Daily Bread 2011 - Romans 16
Personal Greetings
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house
What Does This Mean?
Paul uses the last chapter of the letter to extend personal greetings to all, who in some way or another, contributed to his mission. Though there is not a lot of theological content, except for verses 17-19, where Paul warns the church to watch out for cause divisions or teach contrary to what he has taught them, we see the diversity of people God used to build the 1st century church.
In these lists are both men and women. Notice the large amounts of women who were integral in the early Church used for the spreading of the Gospel. This was counter cultural in a very patriarchal society back then. Notice as well the mention of “house churches”, when it says in verse 5, “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” We learn in Acts 18 of Priscilla and Aquila, who were tentmakers like Paul. He stayed at their home in Corinth, while he was on his mission there. We also learn that Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos into their home and made the way of Christ more clearly known to him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We see the many ways in which the New Testament church was organic and missional in nature. She didn’t rely on lots of structures and hierarchies, but grew explosively by the efforts of many who were able to use their gifts to help build the church, both men and women. There is the warning to watch out for those who cause division, so leaders need to be discerning in who they entrust the task of building the church to, and yet we need to be open to the many ways and the many types of people necessary to accomplish God’s purposes.
In what ways might God be calling you to help build the church? Have you ever prayed about that? Think about how God might use you (or your house) to be a place where God’s mission can expand. The day has come to move out of the comfort of always having to do things in “the church” but think creatively in our uses of gift, talents and resources God has given to the Church!
Heavenly Father thank you for the many and diverse ways you use to build the Church for your glory. You are always calling people to come along and use what you have been given them for eternal purposes that will outlast them. Thank you for all in our congregation who are so generous to give their time, talents and treasures for the work of the Gospel here in Irvine and beyond, Amen.
1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. 5 Greet also the church that meets at their house
What Does This Mean?
Paul uses the last chapter of the letter to extend personal greetings to all, who in some way or another, contributed to his mission. Though there is not a lot of theological content, except for verses 17-19, where Paul warns the church to watch out for cause divisions or teach contrary to what he has taught them, we see the diversity of people God used to build the 1st century church.
In these lists are both men and women. Notice the large amounts of women who were integral in the early Church used for the spreading of the Gospel. This was counter cultural in a very patriarchal society back then. Notice as well the mention of “house churches”, when it says in verse 5, “Greet also the church that meets at their house.” We learn in Acts 18 of Priscilla and Aquila, who were tentmakers like Paul. He stayed at their home in Corinth, while he was on his mission there. We also learn that Priscilla and Aquila took Apollos into their home and made the way of Christ more clearly known to him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
We see the many ways in which the New Testament church was organic and missional in nature. She didn’t rely on lots of structures and hierarchies, but grew explosively by the efforts of many who were able to use their gifts to help build the church, both men and women. There is the warning to watch out for those who cause division, so leaders need to be discerning in who they entrust the task of building the church to, and yet we need to be open to the many ways and the many types of people necessary to accomplish God’s purposes.
In what ways might God be calling you to help build the church? Have you ever prayed about that? Think about how God might use you (or your house) to be a place where God’s mission can expand. The day has come to move out of the comfort of always having to do things in “the church” but think creatively in our uses of gift, talents and resources God has given to the Church!
Heavenly Father thank you for the many and diverse ways you use to build the Church for your glory. You are always calling people to come along and use what you have been given them for eternal purposes that will outlast them. Thank you for all in our congregation who are so generous to give their time, talents and treasures for the work of the Gospel here in Irvine and beyond, Amen.
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