WHO CARES?
Romans 16
Every generation has its great preachers
Every generation has its great sermons
Robert Lee--"Payday Someday" Joe Stowell--"Who Cares?" => Who cares about the lost?
“Great sermon” of our generation not likely to come from list of greetings, like Rom. 16!
Concluding message from Romans.
Hard to preach exciting sermon from closing greetings and benedictions–yet Scripture says ALL Scripture is inspired by God and profitable! God recorded Rom. 16! It too must be PROFITABLE!
Yellow caution signs made driving more fun. It started with warning, "Baby on board." Then we added, "Ex-boyfriend in trunk" and "nobody on board." But one was troubling: "Who Cares?"
If God were into commute talk, he would hang yellow signs around necks of people without Christ saying "Precious to God." Would WE then be seen with signs that proclaim, "WHO CARES?"
Paul refers to 3 things God cares about in Rom 16
If they’re important to God, they ought to be important to us!
He asks "Who cares about what I care about?" [1st thing God cares about:]
God considers His children precious--"Who cares about my children?"
It’s obvious Paul cares about God’s children.
His heart is concerned for PEOPLE!
He mentions 35 by name—Not bad for church he’d never been to!!
Most are people he met on journeys.
He remembers names; he remembers who has church in their home; where they live.
Some have suggested these people were on his regular prayer list.
Paul cares about God’s people.
Do WE care about God’s people?
WHO CARES ABOUT GOD’S CHILDREN? 16:1-16
What do we learn by observing Paul's interest in God’s children in Rome?
1) Paul cares about people (personally/individually)
Majority of chapter dedicated to greeting people he knew in Rome.
35 by name–refers to others personally, without giving names.
The Lonely Crowd
The Greening of America, Charles Reich: “America is one vast terrifying anti-community. The great organizations to which most people give their working day, and the apartments and suburbs to which they return at night, are places of loneliness and alienation.... Protocol, competition, hostility and fear have replaced the warmth of the circle of affection which might sustain us against a hostile universe.”
Unfortunately, church is often as cold, or colder than the world.
People are looking for someone who cares.
People choose a church for different reasons. Recent survey:
12% because of denominational affiliation 8% because of beauty of facilities
3% because of the preacher 18% because of location
21% because of respected people in the community who attend
37% because someone took an interest in them!
Wiersbe: While there may be a place for the secluded saint who lives alone with God, it is my conviction that most of us need each other. We are sheep, and sheep flock together”.
People are looking for someone who cares.
GOD is looking for people who care for His people. Do WE care?
2) Paul publicly expresses appreciation for faithful women.
He recognizes and affirms godly women who serve God faithfully.
(1) Phoebe 16:1-2
He commends Phoebe, woman from church in Cenchrea who faithfully serves the Lord.
He wants them to know about her ministry to leaders
He wants them to treat her as she treats others.
(2) Priscilla 16:3-4
Priscilla and Aquila risked their lives to support Paul.
All the churches recognized their collaboration in ministry.
Now they are in Rome and a church is meeting in their house
(3) Four other hard-working women
He recognizes effort of 4 people who “work hard”—all 4 are women
Mary “worked hard” to help 16:6
Tryphena and Tryphosa, “work hard” for the Lord; 16:12
Names mean “dainty” and “delicate”
May be “dainty” and “delicate,” but known for hard work—”dynamite comes in small packages”
Persis, a beloved sister “has worked very hard” for the Lord; 16:12
Other women are mentioned and considered valuable
In God's sight women are not inferior to men.
Their ministry is not minimized.
3)Paul publicly expresses gratitude NOW--in this life!
In 1984, Ernie Harwell, announcer for the Detroit Tigers, wrote, "When the Tigers got off to their roaring 35-5 start this season, experts began talking about the 1927 Yankees, a team rated by most as the outstanding team in the history of baseball. Those Yankees were graced with bigger-than-life heroes. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Earl Combs, Herb Pennock, and Waite Hoyt are in the Hall of Fame. But what about their teammates? What about Julie Weva, Joe Giard, Mike Gazella, Ray Morehart, John Grabowski, and Pat Collins? "We all remember the greats, but the little guys also have roles. It might be the utility man, a pinch hitter, or maybe even a substitute who is just a holler guy--the kind who keeps up spirits on a team . . . . It also takes little-known guys to win a pennant."
Paul introduces some “little-known people” in GOD’S “hall of fame.”
SAY IT NOW!
I would rather have one little rose From the garden of a friend,
Than to have the choicest flowers When my stay on earth must end.
I would rather have a pleasant word In kindness said to me,
Than flattery when my heart is still, And life has ceased to be.
I would rather have a loving smile From friends I know are true,
Than tears shed 'round my casket When this world I've bid adieu.
Bring me all your flowers today, Whether pink, or white, or red;
I'd rather have one blossom now, Than a truckload when I'm dead.
Do you owe someone a word of appreciation?
Don't wait until tomorrow! Say it now!
Greet one another with sincere expression of love 16
Holy kiss = fraternal greeting, similar to "abrazos" = “hugs”
(we have good “huggers;” also people who need hugs)
Show love with visible expressions of caring for one another—in holy way – whether by warm handshake in U.S.; rubbing noses among eskimos; elbows in jungle;
= warm, affectionate greetings are appropriate and encouraged!
What lessons should WE learn from these greetings?
God wants US to care about His children—to care for one another!
WHO CARES? DO WE CARE?
[2nd group of people God cares about: ]
WHO CARES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HURT GOD’S CHURCH? 16:17-20 16:17
Though Paul wants us to greet one another warmly, with holy kiss, there’s one group we shouldn’t greet warmly: people who hurt His church!
Warm greetings are for people who believe same doctrine, not for all who call themselves Christians. Some are "wolves dressed in sheep's clothing."
Normal pattern, cp. 2 John & 3 John:
—Accept and show love to people who stand for truth
—Stay away from people who teach other doctrines
[ Warning describes 2 kinds of tools Satan uses to derail God’s people: ]
2 kinds of people hurt God’s church:
1) People who cause dissension
Satan loves to cause divisions within the body of Christ.
Watch for this anytime God’s people get serious about serving Him!
If he can keep us fighting among ourselves, we won't have time to reach others, nor to dedicate ourselves to fruitbearing
2) People who deceive others with false teaching
Many call self “Christian;” teach opposing God’s Word
Many false teachers roaming around!
Gold Rush, many excited about finding “gold”—only to discover what they found was 'fools' gold' " Fooled many people–looks like gold, but it's entirely different. It isn't worth anything."
Learned the hard way “everything that glitters isn't gold.”
WHAT ARE WE TO DO ABOUT THESE PEOPLE? 17b:
“STAY AWAY FROM THEM!” Mark them! Avoid them! WHY?18
1) They serve themselves rather than Christ
In spite of what they say, they’re not serving our Lord Jesus.
They’re not HIS slaves; they’re slaves of their own appetites.
2) They deceive others–lead unsuspecting astray–convincing speakers!
Impressive presentations deceive people who don't have discernment to recognize deception (e.g., Herbert W. Armstrong)
–tell people what they want to hear—but NOT the truth!
–get fat at expense of people who want to obey God, but don't recognize lie.
Greater prestige comes to people who propose impressive new ideas--than to those who just preach the same old message! “We’ve heard this for 2000 years!”
Time magazine doesn’t run articles about traditional preachers telling the “old, old story!” They focus on what’s new and impressive; what’s “newsworthy.”
We’d better pay more attention to preacher’s message than to his style–his flare!
False teachers get our attention by clever presentation. They’re fun to listen to!
[3rd reason to stay away from such people: ]
3) God has a purpose for us!
a) He wants to make us a discerning people 19
Risk to people responding to God's Word
They want to DO whatever God says.
They want to please God
Their enthusiasm for God is good!
Everyone knows about that attitude but some take advantage to lead them astray.
False teachers come disguised; convince people God’s asking us to do what’s not in agreement with Gospel
Paul exhorts us to be wise.
We must learn to distinguish between good and bad.
Mark of godly, spiritual maturity: discernment.
Search for leaders, 1st quality I look for: ability to discern truth and relate it to life.
I cringe when people tell me they have “the gift of discernment.”
Scripture never calls discernment a gift; it’s a mark of maturity; characterizes godly people!
Eph. 4:12ff: God gave gifts to church so God’s people might be built up, until we ALL become mature, until we reach Christlikeness, => “Then we’ll no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking truth in love, we’ll grow up!”
Heb. 5:14: “solid food is for the mature, who by constant use [exercise] have trained themselves to discern good from evil!”
Mature people have learned to distinguish truth from error, good from evil.
Paul and John point to 2 evils: false teaching and divisive, arrogant pride (critical spirit).
Internet “discernment ministry.” Person attacks every Bible teacher you’ve ever heard of. He doesn’t teach Scripture himself; just tears down everybody who does. Anyone who states things differently than HIS way of saying things is a heretic. That’s not discernment—that’s arrogance; a divisive spirit!
It’s what Paul warns us about here and in 1 Cor.
We must learn to distinguish truth from error; take a stand for truth.
We must learn to distinguish righteousness from evil; live righteously–avoid evil!.
But we must also speak truth in love!
[God’s 2nd purpose in midst of people who hurt His church:]
b) He wants to use us to defeat (destroy) Satan 20a
Staying pure will provoke spiritual war for a while.
Satan won’t leave us in peace.
His messengers try to make us fall, using all their tricks
If we remain faithful, if we learn to discern good from evil, if we obey what God teaches, God, will ultimately give us victory.
Our faithfulness to God’s truth will ultimately result in Satan's fall
GOD CARES ABOUT PEOPLE WHO SNEAK IN AMONG HIS PEOPLE
AND LEAD OTHERS ASTRAY! DO WE CARE?
3rd thing God cares about: HIS OWN GLORY—Is. 48:11: “My glory I will not give to another.”
WHO CARES ABOUT GOD'S GLORY? 16:25-27
Who establishes us? Only GOD is able to establish us!
HOW? How does God establish us? How is God glorified?
1) By the Gospel
2) By preaching about Jesus --WHICH LEADS TO FAITH
What does this produce in us? OBEDIENCE (=the obedience of FAITH)
What does this ultimately produce? GOD'S GLORY
Concludes with praise—summarizes message: "Only God deserves the glory."
God has taken people who were once enslaved to sin
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us—that we might have life
He has transformed us into the image of His own Son
He is the only one who can confirm us forever.
He enables us to be sure of our position before Him.
Only God is capable of designing plan to save us, even while WE were still rebels at heart!
He alone is worthy of our praise.
“to the only wise God be glory forever, through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Therefore, ALL THE GLORY IS DUE HIM.
Charles Colson: Story of Fred–convicted thief/heroin addict. Led to Christ by family of robbery victim. Case retried due to legal technicality. Penalty due = 5 counts @ 10 yrs. ea. Confessed guilt– judge, observing changed life, suspended sentence. Friends sang doxology in court room: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” –sung by little old ladies; men in business suits; biker in motorcycle jacket; prison guards; all united in acknowledging what GOD had done in Fred’s life–giving HIM glory!
Truth communicated all through God’s Word
Now, by preaching Gospel, and Paul’s ministry, it’s been revealed to all nations, even pagans, that we may respond appropriately, obeying what God demands: that we trust His Son Jesus Christ.
ONLY GOD DESERVES GLORY
HE DESIGNED THE PLAN; HE ALONE IS ABLE TO CONFIRM US
What are the things God wants US to care about?
God cares about His children
God cares about His church (and those who would harm it!)
God cares about His glory
WHO CARES? GOD DOES!
What about us? DO WE CARE ABOUT WHAT GOD CARES ABOUT?