worked alongside them (Acts 18:1–3). Aquila was Jewish (18:2), and Priscilla may have been as well.

The IVP New Testament Commentary Series: Romans 1. Those Identified in the Pauline Mission (16:3–7)

When Paul went to Ephesus, they traveled with him (Acts 18:18). He then stayed there a while and used their home for a house church (1 Cor 16:19). They also had a significant ministry and on one occasion took Apollos aside, corrected his misunderstanding about baptism and “explained to him the way of God more adequately” (Acts 18:26).

This New Testament couple isn’t taught on a lot, yet they played a very big role on the early church and they where co-workers with Apostle Paul.

This meant he saw them as equals and they worked together.

Their ministry as spiritual parents gave them opportunities to help Ministries Like Apollos.

And they where able to hold Church services in their house didn’t mean they where the Pastors.

But the job they had was still very important, and it seems Priscilla was more influential than Aquila because she was often named first. And because they weren’t competing they where completing it never effected there relationship or their ministry…

I think titles has really gotten to our head in the church.. especially in the African American Church..

You can just call me brother

When i think about all the folks who weren’t pastors that helped shape my destiny.

When i think about all the folks who weren’t pastors that helped shape my destiny.

These leaders used their home as a church to help minister Jesus Christ.. And They where co-laborers with their leader..

I believe that God wants many of us married couples that don’t compete but complete one another to open our homes and help the future, Apollos & Pauls reach their fullest potential..

It might be a meal, it might be allowing them to do their laundry, it could be just having a cup of coffee and pointing them in the direction they need to go according to the word.

That would require married couples in agreement and prayed up to deal with the warfare they will confront, and i suggest you should be released to do this with their leader, after all you may feel your ready but your (Paul) needs to be leading and guiding you in this type of ministry.

But there are single ladies & gentlemen that are gifted in serving on this level but be careful. Make sure your properly covered..

Often times, in todays culture we struggle with identifying our calling.. And often times that calling is right there.. A Church in your home..

When you look at your relationship, when you look at your singleness what can you offer the body of Christ? How can you become a co-laborer?

Often what we have gone thru is an indicator of what God wants us to use to help someone else.

We have couples that could help someone get out of debt, break bad habits of addictions, abusive relationships, bad parenting , furthering education Etc

All that is ministry…

Couples that can celebrate one another’s strengths can also help develop others.

I believe the devil is so threatened by anointed married couples that he works over time keeping them at odds..

In 2019 we have to work on getting our marriage’s co-labor ready.. So the Lord can use our house like the Church. A place where people come to be transformed..

Getting over insecurities, unresolved issues that the enemy wants to fester in your family.. IS our Prayer.

If your in the Tri-State Area, we want to invite you to our Sunday Morning Service @ 11am 21 Pershing St Hamden Ct

nbmchurch21.com

RAW Retreat Registration fees are $250 per couple which includes the welcome reception, breakfast and lunch. The last day to register for this event is January 18, 2019. The retreat will be held at the Heritage Hotel Golf, Spa & Conference Center at 522 Heritage Road in Southbury Connecticut from Friday, February 1 to Saturday, February 2, 2019.

If you paid $62.50 for the next 4 weeks it would be paid