Everyone Gets To Play!

16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 2 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. 3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-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. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. 6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.

7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. 8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. 9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. 10 Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.11 Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew.

Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

12 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. 13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. 14 Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. 15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. Greet them with a holy kiss.

You probably have rarely studied these verses, or maybe even not noticed them.  But they are very important verses. Why?  

1. We see a laundry list of people who God used to help Paul in his ministry.  A quick count shows 25 people on the list, and I am sure there were many more.  Kind of like at the Academy awards when you try to thank everyone but don't have the time as they start "shooing" you off stage.  

2.  You see a variety of people including lots of women. The first church was equal opportunity for all. The Holy Spirit came upon all people, men and women. This is the the theological foundation for women in ministry.  See Phoebe is a deacon in the early church, which is a prominent leadership position.  See Lydia in Acts 16, whose household came to church, and she became the leader in the 1st century church.  

3.   Notice their devotion. Some risked their lives for Paul like Priscilla, Aquilla.  Some were in prison with Paul like Andronicus and Junia.

4.   They met in houses.  This is where we get the term "house church" or "home church".  While there is nothing wrong with a nice church building that honors God, the early church only needed the power of the Holy Spirit and committed disciples like Paul and the rest to be effective. 

5.   There was a strong intimacy and fellowship in the early church.  In Acts 2 we read that they met every day, studied the bible together, and held all property in common.  Likewise Paul ends the reading today writing, "Greet each other with a holy kiss".  This is obviously not sexual but an affection borne of Christ-like love for each other.  

So here is my question?  Do you think the church needs to look more like the church described above?  Do you see a separate of clergy and lay leaders in this church?  Pastors and church members?  Do we see all kinds of people from every background on fire for what God is doing in and through them?  How about we take a cue from Romans 16 and live lives worthy of our calling in the tradition of Paul and our his brothers and sisters in Christ.  And MAYBE it just might be as exciting for us as it was for them.