Thankful For God’s Family!
Romans 16
Introduction
Today is the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Many traveling this week. It is the last sermon in our series through the letter to the Romans. This is good timing because Romans 16 is a chapter filled with giving thanks!
Summary of our Romans Study
-The Good News is God’s Power to Save Everyone
-Everyone needs saving - all have sinned.
-We cannot overcome the power of sin on our own.
-Only the power of grace can overcome the power of sin.
-We are more than conquerors & remain uncondemned.
-We are called to live a transformed life of love - for brothers and enemies; government; neighbors
-We are to accept one another by overcoming differences, treating one another with love.
Paul ends his letter with some personal greetings and thoughts. 36 people are mentioned. More greetings are found in this chapter than in every other letter of Paul combined. (Merida). Visualize Paul walking in through the open door at the church at Rome, wandering down the aisle and meeting the various members … people whose lives have been totally transformed by the Gospel of Christ. People who were serving the Lord with all their heart. People with real struggles, hurting hearts. As we read, I want us to hear Paul’s thankfulness for the people of the Roman church. His regard for each person. His interest in recognizing and encouraging them. He is Thankful for God’s Family! How does he teach us to be thankful?
1. THANKFUL FOR SERVANTS (Romans 16:1-2, 6, 9, 12)
Romans 16:1-2 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.
Phoebe - a servant of the church. (1-2)
Phoebe was likely a businesswoman from Cenchrea, a port city of Corinth. She was the bearer of the letter to the Roman church and a worker in the church; a "servant" in the church. Others were named as being hard workers in the church such as Mary (vs 6), Urbanus (vs 9), and Persus (vs 12). Out of the 26 names here, 9 are women. Paul doesn’t hate women!
No church can survive without the spirit of service. Romans 12:6-7 “We have different gifts, according to the
grace given to each of us. …if it is serving, then serve”. Every Christian should be watching for ways to serve.
Matthew 20:28 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
2. THANKFUL FOR TEACHERS (Romans 16:3-5)
Romans 16:3-5 Greet Priscilla[c] and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet also the church that meets at their house.
Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.
Priscilla and Aquila, fellow workers in Christ Jesus. (3-5) We first read of Priscilla and Aquila in Acts 18.
Luke tells us that they were tentmakers by trade. They once lived in Rome and had been driven out by the decree of Emperor Claudius in 52 AD. They moved to Corinth and there met Paul. When Paul moved on to Ephesus they went with him. There they met the great preacher Apollos who was preaching incomplete gospel. Pricilla & Aquilla shared with him the full gospel of Jesus Christ the Messiah, Who had come. Apollos went on to Corinth where he had a mighty ministry in the Word of God.
What a joy it is to share what we know from Scripture with others. (16:5). God bless our teachers! Shaping the future of the Kingdom! They study, are committed, have a message to share. Whether to the saved who need to know more, or the lost who need to know Jesus … every church needs teachers. ?
3. THANKFUL FOR FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS! (Romans 16:6-12)
Romans 16:6-12 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord.
Paul names a number of people here that are unknown to us - but not unknown to God! (6-12). Andronicus and Junia (7) - possibly a husband and wife missionary team. (8-10a) all unknown to us but known to God. (10a) What a compliment - “whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test.”. Household of Aristobulus (10b) - Aristobulus was a grandson of Herod the Great, a friend of Emperor Claudius. His household could have been his slaves that
now belonged to Claudius. Met as a house church. Herodian (11a) unknown to us.
Narcissus (11b) may be a former slave who became personal secretary to Emperor Claudius. Those of the ‘household of Narcissus’ could be the slaves which passed into the Emperor’s possession.
Note: If Aristobulus was the grandson of Herod, and if Narcissus is the same secretary to Claudius, then within
the Imperial court were many slaves who were already Christians. God was at work infiltrating the courts of power
with His influence.
Tryphena and Tryphosa, Persis (12) "dainty" and "delicate." Paul says that they "work hard in the Lord." The word used here means "to toil to the point of exhaustion."
We should rejoice to find these names of unknown Christians - it should remind us that every Christian is KNOWN by God. He sees us all. None are more important, nor less.
4. THANKFUL FOR CHURCH FAMILY (Romans 16:13-16)
Romans 16:13-16 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
Rufus and his mother who was also like a mother to Paul. (13) Rufus could be the son of Simon of Cyrene. Mark tells us Simon was “father of Alexander and Rufus”. (MK 15:21). Their mother was also like a mother to Paul - A family in the faith because of an encounter with Jesus.
The church served the Lord together as families, even meeting as house-churches, since they are listed as they are (14-15).
Paul sums up this section with a final greeting: Greet each other with a sacred kiss. (v.16) Merida: “While for many Christians in various parts of the world a holy kiss is socially awkward, whatever the contest, there should be warmth, love, enthusiasm, purity, and cheerfulness as we greet one another - whichever way we choose to physically display it.” “churches of Christ” was not a name of the church but a possessive description. The churches that belong to Christ.
5. THANKFUL FOR UNITY / OVERCOMING STRIFE (16:17-20)
Romans 16:17-20 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 18 For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. 19 Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
How are we to deal with those who are causing strife in the church? Two things: Mark them! Avoid them! (17-18)
It is easy for strife to sneak in - but Paul doesn’t tell us to tolerate it! These people are guided by their own desires or appetites.
Paul’s encouragement (19-20) Every Christian Counts in the Work of the Church (21-24). Now he acknowledges those who are with him as he writes.
Romans 16:21-23 Timothy, my co-worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my fellow Jews. I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord. Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.
Conclusion
We are thankful for servants, teachers, faithful Christians and our church family and unity!
Many names, each with a story of following Christ in their lives. Hard workers, willing to suffer for Christ. Expanding the kingdom of God. Paul knew he needed them, that they were a part of the family of God.
Those who are sitting around you are a part of that same family. We need one another, we appreciate the Family of God and the work we have to do together for Christ!
EVERY CHURCH NEEDS Servants, Teachers, People, and a feeling of Family. EVERYBODY BELONGS.Every Church Needs Every Body. We are truly recovered by grace to serve and help others find God's grace! This truth brings great joy and glory to God:
ROMANS 16:25-27 Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from[f] faith— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Merida: “The church has been blessed, sustained, and built up throughout its history by ordinary saints who work hard in Christ.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “It is grace, nothing but grace, that we are allowed to live in community with Christian brothers and sisters.”
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Discussion Questions
1. Why is it important to remember that Romans is written to ordinary Christians, not professional theologians?
2. How did Paul know so many people so well in a church he had never visited?
3. The diversity of people in the Roman church is pretty broad. What is the biggest challenge of being in one church family with diverse backgrounds and experiences?
4. As you look through the list of names in Romans 16, who stands out to you? What is it about them that catches your eye?
5. Rufus is possibly the son of Simon of Cyrene. In Mark 15:21 we read of Simon of Cyrene being compelled to carry the cross of Jesus and that he was "the father of Alexander and Rufus." Rufus and Alexander were servants of God. Their mother was also like a mother to Paul. Here was a family that was in the faith because of an encounter with Jesus.
*What must it have been like to carry the cross for Jesus? Do you think he wanted to carry the cross for Jesus?
*Who in your family had a faith that encouraged you to be the Christian you are today?
*How do you see your role in influencing the faith of younger people around you today?
6. How can we get in the habit of encouraging others?
7. What do you think about Paul’s admonition to “greet one another with a holy kiss”? How do you put this into practice and why is it important?
8. Is there anything else in chapter 16 you wanted to talk about?
