Romans 15:26-27 - We Are Ministers to One Another

Today, Friday April 23 We Are Ministers to One Another Romans 15:26-27 “For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.” We have a responsibility to minister to one another! That is what Paul is writing about in the last part of this chapter. Remember the last two chapters of Romans is about “ministry”. And especially the ministry to the Gentiles. Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament promises by becoming a servant and opening a way for the Gentiles to have hope (vs. 8-13). Paul talked about his ministry to the Gentiles (vs. 14-24). Now Paul is encouraging the believers at Rome to understand how they and other Gentile believers are debtors to the Jews, especially the Jewish believers, and how they should minister to them in their need. So he is asking the believers in Rome to pray for him as he takes an offering from the believers in Macedonia and Achaia to bring relief to the saints at Jerusalem (vs. 25-26). Today, I have the wonderful opportunity to meet with the very first group of students that showed up in Lynchburg fifty years ago this fall to attend a brand new college called Lynchburg Baptist College. Tonight about 100 of us are coming from all over the nation for a 50th Anniversary Celebration for the first year LBC students. I’ll never forget the vision, the faith and the passion that Dr. Jerry Falwell instilled in us in those first days. There was only a little over 100 students that first semester. But a “Flame” was put in our hearts to go out to minister to the whole world. Dr. Falwell modeled to us what it means to be a servant to one another, and for that we will be eternally grateful! We were taught that we were called to be servants and ministers, not big shot leaders! We were encouraged by the founders Dr. Falwell and Dr. Towns, and the early teachers to set aside our differences, to love one another, and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with everyone, everywhere we would go. A special thanks especially to Gene Alberts and Paula Oldham Johnson for all they did to plan this event. We are looking forward to an awesome celebration tonight! We are amazed at what God has done in just fifty years to grow LBC into Liberty University that continues to produce, “Champions for Christ”! God bless!