Romans 16 Relationships

 

Romans 16

Relationships

I am sure you are on somebody’s list

It may not be written down for all to read

But there are those who appreciate you

Throughout life we can gain appreciation

We can increase the list by being in helpful relationships with others

Imagine the greetings you and I can receive and give when we get to heaven

Your relationships matter

They are the only thing you can have in heaven and earth

Everything else is left behind

 

 

 

 

Relationships

 

A while ago a friend in the Lord

went home to be with the Lord.

 

Tom was 70 years old.

 

Back in the 70’s and 80’s, Tom attended

the church we helped start in 1973.

 

At the funeral home many friends and family came

to pay respects to Tom and comfort the family.

 

Many of the people who came…

 

Knew Tom in the early days

of the church where I pastored.

 

As they gathered together

 memories were shared.

 

The church in those early days…

 

Was a place where relationships were built.

 

Tom loved music, especially Christian.

 

We had meals after the services

so people did not have to go home right away.

 

Although we did not think of it

as a community center it was.

 

People gathered and relationships were built.

 

One of the things that people loved was the music.

 

People brought their instruments

and in an informal way

after the service played together.

 

Many were beginners and others advanced players.

 

As we talked at the funeral home…

 

 One person said that was the best time of his life.

 

I realized as those who became friends of Tom

at the church in those early days

had live changing experiences because…

 

Of the relationships that were build

40 or more years ago.

 

In the Book of Acts,

the early church meet together

from house to house breaking bread.

 

As they came together…

 

 Some came because they had family members

going to the church.

 

Others came because they had friends.

 

The church in the Book of Acts grew fast

because of relationships

and so did our church in the 70’s and 80’s.

 

As I pondered the conversations

of those at the funeral home…

 

 I realized regular people built the church.

 

Regular people did extra ordinary things

that they did not realize they were doing.

 

40 years ago, we were just people

who loved Jesus and each other.

 

Those relationships have impacted

one another’s lives for life. 

 

As I read the last chapter of Romans…

 

 I see ordinary people who become extra ordinary.

 

Paul wanted to make sure

these people were greeted.

 

He wanted them to know they were special.

 

He wanted them to know

the things they did were powerful.

 

They got special mention because they were…

 

a servant of the church   

been a great help to many people

fellow workers in Christ Jesus

risked their lives

all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them

meets at their house

worked very hard for you

relatives who have been in prison with me

outstanding among the apostles

I love in the Lord

fellow worker in Christ

dear friend

tested and approved in Christ

the household of…

my relative

household of …

women who work hard in the Lord

dear friend

household of Narcissus who are in the Lord

women who work hard in the Lord

dear friend

woman who has worked very hard in the Lord

chosen in the Lord,

been a mother to me

the brothers

all the saints

 

These are things we all can do…

 

Some were relatives, some opened their homes,

some helped out with what needed to be done.

 

Paul was not greeting the elders and deacons.

 

 He was greeting people he was friends with.

 

People who have two things in common…

 

 Jesus and one another.

 

How did the Gospel spread?

 

By friends and family enjoying one another.

 

Paul became a great man.

 

 He was because of the relationships

with family and friends.

 

How did Paul know where to go next?

 

I think he went where his friends were.

 

Your open doors and my open doors

are more often with family and friends

than a stranger.

 

Paul wanted to go to Rome because…

 

 That is where his family and friends were.

 

These people got their names in the Bible

because they were friends and family

and they did things we all can do.

 

Things we may not realize

are making a difference…

 

Until years later at a funeral home.

 

Below are the names of those Paul thought a lot of…

 

Phoebe

Priscilla and Aquila

Epenetus,

Mary

Andronicus and Junias,

Ampliatus,

Urbanus

Stachys

Apelles,

Aristobulus.

Herodion

household of Narcissus

Tryphena and Tryphosa, women

Persis, woman

Rufus,

his mother,

Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the brothers.

Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.

 

I am sure you are on somebody’s list.

 

It may not be written down for all to read.

 

But there are those who appreciate you.

 

Throughout life we can gain appreciation.

 

We can increase the list by being

in helpful relationships with others.

 

Imagine the greetings

you and I can receive and give

when we get to heaven.

 

Your relationships matter.

 

They are the only things

you can have in heaven and earth.

 

Everything else is left behind.

 

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

Romans 16:1-16 NIV

 

16 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.

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 Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.

8 Greet Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord.

9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.

10 Greet Apelles, tested and approved in Christ.

Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus.

11 Greet Herodion, my relative.

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 brothers with them.

15 Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the saints with them.

16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.