Open Your Bibles to Romans 16 1-16

I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well.

Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house. Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in Asia. Greet Mary, who has worked hard for you. Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me. Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and my beloved Stachys. Greet Apelles, who is approved in Christ. Greet those who belong to the family of Aristobulus. Greet my kinsman Herodion. Greet those in the Lord who belong to the family of Narcissus. Greet those workers in the Lord, Tryphaena and Tryphosa. Greet the beloved Persis, who has worked hard in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord; also his mother, who has been a mother to me as well. Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. Greet Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

Romans 16: 1-16

In this week's episode, we ask the warm, covenantal question: Who is family?

In our highly individualistic culture, we often treat our faith as a private contract between ourselves and God. But Romans 16 shatters this isolation. Here, we see the visible manifestation of the communion of saints. For the Reformed believer, the church is not an abstract concept or a weekly event; it is a real, historic, covenant family knit together by the sovereign, regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. These names are a monument to the ordinary, flesh-and-blood means God uses to sustain His gospel ministers and expand His Kingdom.

In this episode, we talk about:

• The Worthy Welcome of Phoebe: Unpacking verses 1 and 2. We discuss what it means to welcome a sister "in a way worthy of the saints." We explore our covenantal obligation to support, protect, and honor those whom Christ has redeemed, highlighting the vital role of women in the early church's diaconal service.
• Ordinary Means and Risk-Taking Faith: Looking at Prisca and Aquila (vv. 3–4), who "risked their necks" for Paul. We discuss how the Sovereign King doesn't just ordain gospel victories; He ordains the ordinary, courageous friendships and vocational partnerships that sustain them.
• "In Christ Before Me": Examining Andronicus and Junia in verse 7. We dive into the profound theological phrase "in Christ." While our election is eternal in the mind of God, our union with Christ is realized in time. We talk about the humility of recognizing those who paved the way for our own faith.
• The Kiss of Peace: Breaking down verse 16. What does this ancient greeting mean for us today? We discuss how genuine, holy affection within the local church is a visible sign of our invisible union with Christ, proving that we are bound by blood thicker than biology.

When we look at this list of names, we aren't looking at a dry directory; we are looking at our family tree. We see a sovereignly gathered assembly of tentmakers, servants, former prisoners, and household saints—all chosen by grace, all playing their part to reflect the ultimate goal of redemptive history

Grace and Peace.