Romans 16
Building Strong Bridges!
Good morning! This is Pastor Jerry Ingalls from New Castle First Baptist Church and today is Tuesday, September 15.
Do you know how to make strong bridges?
Listen to a couple quick excerpts from Romans 16:1-16:
- Verse 1, “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church…”
- Verses 3-4, “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me.”
- Verse 13, “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too.”
Do you hear Paul building strong bridges with the Romans?
What do I mean when I say that Paul is building bridges? Allow me to explain with a little story telling of my own.
At the end of 2009, my family transitioned from pastoral ministry in the Silicon Valley of northern California to pastoral ministry in the corn belt of east-central Indiana. Needless to say, when you move over 2,500 miles away, from urban to rural, there will be some major cultural issues that have to be navigated, even when you speak the same language and are citizens of the same country. Listen to what other people did to help our ministry and life in a new community start well.
Like in Paul’s letter to the Romans, before we even got here, people reached out to us. Then, we were welcomed to our new home when we drove into town, even with snow on the ground and icy streets. As we got moved in, whether it was meals or a leaky toilet, people were available to help us. We needed help and when it was extended to us, we received it thankfully. And because of that we knew we were loved and a part of a new family immediately!
How are you building bridges with people in our community and in your neighborhood? How about in our church? What are some practical steps you can take today to help someone feel like they are loved, welcomed, and wanted?
Seize the moment and take personal responsibility as a bridge builder to one person or one family today