Ministry puts you on the frontlines of service, where you will feel your need for others the most.
• When Paul starts to conclude this letter his mind is flooded with the people in Rome who have made a
• Remember, he had never actually been to Rome, but when he thought of Rome, he thought of people.
• Romans exemplifies that the apostle Paul’s mind was filled with doctrine, but his heart was full of
• They were “Together for the Gospel.” This passage shows the power of relationships and the necessity of companionship and fellowship in the context of ministry and mission.
We don’t find friends, we
them.
• Ronald Sharp >> It’s not about what someone can do for you, it’s who and what the two of you become in each other’s presence … The notion of doing nothing but spending time in each other’s company has, in a way, become a lost art. People are so eager to maximize efficiency of relationships that they have lost touch with what it is to be a friend.
• David Whyte >> Friendship not only helps us see ourselves through another’s eyes. (It) can be sustained over the years only with someone who has repeatedly forgiven us for our trespasses, as we must find it in ourselves to forgive them in turn. A friend knows our difficulties and shadows and remains in sight, a companion to our vulnerabilities. … Real friendship is a blessing because it is rediscovered again and again through understanding and mercy. All friendships of any length are based on a continued, mutual forgiveness.
The Church must
its togetherness
• Max Lucado >> Long before the church had pulpits and baptisteries, she had kitchens and dinner tables. Even a casual reading of the New Testament unveils the house as the primary tool of the church. The primary gathering place of the church was the home. Consider the genius of God’s plan. The first generation of Christians was a tinderbox of contrasting cultures and backgrounds. At least fifteen different nationalities heard Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. Jews stood next to Gentiles. Men worshiped with women. Slaves and masters alike sought after Christ. Can people of such varied backgrounds and cultures get along with each other?…Hospitality opens the door to an uncommon community. It’s no accident that hospitality and hospital come from the same Latin word, for they both lead to the same result: healing.
• This healing must spill over into the community – with our neighbors, our workplaces, and civic groups.