Welcome to this week's edition of the Weekend Sermon. I am glad to be able to post this message as it has been quite a difficult week. I hope that all of you are doing well.
This week, we had a terrible blizzard where I live. I lost power for 15 hours, and it got very cold in the house. Thankfully, the power was restored. It could have been a lot worse. Everything has been going well in my job and in writing. I am thankful to the Lord for this.
This week, there was an earthquake in Alaska. Pray for those in that state. Also, please continue to pray for those who are dealing with the fires in the state of California.
I just learned before starting this sermon that former President George H.W. Bush has passed away. Please pray for his family during this difficult time.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world this week. Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, South Sudan and Libya continue to need our prayers for peace.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Nepal and Bhutan. Pray that many will hear the message that Jesus loves them.
Today, we will begin our study of Romans 16. I will have two messages on this chapter. After that, I will post holiday season messages.
The first part of Romans 16 has one major theme, but there is a major controversy in the chapter. Let's deal with this. First of all, Paul begins the chapter by commending Phoebe who is a deacon. He asks that Roman Christians provide her with whatever help she might need. Paul states that she was of benefit to many people including him.
In the church that I was brought up in as a boy, women were not allowed to have any positions of authority in the church. They were not and are not allowed to be ministers. They are not allowed to be deacons. They are not allowed to teach boys in Sunday school after the boys are 12 years old.
In my old church, this verse was interpreted as meaning that Phoebe was simply someone who helped Paul. My church denied that she had any official role as a church leader.
I believe that Phoebe was a deacon in the church in an official manner. In the book of Acts, deacons were established by the Apostles to aid in helping people in the church with their physical needs. Specifically, the deacons helped to distribute aid to widows and those who needed assistance in order to make it in life.
The Bible is clear that the first deacons had a teaching and ministering role. Stephen and Philip were both deacons who proclaimed the Word of the Lord.
Romans 16 also mentions Aquila and Priscilla. Paul calls them his co-workers in Christ Jesus. The book of Acts says that both of them taught Apollos who was a popular teacher in the church. It seems to me that they were a husband and wife ministry team.
In verse 7, Paul mentions that Junia was outstanding among the apostles. Some argue that this verse shows that there was a woman apostle.
First of all, I do not have a problem with women being ministers in the church. Women were the first ones that Jesus entrusted to proclaim the message of His resurrection. Some are going to disagree with me on this. However, I have known several women who are outstanding teachers and pastors. Many women serve the Lord in outstanding ways.
About the controversy as to whether or not Junia was a female apostle. I really don't think that this is what Paul is saying in this verse. I believe he is pointing out that Junia was considered great by the apostles for her work in the ministry.
Now, what is the main lesson of Romans 16:1-16. The main message is that there are many people who are working together to bring the message of Jesus Christ to the world. Paul knew that his success in spreading the message of Jesus was due in large part to the fact that there were many people who assisted him. Paul knew that there were many committed Christians who were calling on others to be reconciled to God.
Each one of us has a part in spreading the message of Jesus' love and forgiveness to this hurting and lost world. We all must work together as members of the body of Christ to bring others to Jesus. We need to work together against injustice, and we need to work together to make this world a better place.
Each of us has been gifted by God to help the entire body of Christ. Let us use the gifts given to us by the Lord to enrich the body of Christ and perform the Lord's work in this world.
Next week, we will finish Romans 16 and our series in the book of Romans. I plan on posting the sermon on Friday next week. I will post the verses on Monday, and I plan to post a book review of a dog book on Wednesday. May God bless you all. Amen.
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