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Rom 16:1-27 – Hearts Bound for Ministry
 
Today – we find ourselves at the end of what many have called the greatest theological book in the N.T.
 
After covering most every foundational doctrine in Christianity
 
Paul's going to “wrap up” his incredible discourse
by focusing on the PEOPLE who minister with him
 
& we are going to see "Hearts Bound Together For Ministry"
in the 1st Century Church
 
& I pray we would catch the fire that Paul has here
 
not only for these great theological truths
conveyed in Romans
 
But also the fire Paul has to be "Bound Together"
with all those who minister for the Kingdom with him
 
Let's Pray
 
 
Certainly these people - whose hearts are "Bound Together "
CANNOT come before the great Theology of the book
 
& they Haven’t - but Paul makes it clear
 
That furthering the great truths of the Gospel
CANNOT happen WITHOUT the people we Co-labor with
 
 
In last week's message - We learned 3 critical lessons about being a minister of Christ
 
& those 3 lessons - all had to do with
our Vertical relationship w/ God
 
This week – Paul’s going to teach us – by example
 
How important our Horizontal relationships are
for the Furthering of God's Kingdom
 
 
Ch 16 starts w/ a long list of names & greetings
 
that show that Paul is "BOUND TOGETHER"
with the people he ministered with
 
In this first section Paul mentions 26 people by name all of who were in Rome
 
& one of the 1st things that's amazing about that
is that Paul had never been to Rome
 
These are people Paul had met & ministered with
during his travels – & who were now in Rome
 
but remember - the modes of communication were a little more "Difficult" in the 1st Century
 
No cell phone, No fax, No mail, No email,
No MySpace, No Facebook - - None of it
 
Paul had to keep up with those he cared for by constantly asking about them
 
Whenever he met another brother or sister – He’d say “Have you heard how Priscilla & Aquilla are doing?” ”How about Andronicus & Junia,” “what’s Urbanas up to” ”Stachys, Apelles, Herodian” ”& what about the twins Tryphena & Tryphosa” ”& I’ve got to know about Rufus & his mom”
 
THAT was the only way to keep
their Hearts BOUND TOGETHER for ministry
 
The Greatest Apostle - The Greatest Intellect of the N.T.
Knew, that his love & concern for the people he ministered w/ was Critically Important
 
& in Paul's example
we have something very important to learn
 
OUR Hearts must be BOUND TOGETHER for Ministry
& we've got to WORK AT IT - just like Paul did
 
 
 
Every one of these names
has a story behind it for Paul
 
& Paul's Heart was BOUND TO
every one of these people - BECAUSE OF the Ministry
 
In Rom 16 Paul begins w/ Phoebe who probably carried this letter from Corinth to Rome
 
Rom 16:1-2 - ESV1 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant (dee-ak-on-os [probably deaconess]) of the church at Cenchreae (sen-kree-uh),2 that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.
 
Phoebe was a servant (Deaconess) of her church
& notice - "A Patron of many, & of Paul"
 
This word "PATRON" means - to give aide & assistance
it's caring for both Practical & FINANCIAL Needs
 
a number of people Paul is BOUND TO in this list
are those that gave of their Resources for the Ministry
 
& Phoebe leads the list - for her service - & for her giving
 
& notice - Paul says (V.2) HELP her in whatever she needs
because she has helped so many
 
 
 
Next - is Prisca (Priscilla) & Aquila
 
Who risked their lives for Paul
& who had a church in their house
 
Rom 16:3-5(A) - ESV
3 Greet Prisca (Priscilla) and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,4 who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.5 Greet also the church in their house. . .
 
Priscilla & Aquila were "Tent Makers" with Paul in Corinth
& they travelled to Ephesus with Paul
 
Which is where they might have risked their lives for Paul
because he had a very close call there
 
Which is possibly WHY
all the Gentile churches give thanks for them
 
Interestingly - Priscilla & Aquila had a "House Church" in Ephesus
& now they have another "House Church" in Rome
 
& Paul says - Greet their church
 
 
 
Next - Paul says Hi - to HIS VERY FIRST CONVERT in Asia
 
Rom 16:5(B) - ESV
Greet my beloved Epaenetus (ep-aa-net-us), who was the first convert to Christ in Asia.
 
It seems incredible - That Paul would remember
his very first convert in all of Asia
 
But Actually - I can name the very first couple
that made a commitment to the Lord in our ministry here
 
Steve & Margie Surrell - they responded to our first altar call,
on our first Sunday, & I'll never forget them
 
In fact - I remember the Truck Driver that responded
to our first altar call, on our first Sunday,
at the first church we started in Menifee
 
Because every time you see someone pass from DEATH to LIFE
it changes us - & it drives us to see it happen again
 
 
Next - is Mary - who had served tirelessly for the Body of Christ
& Paul remembers her hard work
 
Rom 16:6 - ESV
6 Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you.
 
 
 
& then - in V.7 is an interesting pair
 
Rom 16:7 - ESV
7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
 
This was probably a Husband & Wife TEAM of ministers
fellow Jewish Christians with Paul
had also been in Prison for the Ministry were well-known to the Apostles
were in Christ before Paul (so more than 25 yrs)
 
That's a VERY POWERFUL Husband & Wife Team
 
 
Now comes 4 Co-Laborers
& each one Paul has a title for
 
Rom 16:8-10(A) - ESV
8 Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys (one of the 70 sent by Jesus).10 Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. . .
 
That's MY Favorite title - approved in Christ
the phrase means LIT - He has been "tried" or "refined" in Christ
 
& then Paul says at the end of V.10
. . . Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus.
 
Some believe this Aristobulus is actually
the GRANDSON of Herod the Great, & BROTHER of Herod Agrippa
 
 
Rom 16:11 - ESV
11 Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus (Narkissos).
 
Herodian is another Jewish Christian
 
& this Narcissus(some believe) was also a very wealthy man
who served the Emperor Claudius
 
 
Rom 16:12 - ESV
12 Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa (sisters). Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord.
 
Do you notice the THEME of WORK as Paul greets these
that his heart is BOUND TO in the Ministry ??
 
Guys - The Ministry is HARD - & it involves HARD WORK
 
But as we PAY THE PRICE together
as we stand in the trenches SIDE-BY-SIDE
 
It is DURING THAT TIME - that our Hearts are bound together
 
& that's exactly what bound Paul's heart together
with these believers
 
 
 
This next one - in V.13 - is very COOL
 
Rom 16:13 - ESV
13 Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well.
 
Check THIS out - RUFUS was the SON of Simon of Cyrene
Who carried the Cross for Jesus (Mk 15:21)
 
& so his MOTHER who had also been a mother to Paul
was the WIFE of Simon of Cyrene
 
is THAT COOL ??
 
I wonder if Simon of Cyrene KNEW just HOW involved
God had called he & his family to be in the work of Christ
 
Or is it - that once they experienced
that incredible event on the Path to the Cross
 
that this family was Radically changed forever
& served God wholeheartedly?
 
 
Then Paul finishes his Greetings in Vs. 14-16
 
Rom 16:14-16 - ESV
14 Greet Asyncritus (a-soong-kree-tos), Phlegon (fleg-on), Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.15 Greet Philologus (fil-ol-o-gos), Julia, Nereus (nare-yoos) and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.16 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.
 
Guys – this is not just a list of names to be skipped over We can learn SO MUCH from Paul here
 
We have got to cling to & protect
the relationships that God gives us - for the good of the Ministry !
 
We must care for & be concerned about one another
instead of ourselves
 
Because God is USING our relationships with each other
to ACCOMPLISH an Eternal Work THRU US
 
 
We MUST genuinely & sincerely - care for & be concerned for
those that we are serving with
 
& when I see you guys - looking out for each other holding each other up, ministering to each another
 
THAT is when I KNOW - that God is going to do
GREAT THINGS thru this ministry
 
When our Hearts are BOUND TOGETHER
to serve the Lord together
 
We become a SPIRITUAL FORCE can bring true Eternal Change
to those around us
 
 
Which is exactly why (I believe)
 
that Paul goes straight from
Greetings to those that he cared so much about
 
RIGHT INTO a very serious & stern WARNING
It’s as if Paul senses the most dangerous poison possible for a church
 
& he immediately issues a loving, protective, & yet - VERY STERN warning
 
Rom 16:17 - ESV
17 I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
 
Right in the Middle of Paul's loving Greetings - he says
Those who Cause Divisions & Create Obstacles - AVOID THEM!
This is like the yellow flag in a motorcycle race
 
CAUTION - CAUTION - AVOID this area
STAY AWAY from these area
 
Because someone’s had an accident here
 
& if you go into that area
you're going to get TAKEN OUT of the Race too
 
Guys - if you want to stay in the race AVOID people who cause divisions and create obstacles
 
Because they actually PREVENT hearts being
BOUND TOGETHER for the good of ministry
 
 
 
In V.18 - Paul doesn’t LET UP
He goes deeper into the problem
 
Rom 16:18 - ESV
18 For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
 
Paul is NOT on a TANGENT here
 
Why would he switch so ABRUPTLY
from the loving greetings of the brethren
 
to such a STERN WARNING
about those who cause division in the church
 
BECAUSE of his love for the brethren
 
& because he KNOWS (1st hand) the destruction caused
by those who bring division into the church (see 2 Cor)
 
So Paul simply says “avoid them”
& then he shares some of his reason - in v.19
 
 
Rom 16:19 - ESV  
 
Rom 16:19 - ESV
19 For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.
 
The Church at Rome had a good reputation
& Paul rejoiced over that
 
But Division & Discord
will bring that Reputation down in an instant
 
& so he says ; be wise as to what is good
and innocent as to what is evil
 
 
Then v.20 gives an ominous weight
to this whole warning
 
Rom 16:20 - ESV
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
 
Paul is STILL in the context of the warning - & he says
Don’t worry, the God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet
 
& I think that Paul referring to Satan
in the context of this warning
 
implies the level of damage done thru
Divisions and Offenses in the church
 
That makes this a very, very heavy warning
 
& Paul finishes his concern here - by saying
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
 
 
& now Paul moves on
to the Believers that are with him in Corinth
 
Imagine w/ me, the house church in Corinth (Gaius' house) where Paul is finishing this letter
 
His friends & co-laborers are gathered around him, & as he dictates this long list of saints - his friends chime in
 
Say hi for me, oh - & say hi for me too – me too - - and me
 
& so the saints in Corinth, & the saints in Rome
are BOUND TOGETHER by their mutual love & concern
for one another
 
& so their names & greetings are added;
 
Rom 16:21-24 - ESV
21 Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you (Paul' son in the ministry); so do Lucius (prophet & teacher in Acts) and Jason (poss Paul's cousin) and Sosipater, my kinsmen (another Jewish Christian).22 I Tertius, who wrote this letter, greet you in the Lord.23 Gaius, who is host to me and to the whole church, greets you (a wealthy man who housed Paul, & the church in Corinth). Erastus, the city treasurer (public official, prob in charge of public works in Corinth - another wealthy man), and our brother Quartus, greet you (among the 70 disciples).
 
WOW - that's quite a group in Corinth
& their hearts are BOUND TOGETHER with those in ROME
 
Guys - Strong Relationships in the Ministry - ARE CRITICAL
 
We must WORK AT them - NURTURE them - PROTECT them
 
Someone told me once
"Just teach the Bible, & the rest will take care of itself "
 
& as a matter of PRIORITY - that's true
but IT'S NOT all that's required for a FRUITFUL MINISTRY
 
The Strong Relationships we have with one another
is what God uses to FURTHER the ministry
 
When our hearts are Truly BOUND TOGETHER
we become a MACHINE to Churn Out Disciples for Jesus Christ
 
 
The bottom Line is
Strong Relationships are CRITICAL for the Ministry
 
& it's very clear at the end of Rom
that Paul's relationships
 
were born, strengthened & matured,
in the MIDST of Serving the Lord
 
These hearts are BOUND TOGETHER
by their SERVING TOGETHER
 
& so please hear me when I say
 
the NUMBER ONE way to BUILD these critical relationships
is to START SERVING alongside one another
 
It may not be easy - there may be hiccups & bumps
But JOIN IN the ministry
 
Build these relationships with others
& God will use you mightily in the Ministry
 
START Serving with the Commitment
to be BOUND TOGETHER with others
 
For the GOOD of the Kingdom
 
& Absolutely AVOID anyone who SEWS DIVISION & DROPS OBSTACLES anywhere near you
 
The Word of God says AVOID THEM
so let's be very, very careful there
 
We need to WORK AT our Relationships in the Ministry
we need NURTURE them - we need to PROTECT them
 
AMEN ??
 
 
 
& now – finally - we come to Paul’s closing benediction
of the Great book of ROMANS
 
William Tyndale – The Pioneer English Bible Translator in 1534 - said this in his introduction to Romans
 
William Tyndale
Forasmuch as this epistle is the principal and most excellent part of the New Testament, and most pure [gospel] … and also a light and a way unto the whole scripture, I think it right that every Christian not only know it by rote but also exercise himself therein evermore continually as with the daily bread of the soul. No man truly can read it too often, or study it too well: for the more it is studied the easier it is, the more it is searched the more precious things are found in it, so great a treasure of spiritual things lies hid therein.
 
Guys - please - continue to study the Book of ROMANS
study it again & again
 
MANY of the Heroes of the Faith
studied the book of Romans CONTINUALLY
 
so it would probably wouldn’t be a bad idea
for us to go thru it over & over again
 
 
What a great experience it is to study the book of Romans
 
& now – Paul closes w/ the only subject he would ever consider closing w/
 
In 2Thes 3:17 Paul says that he closes every epistle with his own handwriting
 
& so here – In Gaius’ home – with his trusted co-laborers & friends around him – Paul picks up the pen
 
I’m sure he paused, for just a moment - & looked around Then he writes down the most majestic - & fitting – benediction
 
Rom 16:25-27 - ESV
25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages26 but has now been disclosed - and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—27 to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
 
Let's PRAY