[Sunday, Feburary 23, 2025] Co-workers in God's Kingdom | Romans 16:1-16
[English Sermon 영어 설교]
Sunday, Feburary 23, 2025 - Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn
Co-workers in God's Kingdom (Romans 16:1-16)
2025. 2. 23. 주일예배 설교- 로마서 강해 36
본문: 로마서 16:1-16
제목: 하나님 나라의 동역자들
설교자: 손진국 목사
What comes to your mind when you think of the Apostle Paul? A great evangelist, a great apostle who wrote half of the 27 books of the New Testament, God's superstar who accomplished alone what hundreds could not do, the greatest intellect, a man of power, and someone who walked about 30,000 km in his ministry—he seems quite different from us.
However, when reading today's passage, doesn't this image of Paul somewhat crumble? It is true that Paul accomplished great things in Christian history. However, he did not achieve this because he was exceptionally talented or powerful alone, but because many people around him worked together with him as co-workers.
1. God Connects People Together
God's work is not done alone; it is accomplished when co-workers work together. This is how God operates.
In today's passage, we see the names of 27 people: Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquila, Epenetus, Mary, Andronicus, Junia, Ampliatus, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Aristobulus, Herodion, Narcissus, Tryphena, Tryphosa, Persis, Rufus, Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, Philologus, Julia, Nereus, and Olympas. Additionally, phrases like "the church that meets at their house" (v.5), "those who belong to the household of Aristobulus" (v.10), "those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord" (v.11), Rufus and his mother (v.13), and "all the saints with them" (v.15) indicate even more people.
The amazing thing is that, as mentioned before, Paul had never been to Rome, yet many people he knew were already there. Furthermore, even though the believers in Rome met in different households, they were all connected.
The most frequently mentioned word in today's passage is "greet." From verses 1-16, it appears 18 times, and in the entire chapter, it appears 22 times.
Let's read [Romans 16:16] "Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings."
What is the primary duty of God's co-workers, whom He has connected? It is to greet one another.
Paul introduces these people and urges them to greet each other with a holy kiss. Moreover, he says that all the churches of Christ greet them.
[Application] Who are the people that God has connected me with? Do I greet them often?
2. God's Kingdom Is Built Through Co-working
Who are the people Paul is mentioning here? They are not just his family or relatives. He is introducing co-workers in God's kingdom. God's kingdom is built through co-working. When each believer responds in obedience to God's word, these responses come together to build God's kingdom.
The lyrics of the song "Revival" say:
"Let the flames of revival burn, let the word of truth renew this land. Let the river of grace flow, let the wind of the Holy Spirit blow. Oh, Lord, grant us a new day filled with Your glory. Oh, Lord, let Your kingdom come upon this land."
What does this imagery suggest? The flames spread, the word is proclaimed, grace overflows, and the wind of the Spirit blows—what does this mean? Revival is a movement, the flow of the Holy Spirit. It is the proclamation and movement of the living and active word of God. When people who are sensitive to the flow and movement of the Holy Spirit and the word join in, true revival occurs, and God's kingdom comes to this land.
Today's passage contains the touching stories of people who obeyed and responded to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Through them, the gospel spread to Rome, the center of the world. How did they participate in building God's kingdom with obedience and dedication?
The first person Paul mentions in his greetings is Phoebe.
[Romans 16:1] "I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea."
Paul introduces Phoebe first, which was remarkable considering the cultural norms of that time, where women were not regarded highly.
How does he introduce her? He calls her a servant (deacon) of the church in Cenchrea. She was a deaconess of the church in Cenchrea. But Paul also refers to her as "our sister." He further elaborates in [Romans 16:2] "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."
Paul asks the Roman believers to receive her in a manner worthy of the saints and help her in whatever she may need. Why? Because she has been a benefactor (patron) to many, including Paul himself.
This means that Phoebe used her wealth to support the ministries of Paul and many others financially. Initially, Paul worked as a tentmaker to support his ministry. But as his ministry grew, benefactors provided financial support, enabling him to focus entirely on ministry. Phoebe was one of these key supporters.
Even during Jesus’ ministry, there were people who financially supported Him and His disciples.
[Luke 8:1-3] "After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means."
Women such as Mary Magdalene, Joanna (the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza), Susanna, and many others supported Jesus and His disciples with their own resources. How did Jesus and His disciples sustain themselves? Many of them had left their jobs, yet people, touched by God's work, sacrificially gave their resources to support His ministry.
Returning to Phoebe, Paul asks the Romans to receive her. Most scholars agree that Phoebe was carrying Paul's letter to the Romans. Delivering letters in those days was no small task. She had to travel from Cenchrea (an 11 km port city near Corinth) to Corinth, then take Paul's letter to Rome. Since letters were written on parchment or papyrus scrolls, a 16-chapter letter would have been quite heavy for a woman to carry. She had to travel by ship and on foot, enduring many hardships along the way.
The second people Paul greets are Priscilla and Aquila.
[Romans 16:3] "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus."
Priscilla (also called Prisca) was the wife, and Aquila was the husband. Paul lists Priscilla first, likely because she was more active in ministry.
They were originally in Rome but were expelled when Emperor Claudius ordered all Jews to leave. They met Paul in Corinth, worked together as tentmakers, and later moved to Ephesus, where they hosted a house church. Eventually, they returned to Rome and continued their ministry.
[Romans 16:4] "They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them."
They risked their lives for Paul, and all Gentile churches were grateful for their sacrifice.
[Application] How am I co-working in building God's kingdom? How do I desire to co-work in the future?
3. Love the Co-workers Who Are Connected in the Lord.
By looking at the names listed in today's passage, we can see that there is no discrimination based on social status, no distinction between the rich and the poor, and no hierarchy of worldly positions.
Among the names Paul mentions, about eleven are women: Phoebe (1), Priscilla (2), Mary (6), Junia (7) (This is how my mother-in-law calls my wife. ^^), Tryphena and Tryphosa (12), Persis—a Persian woman (12), the mother of Rufus (13), Julia—the wife of Philologus (15), the sister of Nereus—presumed to be the daughter of Philologus (15), and Olympas (15).
Some people are assumed to be former slaves who were freed: Ampliatus (8), Urbanus & Stachys (9), Hermes (14), and Philologus and Julia (15).
There are also Roman aristocrats mentioned. Aristobulus in verse 10 is the grandson of King Herod and the brother of Agrippa. He was also a friend of Emperor Claudius. Narcissus in verse 11 was a famous and wealthy figure who had great influence over Claudius.
Thus, men and women, slaves and nobles, Jews and Greeks, and Romans—all are listed without any particular order of status. We see a picture of the believers in the Roman church who worked together for the kingdom of God, beyond gender, status, honor, and wealth.
Look carefully at the descriptive phrases used to introduce them: (1) Our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchreae; (3) Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus; (5) My dear Epenetus; (6) Mary, who worked very hard for you; (7) Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; (8) Ampliatus, whom I love in the Lord; (9) Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my dear Stachys; (10) Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test; (11) My relative Herodion; those in the Lord; (12) Tryphena and Tryphosa, who work hard in the Lord; Persis, who has worked very hard in the Lord and whom I love; (13) Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother—who has been a mother to me, too.
Paul is not merely listing their names; rather, he is recalling how each of them dedicated themselves to the kingdom of God and worked together, bringing back precious memories as he writes.
Two phrases that Paul repeatedly uses among these descriptions are "whom I love" and "in the Lord" or "in Christ."
As I was preparing this message, I asked myself: If I were to write a letter to someone, or if I were to present our congregation before God, how would I describe each member? I also wondered, "How would you describe me?" Would our congregation use the phrase "whom I love" when referring to me? As I thought about this, I felt very inadequate.
How about you? If your co-workers in Christ were to introduce you before God, how would you want to be described?
Another frequently repeated phrase in describing the believers in Rome is "in the Lord" or "in Christ." This means that to be co-workers in God's kingdom, one must first be born again by believing in Jesus Christ, and their lives must be lived in obedience to the Lord's will.
I earnestly pray in the name of the Lord that my life and the lives of all members of Hope in Heaven Church will be devoted to God's kingdom, loving one another, serving with dedication, practicing God's love and neighborly love, and building God's kingdom on this earth.
[Application] What kind of descriptive phrases do I use when introducing my brothers and sisters in Christ? What kind of description would I want to be associated with when others introduce me?
하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.
Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.