¹ I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae. 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. ³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. ⁴ They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. ⁵ Greet also the church that meets at their house. Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia. ⁶ Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you. ⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. ⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord. ⁹ Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys. ¹⁰ Greet Apelles, whose fidelity to Christ has stood the test. Greet those who belong to the household of Aristobulus. ¹¹ Greet Herodion, my fellow Jew. Greet those in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord. ¹² Greet Tryphena and Tryphosa, those women who work hard in the Lord. Greet my dear friend Persis, another woman who has worked very hard in the Lord. ¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too. ¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas and the other brothers and sisters with them. ¹⁵ Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas and all the Lord’s people who are with them. ¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.
ROMANS 16:1–16, NIV
Discussion Questions:
- The sermon says, “Now the theology has names.” What do the people named in Romans 16 show us about what it looks like to actually live out the gospel Paul has taught in Romans? As you think about Phoebe, Priscilla and Aquila, and Rufus’s mother, which example speaks most strongly to you, and why?
- Phoebe made her resources available to God, but she also made herself available. What is the difference between giving something to God and making yourself available to Him? Is there an area of your life—your time, abilities, resources, relationships, influence or presence—that you find particularly difficult to make available to God?
- Romans 15:7 says, “Accept one another… just as Christ accepted you.” Have our personal preferences for people who are like us sometimes become the boundaries of our Christian relationships? Think especially about our international church community. Is there someone you regularly see but have never really taken time to know—their name, their story, or what is happening in their life? What could “making room” for that person look like?
- Priscilla and Aquila did not wait for life to become settled before serving God, while Rufus’s mother shows us what it means to be “devoted to one another in love.” What might availability and devotion look like in your present season of life? Where might you have been telling God, “Later, when life settles down”? And who has God already placed in your life whom you could serve, encourage, welcome, or walk alongside more intentionally this week?
Sermon Summary
Your name has a place in God’s story through His grace, which calls you to make your ordinary life available to Him. In Romans 16, Paul transitions from abstract theology to real names, highlighting ordinary believers like Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquila, and Rufus’s mother. Their lives demonstrate that serving God does not require a large platform or a perfect season, but a willing heart. Whether navigating demanding jobs, facing constant life transitions, or building an intentional community, these individuals chose availability over convenience. Ultimately, God knows your name and invites you to actively live out your unique part in His mission today.