Lord I seek you this morning to receive your peace, and give me no peace today unless I share it with others.
“Now I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, so that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many, including me.
Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life. Not only I, but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Also greet the church in their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked very hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my compatriots and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my good friend Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my compatriot. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother who was also a mother to me. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers and sisters with them. Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the believers who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.” (Romans 16 1-15)
I get so excited when I read Romans chapter 16! Matthew and Luke in their Gospels contain the genealogy of Jesus. Paul in Romans 16 gives the genealogy of the birth of the church. It contains the names of ordinary people, who in and through their faith in Jesus planted churches, spread the gospel and birthed the church. And when you read this list of church planters and leaders you see there are people missing we today think of when we think of church leaders. The list of people contains no names of ordained pastors, Elders, ministers, priests, bishops, or popes. No Jewish Rabbis, Scribes, Pharisees, or members of the Sanhedrin. There is not listed any titles from denominations, mission agencies, evangelist organizations, or church planting agencies. The names are those of “gentiles,” ordinary men and women, who were not chosen by a board, ,ordained by a committee, or given the title “Reverend” by anyone or any denomination. They were given thier position by their baptism in Christ, by God alone through their faith in Jesus.
The names are a list of ordinary women, men, sisters, brothers, married couples, mothers, fathers, friends and neighbors who simply imitated Jesus as his disciples, made disciples, and shared their faith and love of Jesus with others. The churches they birthed where not in buildings filled with pews, chairs, a stage with video screens and a band, or a holy altar to gather around,. Their “churches” were their simple homes with couches and sofas and their holy altar was their dining room table to gather around. “Church” was not something that they invited people to attend an hour on Sundays, that was not even a concept in their minds! “Church” was their home, their neighborhood. They did not invite people to “come meet my pastor,” but “Come meet Jesus.” They invited people into their lives and gave access to their lives every day. They were simple people, using simple homes, with a simple knowledge and theology, who simply loved Jesus with all their hearts, souls, minds an strength, and loved their neighbors. And the “church” they birthed walls could not contain and spread like holy fire.
My family, I pray that as you read the list of the names of the people in Paul’s letter, you deeply understand that they are ordinary people, the same as you and me. I pray the Holy Spirit will convict and encourage you to add your names and write them into this letter as men, women, married couples, mothers, fathers, families, who out of love for Jesus and neighbors, re-evaluate their understanding of church” and open up their lives and their homes and simply share your love of Jesus with others, in Jesus’ name. Please pray the same for me. God bless you my friends!
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