1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:02,800 Wow. That's that. 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,960 That's worship right there. That's praising God right there. 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:09,520 I don't know about all the rest of you campuses, but it was 4 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:12,400 getting it. Was getting good in here. 5 00:00:13,200 --> 00:00:15,600 Up in here. Yeah, well, I am. 6 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,080 How you doing? Crossing church. 7 00:00:17,080 --> 00:00:21,040 You doing OK? You sound like it. 8 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,040 You look like it. I'm thankful for each and 9 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:29,030 everyone of you. And God is good. 10 00:00:29,270 --> 00:00:31,110 God is good. How often is he good? 11 00:00:32,110 --> 00:00:34,910 That's right, he's good. All the time. 12 00:00:35,310 --> 00:00:37,390 Oh, welcome all of our campuses from all over. 13 00:00:37,390 --> 00:00:39,550 This region that are joining with us. 14 00:00:39,910 --> 00:00:44,630 Monmouth Shout out to Monmouth. Celebrating five years today. 15 00:00:46,150 --> 00:00:50,350 Praise God for. Them God do an incredible work. 16 00:00:50,350 --> 00:00:53,190 Up in Monmouth and they still have the stock. 17 00:00:53,190 --> 00:00:55,590 Tank, you know, and they're still dunking people in that. 18 00:00:55,590 --> 00:00:59,020 Stock tank and that's. That it's just awesome to watch 19 00:00:59,020 --> 00:01:01,700 that and to experience that with all of. 20 00:01:02,100 --> 00:01:06,220 You, everyone that's inside and online, we're thankful for you. 21 00:01:06,460 --> 00:01:11,020 Shout out to everyone at Western Illinois Correctional and the 22 00:01:11,100 --> 00:01:16,340 Vandalia Women's Prison. Shout out to you guys pretty. 23 00:01:16,340 --> 00:01:19,180 Awesome to see 15 baptisms last month. 24 00:01:19,180 --> 00:01:22,340 You know, coming out because you know even though. 25 00:01:22,730 --> 00:01:28,010 They're inside those bars and doors and fences. 26 00:01:28,010 --> 00:01:30,650 They don't keep the Holy Spirit out, He gets. 27 00:01:30,650 --> 00:01:32,450 Right in there. And he does the work, doesn't. 28 00:01:32,450 --> 00:01:35,850 He's pretty awesome. And here we are today and we're 29 00:01:35,850 --> 00:01:37,850 at the end of this series Romans. 30 00:01:37,850 --> 00:01:42,610 I have the privilege of preaching this last sermon in 31 00:01:42,610 --> 00:01:47,620 the series from Romans 16 and. Thursday, Thursday evening, I 32 00:01:47,620 --> 00:01:50,100 got done with the sermon bill twiddell or leads our. 33 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:53,620 Our prison ministry right over there and he comes up to me, 34 00:01:53,620 --> 00:01:55,940 he's got his hand out, shakes my hand, he goes. 35 00:01:55,940 --> 00:01:59,740 That is the best. Sermon on Roman 16 I have ever. 36 00:01:59,740 --> 00:02:03,700 Heard my head goes like that. He goes it's the only sermon 37 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:08,820 from Roman 16 I've ever heard. It goes right back down because 38 00:02:08,820 --> 00:02:12,020 it's not necessarily a a passage of Scripture. 39 00:02:12,020 --> 00:02:14,020 That might command your attention. 40 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:18,760 I mean, there's all of these. Really meaty, substantive things 41 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,840 that we're reading as we study through Romans. 42 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,600 And you get to Romans 16 and it's the apostle Paul. 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,360 Just. Greeting a bunch of people, 44 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,400 right? You know, just want you to greet 45 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,800 this person, thankful for this person, glad this person's part 46 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,640 of the team. He just kind of goes through all 47 00:02:35,640 --> 00:02:38,120 of these. Names and so it's really easy 48 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:39,520 for me. I don't know about you, but it's 49 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,480 it's. Easy for me to just kind of just 50 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,250 read over that. I mean, I don't like neglect it. 51 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:47,250 At least I don't think I do I. I just. 52 00:02:47,290 --> 00:02:49,330 I just kind of read over it like that's just. 53 00:02:49,330 --> 00:02:52,290 Kind of what you do at the end of a letter. 54 00:02:53,650 --> 00:02:56,050 But I was, I was preparing for this sermon. 55 00:02:56,290 --> 00:02:58,890 I I thought, you know. I want to go down a little. 56 00:02:58,890 --> 00:03:03,690 Bit deeper and you know God never disappoints and all he 57 00:03:03,690 --> 00:03:06,850 does is reminds you that there isn't anything in that book that 58 00:03:06,850 --> 00:03:10,650 he didn't really want to be in there, that there was something 59 00:03:10,650 --> 00:03:14,380 in there that he wanted us. To know and incorporate. 60 00:03:14,380 --> 00:03:16,140 Into our lives. That's going to make us better 61 00:03:16,140 --> 00:03:19,260 believers, better followers of Jesus. 62 00:03:19,260 --> 00:03:25,020 Christ and boy, if he didn't do it again, I am really excited to 63 00:03:25,020 --> 00:03:29,580 preach this sermon to you. But what I want to do is. 64 00:03:29,580 --> 00:03:36,100 Begin by review, because Romans is such an incredible letter, 65 00:03:36,100 --> 00:03:39,620 such an incredible book in the New Testament, and we learn 66 00:03:39,620 --> 00:03:42,160 such. Incredible things, and I just 67 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:43,680 want to just review those with you. 68 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,120 We've learned so much about the nature of this world around us, 69 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:51,720 particularly from God's point of view. 70 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:53,640 We've learned that we're all sinners. 71 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,760 In need of a Savior, and that Savior has been provided for us 72 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,480 in Jesus. We've learned that the grace 73 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,160 that Jesus provides. Cannot be earned, and it is the 74 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:06,400 only thing that has the power to reverse the curse. 75 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:09,240 That comes to us as a result of our. 76 00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:15,040 We've learned that we received that grace by faith in Jesus and 77 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:18,000 when we come into a relationship with. 78 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,360 Him That grace is revealed to us. 79 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:25,360 We've learned that in Jesus we are no longer condemned, that 80 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:27,840 we've been adopted into the family of. 81 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,400 God that we can actually call God ABBA father, which means 82 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:34,720 daddy. We know that he. 83 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:35,760 He. He. 84 00:04:35,800 --> 00:04:38,480 Knows about our hurts and he comforts us. 85 00:04:38,870 --> 00:04:40,870 And that everything's going to work out. 86 00:04:41,310 --> 00:04:43,590 Just trust him. Everything's going to work out. 87 00:04:44,910 --> 00:04:46,830 We know that we are more than conquerors through. 88 00:04:46,910 --> 00:04:50,270 Jesus, that nothing has the. Power to separate us from him. 89 00:04:50,270 --> 00:04:52,950 That we've been chosen. That we've been justified. 90 00:04:52,950 --> 00:04:57,710 And someday we'll be glorified. We've learned that this grace is 91 00:04:57,710 --> 00:05:01,350 there for everyone and we are called to share that. 92 00:05:01,350 --> 00:05:07,190 Good news with everybody. That God is transforming us. 93 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,520 As we submit to his will. And we live by his standards, 94 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:16,400 not the world's standards. And we learn that we need to see 95 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:19,480 ourselves as a family. We need to help. 96 00:05:19,480 --> 00:05:22,760 The weak instead of pushing. Them down because God loves. 97 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:27,640 Us all the same. So when we get to this last 98 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,830 chapter and the apostle Paul gets very. 99 00:05:31,830 --> 00:05:35,150 Personal and he gets personal with specific people who. 100 00:05:35,150 --> 00:05:38,630 Serve and who lead in the Roman church. 101 00:05:39,950 --> 00:05:42,030 And I know that at first this passage. 102 00:05:42,030 --> 00:05:45,670 Doesn't seem that interesting, but if you take a closer look 103 00:05:45,670 --> 00:05:51,710 you're going to find a lot more. There are 29 people mentioned in 104 00:05:51,710 --> 00:05:57,830 Roman 16 by name. 29 of them. What's really interesting is the 105 00:05:57,830 --> 00:06:01,390 Apostle Paul only personally knows or has met three. 106 00:06:04,310 --> 00:06:05,670 Now that was. The first thing that really 107 00:06:05,670 --> 00:06:08,710 occurred to me like, wow, that's interesting. 108 00:06:09,070 --> 00:06:11,550 Paul doesn't really even know. These people. 109 00:06:11,750 --> 00:06:15,110 And yet he's greeting them and he's and he's encouraging them 110 00:06:15,110 --> 00:06:18,750 and he's lifting them up and he only knows 3. 111 00:06:19,550 --> 00:06:23,030 We know that because of what it. Says in Romans 15 that Paul 112 00:06:23,030 --> 00:06:25,510 wanted to visit Rome, but he hadn't done it yet. 113 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:28,040 And so it's. Interesting to me. 114 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,240 How personal he is with specific people. 115 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:35,360 And I think it's also important to note that because individual 116 00:06:35,360 --> 00:06:37,800 people are very important to God. 117 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:44,040 You know, we're not just talking about the Roman Church when we 118 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,080 read. The Book of Romans we're. 119 00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,800 Talking about real people who are leading real. 120 00:06:47,800 --> 00:06:51,880 Lives and had real challenges and we're doing real work for 121 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:53,760 the Kingdom. And I think that's an 122 00:06:53,760 --> 00:06:57,360 encouragement because as we look at ourselves today, here we are 123 00:06:57,360 --> 00:06:59,560 at the. And God doesn't just see the 124 00:06:59,560 --> 00:07:03,080 crossing, He sees all these individual people who have. 125 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,680 All of these challenges, and they're overcoming those 126 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:08,600 challenges through the Holy Spirit and God is releasing. 127 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,000 Them into the world to use their. 128 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:13,520 Gifts and talents. To build the Kingdom, to bring 129 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:18,360 his lost children. That is a big encouragement to 130 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:22,870 me. The second thing that I that 131 00:07:22,870 --> 00:07:25,110 that. I kind of take in personally is 132 00:07:25,150 --> 00:07:27,750 that since there's only. Three that are personally known 133 00:07:28,030 --> 00:07:31,510 to Paul. In this group of 29, they didn't 134 00:07:31,510 --> 00:07:33,510 have to be a friend to Paul to be important. 135 00:07:34,110 --> 00:07:35,750 I think a lot of. Us might feel a little 136 00:07:35,750 --> 00:07:39,470 disconnected and we might like, you know, kind of fill in some 137 00:07:39,470 --> 00:07:43,390 of the blanks like maybe these people are doing this or that in 138 00:07:43,390 --> 00:07:46,270 Ministry because, you know, they're connected like they're 139 00:07:46,470 --> 00:07:49,890 they're. Well known by other people, and 140 00:07:49,890 --> 00:07:53,290 what this tells me is that. You can do incredible stuff in 141 00:07:53,290 --> 00:07:56,610 the Kingdom of God, and you don't have to be a friend of so 142 00:07:56,610 --> 00:07:58,010 and so. You don't have to be connected 143 00:07:58,010 --> 00:08:02,610 to so and so that God sees you. And he knows what your gifts and 144 00:08:02,610 --> 00:08:05,810 your talents are, and he wants to implement them into the 145 00:08:05,810 --> 00:08:08,650 Kingdom. And what you do for the Lord 146 00:08:08,730 --> 00:08:12,770 that's important teaches me that too. 147 00:08:13,170 --> 00:08:15,050 So here's what I want to do. I want to. 148 00:08:15,050 --> 00:08:18,240 Go through some of this list all right because. 149 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:20,800 These names are mentioned, but maybe we don't really know who 150 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:23,800 these people are. And let's spend some time 151 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:27,280 understanding who these people. Are that Paul mentions. 152 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:31,960 And then maybe place their example over our lives and let 153 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,960 it challenge us and how we might want to reach out. 154 00:08:34,960 --> 00:08:39,080 How we might want to incorporate ministry into our lives to 155 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,600 change the world on God's terms. And the first one that we're 156 00:08:42,600 --> 00:08:45,320 going to learn about is a girl. Named Phoebe. 157 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:48,760 A woman named Phoebe. Let's look at. 158 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:53,600 Verse one and two of chapter 16, it says I commend to you, our 159 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,720 sister. Phoebe A Deacon of. 160 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:01,680 The Church of Centuria, I ask you to receive her in the Lord 161 00:09:02,000 --> 00:09:06,760 in a way worthy of his. People, and to give her any help 162 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:10,880 she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many 163 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:15,160 people, including me. Now you learn some stuff right 164 00:09:15,160 --> 00:09:16,770 away. All right. 165 00:09:17,290 --> 00:09:21,610 About Phoebe. She's a woman of some means 166 00:09:22,170 --> 00:09:26,450 because she has been supporting the ministry where the Apostle 167 00:09:26,450 --> 00:09:27,210 Paul is. He's in. 168 00:09:27,210 --> 00:09:31,290 Corinth at the time, and Phoebe is in Centuria, which is the 169 00:09:31,290 --> 00:09:34,410 port. City of Corinth, and she's been 170 00:09:34,410 --> 00:09:38,570 supporting them financially. So she's a businesswoman, she's 171 00:09:38,730 --> 00:09:43,570 probably reasonably wealthy and she's been helping the ministry, 172 00:09:44,170 --> 00:09:48,880 but you learn more than that. You see, Paul is writing. 173 00:09:49,080 --> 00:09:54,600 This letter to the Romans from Corinth in Greece and the Roman, 174 00:09:54,600 --> 00:09:58,560 Roman churches in Rome in Italy, and if you can think a little 175 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:01,760 bit on your world map, kind of like your invisible world map up 176 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:04,920 here. If you if you look at Southern 177 00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:09,520 Europe and the Mediterranean Sea, below that you the, you 178 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:11,640 have the. Boot that comes down right, 179 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,520 which is Italy. And Rome is kind of South 180 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,130 Central Italy. But then you have to go over to 181 00:10:18,130 --> 00:10:21,690 the next peninsula, which is a long way away to the east, and 182 00:10:21,690 --> 00:10:26,610 that's Greece and and the the the Greek peninsula comes down 183 00:10:26,810 --> 00:10:29,170 and there's kind of a separation. 184 00:10:29,170 --> 00:10:31,690 You kind of see the main body of the of the. 185 00:10:32,810 --> 00:10:35,050 Going down into the Med. And then it kind of has a 186 00:10:35,050 --> 00:10:38,970 disconnected feel of this lower part. 187 00:10:38,970 --> 00:10:45,670 And Corinth is right there. So in order to get from corn to 188 00:10:45,670 --> 00:10:42,250 Greece, you had to board? That's the Isthmus of Corinth, 189 00:10:42,250 --> 00:10:48,630 and that's where Corinth. And you had to. 190 00:10:48,630 --> 00:10:52,750 Sail this long journey in the Aegean Sea and in the 191 00:10:52,750 --> 00:10:55,790 Mediterranean Sea, and it was actually a very dangerous 192 00:10:56,190 --> 00:11:00,830 journey. So that is what the Apostle 193 00:11:00,830 --> 00:11:02,670 Paul. Is having Phoebe do. 194 00:11:04,790 --> 00:11:08,390 He's having her take. The letter to the Romans and 195 00:11:08,390 --> 00:11:14,170 deliver it to Rome from Greece, which means she has to board 196 00:11:14,170 --> 00:11:19,090 ship. She has to make this not exactly 197 00:11:19,090 --> 00:11:22,570 safe journey and she has to deliver this letter. 198 00:11:25,010 --> 00:11:28,850 Wow, that that's. A pretty big responsibility, 199 00:11:28,850 --> 00:11:30,930 right? And if, if she makes it, 200 00:11:30,930 --> 00:11:33,250 hopefully she will make it to Rome. 201 00:11:33,250 --> 00:11:35,690 She's going to be a stranger there, right? 202 00:11:35,930 --> 00:11:39,530 And so the Apostle Paul as they read this letter. 203 00:11:39,690 --> 00:11:42,450 They want. He wants them to use it. 204 00:11:43,150 --> 00:11:45,550 And understand it that they would take care of Phoebe while 205 00:11:45,550 --> 00:11:47,670 that she was there. They they would house her. 206 00:11:47,790 --> 00:11:51,230 They would provide for whatever. Provisions that she needed help 207 00:11:51,230 --> 00:11:56,470 her to get back. To Greece when that letter is 208 00:11:56,550 --> 00:12:00,310 delivered, so he's. Looking to them to be hospitable 209 00:12:00,310 --> 00:12:02,870 to her. And commends them to her as A 210 00:12:02,950 --> 00:12:04,910 and. She's actually holds an office 211 00:12:04,910 --> 00:12:08,110 in the church. She's a Deacon in the church, a 212 00:12:08,110 --> 00:12:14,340 servant leader. So she has. 213 00:12:14,340 --> 00:12:15,980 To be a woman of some great commitment. 214 00:12:15,980 --> 00:12:18,540 Because it would. Take great commitment to do that 215 00:12:19,340 --> 00:12:23,420 and that's where she challenges. Me, I can tell already that. 216 00:12:23,420 --> 00:12:26,580 Phoebe is an influential person and probably runs a business. 217 00:12:27,220 --> 00:12:33,260 So would I. Listen to somebody tell me to do 218 00:12:33,260 --> 00:12:34,980 something. Say I need for you to do this 219 00:12:34,980 --> 00:12:36,500 for the Lord. Would you do this? 220 00:12:36,750 --> 00:12:39,390 Would I drop it all I mean? Think about how long she's going 221 00:12:39,390 --> 00:12:41,310 to be gone. She's going to have to get on 222 00:12:41,310 --> 00:12:42,550 the ship. She's going to have to go all 223 00:12:42,550 --> 00:12:43,350 this way. She's going. 224 00:12:43,350 --> 00:12:45,590 To deliver this letter, she's going to have to kind of 225 00:12:45,590 --> 00:12:47,190 reprovide. And she's going to have to come 226 00:12:47,190 --> 00:12:48,990 back. That's going to take a long 227 00:12:48,990 --> 00:12:50,830 time, which means she's going to be leaving her. 228 00:12:50,830 --> 00:12:53,110 Business, right? And all the other things. 229 00:12:53,110 --> 00:12:57,470 Maybe she's got a family and she's got a deal do this other 230 00:12:57,470 --> 00:12:59,030 thing. Is that going? 231 00:12:59,030 --> 00:13:04,890 To be, you know, uncomfortable for her, Wouldn't it be just 232 00:13:04,890 --> 00:13:06,890 easier? For her to stay in Corinth. 233 00:13:07,370 --> 00:13:10,130 Couldn't somebody else deliver this letter? 234 00:13:12,250 --> 00:13:15,610 But she doesn't do that. She takes this letter. 235 00:13:17,650 --> 00:13:20,290 She does this challenging. Thing for the Lord and. 236 00:13:20,290 --> 00:13:22,250 Some of us may not. Think that delivering a letter 237 00:13:22,250 --> 00:13:27,090 is such a great thing. You know, the Book of Romans as 238 00:13:27,090 --> 00:13:32,210 a letter might be the greatest letter ever written by human 239 00:13:32,210 --> 00:13:36,050 hands. Like the most important letter 240 00:13:37,690 --> 00:13:39,850 ever. And she didn't go to. 241 00:13:39,850 --> 00:13:46,930 Kinko's and make copies. There's one letter that letter's 242 00:13:46,930 --> 00:13:50,290 written on a scroll by. Hand, right? 243 00:13:51,610 --> 00:13:54,450 And she's. Delivering this one, what would? 244 00:13:54,450 --> 00:13:58,530 Happen if the ship that she was. Sailing on with shipwreck like 245 00:13:58,530 --> 00:14:00,650 the one that happened with Paul that we read about in the book 246 00:14:00,650 --> 00:14:02,690 of Acts. When he was shipwrecked, what 247 00:14:02,690 --> 00:14:03,770 if? What would have happened? 248 00:14:03,770 --> 00:14:05,890 What would have happened to the? Letter would have been gone. 249 00:14:05,890 --> 00:14:08,890 There was only one. Right. 250 00:14:10,890 --> 00:14:15,370 Think about what we would. Have all missed out on you. 251 00:14:15,370 --> 00:14:17,650 See, I owe her. I owe Phoebe. 252 00:14:18,090 --> 00:14:21,130 The Roman Church owed her because the Roman Church needed 253 00:14:21,130 --> 00:14:25,530 to read what the apostle. Paul had delivered to them, but 254 00:14:26,010 --> 00:14:28,130 so do I. I mean, I'm a recipient. 255 00:14:28,210 --> 00:14:29,530 That letter. And if it hadn't been for 256 00:14:29,530 --> 00:14:33,170 Phoebe, would I have ever received that letter? 257 00:14:33,170 --> 00:14:36,290 Would I have ever? Been able to to read that? 258 00:14:36,290 --> 00:14:38,730 Letter for myself and incorporate its teachings into 259 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:45,610 my spiritual life. I want you to think about this 260 00:14:45,610 --> 00:14:47,090 just because some of us struggle with. 261 00:14:48,130 --> 00:14:50,490 Some of us. Struggle with responsibility. 262 00:14:51,530 --> 00:14:53,490 Some of us struggle. With anything that might make us 263 00:14:53,490 --> 00:14:56,170 a little less comfortable, some of us might go to church. 264 00:14:56,170 --> 00:14:57,770 And go, you know, I really didn't like that song, that. 265 00:14:57,770 --> 00:14:58,730 Got that? Got a little too. 266 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:02,010 Lively for me, that last. One I don't. 267 00:15:02,010 --> 00:15:03,370 Know if I'm going to go for a few weeks. 268 00:15:03,370 --> 00:15:05,650 I mean, just a tiny little bit of uncomfortability. 269 00:15:06,930 --> 00:15:08,410 And we were we're like piercing out. 270 00:15:09,930 --> 00:15:14,490 Look at her. You see, That's her story. 271 00:15:15,290 --> 00:15:16,770 My question is, what's your story? 272 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,800 Next people we meet is Priscilla and Aquila, married couple. 273 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:27,840 We read about them in verses 3 to the five, A says. 274 00:15:27,840 --> 00:15:31,400 Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my coworkers in Christ Jesus. 275 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:36,240 They risk their lives for me. Not only I, but all the churches 276 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,200 of the. Gentiles are grateful to them. 277 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:43,840 Greet also the church that. Meets in their house, Priscilla 278 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,560 and Aquila. Now this is who they were. 279 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:48,680 Because they're. Written about more than once in 280 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:53,000 the New Testament, they were Jews who originally lived in 281 00:15:53,000 --> 00:15:59,000 Rome until the Roman Emperor Claudius passed a decree that 282 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:01,400 expelled all the Jews. From Rome. 283 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,560 So imagine having to deal with that. 284 00:16:07,160 --> 00:16:05,240 They had a business. Like you have your whole 285 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,960 livelihood. There you have. 286 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,280 You had their. Their business there they had. 287 00:16:10,280 --> 00:16:13,630 Belongings, maybe a home, and then all of a sudden you have to 288 00:16:13,630 --> 00:16:15,510 uproot yourself. And leave because of an 289 00:16:15,510 --> 00:16:20,390 emperor's edict. For some people that would make 290 00:16:20,390 --> 00:16:24,270 them pretty bitter, but you really don't see that in 291 00:16:24,270 --> 00:16:28,310 Priscilla and Aquila because because the the. 292 00:16:28,310 --> 00:16:32,710 Situation that happened in Rome. They immigrate to Greece, 293 00:16:32,710 --> 00:16:35,990 particularly Corinth. And they're tent makers by 294 00:16:35,990 --> 00:16:37,870 trade. And that's interesting because 295 00:16:37,870 --> 00:16:40,150 the Apostle Paul is also. A tent maker. 296 00:16:40,510 --> 00:16:43,200 And he's in Corinth. And so they have this. 297 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:46,640 Commonality and they begin to talk together and they form a 298 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,720 relationship. And very probably the Apostle 299 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,360 Paul lived in the. Home of Priscilla and Aquila in 300 00:16:54,400 --> 00:16:59,520 Greece and so as Paul. Was planting that church and 301 00:16:59,520 --> 00:17:02,280 developing that church. Priscilla and Aquila were also 302 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:05,119 doing that with him. So they were church planters 303 00:17:05,280 --> 00:17:09,000 along with the Apostle Paul also says that they risked their 304 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:16,430 lives for Paul. So it wasn't long before they 305 00:17:16,430 --> 00:17:18,230 were, only. Doing the missionary work in 306 00:17:18,230 --> 00:17:22,750 Corinth, but as Paul decided to sail to go to Syria, they said 307 00:17:22,750 --> 00:17:25,030 they would go with. And so they became missionary 308 00:17:25,030 --> 00:17:29,270 leaders with Paul to go to. And on the way they stopped in a 309 00:17:29,270 --> 00:17:33,910 mega city of the ancient world. Ephesus And there was a church 310 00:17:33,910 --> 00:17:38,320 that got established an Ephesus. The Apostle Paul moved on, but 311 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:42,080 Priscilla and Aquila stayed in Ephesus and helped plant that 312 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,480 church and develop that church, probably the greatest church. 313 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,440 Of the New Testament, when we read the book of Ephesians, they 314 00:17:48,440 --> 00:17:51,800 were probably the the the most spiritual best. 315 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:56,840 Church in the ancient world, and I think a lot of that is due to 316 00:17:56,840 --> 00:18:00,080 the leadership of these two people, Priscilla. 317 00:18:00,080 --> 00:18:03,120 And Aquila, there was a person in Ephesus. 318 00:18:03,390 --> 00:18:06,470 That became an evangelist. But only he only knew the 319 00:18:06,470 --> 00:18:09,750 baptism of John, a baptism of repentance. 320 00:18:10,030 --> 00:18:12,550 He didn't know. About being baptized into 321 00:18:12,550 --> 00:18:15,750 Christ. And it says in the book of Acts 322 00:18:15,750 --> 00:18:17,830 that Priscilla. And Aquila took him into their 323 00:18:17,830 --> 00:18:20,470 home. And explained to him more 324 00:18:20,470 --> 00:18:24,710 perfectly the way of. So they were doing all sorts of 325 00:18:24,710 --> 00:18:27,470 really important work. Apollis ended up. 326 00:18:27,470 --> 00:18:29,830 Being one of the greatest leaders of the 1st century. 327 00:18:29,830 --> 00:18:34,550 Church and he was taught. By Priscilla and Aquila. 328 00:18:35,670 --> 00:18:38,110 When we catch up with them again, they're back in Rome 329 00:18:38,190 --> 00:18:41,870 because Claudius, the emperor, died, and then the Jews were let 330 00:18:41,870 --> 00:18:43,910 back in. So they went back to where they 331 00:18:43,910 --> 00:18:47,390 were before and they were continuing to build the church 332 00:18:49,310 --> 00:18:52,670 again that they helped established in the 1st place, 333 00:18:55,110 --> 00:18:57,270 Priscilla. And Aquila are the ultimate 334 00:18:57,270 --> 00:18:59,150 power couple of the New Testament. 335 00:19:00,550 --> 00:19:04,970 They are truly a power couple. And I love that about them. 336 00:19:04,970 --> 00:19:09,010 And I think that's how they apply to us is that a lot of us 337 00:19:09,010 --> 00:19:10,450 have. Our ministries. 338 00:19:10,450 --> 00:19:13,210 We have our gifts and talents that we want to use for the 339 00:19:13,210 --> 00:19:15,610 Lord. But you know that God can use us 340 00:19:15,610 --> 00:19:18,050 as couples. It's one thing I love about my 341 00:19:18,050 --> 00:19:21,770 relationship to Allison is that. Yeah, we're a married couple, 342 00:19:21,770 --> 00:19:23,210 but we're also a ministry couple. 343 00:19:23,210 --> 00:19:27,530 We've always been a ministry couple when I falter a little 344 00:19:27,530 --> 00:19:29,370 bit and. Kind of lose some of my zeal for 345 00:19:29,370 --> 00:19:31,450 Ministry. She's the one pushing me on. 346 00:19:31,770 --> 00:19:33,490 She's always been doing ministry. 347 00:19:33,610 --> 00:19:36,090 She was doing ministry before I was doing ministry. 348 00:19:36,250 --> 00:19:38,850 She decided to go to Bible college before I decided to go 349 00:19:38,850 --> 00:19:42,690 to Bible college. I'd like to. 350 00:19:42,730 --> 00:19:44,010 I'd like. To think we're kind of a 351 00:19:44,010 --> 00:19:45,970 ministry power couple. Not on the. 352 00:19:45,970 --> 00:19:50,050 Not in the league of Priscilla and Aquila, but it's really cool 353 00:19:50,050 --> 00:19:52,130 to. Think that you can do ministry. 354 00:19:52,130 --> 00:19:56,890 Together, not just apart. And I don't know how many of you 355 00:19:57,410 --> 00:20:01,210 might be considering that you see. 356 00:20:02,320 --> 00:20:04,440 Married couples can be ministry partners. 357 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:09,480 That's Priscilla. Annaquila's story What's your 358 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:14,480 story? Then we meet this man named. 359 00:20:14,960 --> 00:20:19,080 Epinitas the Apostle Paul introduces us to him in the 360 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:21,160 second-half of the 5th. Verse, he says. 361 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:25,040 Greet my dear friend. Epinitas who was the first 362 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:27,760 convert? To Christ in the province of. 363 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:31,870 That's really all it says. About him, But it's enough. 364 00:20:32,470 --> 00:20:36,030 Because what he says is he's the first comfort in some 365 00:20:36,030 --> 00:20:38,350 translations of the New Testament, he said he was the. 366 00:20:38,350 --> 00:20:46,190 First fruits of a in, in. Well, Akeya or the Asia that 367 00:20:46,470 --> 00:20:48,950 Paul's talking about. Is the lower part of Greece when 368 00:20:48,950 --> 00:20:51,270 you get below the Isthmus of Corns. 369 00:20:51,270 --> 00:20:53,670 He was the first Christian down there. 370 00:20:54,910 --> 00:20:57,190 Now you may have heard the statement before the first one 371 00:20:57,190 --> 00:20:58,830 through the. Wall always gets bloody. 372 00:21:00,590 --> 00:21:03,910 It's not always. Easy to be first right? 373 00:21:05,150 --> 00:21:07,990 Cuz other people kinda look at you and you go like what is what 374 00:21:07,990 --> 00:21:13,110 are you doing? Especially in a culture like the 375 00:21:13,110 --> 00:21:15,830 Corinthian culture, which is such an idolatris. 376 00:21:16,030 --> 00:21:19,390 Such a godless culture. Here comes this guy and he's 377 00:21:19,390 --> 00:21:20,710 heard about. Jesus. 378 00:21:21,010 --> 00:21:24,050 And he's accepted Jesus, and he starts telling people about this 379 00:21:24,050 --> 00:21:26,770 man named. Jesus, who happens to also be 380 00:21:26,770 --> 00:21:30,410 the Son of God and who died and rose from the dead. 381 00:21:30,410 --> 00:21:33,250 And some of that's pretty, you know, unbelievable to people. 382 00:21:33,410 --> 00:21:34,930 And yet, that's what he's saying. 383 00:21:35,570 --> 00:21:37,570 And I'm sure that he endured a lot. 384 00:21:37,810 --> 00:21:41,050 Because he was the first one telling the story, but we find 385 00:21:41,050 --> 00:21:44,330 out later. That that that region of 386 00:21:44,330 --> 00:21:47,930 southern Greece became a powerhouse of believers and it 387 00:21:47,930 --> 00:21:49,370 all. Started with this guy. 388 00:21:50,990 --> 00:21:52,190 Now, how does that relate to you? 389 00:21:52,350 --> 00:21:54,150 How does that relate to me? I'll tell you how it. 390 00:21:54,150 --> 00:21:57,030 Does a lot of you in this room and at? 391 00:21:57,030 --> 00:21:59,630 All of our locations, You were first. 392 00:22:00,710 --> 00:22:04,070 You were first. You know what I mean by that? 393 00:22:04,310 --> 00:22:07,390 You were the first person in your family to say I want Jesus 394 00:22:07,390 --> 00:22:10,750 Christ to be my Lord and Savior. You are the first person who 395 00:22:10,750 --> 00:22:14,870 took it seriously enough to step out on faith and some of your 396 00:22:15,030 --> 00:22:17,750 family were like, going, what are you doing? 397 00:22:18,970 --> 00:22:21,370 Some of your family thought, I mean it's is he in a? 398 00:22:21,410 --> 00:22:23,530 Cult. Is this psycho? 399 00:22:23,530 --> 00:22:25,130 You know, like, what's going on here? 400 00:22:25,410 --> 00:22:27,010 Some of your friends were saying. 401 00:22:27,170 --> 00:22:28,810 Hey. Dude, come out, Let's go out. 402 00:22:28,810 --> 00:22:30,810 Let's do something tonight. And it's like, you know, I 403 00:22:30,810 --> 00:22:37,370 really don't do that anymore. And then your friends are trying 404 00:22:37,370 --> 00:22:33,890 to look. And they're like, what you think 405 00:22:33,890 --> 00:22:40,090 you're better than? For some place, some some 406 00:22:40,130 --> 00:22:42,890 crevice, some crack in your faith that they can point out 407 00:22:43,090 --> 00:22:48,360 your. It's hard to be first when 408 00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:53,040 you're first. You're a pioneer and a lot of. 409 00:22:53,040 --> 00:22:55,360 You at the crossing, your pioneers. 410 00:22:56,080 --> 00:23:01,200 You were the first not easy to be. 1st But God recognizes it 411 00:23:01,200 --> 00:23:04,160 when you're first. God recognize it when you're the 412 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,520 first one to influence your family, because God sees what 413 00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:09,680 you don't. See, he sees not only how you 414 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:13,640 influence your family, your friends, your community, but how 415 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,960 you influence people from generation to generation. 416 00:23:18,740 --> 00:23:23,540 Because you were willing to be. 1st That's Epinitus's story. 417 00:23:25,060 --> 00:23:29,860 What's yours? Maybe you're like Mary of Rome. 418 00:23:31,140 --> 00:23:34,580 In the sixth verse it says Greek Mary who worked very hard for 419 00:23:34,580 --> 00:23:37,860 you. That's all it, says Greek Mary, 420 00:23:38,020 --> 00:23:40,460 who worked very hard for you. Maybe you read that script. 421 00:23:40,460 --> 00:23:41,740 Sure. And they say, let's just go over 422 00:23:41,740 --> 00:23:42,820 the. OK, great, good. 423 00:23:43,460 --> 00:23:47,090 No, that speaks to me. Because I've talked to a lot of 424 00:23:47,090 --> 00:23:49,170 people that go to church and they see. 425 00:23:49,290 --> 00:23:52,850 Some people that they consider very talented, maybe on stage or 426 00:23:52,850 --> 00:23:56,810 preaching or in the, you know, doing ministries, all these 427 00:23:56,810 --> 00:24:00,010 various ministries and they're. They do it so well and then 428 00:24:00,370 --> 00:24:02,530 other people, you know that. This that might make a person 429 00:24:02,530 --> 00:24:05,290 feel a little selfconscious. Like, I don't know that I really 430 00:24:05,290 --> 00:24:08,210 have any really profound gift. I don't know that I have 431 00:24:08,410 --> 00:24:10,730 anything that really makes me stand out. 432 00:24:11,890 --> 00:24:13,610 I remember. The guy that I that. 433 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:18,240 That he was the senior minister. Of the church I grew up in. 434 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:21,680 And I remember talking to him about Ministry and he goes, you 435 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:23,840 know, I'm not really that good at anything. 436 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:26,760 I just work harder than everybody else. 437 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,040 Because he had grown a great church, God used him in a 438 00:24:33,040 --> 00:24:36,200 profound way, but he. Recognized his limitations. 439 00:24:36,960 --> 00:24:40,120 Even though he had those limitations, he could work hard. 440 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,600 And I'm telling you, you're standing. 441 00:24:44,170 --> 00:24:47,690 In a space that didn't come from a whole lot of talent. 442 00:24:47,690 --> 00:24:50,610 But a lot of people who really put in the hard work. 443 00:24:52,610 --> 00:24:55,490 And maybe that's what God's called you do to be like a Mary 444 00:24:55,490 --> 00:24:56,730 of. Who? 445 00:24:56,730 --> 00:24:57,730 Just who? Just. 446 00:24:57,730 --> 00:25:00,650 Really works hard. Who works passionately? 447 00:25:00,930 --> 00:25:02,930 Who shows? Up I'm at a I was talking to a 448 00:25:02,930 --> 00:25:05,530 guy that's been a friend of mine a long time that it was in the. 449 00:25:05,530 --> 00:25:07,890 Lobby here at 48th St. And it was. 450 00:25:07,890 --> 00:25:10,210 Before first service and he's getting ready to. 451 00:25:10,210 --> 00:25:12,930 Do ministry and. And he asked me questions. 452 00:25:12,930 --> 00:25:14,170 He goes, How long have you been here now? 453 00:25:14,170 --> 00:25:15,930 I said 20. Five years, he goes. 454 00:25:15,930 --> 00:25:21,250 We've been doing this ministry for 1818 years, been showing up 455 00:25:21,410 --> 00:25:24,890 every week to do ministry in a kids area. 456 00:25:26,290 --> 00:25:31,250 He and his wife, you know, people aren't. 457 00:25:31,250 --> 00:25:32,770 Going to probably write articles. 458 00:25:32,770 --> 00:25:37,320 About that. But that's exactly what the 459 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,200 crossing is about. That's exactly what the Kingdom 460 00:25:40,200 --> 00:25:41,880 of. God needs. 461 00:25:44,280 --> 00:25:46,520 That's it. That's Mary's story. 462 00:25:47,520 --> 00:25:51,320 What's yours? Then there's this other power 463 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:54,760 couple he mentions, Andronicus and Junia. 464 00:25:54,760 --> 00:25:57,600 It's in verse seven. It says Greek, Andronicus and 465 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:00,120 junia my. Fellow Jews who have been in 466 00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:02,840 prison with me, they are outstanding. 467 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:05,560 Among the apostles, and they were in Christ. 468 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,440 Before I was. I mean, it's that last. 469 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:11,400 It's that last phrase that catches me. 470 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:14,680 They were in Christ before I was. 471 00:26:15,240 --> 00:26:20,080 Wow means that they were older in their faith than the Apostle 472 00:26:20,080 --> 00:26:28,680 Paul. But to understand a little bit 473 00:26:28,680 --> 00:26:32,300 deeper and to kind of connect it to other scripture, they had 474 00:26:32,300 --> 00:26:21,120 been in Rome for a. They were obviously 475 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:24,320 missionaries. Paul mentions that they had been 476 00:26:24,320 --> 00:26:34,780 imprisoned for their. Long time they've been done 477 00:26:34,780 --> 00:26:38,980 ministry there for a long time and it helps us to understand A. 478 00:26:38,980 --> 00:26:41,580 Little bit about how the Church in Rome was established. 479 00:26:41,580 --> 00:26:45,820 Because Paul didn't do it. He never even been there, right? 480 00:26:47,460 --> 00:26:52,780 Well, a clue comes from Acts chapter 2, because when Peter 481 00:26:52,780 --> 00:26:56,340 preached this first sermon on the day of Pentecost and the 482 00:26:56,340 --> 00:26:57,900 church was. Established that day. 483 00:26:58,140 --> 00:27:02,630 It tells you where the people were from that were there, and 484 00:27:02,630 --> 00:27:06,590 one of the places they were from on the day of Pentecost was 485 00:27:06,590 --> 00:27:08,550 Rome. So it was. 486 00:27:08,550 --> 00:27:13,990 Very, very possible that these two people that these two 487 00:27:13,990 --> 00:27:19,990 people, Andronicus and Junia. Were there at the day of 488 00:27:19,990 --> 00:27:24,470 Pentecost. It is very possible that they 489 00:27:24,470 --> 00:27:27,310 heard Peter Sermon and responded to it. 490 00:27:27,630 --> 00:27:31,510 It's also possible, since it was 50 days after the death, burial 491 00:27:31,510 --> 00:27:33,950 and resurrection of Jesus, that they may have known. 492 00:27:34,070 --> 00:27:35,990 Jesus personally they may have been. 493 00:27:35,990 --> 00:27:40,390 One of the followers of. Jesus himself, and then heard 494 00:27:40,390 --> 00:27:42,790 that sermon. They may have been two of the 495 00:27:42,790 --> 00:27:44,630 3000. People that were baptized. 496 00:27:44,630 --> 00:27:48,230 That day and then took the message of Jesus. 497 00:27:48,230 --> 00:27:52,350 Christ back to. Rome and established a church in 498 00:27:52,350 --> 00:27:54,390 Rome. That the Apostle Paul now is 499 00:27:54,390 --> 00:27:59,810 writing to. The thing that hits me about 500 00:27:59,810 --> 00:28:04,330 them is that they were seasoned. Believers, so we know that the 501 00:28:04,330 --> 00:28:08,530 book of the the letter of Romans was written about. 60AD So that 502 00:28:08,530 --> 00:28:11,330 means these people have probably been believers for like 27 503 00:28:11,330 --> 00:28:13,370 years. They've been there a long time, 504 00:28:13,370 --> 00:28:18,490 so they had longevity and there may be people. 505 00:28:18,490 --> 00:28:21,450 Here at this location, other locations, you've been believers 506 00:28:21,690 --> 00:28:24,050 a lot longer than the people that are sitting around you. 507 00:28:25,910 --> 00:28:28,670 And you're still here. You know, I know people that 508 00:28:28,790 --> 00:28:32,070 have come to the Crossing, maybe they kind of have some pedigree 509 00:28:32,070 --> 00:28:34,150 and they come to the crossing and they're here for a while and 510 00:28:34,150 --> 00:28:36,190 then they. But there are people that have 511 00:28:36,190 --> 00:28:37,750 been at the crossing since the very first. 512 00:28:37,750 --> 00:28:40,190 Day of This, established in 1974. 513 00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:44,030 And they're still here today. Do you know how many changes 514 00:28:44,030 --> 00:28:45,990 this church has gone through in all those years? 515 00:28:47,350 --> 00:28:50,390 And they hung with all. Those changes, they stuck 516 00:28:50,390 --> 00:28:54,030 around. I mean, there's been a lot. 517 00:28:55,460 --> 00:29:03,260 And they didn't give up. And they could. 518 00:28:57,620 --> 00:29:00,180 They didn't. Peace out they had. 519 00:29:03,260 --> 00:29:07,580 Probably tell you war stories and sacrifices from the past. 520 00:29:07,780 --> 00:29:09,980 That got us here today, and here's what I want. 521 00:29:09,980 --> 00:29:12,580 To say to those of you. I can see two right back there, 522 00:29:12,580 --> 00:29:14,660 the Flinches right back there. They were. 523 00:29:14,660 --> 00:29:19,180 Two of the people do this. Those two people right there. 524 00:29:19,340 --> 00:29:23,060 They were two of them that started this church in 1974. 525 00:29:25,850 --> 00:29:29,570 They're still here today. That's what I'm talking about. 526 00:29:31,690 --> 00:29:33,370 And here's the deal. We owe you. 527 00:29:33,370 --> 00:29:38,130 We owe them for their vision, for their willingness to embrace 528 00:29:38,130 --> 00:29:41,250 new things, to sacrifice substantially. 529 00:29:41,450 --> 00:29:46,170 For the cause of the Kingdom of God, That's their story. 530 00:29:48,050 --> 00:29:52,910 What's yours? It continues. 531 00:29:53,150 --> 00:29:56,590 This list continues. More names mentions groups that 532 00:29:56,590 --> 00:29:59,150 are meeting in. Households like Aristobulus and 533 00:29:59,350 --> 00:30:01,510 Narcissus along with Priscilla and. 534 00:30:02,190 --> 00:30:04,190 That they had church. That churches that met. 535 00:30:04,190 --> 00:30:09,670 In their homes, Roman, 16. Identifies at least five house 536 00:30:09,670 --> 00:30:13,310 churches, because what that's how churches met in the 1st 537 00:30:13,310 --> 00:30:15,790 century, They met in people's. Homes. 538 00:30:15,790 --> 00:30:17,590 But there were a lot more than five. 539 00:30:19,570 --> 00:30:22,130 Tacitus was a Roman historian, and he wrote. 540 00:30:22,370 --> 00:30:26,050 In 60 AD, about the number of Christians in Rome, and this is 541 00:30:26,090 --> 00:30:29,530 how he described them, he said it was an immense multitude. 542 00:30:31,010 --> 00:30:36,050 Wasn't a Christian, so God's done an incredible work. 543 00:30:36,210 --> 00:30:37,810 There are more people that are mentioned. 544 00:30:37,970 --> 00:30:40,370 There are married couples. There are sisters. 545 00:30:40,490 --> 00:30:43,330 There's a mother and a son. There's a mother and a son, and 546 00:30:43,330 --> 00:30:46,090 the mother and the son that's mentioned in this list is really 547 00:30:46,090 --> 00:30:49,490 interesting because they're very probably the widow and the son 548 00:30:49,650 --> 00:30:52,490 of Simon of Sirene. And you can look. 549 00:30:52,490 --> 00:30:56,890 At that because it's recorded mark 1521 Remember who Simon of 550 00:30:56,890 --> 00:30:59,690 Sirene. Was he was a guy that was there 551 00:30:59,770 --> 00:31:03,050 when Jesus was being crucified and when he was carrying his? 552 00:31:03,050 --> 00:31:08,290 Cross to his execution. He was no longer able to carry 553 00:31:08,290 --> 00:31:09,250 it. He was too exhausted. 554 00:31:09,250 --> 00:31:10,570 To carry it, and they pulled a man. 555 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:13,840 Out of the crowd. A man named Simon of Sirene, 556 00:31:13,840 --> 00:31:16,840 from North Africa. And he picked up that cross, and 557 00:31:16,840 --> 00:31:18,720 he carried it the rest of. The way to Calvary. 558 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:22,800 If in. Fact this is the widow and the 559 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:26,360 son of Simon and Sirene. Not only did Simon and Sirene 560 00:31:26,360 --> 00:31:30,600 become a believer, he became a church planner in Rome. 561 00:31:30,720 --> 00:31:34,560 Took his wife and son. And here, after he dies, they're 562 00:31:34,560 --> 00:31:37,920 still working in that church, making a difference for Jesus 563 00:31:37,920 --> 00:31:39,600 Christ. What an awesome story. 564 00:31:41,590 --> 00:31:46,150 Craig Keener says that Roman, 16, greets twice as many men as 565 00:31:46,150 --> 00:31:49,830 women but commends. Twice as many women as men. 566 00:31:50,150 --> 00:31:52,190 Why do I say that? Because women do. 567 00:31:52,190 --> 00:31:59,110 Incredible ministry. And Paul knew it and appreciated 568 00:31:59,110 --> 00:32:02,230 it. And that's why you read it. 569 00:32:02,230 --> 00:32:03,950 You read about so many women in this. 570 00:32:03,950 --> 00:32:08,770 List and the and Romans also. Teaches us that Paul wasn't the 571 00:32:08,810 --> 00:32:12,690 only missionary out there. The church at Rome was. 572 00:32:12,690 --> 00:32:15,570 Established by regular Jewish people like I said, who were 573 00:32:15,570 --> 00:32:17,370 there at Pentecost and came back. 574 00:32:17,610 --> 00:32:20,810 And then it was reinforced by new arrivals from various 575 00:32:20,810 --> 00:32:23,890 persecutions. Of Jews and Christians who left 576 00:32:23,890 --> 00:32:28,890 Israel or that region. For safer places to live. 577 00:32:29,770 --> 00:32:33,610 Some incredible stories. The point is the Roman. 578 00:32:33,610 --> 00:32:37,530 Church was thriving. But it still had plenty of. 579 00:32:37,530 --> 00:32:41,330 Challenges and I can tell. You that the crossing church is 580 00:32:41,330 --> 00:32:43,130 thriving. But guess what? 581 00:32:44,170 --> 00:32:47,810 We still have plenty of challenges and one of the main. 582 00:32:47,810 --> 00:32:52,130 Reasons he wrote the letter is because people in Rome we're 583 00:32:52,130 --> 00:32:54,290 having trouble getting along, and sometimes so do. 584 00:32:54,290 --> 00:32:58,490 We but he says. Something at the end in Romans 585 00:32:58,490 --> 00:33:02,130 1619 and I remember when I was in. 586 00:33:02,130 --> 00:33:06,140 We had high school group. While back we used to sing a 587 00:33:06,140 --> 00:33:10,580 song called Roman, 1619 says. And we would just. 588 00:33:10,580 --> 00:33:15,260 It was basically a song that that these the scripture was put 589 00:33:15,260 --> 00:33:17,780 into song and what the scripture says. 590 00:33:17,780 --> 00:33:21,660 Is be excellent in what is good. Be innocent of all evil. 591 00:33:21,660 --> 00:33:25,180 That's how it begins. So that's the advice Paul's 592 00:33:25,180 --> 00:33:27,900 giving us. Be excellent in what is good be 593 00:33:27,900 --> 00:33:29,460 innocent of. All evil. 594 00:33:29,580 --> 00:33:32,020 How are you doing at being excellent at what is good? 595 00:33:32,100 --> 00:33:38,700 What are you excellent at? Could Could some people say 596 00:33:38,700 --> 00:33:42,740 you're excellent at things that aren't really that? 597 00:33:42,740 --> 00:33:50,460 Good Like criticism. Like pointing out things that 598 00:33:50,460 --> 00:33:52,420 you don't. Like about this or that? 599 00:33:54,860 --> 00:33:58,100 What are you excellent at? Are you excellent at good 600 00:33:58,100 --> 00:33:58,900 things? Things that. 601 00:33:58,900 --> 00:34:01,500 Produce peace. Things that produce 602 00:34:01,500 --> 00:34:04,700 encouragement. Things that pull people together 603 00:34:04,700 --> 00:34:08,580 rather than tear them. Apart, some people will say, 604 00:34:08,580 --> 00:34:11,260 well, I'm excellent at politics. Does that really pull people 605 00:34:11,260 --> 00:34:16,699 together or is it tear them? Apart, what I'm saying is be 606 00:34:16,699 --> 00:34:21,020 excellent at what is good. That's that's that's good 607 00:34:21,020 --> 00:34:23,100 advice. And then he says be innocent of 608 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:24,340 all evil. That one's harder. 609 00:34:25,460 --> 00:34:27,340 That one's harder. How in the world can you be 610 00:34:27,340 --> 00:34:31,570 innocent of all evil, I mean? Do you have to like put your? 611 00:34:31,570 --> 00:34:35,050 Hands over your ears or over your eyes or over your mouth to 612 00:34:35,050 --> 00:34:38,130 be innocent of all evil because we live in a culture. 613 00:34:38,210 --> 00:34:41,530 That is completely soaked and saturated in evil. 614 00:34:41,610 --> 00:34:43,810 And if you're like me sometimes, you. 615 00:34:43,810 --> 00:34:49,929 Feel like evil's winning? Not just around me, but in me. 616 00:34:49,969 --> 00:34:53,090 Like, evil's winning, but evil's not winning. 617 00:34:53,090 --> 00:34:54,929 Here's some good. News it won't. 618 00:34:55,730 --> 00:34:58,890 It won't win. God wins. 619 00:35:00,260 --> 00:35:03,060 God will. How do I know that? 620 00:35:03,380 --> 00:35:07,460 Because of the second part of that verse, Roman 1620 A. 621 00:35:07,460 --> 00:35:08,420 What does? It say it. 622 00:35:08,420 --> 00:35:17,420 Says and the God of peace will soon crush Satan when you are 623 00:35:17,420 --> 00:35:20,060 excellent about what is good and you are innocent. 624 00:35:20,140 --> 00:35:22,180 Of all evil. Do you know what God does with 625 00:35:22,180 --> 00:35:26,780 that? He crushes Satan. 626 00:35:27,020 --> 00:35:30,490 Now it says the God of peace. God doesn't want to. 627 00:35:31,610 --> 00:35:33,650 A lot of people think. About, you know, our heavenly. 628 00:35:33,650 --> 00:35:36,810 Father like God is this judging, condemning. 629 00:35:36,810 --> 00:35:38,810 God, He doesn't want to judge. Anyone doesn't want to condemn 630 00:35:38,810 --> 00:35:40,530 anyone. He wouldn't have sent his son. 631 00:35:40,530 --> 00:35:44,770 If he did, he put all the condemnation and judgment of the 632 00:35:44,770 --> 00:35:46,370 world. On his own son. 633 00:35:47,530 --> 00:35:50,210 True. He doesn't want to condemn the. 634 00:35:50,210 --> 00:35:54,410 World he loves this. World he loves you. 635 00:35:55,450 --> 00:36:01,740 And so he's giving us a way out. But I find out the last three 636 00:36:01,740 --> 00:36:07,060 words of that really important. And the God of peace. 637 00:36:07,060 --> 00:36:12,500 Which is a God of peace will soon crush Satan underneath your 638 00:36:12,500 --> 00:36:18,260 feet. Not underneath his feet, not 639 00:36:18,260 --> 00:36:19,820 underneath his feet. Underneath your. 640 00:36:19,820 --> 00:36:23,380 Feet So when you're excellent about what is. 641 00:36:24,220 --> 00:36:27,630 Like you're seeing in this list and you're trying to be innocent 642 00:36:27,630 --> 00:36:29,870 of all evil because you're trusting that God will take care 643 00:36:29,870 --> 00:36:35,710 of everything. In the end, God's gonna use the 644 00:36:35,710 --> 00:36:39,430 ministry that you do and the life that you live for him to 645 00:36:39,430 --> 00:36:41,070 crush Satan underneath your feet. 646 00:36:41,350 --> 00:36:45,510 You see, you have more power than you can know or understand 647 00:36:45,830 --> 00:36:47,670 because we are children of the living God. 648 00:36:47,750 --> 00:36:49,630 We are join airs with Jesus Christ. 649 00:36:49,710 --> 00:36:53,030 We are filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish the mission 650 00:36:53,190 --> 00:36:55,390 of bringing. God's lost children, home and 651 00:36:55,390 --> 00:36:57,470 every. Time that happens every time you 652 00:36:57,470 --> 00:37:01,070 see that up on the video screen. You know what the soles of your 653 00:37:01,070 --> 00:37:03,470 shoes are? Getting closer to Satan's head 654 00:37:04,590 --> 00:37:08,030 because he's losing this battle, and you're going to win this 655 00:37:08,030 --> 00:37:11,310 battle. Now, like many of Paul's 656 00:37:11,310 --> 00:37:17,450 letters, he ends glorifying God. It's a glorification of God. 657 00:37:17,450 --> 00:37:19,290 There's a word for that that we use and it's. 658 00:37:19,290 --> 00:37:24,170 Called Doxology and it starts in verse 25 and I'm just going to 659 00:37:24,170 --> 00:37:28,130 read it over you. Okay, as we close now to him. 660 00:37:28,130 --> 00:37:31,850 Who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel? 661 00:37:31,970 --> 00:37:35,370 The message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with 662 00:37:35,370 --> 00:37:37,970 the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages. 663 00:37:38,820 --> 00:37:41,180 But now revealed and may known through the. 664 00:37:41,180 --> 00:37:44,740 Prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so 665 00:37:44,740 --> 00:37:48,100 that all the Gentiles. Might come to the obedience. 666 00:37:48,100 --> 00:37:51,180 That comes from faith. To the only wise God. 667 00:37:51,380 --> 00:37:55,540 Be glory forever through Jesus Christ and all God's people, 668 00:37:55,540 --> 00:37:59,220 said Amen. Let it be so we're moving to a 669 00:37:59,220 --> 00:38:07,070 time of decision. There are some of you here who 670 00:38:07,070 --> 00:38:12,310 have never made a decision in your heart in life to have an 671 00:38:12,310 --> 00:38:15,790 intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and I'm going 672 00:38:15,790 --> 00:38:17,910 to ask. You a rhetorical question. 673 00:38:17,910 --> 00:38:19,470 What in the world are you waiting for? 674 00:38:20,790 --> 00:38:26,030 If you read the book of Romans, and this is who your God is, 675 00:38:27,870 --> 00:38:30,910 this is how personally is, this is how much not that he loves 676 00:38:30,910 --> 00:38:32,430 you. But how much he loves you? 677 00:38:33,730 --> 00:38:35,210 And what the evidence of that love is? 678 00:38:35,210 --> 00:38:38,810 His own son on the cross, Dying. Bleeding. 679 00:38:39,570 --> 00:38:44,930 To pay a debt. That we couldn't pay not to just 680 00:38:44,930 --> 00:38:47,730 save you from hell, but adopt you into his family. 681 00:38:47,850 --> 00:38:50,730 To call you by his. Name to make you a joint. 682 00:38:50,730 --> 00:38:53,250 Heir with Jesus Christ. Think of it. 683 00:38:56,090 --> 00:38:58,250 What in the world are you waiting for? 684 00:39:01,280 --> 00:39:03,480 You know the Bible. Says that where two or three are 685 00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:07,400 gathered, that that Jesus Christ is in our midst, He's right 686 00:39:07,400 --> 00:39:08,880 here, right now. He's walking these aisles. 687 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:11,080 He knows and he knows everything about you. 688 00:39:11,240 --> 00:39:13,560 He knows all the secrets you don't tell anybody else, all the 689 00:39:13,560 --> 00:39:17,040 things that make you very spiritually dirty and ugly. 690 00:39:17,160 --> 00:39:19,760 He knows all that, and he loves you and doesn't even slow him 691 00:39:19,760 --> 00:39:21,880 down. It doesn't even slow his. 692 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:29,240 Love down because he wants you in relationship with him. 693 00:39:30,970 --> 00:39:33,770 And the question is, how long are you going to be watching 694 00:39:33,770 --> 00:39:38,090 this parade go by? Until you just step up and say 695 00:39:38,090 --> 00:39:43,010 I'm going to be. Part of it, there's going to be 696 00:39:43,010 --> 00:39:45,290 somebody right over there by the baptistry would love nothing 697 00:39:45,290 --> 00:39:48,050 more than to talk. To you about next steps in your 698 00:39:48,050 --> 00:39:52,410 relationship with Christ. And you can be. 699 00:39:52,410 --> 00:39:56,730 Part of this parade. Shout in the name of Jesus, who 700 00:39:56,730 --> 00:40:00,140 makes all the difference. If you'll come into an intimate, 701 00:40:00,140 --> 00:40:02,180 personal relationship with him, quit. 702 00:40:02,180 --> 00:40:03,980 Listening to. The devil, He's a liar. 703 00:40:04,180 --> 00:40:08,100 Quit listening to yourself. You're a liar thinking, well, if 704 00:40:08,100 --> 00:40:11,900 I get my life better and get my priorities straight, well, then 705 00:40:11,900 --> 00:40:16,660 maybe I'll no you need to come. With the all the trash bags. 706 00:40:17,860 --> 00:40:22,540 You need to come with the mess because when you come that. 707 00:40:22,540 --> 00:40:24,700 Way to the Lord you're coming, honestly. 708 00:40:26,700 --> 00:40:30,150 He'll take care of it. That's what Romans teaches us. 709 00:40:30,550 --> 00:40:38,670 He already knows that about you, but he loves you anyway if 710 00:40:38,670 --> 00:40:40,590 you're online. You've never made a decision. 711 00:40:40,830 --> 00:40:44,310 You can press that button. You can talk to somebody. 712 00:40:44,310 --> 00:40:48,270 Right now I. Think my wife's on there right 713 00:40:48,270 --> 00:40:52,630 now. There's a lot of us here today. 714 00:40:52,630 --> 00:40:55,710 We've made that decision. For Christ we we accepted him, 715 00:40:55,790 --> 00:41:00,340 right? But are you engaging? 716 00:41:02,180 --> 00:41:03,820 Are you being part of the solution? 717 00:41:05,020 --> 00:41:06,780 Are you following the calling of Jesus? 718 00:41:06,780 --> 00:41:10,900 Christ have the cares of this world, the lower story, all the 719 00:41:10,900 --> 00:41:12,820 challenges. Have they gotten you so 720 00:41:12,820 --> 00:41:16,660 internally focused that you can't get out and focus on on 721 00:41:16,660 --> 00:41:24,810 what God's agenda is? You all have a gift. 722 00:41:24,810 --> 00:41:27,940 You all have a talent. Everyone in this room, you have 723 00:41:27,940 --> 00:41:30,180 a talent. God's given you at least one. 724 00:41:33,220 --> 00:41:35,780 Some of us are three talent people, some of us are five 725 00:41:35,780 --> 00:41:38,060 talent people. Some of us are one talent 726 00:41:38,060 --> 00:41:39,660 people. There is no such thing as a no. 727 00:41:39,660 --> 00:41:42,860 Talent person. You all have some. 728 00:41:42,860 --> 00:41:46,220 Ability that God has given you. Maybe it's like Mary of Rome. 729 00:41:46,220 --> 00:41:49,020 Maybe you can just. Work hard or it may be something 730 00:41:49,020 --> 00:41:51,460 else. I don't know what it is, but let 731 00:41:51,460 --> 00:41:54,980 me clue you in on something. There's a difference between a 732 00:41:54,980 --> 00:42:01,400 talent and a gift. A talent becomes a gift when you 733 00:42:01,400 --> 00:42:02,600 give it. Back to God. 734 00:42:05,600 --> 00:42:09,200 A talent becomes a gift. When you give it back to God. 735 00:42:10,240 --> 00:42:15,680 And you allow him to utilize it to accomplish the mission of 736 00:42:15,680 --> 00:42:21,280 bringing the lost kids home. I mean your. 737 00:42:21,280 --> 00:42:23,680 Talent might be amazing. But you put the holy. 738 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:26,250 Spirit in there. And you turn that talent to a. 739 00:42:26,250 --> 00:42:28,250 Gift You watch what God can do because he can do. 740 00:42:28,250 --> 00:42:33,090 More abundantly beyond what you can ask or imagine with the 741 00:42:33,090 --> 00:42:34,770 thing that he planted inside of you. 742 00:42:34,970 --> 00:42:37,850 If you'll just let him do it. And that's why these steps are 743 00:42:37,850 --> 00:42:41,090 up here today. Because just because you've made 744 00:42:41,090 --> 00:42:42,810 a decision for Christ doesn't mean. 745 00:42:43,010 --> 00:42:44,610 That you don't need to. Do business with God. 746 00:42:44,610 --> 00:42:47,170 Today that you don't need to come to him today that you don't 747 00:42:47,170 --> 00:42:50,370 need to ask him to do something fresh and new today to. 748 00:42:50,370 --> 00:42:54,270 Stir up that. Fire inside of you today, and 749 00:42:54,270 --> 00:42:55,790 maybe it's in that. Talent, that. 750 00:42:55,790 --> 00:42:59,750 Needs to be a gift, so I call you. 751 00:43:01,110 --> 00:43:04,790 As a fellow believer in Christ to get. 752 00:43:04,790 --> 00:43:10,430 Serious about your faith would. You stand with me in Jesus name 753 00:43:10,430 --> 00:43:12,510 we come. Before you, Heavenly Father, 754 00:43:12,510 --> 00:43:15,710 realizing. That there's nothing inside of 755 00:43:15,710 --> 00:43:18,630 our hearts that you don't see and know more intimately than we 756 00:43:18,630 --> 00:43:23,810 know ourselves. You see all of the mess, all the 757 00:43:23,810 --> 00:43:28,810 inconsistency. All the hypocrisy, you see, all 758 00:43:28,810 --> 00:43:31,530 that, but you still love. Us it doesn't change. 759 00:43:52,440 --> 00:43:33,650 In Jesus name, Amen. Your love never changes. 760 00:43:35,570 --> 00:43:40,050 And there's more love in you than there is sinning us. 761 00:43:41,890 --> 00:43:46,970 And I pray, Father, in this moment we would humble ourselves 762 00:43:46,970 --> 00:43:50,490 and receive from you what only you can give or.