15:1-13
-
Verses 1-7. Be selfless (verse 1), and be united with the believers in your life (verse 5). To start, receive them warmly (verse 7).
-
Verses 1-2, 7. To be selfless, prefer the needs and wants of others over personal convenience or pleasure. Focus on nurturing relationships with other believers ("receive" them; "be hospitable without grumbling" [1 Pet. 4:9]), and then be patient with their weaknesses, while seeking to help them grow out of them ("leading to edification").
-
Verses 3-4. Learn from Scripture and from Jesus' example. This will comfort you, teach you how to comfort others, and help you to be patient.
-
Jesus showed His servitude by bearing reproach. He was willing to take on Himself the disapproval of those who disapproved of God. By doing God's works, He was persecuted with the same hostility that people had against God. But those who do not do God's works are not persecuted. If we desire to be like Jesus, we would be willing to obey God and do what is needed for others no matter the cost -- even if we are disapproved of or persecuted for doing so. In so doing, we show that we intend not to please ourselves, but to serve.
-
-
Verses 8-13. Jesus served us and accepted us into His kingdom. We are joyful about that!
-
So be joyful about the salvation of other believers, no matter who they are - Jew or Gentile!
-
Verse 8. An additional note on Jesus' servitude: He served the truth of God by living to fulfill the promises made in the Old Testament. Doing God's Word was His priority, and as a result "the circumcision" (the Jews) were served by being offered the blessing of salvation. all people benefit. Service to others starts with serving God first - focusing on obeying His commands.
-
15:14-21
-
Verses 16-19. Our communities and the people we serve are an offering we will present to God one day.
-
Verse 16. Help your people to be in the best condition possible, so that they will be a good offering to God!
-
Verse 19. Do this by helping others be obedient to the Word.
-
Verse 18. Obey the Word for yourself, and more power will be in your life. This will make you more effective at helping others become obedient.
-
-
-
-
Verses 20-21. Focus on your own people. Be responsible for your own community.
15:22-29
-
Support other believers financially, especially those who have helped you spiritually.
15:30-33
-
Verses 30-31. Walk in love by praying for and with other believers. Praying is loving others through the Holy Spirit.
-
Verse 32. It will be refreshing for you to be with other like-minded believers. Don't neglect fellowship!
16:1-16, 21-23
-
Verses 1-2. Recognize helpful people, and be helpful to them as a way of honoring them.
-
Verse 1. Knowing that women were often overlooked in Paul's day, Phoebe, a woman, being honored by Paul, teaches that we should give attention to showing honor to those who serve well who are often overlooked.
-
Verse 3. Especially honor those who have sacrificed of themselves to help you.
-
-
Verses 3-16, 21-23. Let people know that you're thinking of them, especially when you're not seeing them often. This shows love.
-
If a person comes to mind, it may be the Spirit bringing them to your attention. Take action on this and reach out! Even a simple but sincere greeting can save a life.
-
16:17-20
-
Focus on having the right relationships in the church, keeping them strong, and avoiding those who cause division. This, along with obedience to God, will prevent the work of Satan in a community.
-
Verses 17-18. Avoid people that make a practice of flattering, gossiping, or spreading false doctrine. These cause believers to sin or divide as a result.
-
Remember however that the truth also causes division (Matthew 10:34, 1 Corinthians 11:19). False doctrines and gossips that divide true believers are to be avoided. True doctrines that divide the false believers from the true ones, or truths than wound for a time, are to be embraced, as they lead to edification.
-
Verses 19-20. Staying obedient to God and being innocent of sin will beat Satan every time.
-
16:25-27
-
The Gospel is for everyone, and to make everyone obedient. Focus on encouraging yourself and others to be obedient to the Word.
- Verse 26. Side note: Old Testament prophecies are important for supporting the gospel.