SERMON OUTLINE:
• Principle #1: We need people.
• Principle #2: We need people to do things.
• Principle #3: We need to serve people.
SERMON BODY:
‘Friends, Romans, Countrymen’
• Our title for this talk is, ‘Friends, Romans, countrymen,’
• Question: Can anyone finish the quote?
• Answer: “…lend me your ears.”
• These words were penned by William Shakespeare.
• And they are the first line of a speech,
• In which Mark Antony,
• Addresses the crowd at Julius Caesar’s funeral.
• The phrase essentially means,
• "Fellow Romans, people of this land, I ask for your attention."
• Today he would probably say,
• “Fellow Romans, people of this land, switch off your phones & listen."
• TRANSITION:
• Well, Pasul the apostle is not dead,
• And we are not at a funeral,
• Although we are at the end, the conclusion of this letter.
• These verses require our attention,
• On the surface it appears to be just a list on names & greetings,
• But…they also contain some good principles.
Principle #1: We need people.
• We know for certain,
• That the apostle Paul wrote at least thirteen letters,
• That are included in the New Testament.
• If Paul also wrote Hebrews (debatable),
• That would take his contribution to fourteen books.
• Now in only two of his 13/14 letters.
• Does the apostle Paul include such a large list of names?
• Here is Colossian’s chapter 4,
• And the other list is in Romans chapter 16.
Question: Anyone know what else these two letters have in common?
Answer: They were letters written to churches he had never visited.
• The apostle Paul knows,
• That he can’t visit the Church in person,
• And he wants to do more than just send a letter.
• So along with the letter he is going to send people,
• Godly people,
• Who will show up in his place to spend time with them.
At the time of writing, the apostle is in prison,
• He is in prison for his faith.
• Even today of course,
• Many Christians face imprisonment for their faith.
• Or for sharing the gospel with other people.
Ill:
• Open Doors website - each year.
• (https://www.opendoors.org/en-US/persecution/countries/)
• 4,476 Christians murdered.
• 7,679 Churches and Christian properties attacked.
• 4,744 Christians imprisoned.
• 1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide.
• 1 in 5 Christians are persecuted in Africa.
• 2 in 5 Christians are persecuted in Asia.
• TRANSITION:
• Persecution happens today and it also happened then.
• Remember that for the first 300 years of Christianity,
• The Church experienced waves of persecution.
The apostle Paul is aware that,
• His life was in danger and could soon be over,
• He is deeply concerned for the other Churches,
• Even those he has never visited.
• And wants to send help to strengthen them.
The apostle is aware that a letter is good but limiting,
• i.e. You can only say so much before you run out of space.
• i.e. A letter is one dimensional, you cannot ask it questions etc.
• No letter can take the place of a real person,
• Who is present in the room,
• Who can convey what can’t be conveyed from a distance.
Ill:
• Every Sunday we have a preacher teach the Word of God.
• We could just ask preachers to send us the text of their sermon,
• And we could read that out,
• But you and I both know,
• That would be a totally different and inferior experience.
• To having a live person,
• (always the best type to have – lol),
• Communicate and interact and share with us.
• TRANSITION:
• We live in a very tech world.
• i.e. We all can livestream a Church service,
• From Churches all around the world.
• During the week, many of us do just that,
• We listen to our favourite speakers.
• But Paul reminds us of something very, very important.
• We STILL need people, real people in the same room.
• For that, there is no substitute.
Ill:
• Do you remember just over 5 years ago,
• The COVID-19 lockdowns years?
• When we were forced to stay in our homes,
• And we recorded this service in the week,
• And you could watch it broadcast each Sunday on YouTube?
• Question: Was it the same?
• Answer: Obviously it wasn’t!
Quote: Jay Kim writes:
“In the digital age, one of the most upside down things the church can offer is the invitation to be analog, to come out of hiding from behind our digital walls, to bridge our technological divides, and to be human with one another in the truest sense—gathering together to be changed and transformed in real time, in real space, in real ways.”
• The more disconnected we become,
• The more we need to lean into relationships.
• We need people.
Now eight men are mentioned in this final section.
• Please don’t read into that more than is there!
• The apostle Paul is not anti-women.
Ill:
• At the end of the book of Romans,
• The apostle Paul names 26 people by name,
• Nine of the names are female names.
• And the first person of the 26 mentioned was a woman.
• So, the apostle Paul was not a chauvinist or anti-women.
• Many of his team, his fellow workers were women.
• And when you think of the prevailing culture of his day,
• The apostle Paul comes up trumps again and again,
• For valuing and working publicly with women!
• TRANSITION:
• Now eight men are mentioned in this final section.
• Now I am resting the temptation,
• To give a short bio on each of them.
• Instead, I want to draw out a few general principles.
• In doing so,
• We will inevitably learn about some of those mentioned.
• Principle #1: We need people.
• Principle #2…
Principle #2: We need people to do things.
ill:
• A monologue: The Passing of ‘Someone Else’.
• (Author unknown).
The church was bowed in grief this week to learn that one of our most valuable members, Someone Else, passed away. This death creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill.
Someone Else has been with us for many years. During all these years, he did far more than a normal persons share of the work. Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results.
Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend — one name was on everyone’s list:
“Let Someone Else do it”.
Someone Else was also among the largest givers of the church. Whenever there was a financial need, everyone just assumed that Someone Else would make up the difference.
This beloved church member was a wonderful person, sometimes appearing super-human; but a person can only do so much. Everybody expected too much of Someone Else.
Now Someone Else is gone. Who will pitch in to do the things that Someone Else has done?
If you are asked to take a job in church, we hope you won’t reply, “Let Someone else do it”.
Because we need you to pick up where Someone Else left off.
• TRANSITION:
• This is why we need actual people.
• We need them to do things.
• Look at the things that people do in this passage:
(A). PEOPLE BRING UPDATES (VS 7 TO 9).
• Tychicus (vs 7) and his companion Onesimus (vs 9),
• Are bringing personal updates about Paul.
• To the Christians at Colosse (vs 8a).
“I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances.
Or
“I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are…”
Ill:
• As an evangelist I visit Churches to do exactly that.
• To give an update.
• i.e. Last Wednesday evening,
• Penny and I visited Netley Christian Fellowship in Bursledon,
• And I gave a 40min update of our work.
• i.e. Last Sunday I spoke at New Farm Chael Alresford,
• And as part of the service gave a 15min update of our work.
• TRANSITION:
• Tychicus (vs 7) and his companion Onesimus (vs 9),
• Are bringing personal updates about Paul.
• To the Christians at Colosse (vs 8a).
• It was not possible to post letters at the time of Paul.
• Instead, someone had to travel in order to take a letter
The apostle Paul chose Tychicus and Onesimus because they were trustworthy men.
• i.e. Paul chose and trusted them,
• Who are with him at the time of writing.
• To deliver two important letters,
• This letter to the Colossian letter
• (Colossians chapter 4 verses 7-9).
• And also, the letter to the Ephesians,
• (Ephesians chapter 6 verse 21).
• i.e. Later, Paul was able to send Tychicus,
• To help the believers in Crete.
• (Titus chapter 3 verse 12),
• i.e. As well as delivering Paul’s letters,
• Tychicus also helped the apostle Paul,
• To deliver a collection of money from the Gentile churches.
• To give to the poor believers in Judea.
• (1 Corinthians chapter 16 verse 1; 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9.
• Quote:
• “Someone has said that the greatest ability in the world is dependability”.
• TRANSITION:
• These Churches needed more than facts.
• They need actual people who could fill in the gaps,
• And expand the letters,
• So that the Church can know exactly what’s really going on.
• Simple application:
• Are you and I trustworthy and dependable people.
• Every Church needs practical workers.
Ill:
• Without the practical service,
• The walking of these two delivery boys,
• Your New Testament would be 25 books and not 27!
(B). PEOPLE ENCOURAGE (VS 8B).
“I am sending him to you for the express purpose that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts.”
• Tychicus is more than a news reporter or delivery boy.
• The Colossians need encouragement,
• So, Paul sends these men on his behalf to encourage them.
Ill:
• The Wisdom of Geese - 'V' formation
• YouTube: https://youtu.be/qBZTn4s3K-U?si=Y0zKT8SiacazieeM
Question: What are the 7 lessons we should learn from the geese?
Answer:
• We can learn about the importance of leadership, teamwork,
• Sharing, encouragement, empathy and understanding.
• My favourite line in the video clip,
• Is they honk to encourage,
• They are not honking to complain and criticise!
As humans, we all need encouragement,
• Because we all need courage.
• We all need courage because we all have fears;
• Every single one of us.
• Our specific fears may differ from person to person,
• But fears exist in all of us.
Ill:
• In the book of Acts we read about a man named Joseph,
• A Levite from Cyprus.
• (Acts chapter 4 verse 36)
• But nobody called him by his real name.
• The early Church gave him a nickname,
• The apostles called him Barnabas,
• Which means, Son of Encouragement.
• How cool is that?
• When it came to encouraging people,
• Barnabas was top of the charts.
• Maybe that can be the one lesson you take away today!!
• Simple application:
• Are you and I encouragers?
• What nickname would this Church give to you?
(C). PEOPLE COMFORT.
• The apostle Paul was in prison.
• He was a great man but only a man.
• At times he obviously must have been discouraged,
• And maybe even depressed.
Ill:
• Once again, think back 5 years to COVID-19 lockdowns.
• We were in our own homes, with our many modern gadgets,
• We had our own gardens etc.
• And could even go on a walk to the shops!
• Yet the experts tell us that the COVID-19 lockdown,
• Had negative health impacts,
• And for many people,
• It increased their mental health challenges,
• Such as anxiety and depression.
• TRANSITION:
• The apostle Paul was in prison.
• At times he too must have been discouraged & depressed.
Note:
• In verses 10 to 11 he mentions three men,
• Aristarchus, Mark, and Jesus, who is called Justus.
• And the apostle says, “they have proved a comfort to me.”
• These three men,
• Were able to help and comfort Paul in his imprisonment.
• Simple application:
• Who am I comforting?
• We can’t help everyone, but we can help someone!
• Who can I comfort?
(D). PEOPLE PRAY FOR US.
Verse 12.
“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.”
We first meet Epaphras at the beginning of this book Colossians:
• He was the man who founded the church in Colossae.
• (Chapter 1 verses 7-8).
• It seems likely that Epaphras was a Church planter,
• And he also founded the churches in Laodicea & Hierapolis
• And may well have been Pastor of these 3 Churches (vs13).
Note:
• In this list of 8 names,
• Only Epaphras is commended for his prayer ministry.
• This does not mean that the other men did not pray.
• But it does suggest that for Epaphras,
• Prayer was a key factor people noticed about this man.
Ill:
• Counties the evangelistic organisation,
• That Penny & I work with,
• ( www.countiesuk.org )
• At onetime had three men called, Ivor.
• And we nicknamed them.
• Ivor Jenkins drove the exhibitions lorry.
• So, he was called, Ivor the driver.
• Ivor Cooper was a very hard worker,
• But tongue-in-cheek we called him, Ivor the skiver!
• (He was not impressed!)
• Ivor Powell was a great prayer,
• Anyone who worked with Ivor,
• Spent plenty of time on their knees.
• And so we called him, Ivor the reviver!
• TRANSITION:
• Of the eight men mentioned in this list.
• Only Epaphras is commended for his prayer ministry.
• The apostle Paul knew about this firsthand,
• Because in the book Philemon (vs 23)
• We are told that at one time they shared the same prison cell
Ill:
• I spent two weeks last November,
• Sharing a room with last week’s speaker.
• We were on mission together in Moldova.
• If you were to ask Jamie,
• What he remembers from that experience,
• He may mention my snoring, or maybe something else,
• Sad to say, I don’t think he will say, “it was his prayer life,
• He was always praying about someone or something!”
• TRANSITION: Epaphras was a prayer.
• And those who met him, knew it!
• Simple application:
• Who am I praying for?
• Encouraging thing is this.
• We cannot all do some of the things these 8 men did.
• But we can all pray,
• And it was, ‘the prayer’ who is the one commended!
Principle #3: We need to serve people.
• Not only do we need people.
• Not only do we need them to do things for us.
• We also need to serve people.
Quote verses 15-17.
“Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
16 After this letter has been read to you, see that it is also read in the church of the Laodiceans and that you in turn read the letter from Laodicea.
17 Tell Archippus: ‘See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord.’
Note: The apostle Paul gives them 3 ways they can serve others.
FIRST: they are to share this letter.
• Paul doesn’t want this letter to end with the Colossians.
• He wants it shared with other churches in the area.
• So, they too so they can benefit from it as well.
Ill:
• Now, here we are in 2000 years later.
• In a different part of the world, speaking a different language.
• Still benefiting from this shared letter!
• It’s good to share with others,
• Something of what God has given to us,
• So that they can benefit from it too.
• i.e. pass on a word of testimony.
• i.e. pass on a helpful book or video.
SECOND: they can encourage
• The apostle Paul encourages Archippus (vs 17),
• To fulfil the ministry, he’s received from the Lord.
• To stick at it and not to give up!
• It is a sad fact that each year,
• Due to burn out or discouragement people leave the ministry.
• I could name you several people by name,
• That you would know, who last year left the ministry.
• But I won’t as it’s not beneficial!
Question: Who was Archippus?
Answer: We don’t know.
• But Archippus gets a name check here,
• And also, in Paul’s letter to Philemon (vs 2),
• Where he is called “our fellow solider.”
• Exactly what his ministry was we don’t know.
• It could be any kind of work,
• But, “fellow solider,” may suggest,
• That he had something to do with evangelism,
• Spreading the gospel.
• Whatever his ministry was,
• The apostle Paul asks the Colossians,
• To encourage him to carry out his ministry,
• Don’t let him lose heart!
Note:
• All ministry is a gift!
• And the apostle Paul reminded Archippus of that (vs 17b).
• He says regarding his ministry,
• That he “Received (it) from the Lord.”
• Therefore the Lord who gave,
• Could also help him complete it.
It is always good to remember,
• That ministry is not something we do for God.
• It is something God does in us and through us.
• And he has and will equip us for that ministry,
• It will at times be tough,
• But that is why we have people, Christians to encourage.
THIRD: Remember Paul’s chains (vs 18).
• “Remember my chains.”
• Prison is tough and the apostle concludes his letter,
• By asking the Church to pray for him.
• Even the great apostle needs the prayers of God’s people.
• Because the best of men are only men at their best.
And so, the take-away!
• Principle #1: We need people.
• Following Christ is a team, a communal activity.
• You need others and others need you!
• Question: How can you make you interactions better?
• Principle #2: We need people to do things.
• We need to share, encourage, comfort and pray for each other.
• Question: How can I do that better?
• Principle #3: We also need to serve others.
• Service comes in many forms,
• But it involves effort and engagement.
• Question: How much effort and engagement am I making?
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=V9x1ixOv8wt7SX52lUaIg78VekRxd3FU
SERMON VIDEO:
https://youtu.be/CsNi7wCHM_Q
