Who’s Who in the Pew
Sermon to the Midland SDA Church
by Ann Ratcliff
Who’s who in the pew. That was the title of the registration pad in the pews of the church that I grew up in. It was a big church and I guess that was the way they kept track of who was coming regularly and who wasn’t and who was a visitor etc. Even though I was sitting in a big beautiful sanctuary, when that registration pad came to me I was reminded that church was not a building but people.
Now as an adult, in my own church I have been the church clerk for several years now. In carrying out the duties of clerk, it is regularly brought home to me that this job is not just ‘keeping the records’ of board meetings, of baptisms, etc., but it is really about people. The clerk’s job in our denomination is keeping the ultimate recording of who’s who in the pew; who is coming, who is going, etc. In it’s truest sense, it’s about recording the spread of the gospel one person at a time.
And that’s important work—noting who is here and who is not here every week. Why? Because that is what happens when you accept the Gospel message. You become, after a fashion, a people person. It is like once you hear and see the gospel message, you cannot help but act upon it and your acting upon it sends you to your fellow man. For example let’s say you are in a burning building. You see the smoke and hear the fire. Those facts are what you use to decide to get out of there. You take in the facts of a burning building and you act to get out. The gospel message is the same. If you hear it and see it around you, and believe it, you will act. That’s a fact.
I think Paul certainly exemplified this. He became quite a people person after his conversion. He was a good model for us because he went far and wide preaching and teaching the gospel. His letters tell us who was listening and how God was working on the hearts of those that came in contact with him. You can tell by the way he speaks of individuals in his letters how he values the individuals that crossed his path and how he was spreading the gospel one person at a time.
So my objective today is to remind you who you are; who’s who in your pew: you are good Christian people doing the work God asks of you and leading others to Him one person at a time. This is a fact. John tells us in John 15:3 “Now you are already clean through the word which I have spoken to you.” Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.” You all have the facts plus you have a wonderful model in the apostle Paul and his writings.
Let us look at the book of Romans. This letter is probably one of the best examples of Paul modeling his people skills. Paul writes to the church in Rome although he had never been there. Apparently he knew many of the people who had gravitated there. They had crossed his path during his missionary journeys. On the other hand, there were many Roman Christians that he did not know.
Many Biblical scholars believe he was writing to the church in Rome from Corinth. His letter was most likely written during his three month stay in Corinth during his third missionary journey—perhaps A.D. 57 or 58, perhaps somewhat earlier. Paul at this time was a veteran missionary—at the ‘top’ of his game; he had been disciplined by torture, sharpened by prayer, and he was preaching the gospel with clarity, eloquence, and persuasion. When he came to Corinth this time, he found the brethren settled in the faith. They were a strong force for good in that city which was full of heathenism and superstition. So he was among friends and could take some time out to look forward to future wider fields of service –the ultimate was to see the Christian church firmly established in the great center of the known world—Rome so that it could serve as a base for further work in Italy and Spain. Paul was ambitious for the gospel.
Despite being a growing group, the Christians in Rome were meeting under cover. Rumor has it that they met in about 5 house church groups. At that time, it was dangerous to be a Christian—they were being persecuted by the Roman state.
Paul’s theme in the book of Romans shows us the powerful gospel of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. In this book Paul is gearing theology for real people. We know that it hit its mark well for both Martin Luther and John Wesley have reported the Romans had a profound influence on them. Yet, Paul’s letter to the Romans doesn’t end with theology. It ends with people. Just like the Who’s who in the pew pad, Paul is ever mindful that real people are what the gospel is all about.
Romans 16 begins “I commend to you Phoebe our sister who is a servant of the church in Cenchrea, that you may receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and assist her in whatever business she has need of you, for indeed she has been a helper of many and of myself also.”
Who was this Phoebe?
Apparently Phoebe was going to be carrying the letter from Paul in Corinth to Rome. Biblical scholars describe her as a well-to-do woman who lived in Cenchrea about 7 miles from Corinth. The Greek translation of some of the words in that passage indicate that she may have had some legal business in Rome. There is also some evidence she had social, political and financial connections that would be helpful to the Christian believers. Other than that we know nothing else about her.
Paul continues to write: “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house.”
Who is this couple?
They, unlike many of the folks mentioned in Romans 16 are mentioned elsewhere in scripture. We know that at least Aquila is a Jew and a tentmaker like Paul. We also know that Paul stayed with them in Corinth. Priscilla and Aquila had also lived in Rome at one time as Jews. They were expelled by the state. They went to Corinth and that apparently is where they came in contact with Paul and the Christian message. They must have really hit if off because they accompanied Paul to Ephesus. There after Paul moved on Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollos preach and took him aside and mentored him in the finer points of Christianity. So this couple may have been solidly versed in the gospel message.
We don’t know under what conditions they risked their lives for Paul. This couple were well known to Paul. They must have traveled around a lot. At various times in scripture they appear to be in Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, back to Rome and later back to Ephesus again. There are times like here in Romans where Paul sends greetings to them (they are now for some reason back in Rome as Christians) There are also times in other scriptural passages when Paul sends greetings from them.
But other than that, we don’t know anything about them.
Paul continues “Greet my beloved Epaenetus who is the firstfruits of Asia to Christ.”
Who is this Epaenetus?
This person was apparently the first convert in Asia. What would it be like to be the first one to believe the gospel message—the first one in your family, your neighborhood, your town, your country. The very first. I had a hard enough time leaving a well established main line Protestant denomination to join what was then about 4 million Seventh-day Adventists. So in my book he’s quite a guy.
Other than that, though, we don’t know anything else about him.
Paul says, ”Greet Mary who labored much for us.“
Who is this Mary?
We don’t know about this Mary. Biblical scholars do not think she is one of the Mary’s we know so much more about. So, perhaps in that day, Mary was a fairly common name.
We really don’t know anything about her.
Paul says “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.”
Who are these people?
The text does not make it specific whether these two people were true relatives of Paul or just fellow countrymen. Whoever they are, they were converted before Paul was. They had also been in prison—we don’t know whether they were in prison with Paul or were simply imprisoned at some time.
Other than that, we don’t know anything else.
Paul says” Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. Greet Apelles, approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. Greet Herodion, my countryman. Greet those who are in the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.
Who are all of these people?
This is the only place in scripture where these people are mentioned. When Paul says ‘my beloved’ we are to interpret that he knows the person personally. When he speaks of the households of certain people we don’t know if he is speaking primarily of the slaves or also of the members of the family of the person mentioned also. There are some Biblical scholars who place this Aristobulus as the grandson of Herod the Great.
Other than that, though, we don’t know anything else.
Paul says “Greet Tryphena and Tryphose, who have labored in the Lord. Greet the beloved Perisi, who labored much in the Lord. Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord and his mother and mine.”
So who are these people?
Some scholars speculate that this Rufus might be the same one mentioned in Mark15 who is the son of Simon of Cyrene, the man who carried the cross for Jesus. Whether or not, this Rufus was the son of Simon of Cyrene, apparently Paul had some interaction with the family, because he is claiming Rufus’ mother was like a mother to him too. We know nothing of Perisi and the only thing we know of the others is that most likely Tryphena and Tryphosa were twin sisters.
Other than that we know nothing.
Paul says, “Greet Asyneritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren who are with them.”
Who are these people?
This is the only place in scripture where these folk are mentioned. We do not know why they are mentioned, or why they are grouped together. Won’t it be interesting to find out what they were up to when we get to heaven?
But for now, we know nothing else about them.
Paul says “Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them.”
Who are these people?
Again, these people are only mentioned here and we have no idea why. So we know nothing else.
So for many of these people we know very little and they are not mentioned anywhere else in scripture. What little information we can piece together indicated they are both male and female, they come from a variety of social, and economic classes, they are both Jew and Gentile; some have personally met Paul and others most likely have not; some have more in common with Paul then others e.g. imprisonment, tentmaking skills etc. Others have distinguished themselves by being the first one converted, by risking their lives etc. They are quite a diverse group, however the one thing they have in common is that they are Christians in Rome.
Paul goes on to say “Greet one another with a Holy kiss.” This means greet one another with a special affection; see one another as special people. See one another beyond the bond of unity. Love one another. Hold one another in high esteem; knowing who they belong to.
Paul is raising up the goodness of folk that are among the believers ‘laboring’ for the Lord—like us. Romans 15:14—“Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” Paul is speaking to you and to me. It is important to be a people person when it comes to the Gospel message.
Let us take Paul’s message to the 21st century. While Paul can write, “I commend to you Phoebe, our sister…” we too can ‘commend’ people.
I have discovered that on the form that is the request for transfer of membership among different congregations, the church clerk sends a document that comes from a church where the person is leaving to the church where the person is transferring to. On that document it says, “We cordially recommend him/her to your fellowship and care.” So we as a receiving church know a ‘good’ person is coming to join us; as Paul said, ‘beloved, fellow workers’.
I don’t have to tell you people in Midland that. Why, you all have a wonderful reputation of caring for people, for being ‘beloved, fellow workers’. You administer to one another well and often. EXAMPLE HERE
Sure, you are thinking right now. I’m really not so good. I’m too old to be a real force for good, why there are some days I just don’t feel well enough. Or you may be saying I’m not old enough to do all that, I don’t even drive yet. I’ve got to get my studies finished before I can devote myself to the gospel. And I’ve got all kinds of evils I’m dealing with. I don’t have much money. I just don’t have time to do one more thing. Well, perhaps you do have lots of barriers in your life right now, but the parable of the wheat and tares will hopefully illustrate what I mean about our goodness.
Turn with me to Matthew 13:24-26.
“Another parable He put forth to them saying: The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared.”
This is bad news. The farmer has weeds in his field. And weeds according to the parable equate to evil. Nobody will argue with me if I say there is evil in the world. Lots of it.
Matthew 13:28-29:
“The servants said to him (the farmer) do you want us then to go and gather them up (the tares)? But he said No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest…...”
So the weeds are allowed to grow with the wheat all the way until the harvest. That means the whole life time of the plants!
Now, suppose we could pull the weeds from the field and not disturb the wheat? The harvest would still be at risk. Why? Any farmer will tell you that you can’t ignore a field. Even if it is full of only the healthiest plants. It needs water, cultivation etc. In other words, good takes nurture. Jesus spoke about this very thing when he told the parable were the evil spirit went out of a man, found no rest, came back, found the place clean and in order, so he went back and got his evil buddies to move back in with him—thus, because the ‘good’ was not ‘watched over’ the state of the man was worse than before. So even if we could pull the weeds out we’d still need to give that field time and attention and energy—that’s why the enemy could come in the night and sow bad seed and then leave---sow and go—so to speak. Because the farmer would take care of the rest—the nurture of the seeds—good or bad.
To summarize the bad news: There are real dangerous weeds out there sown by Satan and our own efforts to get rid of them will not succeed. The weeds will stay.
But there is good news!
Matthew 13: 30—“Let them both grow together until the harvest and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them but gather the wheat into the barn.”
So the weeds are not going to win—even though it may look like they are gaining the upper hand; even though they are flourishing and hanging in for the duration. Evil will not triumph in you.
Christianity is worked out in the real world with real people and those people are you. So live your lives as if you can be good, wise, competent, without fear, in confidence to rise above your weaknesses.
Remember, because of you, every household in this town has been invited to evangelistic meetings year after year.
Because of you, this tow has a flourishing community Center that helps real people with real needs every week.
Because of you there are people studying the Bible.
Because of you the Pastor has Baptized 10 people in 2003. Five of those were our own precious youth and five were adults who took that leap of faith knowing that God lead to them here to us.
Because of you, prayers are answered. Thanks to some on you in particular, we have good prayer records both the needs and the answers.
So take these words of Paul in Philippians 1:3-6 to heart because they are meant just for you.
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Amen
Benediction:
Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Amen.