Romans 16:1-27
Getting on the Same Page as God about Who Matters in Life
Introduction
A. A fun game to play is to ask people if their house was on fire and they could grab 3 things what would those three things would be
B. This is a good way to get to know people and get you will get to find out what matters in their life
C. If they do not take any of their clothes, clothes are probably not a priority in their life
D. If they take their TV their TV would matter a lot in their life
E. As we take a look at Chapter 16 we see a long list of people names
F. Interesting to note that in this chapter Paul personally greets at least 26 people by name
G. So we get to this part in the scripture and wonder why do we care? Why do we care about Paul saying hi to some of his friends
H. But these people that Paul mentions can teach us a lot about what matters in life
I. Just like we did a couple of years ago at Christmas with the genealogy list at the beginning of Matthew, we are going to look at this list and see what we can learn from it
J. Today we are going to see what matter in life by looking at:
a. Some Friends to Greet
b. Some Foes to Avoid
c. Some Faithful Servants to Honor
I. Some Friends to Greet
A. Explanation
1. The first person that Paul mentions is Pheobe
2. WE do not know that much about Pheobe,
a) We know that she was a member of the church at Cenchrea
b) Pheobe was on her way to visit Rome, being that the Postal system is not what it is today, it was common to find someone to hand deliver a letter
c) Pheobe, is called a servant. The original Greek here is feminine so some people translated it Deaconess.
d) Paul is not worried about what office she serves in, what he is trying to stress is that she does serve, she does have a huge heart and she is involved in Ministry and she is a women
3. In the book of Acts we here about Priscilla and Aquila. We do not know that whole story but we know that they risk their lives for Paul. We should be grateful for that
4. He also mentions Epenetus because he was the first convert in Asia, always something special about that first convert
5. Also Paul mentions Adnronicus and Junias, and you might wonder why that is but I am sure they spent a lot of time together in prison and became good friends
a) Now you notice when Paul mentions Andonicus and Junias, that he calls them apostles, that is not necessarily a position or an office but rather the more broad meaning of messenger
B. Application
1. Now, what can we gain form this entire list?
2. This list shows the parts other people played in Paul Ministry
3. To think that Paul was able to do this by himself is ridiculous
4. Paul had all of these people on his support team
5. Also keep in mind who all is on that list
6. There were women, women who Paul said were ministering
7. I do not know where we got this idea that Women are not allow to minister, Paul clearly let them do some major tasks, why should we be any different?
8. Paul takes the opportunity to give thanks to these people
9. It is good to do the same, just to tell them thanks for their service
C. Illustration
1. When I found out who my missionary speaker at Edinboro was I started dancing. It was Coral Trinidad. Coral you may remember was living in a RV at Edinboro for a while after health problems made them unable to return to Mali Africa
2. Coral was far more then the missionary speaker, we affectingly gave her the title as Camp Mom. Being a licensed Counselor, she was constantly counseling with kids and my staff.
3. She was such a great help, so I told her she was such a great help
4. She told me I was a real encouraging, that encouraged me so I told her she was a great help, well that encouraged her she kept on ministering…
5. Bottom line, Lives were changed!
6. By taking the opportunity to say thank and to encourage one another my staff was able to see God do amazing things.
7. If we would spend as much time encouraging someone as we do putting each other down, think what would happen
8. If we would spend as much time encouraging someone as we do trying to figure out why they can not do the job think about what would happen
9. God does not call the qualified, God qualifies the called.
10. You are not alone, take time to thank and encourage your support team
11. (Thank my support team)
II. Some Foes to Avoid (17-20)
A. Explanation
1. As what happens often in life, there are some people you do not want to be by
2. Do not think for one minute that Paul did not have people against him
3. Do not think for one minute that if Paul was serving as a Pastor that there were some in the congregation who would want to get rid of him
4. There were people just like today, who were dividing churches by teaching fall doctrine
5. People who were not sticking to the Bible, they were introducing other “Practices and Ideas”
6. Paul gives us some advice here
7. Paul tells us to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil
8. I have thought about that let me explain
B. Illustration
1. Several years ago Madonna released at book with indecent pictures in it. Everyone knew it was wrong, but there were many people who quote “Wanted to know what is going on in our culture” Pastors wanting to look at this book so they could “preach against it”
2. That is just wrong, first of all by buying it someone is making money off of garbage
3. 2nd everyone knew they were indecent pictures, by looking at them you would not gain any knowledge
4. 3rd think while they were spending that time “studying the culture” they missed the opportunity to learn about good, to become wise about good
C. Application
1. Let’s apply this to our lives
2. If we could just grasp what Paul is saying
3. We have the same problems today of people trying to make up stuff that the Bible does not say, we have people trying to do things for their own gain rather then trying to teach people about God
4. If we could only forget them, not follow those who mislead us
5. If we could only become innocent about evil
6. If we could only become wise about Good
7. Think about what could happen
8. Think about the lives that we could reach with the Truth
9. Think about the great things that God would do
10. You know what, we need our verse of the week, and here it is, VERSE 19!
11. (Read 19)
12. Ohh by the way what will happen if we do this? (Read 20)
13. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feat!
III. Some Faithful Servants to Honor
A. Explanation
1. Paul now takes more time to mention some very important people in his life
2. Timothy is the first that is mentioned
a) As you might remember Timothy is Paul’s favorite person he mentored
b) Paul loved Timothy, Paul was able to train up Timothy to do what Paul was doing
3. Also Tertius is mentioned, Tertiutus is the Paul’s secretary
a) Tertius probably was thinking, I am not good, how can God ever use me, and Paul saw him, made him the secretary and today you are reading what Tertius wrote, obviously every one of you God given abilities can be used to serve God
4. Gaius, was a man who always practice hospitality
a) Paul stayed with Gauis and probably formed a tight relationship
5. Erastus held a high office, probably one of treasure
a) It is interesting we read about the Gospel being preached to the poor and the sick, but sometimes we forget the Gospel is not just for the poor and sick but it is for everyone including the high ranking city employee
6. Now if you are using a NIV Bible you will notice that there is no verse 24. Some ancient Manuscripts have “My the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen
a) Some do not have that. It does not affect the meaning one-way or the other. In fact it is basically just a repeat of verse 20
B. Application
1. What can we learn from this?
2. A study of the economical levels of these people mention would be real interesting
3. You have rich people and you have poor people
4. You have upper class and lower class
5. Who does Paul care about more?
6. Neither.
7. I am going to comment on the opposite side you would expect a preacher to say
8. Rich people need the Lord
9. We have go to a point in the United States were when we think about reaching people for Christ that we naturally assume that means lower class poor people
10. Guess what? Rich people are just as hurting. True they may have a roof over their head, but that does not mean they are not hurting inside
11. The Gospel is not meant for just the poor, the Gospel is meant for everyone
C. Illustration
Conclusion
A. Because of our study today we should be able to answer these three questions
B. Who does matter in life?
C. Those who support you, those who help you out
D. Who does not matter in life?
E. Those who try to lead you astray, those who try to teach you things that are not in the Bible
F. Who needs to here the Gospel the rich or the poor?
G. Both
H. Have you taken the time lately to thank and encourage your support team?
I. Have you gotten rid of all the people who try and fill you with false teachings?
J. Have you got stuck in the trap of only worrying about the rich or the poor and forgot the Gospel is for everyone?
K. If any of these are you, we need to work on it
L. If it is taking the time and thanking your support team, do that now before the sunsets
M. If it people teaching you false teachings, refuse to listen to them anymore
N. If it forgetting a section of people to share the Gospel with, start today asking God to lead you to people who need to here the Gospel
O. The question is are you on the same page as God about who matters in life?
