Romans 16a Love and Friendship

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www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

June 5, 2011

Romans 16 1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

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Phoebe (which means “bright, radiant”) was Paul’s emissary to deliver this letterdeliver this letter, so he wrote officially, I commend to you our sister Phoebe.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty.

Servant = DiakonosDiakonos = same word for deacon.

She may have had the titletitle, or she may have just done the workwork without the title.

2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

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Succorer = a help in time of need.

Paul told the Christians at Rome toPaul told the Christians at Rome to:

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1 Receive herReceive her in the Lord, as becometh saintssaints.Christians are to accept one anotheraccept one another, as Jesus has accepted us.

Doubt, suspicions, mistrust, and criticism are not Christian virtuesnot Christian virtues.

2 Help her in any way she needed them.Why? Because she had helped others in many ways, including the Apostle Paul.

3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: 4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

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Paul met this husband and wife teamhusband and wife team in CorinthCorinth on his second missionary journey.

He worked with them in their tent-makingtent-making business business.

They had, on some occasion, riskedrisked their own lives to save Paul'sto save Paul's life.

They had been instrumental in spreading the spreading the GospelGospel to all the churches of the Gentiles.

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5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house.

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House-churchesHouse-churches were common in the early church.

They didn't feel they had to buildbuild a great cathedralcathedral in which to meet.

But we know they were interconnectedinterconnected, because Paul would writewrite one letter to the

church in a city, and it would get to everyoneeveryone.

5b Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the first-fruits of Achaia unto Christ.

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Achaia was an area of what is now mostly Greecenow mostly Greece, including the cities of

CorinthCorinth, SpartaSparta, and AthensAthens.

Epaenetus was the firstfirst to get savedsaved in that area.

6 Greet MaryMary, who bestowed much labormuch labor on us.

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Hard work is worthyworthy of special mention.

7 Salute Andronicus and JuniaAndronicus and Junia, my kinsmenkinsmen, and my fellow-prisonersfellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before mein Christ before me.

Paul was of the Tribe of BenjaminTribe of Benjamin, and that is probably the kinship spoken of.

They also had a special bondspecial bond in that they had been in prison togetherprison together because of their ministry.

Shared hardshipShared hardship builds special relationships.

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They had been Christians even longereven longer than Paul.

All of the apostles respectedrespected them for their faithfulnessfaithfulness.

8 Greet Amplias my belovedbeloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbane, our helperhelper in Christ, and Stachys my belovedbeloved. 10 Salute Apelles approvedapproved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the in the LordLord. 12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who laborlabor in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which labored muchlabored much in the Lord.

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13 Salute Rufus chosenchosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine (she had been like a mother to Paul). 14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them. 15

Salute Philologus (lover of words), and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them. 16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

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Even though Paul had nevernever been to Rome, he knew a lot of peoplelot of people who were there at this time.

In spite of his ownhis own labors, trials, care for the churches, Paul rememberedremembered and mentioned themmentioned them.

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We need to remember our friends, acknow-ledge them, brag on them, be truebe true to them.

We can learn muchlearn much from this passage of Scripture.

The qualitiesqualities that Paul mentioned are qualities that are usefuluseful in the Kingdom of God.

They are Christian virtuesChristian virtues.

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A servant's heartA servant's heart

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Willingness to helphelp accomplish a goal

Willingness to risk allrisk all -- even our lives

Matthew 25 40 … Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me.

Much good work is lost for the lack of a little more.  ~ Edward H. Harriman

Andronicus and Junia were old and faithfulfaithful servants of God.

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God honors faithfulnessGod honors faithfulness..Faithfulness is not measurednot measured in a month, or a year,

or even in decades of servicedecades of service.

16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

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Romans 12 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;

The only things that we are building down herebuilding down here that will be with usbe with us in Heaven are relationships.

Everything else is going to burn and meltburn and melt with fervent heat.

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Connie and I will be gone next Sundaynext Sunday to celebrate Uncle Reid's eightieth birthday.

DeRidder, Louisiana

Paul DavisPaul Davis will conduct the services in my absence.

Be sure to come and support him in every way.