5.12 52 11.22.2020 God’s Love unites us. Romans 16

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Entice: Romans is one of the most doctrinal books in the entire NT. Grace. Regeneration. Providence. Christ's Sacrifice. Resurrection. The Creation & Fall. This is just a sampling of what we find in this gem. And then Tertius the scribe seems to lose focus and begins copying Paul's address book.

Romans 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. 17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. 18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. 19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. 20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 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. 25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Engage: There are 370 cards in my comprehensive Address book. Gathered over 40 years. Some are people I see everyday. Others are Christians I initiated contact with because of their work. (I often send Emails to those who write commentaries I am engaged in). Georgia's Address book and mine have some but not complete overlap. some of hers are mine and vice versa. Like most of us in the smart-phone era I have mine in my phone, on my IPad, and on my Mac. By being in that vertically integrated Apple Ecosystem I can be certain that my address book is synced and up to date everywhere. I would, however, not generally stand up on Sunday morning and just read from it. It would seem too personal, not on point.

Expand: Jesus calls His Church. Throughout the world we are called to bear witness. Jesus calls His disciples to make disciples. Ministry is not just doctrines, and positions and lessons. Ministry is people and places. Faces and names. Stories and struggles. It was true for Paul and it is for us. Paul had not yet been to Rome. Some of the people he mentions were long-time colleagues and companions. Others were people he had heard mentioned or from the praise of others. One church distributed globally. Existing and acting locally.

Excite: Think about your address-book. Your list of colleagues, collaborators, contributors. People who you have worshipped with, or whom you have only heard mentioned by others. People, places, things, names, lives. All striving together unified in the common purpose of serving Jesus.

Explore:

The unity of the Church is essential to the ministry of the Church.

Explain: Given the material I seems that the basic interrogatories are our best path forward.

It seems appropriate to start with

Who

Teamwork...A short primer.

Team Rome: 32 named individuals representing at least two separate congregations.

Team Paul: 8 named individuals who are collaborators and contributors.

Teamwork...Our responsibility.

What

Commendation

Affection

Exhortation

Why 17-20

The Threat of

schism and scandal

The Response:

Unity

Watchfulness

Obedience

Where

Within the Church

How

Strengthened by the gospel.

Resulting in faith...

To the glory of Jesus Christ.

When?

Now

Shut Down:

Sometimes I think back on years of ministry. Friday was the 37th anniversary of my Ordination. I've been in ministry longer than any other thing I've done in my life. When I reflect I think of the men and women I studied with. I think of my first pulpit and the one I presently occupy. I remember my first funeral (John V. Crown). weddings, tragedies, celebrations. Small quaint church-houses. Pre-air-conditioned Oil Belt Camp, the old dorms the old dining hall. Men I have shared my life with. We all have some kind of a team. A Tertius, a Timothy, a Luke; our own Prisca and Aquila. We all rely on a Phoebe. Paul wants us to know that this not only makes our own experience richer it magnifies and expands our ministry.

Schism and scandal are always around the corner. Jesus needs His church and all the sub-teams of which it is composed to be unified, watchful and obedient.

When you join His Church you are placed upon the team. We have a place, you have a gift and we are on a Mission.