Thankful For God's Family! Series

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.